Warbird Information Exchange

Visited MAPS Air Museum in Akron over the weekend and there are many notable updates. They have several new and soon to arrive aircraft. MAPS is waiting on an F-16 to be demilled by the USAF. They are also waiting on a BT-13 and A-26. Both planes are the ones currently located in Lancaster at the Historical Aircraft Squadron. They just received a T-33 from EAA Oshkosh this past week or two. The final acquisition is not an actual warbird, but a fiberglass replica P-51 that they will be able to put out by the street to draw more attention to the museum. Other fairly recent newbies are the F-84F from Soplata and the only surviving Goodyear Drake.

Updates on other aircraft
B-26 Fuselage a one wing are located in the hanger and look pretty complete minus the engine. The other wing is in the restoration shop getting worked on.
F-86 is completely redone and looks amazing in its new paint scheme and highly polished metal.
F-100 is pretty much complete and the painting process has been started. It will be in the 3 toned SEA scheme.
F-101, F-102, and F-105 are all put back together and resting on their gear. The F-101 is the next that will be worked on as they finish up the F-100.
C-47 has been repainted in D-Day markings and looks really sharp.
Also in the restoration shop are T-37, PT-19, and the Drake.

The museum room looks great and they are continuing to add more displays. The current display they are working on contains 6 brothers who were in WWII and Korea and 1 one the Navy Cross for taking out a Japanese Cruiser.

Lots of great things going on at the museum.

I thought that A-26 (#44-34104) went to the Historic Aircraft Squadron in Genesco this past summer.

I remember years ago there was an additional (and fairly intact) A-26 nose section there as well, could that be the one you're talking about?

Syd

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Victory By Valor (Motto of the 20th Fighter Group)

The A-26 was flown to Geneseo in July and has been there since. I don't believe there is any intent to move it.

It is not the flyer. Apparently they have another A-26 project. This is the plane that is coming to MAPS. Once it comes I'll try and get some pics.

MAPS Air Museum is a great example of what a small air museum can do with great volunteers. I know of a museum that could take lessons from them.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

It's a B-26 Marauder...at MAPS...static bondo buggy

jh

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www.spiritof44.com

HAS did have a second A-26 airframe they took parts from to finish the flyer. I'd be interested to see how complete it is.

Nice to hear about the work they're doing. I'm hoping to stop there next spring, either before or after the Doolittle reunion at NMUSAF.

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Matt

Lots going on there! Thanks for the update.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Ummmm after working on that plane, I did not see much if any bondo. We have reskinned those areas. You are welcome to come help any time, or you can sit back on your butt and make snide remarks.

Link to the F-86 page on the museum's website:

https://sites.google.com/a/mapsairmuseum.org/f-86d-l-53-0658/

Looks spectacular!

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Matt

Went back yesterday and grabbed some pics.

F-86



F-100 is in the process of getting a fresh coat of paint





Newly acquired T-33





Ex-Soplata F-84







C-47 looking sharp after new paint



F-11F in the process of being repainted



A-7 paint touchuped



Rest of the Century series

Thanks for posting. A great museum. The F-100 looks great.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Nice collection!

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Nice collection, the 86 looks great.

But please tell me they'll do something about the T-33 markings.
There were no 62- T-Birds and the "Buzz number"" doesn't match the last three of the (incorrect) tail serial.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

I would expect to see that whole aircraft repainted. MAPS does a great job, and with an all volunteer force. That B-26 Marauder is one rare bird. It was one of the Tallichet recoveries, and is made up of more than one aircraft. One of the aircraft used was used in A Guy Named Joe. As for it being a bondo buggy, I have never seen any bondo on it. I'd be curious to know where and why there is any. I was a team member of this aircraft when it was in Pittsburgh. Clair Pazey was the crew chief. Clair would never allow anyone to short cut a project.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director