wolf wrote:
44-83785 is not outhouse mouse - Shady Lady. They spent hundred of hours polishing this ship highly doubtful they will paint her in some fantasy olive Drab scheme. She is also in an airworthy, but not flown state
Collings isn't going to be operating a polished bare metal aircraft of that size on national tours (lessons in that regard were learned in trying to maintain the polished TP-51C "Betty Jane" on the national tours, which it too is now fully painted in OD/grey). Its been the talk around town for quite some time now that 44-83785 will be painted as "Outhouse Mouse" once all of the work is completed on it. There is still some work actively being done on it right now before it goes back to New Smyrna/American Aero.
With regard to "Ye Olde Pub" - it was flown by Erickson, its owner, prior to the Liberty Foundation leasing it, and I would fully expect that it will continue to fly out of Madras, as it had before (and quite a bit), when it is handed back to Erickson again. Some weeks ago it got its Cheyenne tail turret section put back on again (painted to match the rest of the scheme), which was a good clue the aircraft was beginning its transition back to Erickson.
It would seem that the Tallichet family would like to see "The Movie Memphis Belle" continue to fly, and although the NWM ended its lease, hopefully it can find enough financial support to keep it operational. It has been wintering in Florida I believe, at Warbird Adventures, but there is still the idea of having it fly to Geneseo for special events.
I wonder if Jerry Yagen would ever be inclined to add a B-17 back to the Military Aviation Museum again?