Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:26 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: B-18A - B-18B comparison
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 3:17 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 9:54 pm
Posts: 722
Location: Tucson, AZ
Here are some pics of a B-18A taken at Douglas (black & white) and some for comparison of the B-18B restoration at Pima Air & Space Museum (color).
This shows what a great job Pima did on their interior.
bill word

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:09 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:37 pm
Posts: 1812
Location: Spring, TEXAS
Nice pics! I guess thats the bomb site behind the pilots seat?

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:27 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club

Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:26 pm
Posts: 4974
Location: PA
Wow, never seen the inside of a B-18 before. It's got more accommodations then a B-17 has! :shock:


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: B-18A - B-18B comparison
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 4:38 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:59 pm
Posts: 843
Location: Redmond,Oregon
I believe that the sight behind the pilot's seat is a driftmeter for the navigator.Two types were in common use,at least in the days of C-119J's and C-117D's.The B-3 driftmeter used 115v single phase ac power,while the B-6 used 115v three phase ac power.Both were used to determine wind direction and velocity via a telescopic sight with various useful reference markings both internal and external.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:46 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 9:54 pm
Posts: 722
Location: Tucson, AZ
Larry is correct that is a drift meter, In fact an original B-18 drift meter.
I have a few more interior pics and I will post them after I walk the dogs.
bill word


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:10 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 9:54 pm
Posts: 722
Location: Tucson, AZ
More Pima B-18B interior shots I hope this is not too many photos at one time.
bill word
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: B-18A and B-18B
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:52 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:39 pm
Posts: 11
At last, someone is honoring the old reliable. These images appear to be identical to those in a recent book released by Schiffer on the B-18 by Dr. William Wolf, however - of course taking interior views could well lead to apparent "duplication" I guess.

For anyone who is interested, Air-Britain has agreed to publish y six-year project on the B-18, XB-22 and B-23 in their Monographs series, and it will be an opportunity to fully discuss the pros (and many cons) of the very misunderstood aircraft....including nose art and wonderful color side-views by Rich Dann.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:31 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm
Posts: 2926
The B-18 looks great!
If all goes according to plan I'll be at Pima on Sunday with lots of room on the memory cards, and I can't wait.
Too Bad it is not a COMPLETE restoration so they could filler up with 100LL and Oil and depart for Oshkosh, they would be returning with an award no doubt...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 09, 2007 9:43 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:10 am
Posts: 9720
Location: Pittsburgher misplaced in Oshkosh
Pima is a first rate museum, as can be seen in these pics.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: B-18 photos
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 12:50 am 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:02 am
Posts: 4703
Location: Yucca Valley, CA
Hi Bill,
Thanks so much for the great photos of my favorite chunky '30s bomber! A question: was there anything left of the original rear turret mount? Too bad there aren't any Bolos out there with a chance to fly again, unless a miracle happens with the Hawaii bird...

_________________
Image
All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 1:21 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 9:54 pm
Posts: 722
Location: Tucson, AZ
Chris the turret was removed in the modification from B-18A to B-18B, only the tunnel .30cal remained. I am attaching a few more photos I have taken in the 16 years I have been a volunteer at Pima.

The B-18B in 1986
Image

The interior in 1991 (Photobucket is not letting me rotate the third photo)
Image
Image
Image

Roll out in 1995 after painting. The second photo is of Lumpy Lumkin on the right and Bob Strand on the left the main contributers to the restoration.
Image
Image

More interior shots 2001 showing the .30 cal in the tunnel and a shot forward of the door. The third photo here also should be rotated but photobucket won't let me.
Image
Image
Image
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 2:04 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 9:54 pm
Posts: 722
Location: Tucson, AZ
All the Pima B-18B photos posted here were taken by me between 1986 and present time as well as any and all Pima Air & Space Museum photos that I have or will post.

My personal aircraft photo collection (photos I have taken) is over 22,000 cataloged slides, prints and digital.

bill word


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:16 am 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:31 pm
Posts: 403
Aloha All,
I see the interiors for the B-18A and B-18B... Is there any interior details for the B-18(blank)...the round nose B-18?
TIA,
David Aiken


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 7:40 am 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:10 am
Posts: 9720
Location: Pittsburgher misplaced in Oshkosh
Did the B-18 get moved indoors now with th enew building?

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 10, 2007 10:31 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 3:31 pm
Posts: 285
Location: Georgetown, TX
Wow! I've always liked the B-18; incredible restoration. Looks like Pima will move up on my list of places to see! :)

I'd love to see her in the air, but it sounds like that is not the intent of the restoration. Regardless, I am glad that she has received some much needed TLC.

_________________
"So there I was, knee deep in a river I couldn't pronounce..."


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 27 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group