MAAM P-61 Photo Update 6/5/16

[TAdan]

I wanted to share some pictures I took yesterday at the MAAM's annual WWII Weekend.

I also shared my album on Facebook. unfortunately someone mustve really liked my pictures as they copied and re-posted them almost immediately without citing the source.

[Jesse C.]

That is looking really sharp! Thanks for the pics, I have not seen anything new on her in quite some time.

So, did they just hang the engines on for mock up? They look like they could use some service.

[Warbird Kid]

I heard over the weekend from one of the P-61 volunteers that the engines will be the last thing to overhaul and that they're actually looking for replacement 2800s.

[TAdan]

Yes, I believe the engines are just on for mock-up purposes at the moment. Plus hanging the engines and props provide some nice visible progress from year to year.

Not pictured are two complete drop tanks I spotted in the main hanger too.

I've loved watching this one come together. To go from first seeing the crew pod Celco'd together in their back workshop years ago, to now seeing it on its own gear with props is just wonderful.

[kalamazookid]

LOVE the nose art! Hope that's what the final look is. Using a period-looking pin-up looks so much better than the crappy airbrushed jobs on a lot of new restorations.

Nice to see they found the appropriate props, too. Those can't have been easy to track down.

[menards]

That is looking really sharp! Thanks for the pics, I have not seen anything new on her in quite some time.

So, did they just hang the engines on for mock up? They look like they could use some service.

they made an announcement over the PA that they were just mock-ups for purposes of displaying the two rare propellers they are very proud of. They hope to have wings on it for next years show. How many pilots out there are NH-P61 type rated?

[TAdan]

I believe it was in a Warbird Radio interview that Museum head Russ Strine stated that he anticipated being the first to fly the Widow, and remarked about its similarities to the Museum's Mitchell.

[maxum96]

So, did they just hang the engines on for mock up? They look like they could use some service.

I'm sure that was also so they could get rid of the 55 gallon drum counterweights they had been hanging off the front of the engine nacelles. lol

It's looking fantastic.

[DH82EH]

This restoration is like the ultimate marathon!
They have been slugging it out for decades. Always great to see any updates.
(I bought my first T-shirt before they got her off Mount Cyclops)

Hanging the engines is very useful for figuring out linkages, cables, clamps, baffles, cowls and all kinds of stuff like that.

The propellers look amazing. Finding those is tantamount to finding a Unicorn

Amazing! Thanks for the pics.

Andy

[Django]

They're doing a great job. It looks fantastic.