This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Post a reply

Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 6:47 am

Neat history behind this plane...

http://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/ge ... an/513624/

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:33 am

I hope to head down to the museum before it goes back up. If I do I will get some photos.

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:36 am

The article mentions there's a "good chance" the Stuka was shot down by a Spitfire like the one hanging in the museum. I think that's a bit of literary license. As I recall the plane was shot up on the ground, and then captured when the Brits overran the airfield. In any case, it's good to see the old girl getting a bit of TLC. I still kind of wish she would go to the NASM or NMUSAF, but she seems well cared-for these days..and since my sister lives in Chicago I get to the musuem fairly often. I may have to make a special trip to check out the Stuka while it's out of the rafters.


SN

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:04 am

This would be an incredible opportunity for someone to take photos! Especially inside the cockpit. Wonder if the scanning they are going to do could be used to help restore or new build future Stukas?

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 1:34 pm

I wonder is Paul Allen is funding the scans?

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:38 pm

Speaking of pictures and airplanes lowered to ground level, If anyone is planning a visit to the NASM, maybe they could get some shots of the Spirit of St. Louis while it is on the museum floor and has her cowlings removed... :D

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/spi ... ace-museum

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:30 pm

I bet plenty of Brits are peeved that the Stuka is there today.
It's been a fixture of the museum ever since WW2. My Dad saw the museum when he was in the USAF (57-59) at Rantoul, IL. As a kid, he told me about how cool is was seeing it there.
Finally got to see it myself in 2002, think it was so cool that I finally got to see it myself. That Dad had seen it almost 5 decades before made it much cooler, to me.

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:57 pm

I've never heard anyone in the UK complaining about the Stuka in Chicago, any more than I've heard complaints about the Ar 234B in the NASM. There is a more complete example of the Ju 87 in Hendon, so why would they? :?

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:20 pm

Well, I'm always reading here about how a certain airplane really should be somewhere else due to who built it, where it'd served, or whatever.
You gotta admit, Chicago does seem like an odd place for one of the rarest WW2 planes in existence today...

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 2:51 pm

I would love to see a new one built and flying. Or even a replica. I live too far from Chicago.

Bill

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:01 pm

at least they did not drop it this time, well they still have a chance, they have to hang it up again.

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:39 pm

p51 wrote:Well, I'm always reading here about how a certain airplane really should be somewhere else due to who built it, where it'd served, or whatever.
You gotta admit, Chicago does seem like an odd place for one of the rarest WW2 planes in existence today...

not to mention the rarest war prize anywhere, the U-505

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:15 pm

Pat Carry wrote:
p51 wrote:Well, I'm always reading here about how a certain airplane really should be somewhere else due to who built it, where it'd served, or whatever.
You gotta admit, Chicago does seem like an odd place for one of the rarest WW2 planes in existence today...

not to mention the rarest war prize anywhere, the U-505


Plus, a Battle of Britain veteran Spitfire Mk1a, Boeing 40B transport one of two existing, Curtiss Jenny, 727-100, Travel Air racer one of five built, Aurora 7 Mercury capsule, Apollo 8 command module, and other rare and one of a kind modes of transportation. Yea, it's a nice museum.

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 5:34 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:at least they did not drop it this time, well they still have a chance, they have to hang it up again.


What was the story with this? How much damage was done and when did it happen?

Re: Stuka in Chicago Lowered for Cleaning

Fri Feb 13, 2015 5:47 pm

APG85 wrote:
Matt Gunsch wrote:at least they did not drop it this time, well they still have a chance, they have to hang it up again.


What was the story with this? How much damage was done and when did it happen?


Don't know the why or how but I believe it was the 70's or 80's. The EAA made the repairs.
Post a reply