Grissom B-17update 1/24/2011

[mustangdriver]

Well over the last few weeks we have made some great progress with the plane. First off we have been accepted into the B-17 Co-op which as a huge step for us. Communicating with other B-17 owners and operators has proven so valuable already in just a few weeks. We wish to thank those who made that happen.
Yesterday Rob and I spent the day sorting parts. It seems that over the years many items were remeoved from the aircraft by folks who I am sure meant well, but nothing was tracked. So now we are trying to revers many years of that. There are 10 storage buildings with aircraft parts all through them. We went through about 7 of them yesterday. The museum is not 100% sure what all it has for the '17, so it is really interesting trying to piece things back together. We do now know that we have molds to make the cheek windows for both sides of the B-17. SO if anyone is in need let us know.


Rob in one of the typical storage buildings looking for parts


Working on cleaning out years of dirt from the tail.


Some of the interesting parts that we found







This is my great find yesterday. While looking for a few boxes, I looked behind a storage locker and found this!

One of the bombracks!
















One of the stacks of parts. Right now we are pulling all of the parts to our work area. So that at the very least all of the B-17 stuff is in one place. If anyone gets bored, please come on out. We need help.

[Steve Nelson]

Cool! Is that shag carpeting in the last picture original? All you need is some fuzzy dice and chrome foot-shaped rudder pedals!

Great to see you're making progress bringing the old girl back to her former glory.

SN

[TimAPNY]

That looks like a ton of fun. Wish I could make the trip but not in the cards right now.

Tim

[mustangdriver]

We hope to have you guys stop out sometime. In the spring we will be having the grand re-opening of the museum with some restoration work on going, and the fresh repaint of the C-47.

[Django]

Wow, how do you even know what to look for or what you're looking at half the time?

[PJ]

Be sure to post up the date of the open house. I would like to come up for that.

PJ
PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff"
www.amhf.org

[viking73]

Wow, how do you even know what to look for or what you're looking at half the time?

I wondered the same thing!!!

-Derek

[Pat Carry]

Hey Chris, Is the tail turret for the Grissom B-17? The B-17 at the Mighty Eighth AF Museum in Georgia needs one. Do you interact with those folks also?

[Django]

I am pretty sure they are going to keep it.

[mustangdriver]

Yeah Pat it is our, but we are working with them as well. Very nice people there

[The Inspector]

Sorta like 'American Pickers' without having to ride all day in the van with Frank and Mike-don't ya just love a good, productive treasure hunt for those 'WOW! WAY COOL!' moments?