Restoring the NASM's Helldiver, it will be on display soon

[Pat Carry]

The Helldiver will be on display fully restored at Udvar Hazy within just a few weeks. http://blog.nasm.si.edu/restoration/res ... helldiver/

[SaxMan]

That's great. I remember when the Helldiver was the only plane in the restoration hangar. It wasn't even opened yet. My band was playing an engagement at the museum, and I had to drive my van from one side of the museum to the other. You don't realize how BIG Udvar Hazy is until you drive around the backside of the museum on the taxiways. As I peered over, I saw a dark blue plane with a radial engine in the hangar.

[b747cf]

Here is the SB2C after arriving at the Naval Air Museum.




Mark Fidler

[Steve Nelson]

Looking good! I wonder if the restorers will attempt to duplicate the paint overspray along the edges of the tail stripe and fuselage numbers seen in the wartime photos.

Speaking of Helldivers, does anyone know when restoration work will start on the Naval Aviation Museum's SB2C? When I was there last summer the Hellcat and Birdcage Corsair were in the shop, but the Helldiver was still in pieces on the ramp. Now that the Hellcat is done, I wonder if the Helldiver will get her turn.

SN

[Chief]

Here is the CAF Helldiver flying escort for FIFI over North Carolina last May