LSFM P-47 "Tarheel Hal" going to Evansville Wartime Museum

[BK]

The Evansville Wartime Museum announced today that the P-47 "Tarheel Hal" is arriving Thursday. The Evansville P-47 Foundation is raising funds to purchase the plane. Thursday's flyover of Evansville is at 1pm, with ground display afterwards at the city's airport.

http://bringevansvillep47home.org/
https://www.14news.com/2020/10/12/annou ... me-museum/

[mike furline]

Is this a "flying" museum or permanent grounding? The webpage isn't currently working. https://www.evansvillewartimemuseum.org/

[kalamazookid]

A fitting place for an Evansville-built P-47 to be displayed. The video in one of the links seems to suggest that this will be a static display going forward - but that could just be media speculation. It will be interesting to see what the long-term plans are.

Evansville is also home to LST-325.

[Warbird Kid]

Considering the museum is located in a hangar at the airport, I hope they'll keep her airworthy and hopefully put together a maintenance / flying operation for the plane. A sad shame to see her grounded after so many years. And another sad development to the LSFM. I fear their days are numbered.

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Sun Oct 18, 2020 10:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[garandglen]

Hello all

Happy Happy Happy this P-47 is coming to my town! From what I have heard it will probably be more static than flying

IMO if enough funds could be raised yearly maybe the museum would consider keeping the annual current to fly maybe twice a year.


Glen

[Warbirdnerd]

https://www.14news.com/2020/10/12/annou ... HLNgY0MtyA

[JohnB]

It's good to see communities recognize their wartime history.
There have been a few others...the "Boeing Bee" in Seattle, and "Doc" in Wichita plus Long Island, Conneticut, and Hagerstown, MD...but most museums won't have the interest, resources (maintenance, access to qualified pilots...to say nothing of insurance costs) and staff to fly the airplanes.

[kalamazookid]

It appears that it will indeed be static.

the plan is to “pickle” the plane. This is the equivalent to mothballing a car. So it will not fly in the near future but it’s airworthiness won’t be ruined. It is very expensive to maintain and insure an aircraft of this age and we want to ensure it doesn’t become too expensive to keep in its hometown of Evansville!

Found it here: https://www.facebook.com/EvansvilleP47Foundation

Per John Terrell's sticky thread, this would leave us with 10 airworthy Thunderbolts in the world, of which eight could probably be said to be regularly flown (I don't believe Tallahassee Lassie or Wicked Wabbit have flown recently). The Dakota Territory Air Museum razorback and the CAF P-47N offer some hope for more airworthy Thunderbolts in the near future.

[lucky52]

Was that P-47 that went into a river a few years ago restorable? From the pictures, it didn't look too bad off.

[OD/NG]

Was that P-47 that went into a river a few years ago restorable? From the pictures, it didn't look too bad off.

No, that was a different one. The one that crashed into the Hudson river is not likely ever to see the light of day again. The estate of the deceased pilot wants that aircraft permanently scrapped and destroyed. There is currently a legal battle between them and other interests that want the aircraft restored.

Although it didn't look too bad structurally, it will take a significant amount of money to restore it back to flying condition. Besides being exposed to salt water via the river, it sat outside exposed to the elements for many months, without a fresh water wash-down, and has significant corrosion, I'm told. Others who have inspected the aircraft have stated it would take several million, at least, to restore it back to its previous condition.

[k5083]

It seemed clear at the time of recovery that Jacky's Revenge was very restorable, even just repairable, IF it got the proper attention promptly.

Because of the fatality, I was not surprised, but still saddened, that it did not.

I did not know that about the deceased's estate. I have trouble seeing what standing they have to enforce such a position, and from what I know of the deceased, it is not what he would have wished.

It was always special to see that P-47 at Farmingdale and its loss, even given the accident, just seems so unnecessary and unfortunate.

August

[Dan K]

Always a sad day when a flier is rendered static.

Here's hoping the folks in Evansville have a better fire-prevention/suppression system for attempt #2.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p47regis ... 28320.html

[mike furline]

https://www.maturityjournal.com/world-war-ii

[BK]

It appears that it will indeed be static.

the plan is to “pickle” the plane. This is the equivalent to mothballing a car. So it will not fly in the near future but it’s airworthiness won’t be ruined. It is very expensive to maintain and insure an aircraft of this age and we want to ensure it doesn’t become too expensive to keep in its hometown of Evansville!

Found it here: https://www.facebook.com/EvansvilleP47Foundation

Per John Terrell's sticky thread, this would leave us with 10 airworthy Thunderbolts in the world, of which eight could probably be said to be regularly flown (I don't believe Tallahassee Lassie or Wicked Wabbit have flown recently). The Dakota Territory Air Museum razorback and the CAF P-47N offer some hope for more airworthy Thunderbolts in the near future.

Wicked Wabbit last flew in July 2017.

[maradamx3]

Considering the museum is located in a hangar at the airport, I hope they'll keep her airworthy and hopefully put together a maintenance / flying operation fo 8th plane. A sad shame to see her grounded after so many years. And another sad development to the LSFM. I fear their days are numbered.

Please explain why you think "their days are numbered". That isn't the impression you get when you visit the new, shiny, impressive facility and talk with docents.
Are there reasons beyong Thunderbird and covid?