Warbird Information Exchange

The extra framing and armor plate on the the Air Zoo B-25 are bits of sheet metal attached to a one-piece windshield. Looks the part, and fine for a static restoration, but cosmetic only. I was once told that the museum wanted to restore the aircraft as an H (the way she was built) but they couldn't find a "stub nose." The aircraft also still has the "airstair" door in place from her exec transport days, and if you look close you can see where the extra windows were patched over. Considering the condition it was in when it came to the museum, I think they did an excellent job on her (one of the restoration staff told me that a flying restoration would be prohibitively expensive, as she would need to be totally rebuilt from the ground up.)

SN

Steve, I was bending wrenches on that B-25 back in 1976/77. She was really set up nice as an Executive transport. There was a couch in the bomb bay, a couple of windows between the wing root and the bomb bay hinge, so one could look out at the countryside and one "winged" over it. The interior was pretty nice, and the old guy that owned the plane had me take it all out. She also had a JATO system in her, and the grimes lighting for the period she was flying in the 50's was cool, complete with a light in the fuselage that illuminated the leading edge of the wing so the crew could keep an eye on icing. I truly regret not being able to take pictures of her back then; I was so frickin poor and had a cheap Kodak pocket camera that worked only when it wanted to.
I have suggested to the zoo and the EAA to seek out the folks that; using NAA drawings hand-crafted if you will, the nose for Barbie (43-4106 aka N5548N). No interest there. Shame to have a couple of H models in drag as a J (not that there is anything wrong with a J mind you). I'll shut down now.

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

Please continue! One of the things I love about WIX is hearing the "back stories" of all these warbirds. I first saw the Air Zoo Mitchell in 1984, when she was on outdoor display. The museum had reassembled her and given her a quick OD/Gray paintjob, but they hadn't removed any of the mods (other than the tip tanks and maybe the tail extension, if she had one.) I remember being rather surprised at the JATO setup. One thing that always seemed odd to me was the nose. When the Air Zoo acquired the plane, the nose appeared to be a standard "bomber" glass nose, with sheet metal replacing the plexi..you could see the rivet lines following the original framework underneath, and it didn't have the more streamlined shape of the standard J gunship nose (which it does now.)

As you mentioned, the interior is pretty much empty..even the bomb bay bulkheads and ceiling are gone (although the cockpit is still relatively complete.) I'm assuming the bomb bay doors were sealed up or skinned over when you worked on her. As for the nose, I believe they were trying to do as good a restoration as they could on a limited budget. I was told that they traded a lot of airworthy bits of her to Aero Trader in exchange for some non-airworthy but more authentic parts (like the individual exhausts, early carb intakes and such.) The upper turret looks nice from a distance, but it's just a plastic dome with replica guns. Again, I'm not complaining..considering that she was well on her way to oblivion at one point, the Air Zoo has done a great job making her a nice display piece.

SN

For those of you looking for a sneak peak inside, the gang at Warbird Digest have this shot of the tail gunner's postion on their Facebook page...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/page ... 6438307394

'Wild Cargo' and presumably (knowing the reputations for thoroughness of the parties involved) this example used wartime NAA drawings for markings and details - so not sure why they appear larger in comparison with others but they are certainly correct.

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Warbird Colour - Authentic historic aircraft finishes http://www.warbirdcolour.co.uk

Another shot courtesy of Warbird Digest

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

Does this airplane have the small quarter window in the floor, just to the copilot's side of the bombsight?

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Here's a pre-paint shot (get out your magnifying glass!).

Doesn't look like it has it.

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

Buster made it home today. Can't wait to get up there and swoon over it!



And yes, I believe the name Buster is gonna stick.

Grumpy & Buster. Sounds like a great pair

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

Did you ever get a reply TAdan? In the bio he stated he took and developed a lot of photos, that'd probably be an impressive album to see.

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
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"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Partial Cockpit Shot just posted on Facebook...
Very nice!

And, incase anyone missed it, Warbird Digest posted this over-all shot of the cockpit a little while back on their Facebook page (note the very-limited modern avionics):
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?s ... 6438307394

B-25's did not have a DV window on the co-pilots side only in front of the Captain.

That is one nice resto....

Saturday, July 16th, FHC will show off and fly the B-25 @ Noon during their bi-weekly 'Fly Day' @ KPAE, also scheduled to fly is UPUPPA the P-51D operated by FHC.
Looks like a dull, gray, low ceiling cool day in the mid 60's, so plan for pretty 'flat' photos.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Blech! As long as they get her up, i'll be happy.

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat