The B-17 at Tulare, Calif

[Jimbacca]

I sent them a message back in February about the nose.

'Hello Mr Sanders~
Thank you for your message.
We are aware of the nose piece being gone and have another one on the way. It should be here this week.
Thanks again.'

I know it gets brought up on message boards and from what I have seen it's a typical outdoor display item. Outdoors is not a dirt free environment especially in that valley, Virgin's Delight at Castle down the road. They are weary of people trying to help because they have been burned a few times on that. People do repairs then take something from it. Few of the turrets are real on it now. Interior is stripped empty. There is a dent on the wing from a hit from a truck years back. They have built a nice fence around it and the 99 has a far superior retaining fence than when the truck hit it. they have improved the structures holding up the front wheels over the years. It is in far better shape than alot of restoration projects and it's there for a General that did alot for the area they have high regard for. Locals don't tag it or other bs vandalism that people have done to planes.

While I have great friends in that valley it's the only redeeming item if you have to head up to Fresno etc. The AMVets do some great things for veterans in the area and they could probably bring in additional funds for that work if they utilized the plane better.

[Jimbacca]

Being mislead on repairs that you agreed to in good faith is not in over your head. That is just being honest people that believed in what they were told. Hence they now don't like anyone to touch the plane. There are Countless stories on people that have been ripped off over the years by people that skimmed parts off an airframe. Swamp Ghost is either a great save or a grift on PNG all depends on your view. How many times has the government itself pulled planes or parts to move it to their holy-land of a museum? Just to let the project or parts rot in storage. I'll be interested to see if in fact the nose piece does get replaced as he said it would. I hope they let people clean it and reletter it. Too bad it's been de engined and other parts removed over the years from a once complete flying plane.

[jdvoss]

Given the close proximity of Tulare to the Minter Field Museum (Bakersfield) it seems to me that they (Minter) would be chomping at the bit to add the B-17 to their collection. Both Tulare and Minter are located adjacent to Hwy 99.

[Jimbacca]

Minter would be a good airport to put it at. Great shops out of it. Great plane Steega, Warlock (rip) among a few others. My buddy has his Landing gear clothing and Olive Drab Drivers out of there.

Hopefully they give it a bath soon and I'm interested to see if a new nose does appear.