Any Update on this P-40??

[RMAllnutt]

The time to take the wings off is nothing(2 hours with basic tools).They also toppled the crane onto the airplane as well.Makes you wonder dont it.

That may be true with a restored P-40, but this example had spent sixty years in the muck. Believe me.... bolts never want to give up without a fight in those situations. I've worked on plenty with far less corrosion, and it's not nearly as easy as you make out. Plus, these guys had no time to prepare.

That's the first I've heard about the crane falling on it. From the photos I've seen of the aircraft in the museum it didn't look like anything bad had happened. The cuts to the wings didn't seem to have been that bad either, and certainly didn't take away from her presentation. If an aircraft isn't going to fly again, I hardly see the tragedy of having had to do this in the circumstances involved. She would have been scrapped otherwise... no one would have been able to do any better in these circumstances. Would you rather she were destroyed instead?

Obviously, it would have been preferable to have done the job with less invasive methods, but she's preserved now... Surely that's something worth being happy about?

Richard

Last edited by RMAllnutt on Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RMAllnutt]

sorry... it repeated, so I cleared the text.

[Django]

Wow, that is amazing. The detail shots on the other site are breathtaking.

[hang the expense]

I have taken the fuse off a few P-40s back in the day.It is real easy to crack the nuts on most of the bolts that attach the fuselage to the wings on a kittyhawk.I have done it more than once in russia where we had some of the most basic tools if you get my meaning. They had no idea what they were doing and ruined a rebuildable airframe as far as I am concerned.

[DaveM2]

There was some crushing behind the cockpit when the straps weren't placed correctly. There was never any intention to 'rebuild' the wreck and rightly so, it is a fascinating exhibit as it is, and totally original. The only concern is that corrosion is still progressing as it was not fully dismantled for cleaning.....

Dave

[JimH]

As she is as of last year...





jim harley

[sgt hawk]

Jim, It looks as if they didn't even remove the guns. She looks good and maybe has some potential. Hopefully, they can at least do a good preservation on it, and place it where it can be seen.

[JimH]

Off the top of my head I can't remember the name of the Museum but it is very obscure. It was quite the bus ride to the museum from the main highway. It is set on the owners farm and features several buildings jammed packed with WWII vehicles, vintage cars, and farm machinery. If you are in Italy it is worth finding. The P-40 will remain as is for now, which is really spectacular considering is sat on the bottom for so long.

Jim Harley