Any updates on Collings P-38 and B-17 Oregon

[Ed Likes]

Does anyone have any current updates on the P-38 and B-17 which now belongs to the Collings Foundation? These aircraft were with the Evergreen Museum. I thought I read somewhere that there is a crew out at the museum working on one or both of these aircraft preparing them for flight. I would assume back to American Aero in Florida. If this is true would I be correct that it would be under some type of a Ferry Permit? Any info on these aircraft would be much appreciated thanks in advance.

[CoastieJohn]

I heard from a source yesterday the P-38 may indeed end up at AAS. Don't recall if the B-17 was in the conversation. It might have been and I missed it.

[Steve Nelson]

Does the B-17 need to have the Spar fixed? I don't know if it has flown since the AD was issued.

SN

[TAdan]

They got the engines running on the P-38 today.

From what I have read the plan is to ferry the B-17 and P-38 to American Aero for further maintenance prior to joining the Collings tour / collection in the future.

[Chris Brame]

According to their website,Evergreen grounded her in 2001 after flying for several years due to concerns about her wing spars. So CF will indeed be rebuilding her wing spars if they plan to fly her. They knew that going in of course.

Evergreen is not sure of the serial number, either it's 44-83785 or 44-85531. The website asserts it was a CIA operated aircraft operated from Taiwan in the 1950s and for Intermountain Airways in the early 60s where she was fitted with a skyhook for agent recovery. Hence the "lost" serial number.

Might be a good time to verify once and for all when they redo the wings - look for any hidden inspection stamps; if they're Douglas it's 44-83785, if they're Lockheed/Vega it's 44-85531. I doubt the CIA would have bothered de-skinning the wings to grind off all the stamps.

[43-2195]

I wasn't aware the P-38 sold. Anyone got an idea of price? Surely, significantly below "Glacier Girl" s sale price. Are the markings, Gerry Johnson, 9th FS , Japan 1945 ?

Collings Foundation run a very professional outfit. This sale is a win for U.S. warbird enthusiasts. Looking forward to seeing it on the show circuit.

[menards]

I wasn't aware the P-38 sold. Anyone got an idea of price? Surely, significantly below "Glacier Girl" s sale price. Are the markings, Gerry Johnson, 9th FS , Japan 1945 ?

Collings Foundation run a very professional outfit. This sale is a win for U.S. warbird enthusiasts. Looking forward to seeing it on the show circuit.

The asking price was north of 6 million...

[kmiles]

I wasn't aware the P-38 sold. Anyone got an idea of price? Surely, significantly below "Glacier Girl" s sale price. Are the markings, Gerry Johnson, 9th FS , Japan 1945 ?

Collings Foundation run a very professional outfit. This sale is a win for U.S. warbird enthusiasts. Looking forward to seeing it on the show circuit.

Was part of a large package including real estate and aircraft, so there is no individual "sale prices" for the aircraft including the B-17 and P-38. The aircraft were not recently offered "for sale" individually, so there is no firm number to compare.

[43-2195]

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I always thought the sale price of "Glacier Girl" was a little high. I suspect the well documented and highly publicised provenance drove it up. So when this P-38 came on the market and the asking price was "a little north of 6 million" , I wasn't too surprised that it didn't selll immediately. I wonder if the Klaers have an accurate figure of how much it actually cost to recover "White 33" and return it to airworthy condition. I suspect it could be achieved for under 5 million (but I am just guessing).

[Lon Moer]

I do remember seeing this P-38 back when it was with the Harrah's collection.
It was stored outside under a "T-hanger" type structure and parked next to a P-40.

[JohnTerrell]

Although the P-38 was indeed initially listed for sale on its own, for just over $6m, it ended up being part of the group of aircraft purchased, which also included the Evergreen B-17G, Spitfire Mk.XVI, Bf-109G, P-40K, Curtiss-Wright CW-22, DH4M-1, and a Stearman, for what was published as $22m for it all.

As an asside, it has been published that Rod Lewis purchased "Glacier Girl" at the cost of $7m USD, back in 2007. By comparison, the cost of an Avspecs-restored flying Mosquito has been said to be around/near $6m USD (around/near $8m NZD).

[menards]

Thanks for that, much appreciated. I always thought the sale price of "Glacier Girl" was a little high. I suspect the well documented and highly publicised provenance drove it up. So when this P-38 came on the market and the asking price was "a little north of 6 million" , I wasn't too surprised that it didn't selll immediately. I wonder if the Klaers have an accurate figure of how much it actually cost to recover "White 33" and return it to airworthy condition. I suspect it could be achieved for under 5 million (but I am just guessing).

Any sale is a meeting of the minds between purchaser and seller. Its the common ground between the most a purchaser is willing to pay and the least a seller is willing to accept. There was more to the story with GG though. IIRC, the Schoffner family sold it for somewhere in the $3.5 million range...then Rod Lewis bought it for $7M. The ultimate flip.

[Dennis7423]

I heard rumor that once completed, the Evergreen B-17 will wear different markings than it currently has. Any ideas floating around as to what she will wear? Was curious if they would paint her up as one of '909's sister ships from the 91st BG, such as "Sweet 17" or "Cheri", or go in a completely different direction. Or, leave her in her current markings.

- Dennis S.
Westminster, CO USA

[Chris Brame]

The lady from Collings I spoke to at Chicago Executive (didn't get her name) said it would be Outhouse Mouse.

[Jesse C.]

Is the B-17 painted silver or bare metal? If bare metal, it would be a shame to paint her. I would be a nice contrast to the current B-17 and 24 who are currently in Camo colors.

But, I am not footing the bill. Sadly. But, Outhouse Mouse would be a nice paint job.