Warbird Information Exchange

This thread's got me thinking..
What would be considered the longest continuous restoration for an aircraft expected to become a flyer ?

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

I doubt if any of these will come to pass, but there were a couple of very substantial Mitsubishi "Betty"s recovered in the last few years...

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Kevin McCartney

Could be the Cutlass, although the way it's worded makes it seem like something more off the cuff (but could just be worded that way for more speculation).

Candidates for aircraft having the longest restoration to airworthy;
1) The Curtiss Helldiver at Yanks Air Museum. In the 1970's they restored their aircraft to airworthy and then parked them. This project was started 50 years ago.
2) Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly. Started by the CAF almost fifty years ago,
3) The NAA O-47 owned by the Planes of Fame. I think its been over thirty five years.
4) Bell P-59 Airacomet at P.O.F. It's been ongoing for over forty years.
5) The Northrop P-61 Black Widow. This one exceeds thirty five years
6) NAA XP-51G owned by John Morgan. Another fifty year project that will take another fifty years.
7) Douglass A-26B Invader owned by Kermit Weeks. It has been a thirty five year plus project.

Some of these are "De-storations" meaning the cost to finish their restoration is increasing faster than their finished value or the work inputs , if any, each calendar year.

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8) B-17E Desert Rat/Tangerine; at least 37 years.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

All it takes is a river (far more than just a bucket) of money and a great deal of effort, right? Oh, right, the application of some unusual and very specialized skills. We'll take the desire for granted.

What is your definition of "continuous"? Many projects start and stop multiple times for funding, personnel, new owners and other reasons. I think some of the aircraft are being judged based on a timeline from start to finish. That is a valid metric also, but not the same as "continuous" restoration.

Has anyone seen recent photos of the Black Cat Pass B-17? I heard a rumor that the aircraft was consumed in a grass fire. I hope it isn't true, but that's what I heard.

The Soplata B-36 was cut up by the Plane Tags folks. I was helping them dismantle an OV-1 and they told me that there wasn't much of it that would've been usable anyway.

Edit: double post

What about the P-38 that once was FHC's aircraft now perhaps owned by Stuart Walton. It has been going on for sometime now. Heard might be fairly far along. Also think it was or is at Ezell in Texas.

Ezell’s has several projects going, but running silent on them per customer requests.

A friend has an Aeronca L-3B project that should fly next year. Doing engine runs now. The L-3's are super fun to fly.

If we are throwing out guesses as to what it could be I will add mine, P-43 Lancer. Although something tells me that is wishful thinking and the Cutlass is actually the restoration O'Leary is referencing. We know that one is coming.

Almost forgot, aren't there a couple Kingfisher projects going on Down Under?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)