A great day at the MAPS Air Museum

Sun May 13, 2007 5:13 pm

Yesterday my friend and I went out to the MAPS Air museum in Akron, OH (KCAK). They have made a lot of improvements in not only the restoration o f the aircraft, but also the facility as well. I was finally able to meet up with PhantomAce as well as some of the other wonderful people that make up the staff of this cool museum. The B-26 marauder and F-100 restorations are going forward as well as their recent added aircraft of an F-105, F-86D, and F-101. The museum is doing a great job upkeeping the rest of theri finished collection like the F-14, F-4, MIG, T-6, and some great others. PhantomaAce and I introduced ourselves to eachother, and the next thing I new I was standing in the middle of some of the behind the scenes places. Thanks again to all of you guys yesterday that made the trip out there so cool. I hope to see you again soon, as Clair and I are thinking about becoming members.

Sun May 13, 2007 6:13 pm

It's cruel to make a post like this and not provide pictures :wink:

Sun May 13, 2007 8:22 pm

Two or three years ago I corresponded with R G Johnston at MAPS and he told me quite a bit about their B-26 restoration. How is that going? Do you know if Mr. Johnston is still involved? What is their email addy?

Canso42

Sun May 13, 2007 8:54 pm

Any shots of the MiG in its current display configuration?

Sun May 13, 2007 8:56 pm

Sorry guys, let me get some pics up very shortly

Sun May 13, 2007 9:52 pm

Here you go guys. Also there is a pic of a former trip there a few months ago when I met a B-26 pilot. This weekend we also ate at the 356th Fighter Group, so I had some fun with the pics.

Sun May 13, 2007 11:08 pm

Any pics of the B-26?

Tue May 15, 2007 9:58 am

mustangdriver, if you drove 1 hour further west you could have saved the shipping on your p-80 windshield frame, & picked it up in person!!!. on the other hand......... with the price of gas, maybe shipping is cheaper!!!

Tue May 15, 2007 11:31 am

I wish I had known. Maybe we can meet up at MAPS on a Sat.

Tue May 15, 2007 11:47 am

I had just finished buttoning up the O2 from its annual. I'm sorry I missed meeting you there. Let me know if any of you are heading out there again

Tue May 15, 2007 11:59 am

Cool will do. The O-2 is one great looking warbird!

Tue May 15, 2007 8:35 pm

Mustang Driver,
Thanks for some cool pix. What is the beat up green thing with the flat nose tire and the stick hanging from it by a string?

Canso42

Tue May 15, 2007 9:15 pm

Canso42 wrote:Mustang Driver,
Thanks for some cool pix. What is the beat up green thing with the flat nose tire and the stick hanging from it by a string?

Canso42

It's our F-105. The stick isn't "hanging" from the plane

It is part of the "tie down's" to add tension--it is like that on the other side as well.

Thu May 17, 2007 9:42 pm

Phantom Ace,
Didn't mean to insult your Thud. If the photo showed a few more inches of wing, I'd have spotted the distinctive wing root intakes. I also see, upon closer look, the tie downs. Gotta use what works.

Canso42

Thu May 17, 2007 11:36 pm

Canso42 wrote:Phantom Ace,
Didn't mean to insult your Thud. If the photo showed a few more inches of wing, I'd have spotted the distinctive wing root intakes. I also see, upon closer look, the tie downs. Gotta use what works.

Canso42

No problem, you didn't insult it at all... it IS a "beat up green thing"

We were going to get it a couple of summers ago, but right before we were going to go down that is when all those hurricanes hit. So not only was this aircraft (an others we have) sitting abandoned outside for many years, it had to weather many hurricanes! :shock:

It actually isn't in too bad of condition (our F-102 has "sword-like" holes up and down its sides), however it seems it was used as some sort of "battle damage repair" aircraft as there are tons of metal plates rivited on the wings and some on the main body!

Its going to take a lot of work and loving!