NMNA Privateer in restoration?

[Steve Nelson]

Hi All,

A poster over on a modeling forum was talking about a recent visit to the Pensacola museum, and mentioned that in addition to the PB2Y Coranado, the museum's PB4Y-2 was also in the restoration shop "stripped almost to the bolts" (whatever that means.) I know she was repaired and repainted after being damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Is the museum now restoring her to original combat configuration with all the turrets? I'm planning a visit to the museum in August, and definitely plan to get in on the restoration tour.

SN

[mustangdriver]

The new building is going up, and with the new building all of the collection will be indoors. I was there about a year ago and on the tour they said that most of the aircraft would get their turn in the shop on the way to the display building.

[Pat Carry]

All the collection will be indoors! That has to be one big building. I was under the impression that just the larger aircraft were coming in.

[mustangdriver]

It's a pretty large building that they are putting up. I ws told that the flying boats are going to be displayed elevated sort of like how the B-52 is in the NMUSAF so that they can get more of the aircraft inside.

[deltascrew]

I took this picture of it last month. They were in the process of taking the wings off

[JDK]

Thank you and welcome to WIX, deltascrew, and thanks also for supporting Mike's Aerovisuals!

Regards,

[mustangdriver]

Just got an answer back from the NMNA. The PB4Y is going through a thorough restoration before being placed indoors. It will be painted in the WWII era tri color scheme again once finished. Aircraft to follow; the PBY-5A, PBJ, PV2,and P2V.

[Pat Carry]

Just got an answer back from the NMNA. The PB4Y is going through a thorough restoration before being placed indoors. It will be painted in the WWII era tri color scheme again once finished. Aircraft to follow; the PBY-5A, PBJ, PV2,and P2V.

Thanks for the update Chris. Its going to be great getting all these planes under a roof.

[Steve Nelson]

Thanks for the info everybody! Looks like she's also getting a stock "greenhouse" canopy. It'd be great if they could also refit her with the original powerplants, but I don't know if you could even find all the necessary parts now.

SN

[Second Air Force]

Steve, those cowling parts were still around a couple of years ago. I think? they had been at Greybull and were rescued by someone. My feeble memory doesn't remember which thread the post was on ........but someone had photos of a bunch of -2 cowlings.

S

[Owen Miller]

It will be a sight to see when those two monsters move
into the main museum. They will have to go in in pieces
and be reassembled much as the NC-4 was done years
ago. It will be bothan ambitious and worthwhile undertaking.