Warbird Information Exchange

On the Kee Bird thread, one of the posters said that Doc is owned by Tallichet. Does anyone know who actually owns Doc? It seems strange to me that Boeing would donate significant funds and assistance, and all of the volunteers would spend so much time, to restore a plane for a private individual.

So... does anyone know the facts?

kevin

60% Tallichet, 40% Mazzolini.

If Tallichet owns 60% will it be moved when the work is done?

Actually, I should note that this information came from Tallichet's mechanic, when speaking to him about the ownership issue.

So, that information could be considered fairly reliable, but not necessarily cast in stone.

I hate to ask a question like this, but does doc have the funding, resouces and volunteers to fly again? I know good things take a lot of time but It seems like they have a ton of work left and have not even touched engine work yet. Where are the motors coming from?Considering the funding is there. It seems like those old 3350's are VERY rare and dont have a predictable lifespan even with top notch workmanship. It sounds like if they teamd up with Gary A and the CAF to produce a larger quantity of Garys custom motor everybody would benifit. Its proven that with enough money, volunteers and time almost any airframe can be rebuilt to airworthy, but what about the engines and props. These old piston engines are not simple such as the wright 3350-(?b-29). it seems like no parts are left. If doc does fly why are these motors not going to be as troublesome as FIFI?
Im not trying to cause any trouble on this thread

I don't get the Tallichet connection. The DOC crew has traded to get parts to make DOC a flyable airframe. With all of the B-29 spares Tallichet ownes you would think he would have plenty of parts to select from (i.e. the rudder support bracket the DOC crew got from the NEAM).

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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..."

...or does Tallichet have B-29 spares?

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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 think Weeks is the one with all the extra B-29 stuff. If in fact Tallichet owns part of "Doc", I would hope that he would make sure Doc was put inside somewhere until the work is finish.

Doc is owned in some part by Tallichet. When I still worked at Air heritage, we rebuilt a B-25D/PBJ for the navy museum in Pensacola. In return they allowed David and Tony to recover the B-29.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

greasemonkey, first of all, you're not causing any trouble at all with asking your question. That's what the WIX forum excels at, is helping those out who wish to know more about the goings on in the Warbird community.

I've mentioned before that we approached Tony about the Doc team going in with us to put this new B-29 engine on their airplane as well (that we're developing for FIFI), but at the time, he said that he's obligated to Boeing to put the original engines (and practically everything else) on the airplane. So the only portion of our engine deal they were really able to take part of is to purchase the engines and spares that we will no longer be using. I don't know if they are still committed to that agreement with Boeing or not.

We at least tried to help them out, but their hands were tied.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Gary

Hi Mustangdriver,

I wasn't aware of the Tallichet connection to Doc. I recall when Air Heritage had the B-25/PBJ in the hangar, and from what I was told by one of the volunteers, that the B-25/PBJ has signifigant corrosion issues in the wings. So much so that no one would have ever expected that particular Mitchell to ever fly again.

The thing that puzzles me though is that if Tallichet had enough connections to aid Tony to retrive Doc, whatever became of the rest of the hulks that Tony's group brought out of the China Lake test range ? And forgive me for perhaps re-asking the obvious, but I do recall seeing photo's of those same hulks and pieces parts out by Doc when they and the plane were still located out west. I'm not trying to stir up a hornets nest about that question, but it did appear that there was enough of a pile of parts and partial fuselage's to put together perhaps as many as two other airframes. But I kinda figure that the USN repossesed the rest of the stuff leaving Doc pretty much as a solo act.

Paul

Hey bud,
I think the corrosin was under control when it left Air heritage, but it was not restored to fly. Some of the systems are not installed. It looks nice though. As for the B-29 hulks, I am not sure. Funny story was that Myself and another volunteer went to CLE to pick up the nose section of the B-25, and I met Tony. He was very nice. On the way home we got a ton of looks, and at a gas station on the way home, a guy asked us what it was. We told him that it was a bomber nose from WWII and he said that it was a UFO, and that we worked for the government.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

A UFO? Well, that tops me.

When I was hauling a Stearman one time, a guy told me all I had was an old amusement park ride.

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I talked to my buddy, and former crew chiefe on the PBJ when it was at Air Heritage. He said that it did have a lot of corrosion in the wings, and that internal braces were made for it. The NMNA wanted this one because of it rarity.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

That reminds me of a recent little trip I made to a local farm implement repair business to have the hanger tubing support legs bent back into position and repaired for my ball turret project. I carried in the large trunnion structure which holds the ball turret in the aircraft (weighs about 100 lbs). The old guy running the shop just looked at me and the trunnion...scratched his head and asked me what I was doing with a part off of a tank!

John