B-24 any being restored long term to flying condition?

[Dave Homewood]

I think there's only the one Privateer (the Arizona one) flyable now Dave

Oh? Wikipedia lists four.
59763 - Ronald Sathre in Union City, California.[8]
59882 - Bob J. Hawkins in Greybull, Wyoming.[9]
66300 - Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.[10][11]
66302 - P4Y-2 LLC in Phoenix, Arizona .[12]

[Warbird Kid]

Back on the new-build idea:

Would it make more sense to try and have the subassemblies of the airframe built in multiple shops?

Fuselage for one,
Wing for another,
Landing Gear and systems for another,
Electrical for another,
Engines for another,

Tom Reilly to put it all together?

Still believe that this is the way to go in the future. Otherwise we will be stuck with the three or four airframes we have today.

[Mike]

Ah, if Wikipedia says so it must be true Dave!

[Pat Carry]

Hopefully soon the USAF will realize the importance and scarcity of the B-24 and donate the B-24 at Barksdale to a museum willing to display it indoors. Just a thought.

[Django]

Hopefully someday Kermit will devote some energy and money into his B-24. It's the best option. I would be content too with a flying PB4Y-2 with a nice big Hal Olsen nose art design on the side as well.

[Warbird Kid]

Hopefully someday Kermit will devote some energy and money into his B-24. It's the best option. I would be content too with a flying PB4Y-2 with a nice big Hal Olsen nose art design on the side as well.

While you are quite correct, and it will probably happen at some point within the next 30 years (just a guess), I fear this will be a bomber seldom seen in the skies. Unless Kermit flies her pretty regulrary. Take for example the B-25. It was restored magnificently, flown that year, and pretty much parked. While I'm sure she's been flown a good amount since then, the fact of the matter is the majority of the collection sits. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it would be nice to see Kermit expand the flying program of aircraft alongside the facility upgrade for "Phase 3". Say a year round bomber tour, very similar to that of the Collings Foundation. B-24, B-17, B-25, B-26. It would do three things for Kermit's Museum.

1. Advertise the Collection / Museum
2. Become a revenue making process (if organized the correct way)
3. Promote the vision and message for his Phase 3 Facility

While it takes more money and effort, what a change in the warbird scene if Kermit started flying a group of his WWII bombers on a ride / tour program across America!

[JimH]

I forgot about this wreck that was at Gilespie a few years ago. It was ALL there, just highly distressed. The nacelles looked brand new...I'm not sure what happened to her but it was/could be a viable project for someone well heeled. I remember someone saying it came out of Alaska.

Jim

[Matt Gunsch]

That is the remains of the B-24 that was recovered from Alaska for the Museum at Hill AFB, I believe those are the left overs.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b24regis ... 23908.html

http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factshee ... sp?id=5653