Updates on Swoose and Belle?

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 15, 2014 10:17 am

How is their restoration going?

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:20 am

This is the lastest (Dec 2013) restoration update from the NMUSAF http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/exhibi ... /index.asp Slowly but shirley. (dont call me shirley) I recall they were talking about Nov 2014 for the Belle being finished. I'm not sure if that is still a target date or not.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:58 am

I wonder if they have the correct nose plexi for the belle at this time?Anybody know?

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:29 am

hang the expense wrote:

I wonder if they have the correct nose plexi for the belle at this time?Anybody know?

What was wrong with the one that was on the Belle when it came to the museum?

gemmer · **Joined:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:54 am **Posts:** 315

From way back when the NASM intended to do the Swoose restoration.

Duane

JohnTerrell · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:05 pm

It will be stunning to one day finally see a "shark-tailed" B-17 again in complete form. Thank you Duane for some interesting reading!

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 6:56 pm

Pat Carry wrote:

hang the expense wrote:

I wonder if they have the correct nose plexi for the belle at this time?Anybody know?

What was wrong with the one that was on the Belle when it came to the museum?

The gun ports are way too close together.

Pogo · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:03 pm

JohnTerrell wrote:

It will be stunning to one day finally see a "shark-tailed" B-17 again in complete form.

Ain't that the truth. I have secret fantasies about one somehow making it to the airshow circuit some day...

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:12 pm

I would have no problem converting one of the G models into a shark fin bird. Nooooo problem

Pogo · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:34 pm

Interesting that's even possible. Think it'll ever happen?

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:48 pm

The conversion could be done.Take an 18" plug out of the fuselage forward of bulkhead 4 and eliminate the production break at 6 and scratch build a new assend,fin and stabs.What a really cool build that would be.Put it on the airshow circuit and watch people just drool.

maxum96 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:05 pm

hang the expense wrote:

.Put it on the airshow circuit and watch people just drool.

You mean the 6 hardcore B-17 aficionados while the other 10,000 people at the airshow couldn't tell you what kind of plane it was let alone the rarity of it?

I'm with guys on the uniqueness a shark tailed B-17 would be. But unfortunately the vast majority of people couldn't care less is it was a A, B, C, D, E, F or G model flying around.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:16 pm

There would be a lot more people than you think.

Kyleb · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:03 pm

hang the expense wrote:

The conversion could be done.Take an 18" plug out of the fuselage forward of bulkhead 4 and eliminate the production break at 6 and scratch build a new assend,fin and stabs.What a really cool build that would be.Put it on the airshow circuit and watch people just drool.

Where is bulkhead 4 located? In front of the cockpit?

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:23 pm

# is right forward of the cockpit and 4 is at the front of the Bombay with 5 at the back of the Bombay 6 is at the trailing edge of the wing.

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Updates on Swoose and Belle?

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