Week's B-24 Will it ever fly ?

Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:03 am

Greetings
saw the clip on Weeks P-40 doing some Test flights and saw the B-24 in the background Is it in the plans to ever get her backin the air ?
I had heard that their was alot of Cancer all through out the plane.
Is that true ?
As always thankyou for the replys

Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:09 am

That's a very good question. I would sure like to see that.

I'd also be interested to know when his Lancaster KB976 will be restored. And, would it be for flying or for static?

Anyways, I sure would like to see Weeks' B-24 take to the air again. Anyone with info on that please let us know.

Cheers,

David McIntosh

Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:18 am

Me too. Is it currently in flying condition?

Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:58 am

I don't know if it is flying condition, but I know she is really stock. It looks great.

Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:42 am

I wonder if it's just a matter of it being out of annual. Maybe?

-David

Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:55 am

I asked this question a while back in a thread about P-35's.

One of the people working for Kermit said the plane is not in bad shape but it was more cost effective to restore some smaller aircraft than one large one. So there were no immediate plans to get it back in the air.

Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:01 am

TAdan wrote:I asked this question a while back in a thread about P-35's.

One of the people working for Kermit said the plane is not in bad shape but it was more cost effective to restore some smaller aircraft than one large one. So there were no immediate plans to get it back in the air.

Hence the reason the lanc hasnt seen the light of day yet?

Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:08 am

I asked about the B-24 when I visited in January. The story I got was basically the only reason it wasn't flying was due to operating expense. They could fly alot of smaller aircraft more often. The guy I talked to also implied that if someone was willing to foot the bill to fly it (ie like for a movie or promotional event), that it would be available. He didn't mention any major issues with the aircraft. Also stated the B-26 doesn't fly for more or less the same reason besides its rarity.

Todd

Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:29 pm

That's a shame. I would love to see Joe flying along side Witchcraft and Ol' 927! Not to mention seeing a Marauder in person much less let alone flying. Hopefully some funds can be raised.

Website · Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:22 am

That thing still has less than 1000 hours on the airframe, I would assume.
It had somewhere in the area of 450-550 when we kept it in Bedford, MA
Kermit came up in a Baron to look at it when Dave was selling it.

Those were the days

Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:32 am

On the subject of our B-24,the aircraft is in good shape and kept indoors most of the time. If we needed to get her flying again all she needs is a extensive annual inspection. But like I mentioned before we have alot of aircraft in the collection and we have to pick and choose what we will fly and restore. Some people may argue that we have more aircraft then we can fly or restore and this is a valid argument. But the fact remains that when the B-24 was offered for sell anybody who wanted to purchase and fly her could have stepped up and done so , but only Kermit stepped up to do so and since he paid a pretty hefty price for her , he has control of the situation.

Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:28 am

I imagine that the operational cost of a B-24, as any heavy, would be staggering.

Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:34 am

Not if you have her earnin her keep with airshow appearences and rides. But i guess it would still have to be close to breaking even. And also the fact that Mr. Weeks doesnt have the desire to see his heavy birds on tour.

Though i would!

Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:04 am

Without Kermitt who knows where the B-24 might be. Now it is in a hangar on static display. I would say that it and Strawberry Bitch are the two most stock B-24's remaining. I am thankful that Joe went to a good home. Kermitt's place is first rate, and on top of that he is a cool guy to talk to. I got to see the B-26 fly at Oshkosh a few years ago as well, and it was really a cool thing to see.

Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:58 am

I never met Mr. Weeks but from watching him on video and in interviews the guy really appreciates these aircraft. The man has an eye for detail and originality....we think a lot alike.

I am not sure what I just said has anything to do with the B-24...just figured I'd throw that in there. :lol: