Potentially Flyable P-47D to Pima

[RyanShort1]

More people will be able to see it as a static at Pima than where it was rotting in the jungle.

That goes without saying. And I am glad that one more Thunderbolt will be on display in the world. HOWEVER, given that this airframe specifically was being restored to airworthy and now it will be on static display for the foreseeable future, is a real bummer and a wasted opportunity in my opinion. That's all.

Think of it as future restoration opportunity. Who knows if someone will decide to restore it to airworthy from static 25 years from now??? As long as it's relatively well preserved, nothing is truly lost.

[quemerford]

Museums should not be seen as a repository for potential airworthy restorations; neither should airframes be seen as somehow 'lost' because they are on static display.

There will be a P-47 on display at Pima: is it too much to be happy about that?

[C VEICH]

I am a bit saddened by this as well. I live in Az. and get to Pima fairly regularly and will enjoy seeing the Jug but would prefer an airworthy Jug somewhere else in the world to a static one in my home state. This will be the second time that an airworthy (or potentially so) razorback Jug has been stuck in a museum in Arizona. I had high hopes that the Champlin machine would once again see air under its wings but, alas, no such luck.

Maybe we will get lucky and the MoF will release the ex-Champlin F2G for sale since it is no longer on display and they have a much more suitable FG-1D in the collection anyway. Hope springs eternal! I also think the MoF and Collings need to swap P-38's so that Collings can then re-acquire the second seat and return the airplane to P-38M configuration. Collings seems to like two seat fighters so it seems only natural! Again with that "hope" thing.

[C VEICH]

Double post

[Warbird Kid]

I also think the MoF and Collings need to swap P-38's so that Collings can then re-acquire the second seat and return the airplane to P-38M configuration. Collings seems to like two seat fighters so it seems only natural! Again with that "hope" thing.

I have thought of that idea too. (Or acquire the ex-CAF "Scatterbrain Kid II" which was a two seat) BUT in order for Collings to start picking up two seaters (presumably for rides) they kinda' need to get that ride certificate back. Which I don't think will happen for a very long time, if ever. It appears they are shifting to static aircraft either acquired outright or loaned.

FM-2 (USN)
SBD (USN)
P-47 (USAF) - Though now owned by Collings apparently
HE-111 (Static)
Mosquito (Static)

[Mark Allen M]

Build more replicas. Fly those.

[JohnB]

It's good to see Pima bolster its WWII-era collection.
I have been going to Pima since it opened in the mid-70s (the first time I went it was just a travel trailer where you paid your money) and for many years it was basically air frames towed across the road from D-M.
Plenty of postwar military stuff but little else.

WWII fighters are arguably the thinnest part of the collection, but they have come a long way recently.

For many years, the only WWII fighter on display was a well corroded Hellcat pulled out of the water off Hawaii (wonder where that went?).

Their Mustang, P-40, and Hurricane are all "composite" airframes, and their nice FM-2 is ex-Lake Michigan. I don't know about the history of their Corsair, P-39 and '63.
The Spitfire is on loan from the RAF, so a largely original Thunderbolt is a big deal for them.
And to state the obvious, it's nice that they were able to afford it since most original fighters are probably out of their budget.

[Paul Stroud]

'WWII fighters are arguably the thinnest part of the collection, but they have come a long way recently.

For many years, the only WWII fighter on display was a well corroded Hellcat pulled out of the water off Hawaii (wonder where that went?).'


The Pima Hellcat is now restored and on display in Pensacola

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f6fregis ... 66237.html

[Hooligan2]

Never been to Pima, if I can manage another trip or two Stateside then it's on my to do list along with NASM, the USAF Museum and Pensacola... So many interesting types I've never seen...

[JohnB]

Never been to Pima, if I can manage another trip or two Stateside then it's on my to do list along with NASM, the USAF Museum and Pensacola... So many interesting types I've never seen...

If you can't visit all four, Pima might be a good choice because of the variety of types on display....Air Force, Navy as well as civil. Their airliner collection is noteworthy.
Obviously it lacks the historic airframes that the NASM features, but in terms of sheer variety, it is tough to beat.

Last edited by JohnB on Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

'WWII fighters are arguably the thinnest part of the collection, but they have come a long way recently.

For many years, the only WWII fighter on display was a well corroded Hellcat pulled out of the water off Hawaii (wonder where that went?).'


The Pima Hellcat is now restored and on display in Pensacola

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f6fregis ... 66237.html

That Hellcat has been transferred to the NAS Wildwood Museum in New Jersey. It was replaced in Pensacola by this one: https://navalaviationmuseum.org/f6f-3-hellcat/

[sandiego89]

Never been to Pima, if I can manage another trip or two Stateside then it's on my to do list along with NASM, the USAF Museum and Pensacola... So many interesting types I've never seen...

Obviously interests vary, and all have their strengths, but I would consider the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio an absolute must- jaw dropping. Two full days easy if you are an enthusiast.

I am a Naval enthusiast and found Pensacola very interesting, but not as jaw dropping at Dayton.

[C VEICH]

I also think the MoF and Collings need to swap P-38's so that Collings can then re-acquire the second seat and return the airplane to P-38M configuration. Collings seems to like two seat fighters so it seems only natural! Again with that "hope" thing.

I have thought of that idea too. (Or acquire the ex-CAF "Scatterbrain Kid II" which was a two seat) .

The back seat that was installed on SKII and the one that came off of the Champlin P-38 when it was converted back to single seat are one and the same. The CAF acquired it from Champlin.

[Hooligan2]

Obviously interests vary, and all have their strengths, but I would consider the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio an absolute must- jaw dropping. Two full days easy if you are an enthusiast.

I am a Naval enthusiast and found Pensacola very interesting, but not as jaw dropping at Dayton.

If you can't visit all four, Pima might be a good choice because of the variety of types on display....Air Force, Navy as well as civil. Their airliner collection is noteworthy.
Obviously it lacks the historic airframes that the NASM features, but in terms of sheer variety, it is tough to beat.

Cheers, I would certainly like to do all four (and a few other collections besides - even the ones I've been to have moved along in the last two or three decades) - certainly would like to spend a bit of time in Arizona and the surrounding States; if I could have my time again (and cash to spend!) I'd have been over far more often and earlier in my life!

[Mark Sampson]

Its 110F today in Tucson. I had to pick my wife up at the airport, and the route home took us directly past the Pima museum. I slowed down bit and told my wife to look for museum visitors out on that enormous tarmac. She counted four- and this was at high noon. Mad dogs and Englishmen!