Pima Restoration Update (many photos)

[jamesintucson]

Great work! Thank you for posting. I'm a sucker for BUFF's and harriers....

I imagine it differs between greatly between aircraft, but can you make a general statement regarding the completeneess of interiors of aircraft on outside display? Do most have seats, instruments, etc? Does the museum try to get ones that have not been picked for spares?

In general the military aircraft have all been picked over before we get them. Most have seats but the instrument panels are always incomplete to one extent or another. All planes coming out of AMARG go through the demilitarization process before they are released. Exactly what gets removed varies wildly from type to type.

With loans we take whichever plane we get offered of the types we've requested. Ones that come from other sources like the Jag and the RAF Harrier, which we bought, are more complete inside and are the specific serial number we wanted.

James

[sandiego89]

Great work! Thank you for posting. I'm a sucker for BUFF's and harriers....

I imagine it differs between greatly between aircraft, but can you make a general statement regarding the completeneess of interiors of aircraft on outside display? Do most have seats, instruments, etc? Does the museum try to get ones that have not been picked for spares?

In general the military aircraft have all been picked over before we get them. Most have seats but the instrument panels are always incomplete to one extent or another. All planes coming out of AMARG go through the demilitarization process before they are released. Exactly what gets removed varies wildly from type to type.

With loans we take whichever plane we get offered of the types we've requested. Ones that come from other sources like the Jag and the RAF Harrier, which we bought, are more complete inside and are the specific serial number we wanted.

James

About what I figured- thank you the reply, and again thanks for the pictures- great stuff!

[Pat Carry]

James, can you tell us a little about the planned hangar 5 addition? How big will it be? Which planes are destined to be placed inside it?

[jamesintucson]

James, can you tell us a little about the planned hangar 5 addition? How big will it be? Which planes are destined to be placed inside it?

Construction on Hangar 5 started two weeks ago. It will be exactly the same size as our existing Hangar 4 which holds the B-29, C-46, F4U, etc. The aircraft scheduled for it are; Douglas A-20G Havoc, Martin B-26 Marauder, North American T-6, North American NA-64 Yale, Vultee BT-13, Curtiss P-40N, Republic P-47D , Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar, Bell P-39 Airacobra, North American B-25 Mitchell, and Bristol Bolingbroke. Many of these are long term restoration projects which will not be complete when the building is finished. They will go in as they are completed.

James

[Pat Carry]

Sounds very exciting James, thanks for the info.

[rcaf_100]

Awesome news James!

If you plan on repainting the Yale at some point before or after it goes into Hangar 5, please let me know.
I'd like to help out as I've done a bit of research in that regard...

Here's one possible paint job for her, with an actual photo of 3397 on the right:

[jamesintucson]

Awesome news James!

If you plan on repainting the Yale at some point before or after it goes into Hangar 5, please let me know.
I'd like to help out as I've done a bit of research in that regard...

Here's one possible paint job for her, with an actual photo of 3397 on the right:

Great photo. I've never seen any of our plane in service before. Got any more? We are planning to repaint the aircraft before it goes indoors. The plan was to just repaint the existing scheme but with an operational photo that might change. I'd also be interested in anything you've got on markings details; roundel sizes, number sizes, stencils, etc. You can PM me or contact me directly at my work email: jstemm@pimaair.org

James

[Rocketeer]

When Hangar 5 is completed, is there any chance the B-23 and S-43 can be moved indoors?

[jamesintucson]

When Hangar 5 is completed, is there any chance the B-23 and S-43 can be moved indoors?

Unfortunately, neither of them is currently scheduled to move indoors.

James