PoF Fireball

[T J Johansen]

While looking at a model kit website I found this piece of information. Does anyone know if this is true?

So far as I know, there is only one FR-1 “Fireball” left still in existence, that being the one out at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino. The airplane was acquired by Ed Maloney in the late 1950s, and sat nearly derelict out behind the museum’s single hangar for a good 20 years, protected only by its paint, before being taken into the Jets Museum building in the 1980s. Now that Planes of Fame is in the process of restoring the YP-59A to flight status using I-16s that were rebuilt by General Electric, the FR-1 has moved into restoration to flight status. The airframe is basically sound, and at present is being repainted while a new canopy is being built for it. It may fly as soon as next year on piston power only, while its original I-16 is now being rebuilt for flight status by General Electric for the Museum.

T J

[Matt Gunsch]

I know it was repainted several years ago, but I have not heard of any plan to fly it. and yes, it is the only one, there were 2 but the other was lost in the arson fire at the San Diego Air Museum.

[sandiego89]

No idea, perhaps dated info. It looked decidedly unrestored when I saw her about 4 years ago sitting inside the hanger. She was crammed in the hanger away from the doors and tough to see, but I was excited to see her.

As much as I like flyers, and I have a soft spot for the Fireball, I say sole survivors should not fly. I realize others may not share my opinion.

[marine air]

Haven't ever read anything about the FIreball being restored to fly. The P-59 has been an ongoing restoration for decades. The Fireball has tricycle gear, and had a Wright 1820 engine. Just looking at the weights on it , it looks like it could fly fine without the need of that jet engine. (If the jet weren't available.)
Would love to hear how it's flight characteristics were and if it had any bad tendencies.
Sadly, it looks so much like a T-28, the average warbird pilot with his mustache, frumpy flightsuit, and shiny CJ or T-34 would walk right past it and never even notice it wasn't a T-28.
For my money, it may be more interesting to build a replica Navy Radioplane T2DY (I'm sure I screwed that up) or the Interstate TDN-1 ,U.S. twin engine open cockpit flying bomb/ drone used in te WW II , however none survive to this day.
Drones and UAV's seem to be the hot topic these days.

[Dan Jones]

Given that it's the last one I hope it doesn't fly again. I wonder what Pensacola would trade for it?

[bdk]

Seeing as how obscure it is, it would not be any more of a draw for the museum if it were airworthy. They wouldn't have repainted it if they were just going to strip off the paint in a couple of years to restore it. I'm sure it would fly much worse than a T-28 without the jet. It looks pretty heavy compared to a T-28!

[C VEICH]

Given that it's the last one I hope it doesn't fly again. I wonder what Pensacola would trade for it?

That seems like a logical place for it and maybe PoF could get something more suited to their collection in return. (Like a Hellcat!) While I would love to see the Fireball back in the air from what I've heard via second hand rumours that would a MAJOR undertaking.

[Dan Jones]

Given that it's the last one I hope it doesn't fly again. I wonder what Pensacola would trade for it?

That seems like a logical place for it and maybe PoF could get something more suited to their collection in return. (Like a Hellcat!) While I would love to see the Fireball back in the air from what I've heard via second hand rumours that would a MAJOR undertaking.

Given the Lake Michigan F6F-3 is finished now, maybe a -5 might be available for a trade for it?

[T J Johansen]

Well, I guess it is safe to say that the model site has been somewhat premature in their effort to get it flying then!

T J