Switch to full style
This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Post a reply

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:29 pm

Man, what a relief to see it really happening!
Could someone with a Facebook account ask them if any other a/c were being scrapped at the time?

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Thu Sep 01, 2016 9:21 am

I am so relieved that the Castle Air Museum (Merced, CA) will be adding the B-58 Hustler to its collection. Now if Castle could find and add a Douglas B-66 Destroyer it would certainly complement a most complete USAF bomber collection running a close second to that of the NMUSAF at Dayton, OH.

Current collection includes such rare types as a B-18, B-23, B-24 and B-36...and an Avro Vulcan. Interestingly, their 8th AF marked B-24 is actually the only surviving PB4Y-1.

JDV
http://www.fuselagecodes.com

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Thu Sep 01, 2016 4:46 pm

jdvoss wrote:Now if Castle could find and add a Douglas B-66 Destroyer

Welllll... one-stop shopping? :wink:

Image

(By the way, JDV, speaking of fuselage codes, here's another Z-code Las Vegas Gunnery School B-24 for your collection:)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LADD-ARMY-AIRFI ... SwcBhWajcq

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:48 pm

Chris Brame wrote:
jdvoss wrote:Now if Castle could find and add a Douglas B-66 Destroyer

Welllll... one-stop shopping? :wink:

Image

(By the way, JDV, speaking of fuselage codes, here's another Z-code Las Vegas Gunnery School B-24 for your collection:)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LADD-ARMY-AIRFI ... SwcBhWajcq

The PTB know about it, but not gonna happen. We're a 501(c)3 non-profit, and almost entirely volunteer staffed. We are certainly not rich. We were / are in the process of moving an EC-121 when the B-58 came up. As a B-58 has been on the "list" for so long, the Foundation Board went to some gyrations to get it. Pretty sure we're done moving aircraft (unless something ridiculous comes up) for a while.

In addition the the B-58 and the EC-121, we have 4 additional projects going on. On top of that we are in the process of re-skinning the RB-36. We'll be busy for the next 5 years if nothing new shows up. I think we're done acquiring new projects for a bit.

BTW, anyone want to volunteer in a really great restoration shop? We have lots to do!

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:58 pm

the B-66 really needs to be saved. Only 7 survive. They let the one get scrapped at Florence. :evil:

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Thu Sep 01, 2016 11:43 pm

Last time I was at Dyess, the EB-66 was out of the airport line and parked in the brush by the hospital.
I bet if you ask nicely, they'd let it go.
But I'd rather the Chanute bird be saved.

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:56 am

Spectre_I wrote:On top of that we are in the process of re-skinning the RB-36.


Wow. Huge job. "Just" the magnesium, or the aluminum too?

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Fri Sep 02, 2016 10:43 am

Kyleb wrote:
Spectre_I wrote:On top of that we are in the process of re-skinning the RB-36.


Wow. Huge job. "Just" the magnesium, or the aluminum too?


Anything with any sign of corrosion, so both. It's kind of like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. LoL

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Tue Sep 06, 2016 2:38 pm

http://afftcmuseum.org/campaigns/save-r ... et-65-066/


XB-47 Stratojet (65-066)
Thanks to a generous grant from the Boeing Corporation, we have been able to contract with Worldwide Aircraft Recovery to disassemble, transport and reassemble this treasured aircraft. We do still need contributions to prepare it for display once it returns to Edwards - watch this page for further details about the recovery effort and future unveiling. Private funds must be used to support this effort; so again, your help is very much needed. With your help, we will achieve our goal of preserving this truly historic aircraft for future generations.

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Mon Sep 19, 2016 8:21 am

Some cool videos of the XB-47 heading to her new home on the Facebooky thingy.

https://www.facebook.com/Worldwideaircraftrecovery/

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Mon Sep 19, 2016 7:35 pm

Check out this photo - you can see the wings/floats from the Albatross in the background. Was the rest cut up already? :(
https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=58391C0D

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:14 am

And in this photo from the Castle Facebook page, you can see the B-66 is being dismantled; on the right are the Albatross wings:
https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5837FA39

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Tue Sep 20, 2016 9:26 am

Interesting Worldwide Aircraft Recovery Facebook page.

They do get around.

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Thu Oct 20, 2016 4:21 pm

Quick update: Stopped by Chanute this morning on the way to a family wedding.
C-97 has lost its vertical stabilizer and has a long hexagonal hole cut in either side of the aft fuselage. Any guesses what the NMUSAF was removing? (Edit: I looked at my old photos and realized it was the stars-and-bars insignia! :roll: )
C-47 has lost its engines.
HU-16 fuselage appears to be on the ground behind the C-47; wings are off to one side.
B-66 is partly dismantled.
C-133 is still intact for the moment.
F-105s are still there; the Thunderbird-marked one has lost its canopy.
F-101 is intact.
C-121 is intact but very faded compared to a year ago.
Sabreliner is still there.
Couldn't see inside the hangar; closed and locked and I wasn't going to push my luck.
Will post photos soon.
Last edited by Chris Brame on Sun Oct 23, 2016 12:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Dispersal of airframes at Former Chanute

Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:58 am

I would certainly love to see one of the 105's head up to Willow Run.
Post a reply