MAAM P-61 Black Widow Update

[TAdan]

I spotted this update on their website a few days back. Glad to see it is moving along. I did not get a chance to get out there this fall. I hope I can get out there this winter and snap a few pics. When I visited last year they were just getting started on the horizontal stabilizer.

Hope too see her together soon.

[bdk]

That thing would look sweet all polished up and rounding the pylons at Reno!

[warbird1]

That thing would look sweet all polished up and rounding the pylons at Reno!

I see jet1 is brainwashing you again, bdk!

That's the last thing we need to do - is risk a one of a kind historic airplane by racing it at Reno. If there were as many P-61's around as A-26's I wouldn't care, but given it's rarity, that just would not be worth it.

[Ethan]

That would be such a cool sight I think it would be worth the risk.

[Warbird Kid]

[warbird1]

That would be such a cool sight I think it would be worth the risk.

Man, you guys are crazy! You would want to risk the airplane in one of the world's most dangerous races just so you can see it fly around the pylons? You know, it's extremely likely that this will the last and only P-61 to ever fly until it either crashes or gets retired to a static display in a museum. I can understand risking just about anything else - B-25, A-26, F7F, but a P-61? That's just insane!

Does anybody else support seeing the P-61 compete at Reno? I'm just curious to know if there are other crazies around here.

[Warbird Kid]

That would be such a cool sight I think it would be worth the risk.

Man, you guys are crazy! You would want to risk the airplane in one of the world's most dangerous races just so you can see it fly around the pylons? You know, it's extremely likely that this will the last and only P-61 to ever fly until it either crashes or gets retired to a static display in a museum. I can understand risking just about anything else - B-25, A-26, F7F, but a P-61? That's just insane!

Does anybody else support seeing the P-61 compete at Reno? I'm just curious to know if there are other crazies around here.

I believe the notion is just a fond idea that we dreamers like to conjure up. To seriously consider modifying this sole living example is pretty far out there. However I would like to see someone step up and produce a new-build P-61 from scratch to race. That is something I'd like to see.

[warbird1]

I believe the notion is just a fond idea that we dreamers like to conjure up. To seriously consider modifying this sole living example is pretty far out there. However I would like to see someone step up and produce a new-build P-61 from scratch to race. That is something I'd like to see.

I would support that. It's too bad that MAAM couldn't have made duplicates or triplicates of every part they restored on the Widow to make 2 or 3 clones for a limited "production run" like what Tischler of TAF did in Texas with the F3F's, 262's, Oscars, etc.

If I were to seriously race a highly modified P-61 though, I would slap 3350's on that thing instead of the 2800's it now has. Come to think of it, two Griffons with Contra-rotating props would look pretty awesome as well! It could look like that contraption that Howard Hughes flew and nearly killed himself in.

[Mike]

Does anybody else support seeing the P-61 compete at Reno? I'm just curious to know if there are other crazies around here.

Absolutely!

What a sight that would be. Fill the airframe with Bondo, put a wild race paint scheme on it, clip the wings, chop the cockpit to lower the profile and squeeze a few more miles an hour out of it, strap on a pair of R-3350s, then LET'S GO RACING! Yeah!!!!!!

[Steve Nelson]

I'm curious..just how much of the aircraft will be restored original parts, and how much new-build? I don't really care if it's 100% reproduction..I'm just jazzed to know there will be a P-61 flying again!

A member of our model club claimed that he heard they were building a replica to fly, and would use all the original parts to rebuild a second static example..I don't think he was deliberately trying to BS me, I think he got his "facts" a little mixed up.

SN

[warbird1]

Does anybody else support seeing the P-61 compete at Reno? I'm just curious to know if there are other crazies around here.

Absolutely!

What a sight that would be. Fill the airframe with Bondo, put a wild race paint scheme on it, clip the wings, chop the cockpit to lower the profile and squeeze a few more miles an hour out of it, strap on a pair of R-3350s, then LET'S GO RACING! Yeah!!!!!!

Are you serious, or just "yanking my chain"?

[mustangdriver]

I am in full support of flying this P-61 to airshows and events. if you think this P-61 should be flown at the races in reno, then you should have to wear aluminium foil on your head so that we all know who you are.

[APG85]

How much work needs to be done on the wings...full re-build? What a neat project. Have the engines been touched? Maybe another couple of years to go?

[TAdan]

Here are the wings in 2007. They were put inside soon after this pic was taken. I'd bet they will be getting attention soon given the rate of progress on the rest of the plane.



As far as the percentage of original v. new I posted it in another thread, let me see if I can find it... Here it is... "I have an article infront of me from the Nov. 08 issue of "Aviation History" with an interview with the MAAM's director. According to the article "It is estimated that 70 percent of the aircraft will be new when complete."

[viking73]

Neat picture TAdan. Are those AJ Savage cowls & props in the foreground?

-Derek