Dobbins ARB and Marietta Air Museum

[Ken]

So I'm at Dobbins this week for my annual C-130 refresher sim. Can't believe I forgot my camera, but I did. We'll see about fixing that in the near future.

Static airplanes include the B-29 gate guard, an OV-1 at the Army ramp, and a handful of fuselage sections used for load training.

Adjacent to the Lockheed factory is the site of what was to be the Marietta Air Museum. They have a C-141 (in pieces) and a number of airframes that were previously on display on the Navy side of the field: F-14, A-4, A-6, A-7. The A-4 and A-7 have already been mounted on poles at the new site.

IIRC, the navy side also had a Cobra, E-2, and maybe an OV-10 ... I did not see these anywhere on base.

A google search brings up faulty links to the air museum - anyone know what's going on with it and these airframes?

Ken

[Kyleb]

They are struggling to put together funding to get a museum off the ground. Essentially, they have several donated airframes and a piece of(loaned?)real estate, but have not progressed much farther than that.

[mustangdriver]

How far is this from the Warner Robbins Museum?

[Pogmusic]

Depends on the time of day. If you get caught in Atlanta traffic, 3-4 hours. However, I use to make that run in about 2 hours during non-traffic periods. Of note, the factory produced the B-29B there and is known as the Bell Bomber Plant. That is why the B-29 is at the gate. Locals came together and acquired the B-29 from the old Florence Air Museum in Florence, SC.

It was disassembled, moved to numerous Technical Schools in Georgia and "restored". I use that term loosely. At one point, the gunners aiming blisters were fashioned from bubbles from a McDonald's playground. I think they have since been replaced. Great effort to preserve a great aircraft.

[ripcord]

About 80 or so miles. Warner Robins is just south of Macon, Marietta is just north of Atlanta.

[BK]

A google search brings up faulty links to the air museum - anyone know what's going on with it and these airframes?
Ken

The air museum went belly up and the city's history museum took over the assets (planes) to keep them locally. The city history museum is attempting to get funding to display the aircraft. As far as I know the planes are in storage at the planned museum site (corner of Atlanta Rd. and S. Cobb Dr.)

http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_stor ... eum-assets?

[RareBear]

There was an AH-1J Cobra and an E-2C Hawkeye, as well as an F/A-18A Hornet, with the other aircraft on static display at the entrance to the former Naval Air Station Atlanta. The A-6 was not with the others, but was on the perimeter road.

The C-141, F-14, A-6, A-4, A-7 and a Lockheed Jetstar were moved to a parking lot behind the Associated Credit Union near the Atlanta Road / South Cobb Drive intersection. As the NAS just closed a few months ago, the Cobra, Hawkeye and Hornet may still be in place near the former base entrance.

I've got a good friend who works in Marietta, and I'll ask him.

Walt

[Ken]

As the NAS just closed a few months ago, the Cobra, Hawkeye and Hornet may still be in place near the former base entrance.

He may know. As I said, I was just there, and all the birds appeared to have been removed from their Navy display location(s). I didn't see any other than as I described. Thanks.

[Andy Marden]

I saw the Cobra in December. It is at Robins AFB, plinth-mounted over on the east side where they are building a new hangar for the Marines choppers moving in from NAS Atlanta.
Andy Marden

[Ken]

I forgot they had an F-18. The picture currently on google maps show the old static location(s). Also visible are the famous Libyan C-130s that continue to sit and rot on the back 40.

I also noticed that the picture was snapped just as an F-22 was coming in across the overrun on runway 29.

[Enemy Ace]

I always thought they were Iranian AF C-130's?

[Ken]

http://www.herkybirds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1070

[67N20]

Hopefully this link will work:

http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9eXAuRG9iY ... c5MzIxMw==

It didn't

[C118FE]

As the NAS just closed a few months ago, the Cobra, Hawkeye and Hornet may still be in place near the former base entrance.

He may know. As I said, I was just there, and all the birds appeared to have been removed from their Navy display location(s). I didn't see any other than as I described. Thanks.

Thought the NAS was to be closed in mid 2011.What happened,is anyone left,all the planes gone,where did the VR squadron transfer to? Thanx.

[RareBear]

NAS Atlanta officially closed 30 SEP 2009. VR-46 (C-9's) and VMFA-142 (F/A-18's) went to NAS-JRB Ft Worth. VA-205 (F/A-18's) was disestablished in 2005. I think the Marine AH-1W sqdn went to Beaufort. Not sure where VAW-77 (E-2C's) went, but may have been NAS New Orleans.

The property was taken over by the Georgia National Guard, and their HQ was or will be moved there from the Confederate Avenue location in Atlanta. Not sure what they are planning for the hangars and other aircraft-related assets.

The VR-46 hangar is relatively new, completed in 1990. The VA-205 hangar was completed in 1985, with its addition being completed in 2000.

I was the NAVFAC Resident Engineer there from 1989 to 2001, and was involved in virtually all the construction at the base during that period.

Walt