Warbird Information Exchange

Any pictures out there of the Pima KB-50 restoration?

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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..."

I'll post some next week when I get back to work.

James

Great! Thanks...

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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..."

Here are a few photos of the KB-50 restoration and a few bonus photos of some of our recently completed projects and a couple of new arrivals. Click on photos for larger versions.


Boeing KB-50 by planecurator, on Flickr


Boeing KB-50 by planecurator, on Flickr


Boeing KB-50 by planecurator, on Flickr


Boeing KB-50 by planecurator, on Flickr

Other on going project


McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee by planecurator, on Flickr

Recently completed projects


MiG-15 by planecurator, on Flickr


Naval A/C Factory N3N by planecurator, on Flickr


F-5B by planecurator, on Flickr


Jet Provost by planecurator, on Flickr


DeHavilland Vampire by planecurator, on Flickr


T-38A Talon by planecurator, on Flickr

This year's arrivals:


Boeing 727 by planecurator, on Flickr


Kestral by planecurator, on Flickr


TAV-8A Harrier by planecurator, on Flickr


Lightning F.53 by planecurator, on Flickr


Mi-24 Hind D by planecurator, on Flickr

Feel free to ask any questions
James

Thanks for posting James. I really hope to make it to PIMA. What's the story on the hind? I've always liked how rugged they look.

Travis

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/74595482@N04/

The Hind is ex-East German and is on long term loan to us from the Imperial War Museum.

James

Great stuff, James. Thanks for the photo update.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

You made my day!! That KB-50 is looking good!

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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..."

Seconded! I'm always impressed whenever we get an update or insight from Pima. Thanks!

By the way, that's a Hawker Kestrel, and a rare beastie in anyone's book. The Kestrel came between the proof of concept P.1127 and the fully operational Hawker Siddeley Harrier, and was the machine that was trialled with the tripartite test squadron of the RAF, USAF/USN/USMC and German Luftwaffe. I'd not really known much about them until researching them for an article, and as is often the case, I was impressed by a machine I'd previously taken for granted!

Which one is it, James?

More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_P.1127

(The original Harrier and Kestrel are two avian raptors that can hover - not sure about the P.1127 or AV-8... )

Regards,

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James K

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

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Thanks for the updates James, the KB-50 looks beautiful.

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Any pictures of the inside of the B-50?

I noticed I got Kestrel wrong after I posted it but didn't feel like going back to change it. The British serial is XS690, the USAF serial is 64-18264. Right now the plan is to restore it to its tripartite test markings.

Bombadier29: I don't have any current interior photos of the KB-50. With the plane's windows already painted over it is pitch black inside and really hard to get anything useable without a lot of work. Basically, it is complete inside except for some instruments and smaller equipment. The insulation blankets on the sides of the fuselage are in pretty bad condition but structurally it is in good shape. I may have some older photos around in a file that will do since we didn't do any significant interior work. If I do have any I'll post them.

James

Thanks, James. Changing an image name is a pain, I agree. Thanks for the info, and Tripartite test marks is the neat idea. It's the ex-Alabama airframe, then - do you have the missing parts?

Regards,

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James K

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

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Unfortunately, no we don't have the parts. We'll have to modify Harrier parts to get as close as we can. I suspect the originals went to the restoration of one of the other display Kestrels.
James

Might be worth an appeal on Key publishing's historic forum? There are people who collect Kestrel and Harrier bits who may be interested in trading or helping, after all they'd get to show off a fine bit of British engineering in the USA...

Regards,

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James K

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

www.VintageAeroWriter.com