Warbird Information Exchange

Hi All,

A poster over on a modeling forum was talking about a recent visit to the Pensacola museum, and mentioned that in addition to the PB2Y Coranado, the museum's PB4Y-2 was also in the restoration shop "stripped almost to the bolts" (whatever that means.) I know she was repaired and repainted after being damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Is the museum now restoring her to original combat configuration with all the turrets? I'm planning a visit to the museum in August, and definitely plan to get in on the restoration tour.

SN

The new building is going up, and with the new building all of the collection will be indoors. I was there about a year ago and on the tour they said that most of the aircraft would get their turn in the shop on the way to the display building.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

All the collection will be indoors! That has to be one big building. I was under the impression that just the larger aircraft were coming in.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

It's a pretty large building that they are putting up. I ws told that the flying boats are going to be displayed elevated sort of like how the B-52 is in the NMUSAF so that they can get more of the aircraft inside.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I took this picture of it last month. They were in the process of taking the wings off

Thank you and welcome to WIX, deltascrew, and thanks also for supporting Mike's Aerovisuals!

Regards,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Just got an answer back from the NMNA. The PB4Y is going through a thorough restoration before being placed indoors. It will be painted in the WWII era tri color scheme again once finished. Aircraft to follow; the PBY-5A, PBJ, PV2,and P2V.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Thanks for the update Chris. Its going to be great getting all these planes under a roof.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Thanks for the info everybody! Looks like she's also getting a stock "greenhouse" canopy. It'd be great if they could also refit her with the original powerplants, but I don't know if you could even find all the necessary parts now.

SN

Steve, those cowling parts were still around a couple of years ago. I think? they had been at Greybull and were rescued by someone. My feeble memory doesn't remember which thread the post was on ........but someone had photos of a bunch of -2 cowlings.

S

It will be a sight to see when those two monsters move
into the main museum. They will have to go in in pieces
and be reassembled much as the NC-4 was done years
ago. It will be bothan ambitious and worthwhile undertaking.