Warbird Information Exchange

Found this while surfing the web. Someone asked about this nose section awhile back. I think the Museum of Flight got it when Beale closed down and used it for spare parts. The last I heard, it ended up derelict behind the New England Air Museum...

http://www.johnweeks.com/b29/b29beale.html

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Wouldn't it be nice to have that display sitting in your garage.

Here are two photos of "BTO" taken in May of '05 in the NEAM storage area.
The missing nose parts were not on the aircraft when it arrived at NEAM. I'm not sure where they were removed. It is really stripped out and I don't know if the cockpit had ever been complete when it was attached to the building.
Jerry

http://members.cox.net/ggpop/DSCN7242.JPG

http://members.cox.net/ggpop/DSCN7239.JPG

Looks like it had a lot of Bondo and a lot of corosion. Hopefully the parts went to a worthwhile project.

Why were the bomb symbols so far forward? Was this a replacement panel?

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Cheers,
Peter

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What is NEAM doing with the section at this point?

Tom P.

I believe it came as part of a trade for parts between the NMUSAF and "Doc's" Restoration. I think "Jack's Hack's vertical was swapped to "Doc" and I also believe NEAM got a "better" rear tail turret in the deal.
"BTO" was obviously a donor nose for one, if not several, B-29 projects.

I also cannot confirm that NEAM actually owns "BTO". It maybe there only until "Jack's Hack" is finished or it maybe a permenat resident.
Plans are not clear at the moment, but there is talk of a "walk-through" display. Deals, however, are always made and if the right one is offered, where the Museum benefits, it could end up being sent somewhere else.
You never know until you ask.

When I was one of the curators at NEAM we traded and sold many aircraft to help put up several buildings. I was personally involved with the decision on the 299Z/B-25H deal with Tom Reilly. Two aircraft are restored and one of them is flying. Good deal for all of us I think.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Hey Airdales,do you know what happined to this Tempest that was at NEAM back in the day?(1986)

The Tempest in the photos was traded to NEAM by the late Nick Grace for our Short Sealand Amphib. He then traded that airframe to the Museum in Ireland for a Spitfire.
The NEAM Tempest was later traded for a complete Mig-15.

Now before everyone goes wild, I'll make a few things clear.

The Tempest was in rough shape and far from displayable. At the time, most of our resources were going into buildings to protect the majority of the collection. The Northeast is not kind to aircraft kept outside. We didn't even have the restoration Hanger at that time, so it's place in line was a long way off.

Even though my heart lies with the WWII aircraft, the committee took in to consideration the roles in history that both the Mig-15 and the Tempest played. The Tempest was realitivly short-lived. A great aircraft, but it's role in history was not a long one. The Mig-15, on the other hand, played a significant part, not only by supplying many of the world's air forces with their first Jet Fighter, but also it's longevity and it's influence on the United States. What it represents to an Aviation Musuem that is trying to portray the history and impact of aviation is the massive effects the communist have had on our country and armed forces.

From WWII up until recently, our entire military was focused on the commmunist threat. The Mig-15 tells a much broader story for the general public visiting the museum than the Tempest ever would.

I would've liked to keep both, but for what we were trying to focus on, I still believe it was the correct choice at that time. Today, with 5 buildings constructed, I would find it hard to let go of the Tempest for a Mig, especially since most people know the cash value of the airframes are very different.

As a side note, the Macchi 200 that we had since the mid 1960's was in deplorable condition and missing many parts. It was sold to help put up the restoration building. I would've loved to keep that one, but the building was sorely needed and many projects have been through it since it's construction, thus saving many airframes in the collection. Besides, within a year and a half of sending the Macchi away, it was back at the NMUSAF and fully restored for all to see. Now didn't we all benefit from that?

As to the present whereabouts of the Tempest, I'm not sure and I've forgot who was involved in the trade, but it might have been Chuck Thornton. Not sure though, so don't quote me.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Come to think of it, it wasn't Chuck Thornton, but it was somebody in Texas or Arizona who dealt in Soviet Aircraft. Name escapes me.
Here's a Registry link to the Tempest.
Blue skies,
Jerry

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/tempestr ... mw810.html

Jerry,

As a long-time, but not frequent, visitor to NEAM, thank-you for your hard work for many years. It is never an easy decision for a museum to part with a/c and I appreciate the "big picture" you provided us some insight into. The NEAM has steadily and significantly grown since the series of trades & sales you referenced in your posting.

thanks...

Thank you for the comments.

I must state that I was very involved from about 1984 through 1992, and then started to pull back from my activities at NEAM because of my growing family commiments. I was the Costume Curator (no one else wanted it!), but all curators were involved in the accession/de-accession decisions.

I do some occassional projects and special things for them, but I'm now a very inactive volunteer. At the same time, I also started to get more involved with airshows and that has become a consuming business for me, so little time is left for the "Volunteer Fun".

Once my grandsons get older, I'll probably get more involved again, especially helping out on the Open Cockpit Days.

The trades and deals made have really helped NEAM move forward and all of that credit should go to Michael Speciale, the Executive Director of the museum.
NEAM would not be where it is today without him.
Blue skies,
Jerry

Jerry,thanks for the info.

How many Tempest II's are there in the USA ?. only hasn't Nelson Ezell got one on the back burner ? so possibly this aircraft.

Edit. O.K. so I looked it up & it is the same a/c MW810, & it will end up flying
http://www.hawkertempest.se/mw810.htm

Good news,thanks.