The Inspector wrote:
B-50 (and model 377/KC-97) were also 'advanced' by greater use of the new wonder metals Magnesium and 7075 T6 aluminum. making the B-50 more prone to corrosion and cracking. Anyone who's ever dealt with corrosion knows that 7075 looks awful when corroded, sort of like a dark gray wet phonebook all layered and delaminated and mag just' disappears' in a 'wormy' manner, in the same time frame Titanium sheets could be flexed by hand and eventually torn like a B+ book report.
Yes sir, I have noticed that. On the B-36 as well. The difference between how the different panels have fared is striking. I noted this on the B-50 lucky Lady II at Chino and the B-50 and B-36 Atwater. The tradtional aluminum sections (covering pressurized spaces) tend to be doing better, the magensium not so much.
Hope more of the uber rare B-36's and B-50's can move indoors. Yes I realize what a task that is. Those outside at Pima should do a bit better, but I worry more about the B-50's at Atwater and MacDill (have never seen her, unsure what shape she is in? but the FL climate is rough). I wonder if all the indoor hangars at Atwater (ex-Castle AFB) are really being used by paying customers?
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