P-82 Twin Mustang

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

One last topic,

Has anyone heard how the restoration of the P-82 Twin Mustang has been going. This aircraft would be the one that was purchased by Wally Fisk several years ago and sold when he closed up shop. I think it is still in Minnesota, but have not heard anything about it in a long time.

Also, if my memory serves me correctly, I thought that there was another P-82 being restored in Alaska (?). Does anyone know any more info on that one as well ??

Thanks,

Paul

[Steve T]

Paul--

Last I heard the ex-Amjet/Fisk F-82E was indeed still in Minnesota, being restored by C&P Aviation (who also have the superb B-25J strafer "Betty's Dream" on the circuit in the midwest). I have not seen that F-82 since a visit 21 years ago to Walt Soplata's place, where it was kept from 1954 to about 1991...

Not sure if there is an F-82 project underway in Alaska, but I do recall seeing some photos of some F-82 components that had been recovered either from a USAF base "boneyard" or a scrapyard. Someone else on here will surely have a clearer recollection of that stuff.

S.

[RMAllnutt]

Dick Odgers recovered quite a bit of F-82 components, including some well preserved tail sections from dumps/scrapyards in Alaska. There was an article in Air Flassids in the late 80's. I seem to recall that the CAF had some hard bargaining with him to obtain a replacement set of undercarriage for their P-82 after it had its most recent altercation... not sure they ever were able to afford his asking price though. I had that Dick had been trying to put together enough components to form a project in its own right, but don't know the truth in that, nor whether it actually came to pass.

Cheers,
Richard

[Steve T]

Paul--

Just heard that there'll be two pages of updated pix of C&P's F-82E project in the forthcoming Issue #4 of Warbird Digest.

S.

[Michel Lemieux]

Glad to hear about the up and comming article.

I have not been able to find any pictures & reference to show was has been done to the bird in a long while.

Anyone knows how close it is to beeing done ? Props, engine, etc.....

What will they do when its finished also ? I guess it is a good asset to have & market once finished.

I seem to remember ( god forbide where ) that it was (pre) sold to someone once finished. Someone has more info ?

Cheers

[dj51d]

The recent article in Air & Space said they were estimating about 3 more years untill the restoration is complete. I haven't heard anything about it being sold, and I sure hope it hasn't been, I'm going to like having a flying P-82 around.

[Tulio]

Together with Dick Phillips, we visited the C&P Aviation Hangar back in August 2003; neat would be a poor way to describe the excellent restoration work being carried on the P-82.

It is to be finished on the NACA markings it carried while in service, and the target completion date of five years was mentioned back then.

If I recall correctly, we discussed this same subject here, sometime in the past and there were photos posted on it. My photos though, are back home in Texas so I cannot help you guys with that now.

Also of interest besides the Twin-Mustang, the B-25 and a T-6 or SNJ (not sure) and Boeing YL-15 (?) (two of them) and a Convair L-13 (?);
this was the same day where I had the pleasure of meeting Mike Rawson and listen to his stories about the SB2Cs and also see the amazing restoration work he is carrying there.

Saludos,


Tulio

[HELLDIVERS]

HI THE P-82 PROJECT IS COMMING ALONG VERY WELL ONE FUSELAGE IS OUT OF THE JIG,COMPLETELY RESKINNED ,MOST INTERNAL COMPONENTS ARE REBUILT AND INSTALLED. THE SECOND FUSELAGE IS TOTALLY DESKINNED AND NOW IN THE JIG FOR REPAIRS AND RESKINNING.THE ENGINES AND PROPS ARE REBUILT AND READY TO INSTALL,BOTH OUTER WING PANELS AND HORIZONAL STAB. ARE COMPLETE.PAT IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THE PROJECT,HE ALSO HAS PURCHASED ALL OF THE ALASKA REMAINS.THANKS MIKE

[mrhenniger]

Will the Alaska remains be absorbed into the current restoration, or will they use them as the basis of a new F-82? Since they currently have jigs and experience, you might think they could start with nearly nothing.

Mike

[Mike]

Does anyone have an update on the current status of the (?former) CAF example? And of the P-38 that was planned to be traded for it at one point?

Has the legal issue over the ownership of the F-82 been resolved with the USAF Museum?

[tom d. friedman]

soplata as 1 other twin mustang, in pretty rough shape, far from complete, but it is an experimental prototype. still has the stenciling of xp-82 below left stabilzer.

[Randy Haskin]

soplata as 1 other twin mustang, in pretty rough shape, far from complete, but it is an experimental prototype. still has the stenciling of xp-82 below left stabilzer.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p51regis ... 82887.html

Photos from my visit to the Soplata farm in '02 are on the registry. My understanding is that he has only one fuselage, and nothing else of the rest of the aircraft. I definitely only saw the one fuselage, and no other associated parts during my poking around.

[mrhenniger]

Photos from my visit to the Soplata farm in '02 are on the registry. My understanding is that he has only one fuselage, and nothing else of the rest of the aircraft. I definitely only saw the one fuselage, and no other associated parts during my poking around.

In your picture the fuse is stored out in the open. It was previously spotted inside the B-36 fuse. During your visit when to took the picture of the F-82, did you happen to notice if there was anything inside the B-36?

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Tue May 03, 2005 12:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

Deleted 2nd of a double post.

Last edited by mrhenniger on Tue May 03, 2005 12:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[tom d. friedman]

didn't get into b-36 fuselage. the xp-82 is midway from the front of property, by the scorched skyraider, & yes only 1 portion of the twin mustang fuselage exists to my knowledge. regards, tom