Great news story, but.....

[retroaviation]

This is a great story, but I personally tire of the Collings Foundation telling folks that their B-24 is the only one flying. Come on folks, it's obvious that that isn't true. Yes, I know that the CAF were the ones that got that started years ago, but the facts are that there are TWO B-24's flying. A B-24A/LB30 and a B-24J. And before the hollering starts...the FAA is currently in the process of changing the nomenclature on N24927 to reflect just that...it's a B-24A/LB30, just like Consolidated made it.

Rant over.

To Jim H. and the rest of the CF crew...Great job on this tribute!!!

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=26893@ktvt.dayport.com

Gary

[Jet Mech]

If anyone has the right to vent over there claim to flying B-24's, Gary does have that single handed for the work he has done to get Ole 927 back to its roots and looking like a real B-24.

Two are better than one. And the CAF bird is the oldest B-24 flying.

[retroaviation]

Please don't take my post the wrong way. I think what the Collings Foundation does with the Vets and their tour is fantastic. I just wish they'd be more truthful when talking to the press. There's plenty of room for TWO B-24s out there, so let's embrace that.

Personally, I'd still absolutely love to see the two of them in flight together. I mean seeing an "A" model AND a "J" model flying together......how cool would that be?!?

Gary

[valdez25]

Wow, what a video.

[Django]

I agree. Great group of people but they do not have the only flying B-24.

Maybe I'm crazy but I think I noticed somewhere else that they said it was the only B-24J flying, which is of course accurate.

[kmiles]

I can tell you that everything that comes out of the office here in Stow, either written or verbal, states that it is the only B-24J flying. For years we just used "B-24" but that changed about 3 years ago. I am sure that anyone who works with the media on a daily basis on items like this realizes that the media gets it 100% correct only about 10% of the time.

As for seeing the two aircraft in flight together, it seems to me that they are both scheduled to be at Thunder Over Michigan in August, so there is a pretty good chance of that happening.

[SPANNERmkV]

WOW...
How about a GATHERING OF B-24s???

Actually if it could happen at 2009 Thunder Over Michigan along with a Gathering of B17s...
(THAT also included TEXAS RAIDERS...point of pride)

It could fittingly be called a TRIBUTE TO THE MIGHTY 8th

Now THERE's a Goal!

[Ztex]

It could fittingly be called a TRIBUTE TO THE MIGHTY 8th

Ahem...

[CAPFlyer]

Yeah, it's unfortunate that the media gets it wrong so much, especially when it comes to aviation. I hate to say it, but it's one of the problems the CAF has to fight because we went so long without any real publicity and we don't do much "touring" like CF, the EAA, and other groups, so they don't get to see that there is more than one and there is a difference between "one B-24" and "one B-24J". However, at the same time, I think that Collings maybe needs to consider changing their media packet since the media (and general population) are well known for not being able to understand those sort of differences. It's kind of like saying that Swoose is the only remaining B-17D. To 90% of the population, it's just another B-17 and they don't get what the importance of a B-17D (or Swoose specifically) is.

With money getting tighter and tighter, I think that it's time that the warbird operators really need to start working together to ensure that the public knows about all of the warbirds and warbird groups out there and not just themselves because if they don't make sure that people know there's more than just the "three" CF birds that everyone sees on a regular basis flying out there, then they won't come to see them when they're around. I'm not saying that CF (or any other person or group) should promote another in name, but I'm saying that they should be more general in their media interaction and make sure they know in that general sense that there are 2 B-24s, 1 B-29, and however many B-17s airworthy today and flying in the US. When people start to ask, "where's the 'other' bomber at?" then we will start to get more people interested in warbirds as a whole without having to mention that the other B-24 is with the Commemorative Air Force and will be based at Addison Airport.

[SPANNERmkV]

It could fittingly be called a TRIBUTE TO THE MIGHTY 8th

Ahem...

Welll...
IF the 15th is coming I'm staying home!

[JohnH]

And the Collings were saying stuff like this back in the early 90s, when there really were 3 flying, Tallichet's (now Kermit's non flyer) CAF's and the Collings.

[retroaviation]

I can tell you that everything that comes out of the office here in Stow, either written or verbal, states that it is the only B-24J flying. For years we just used "B-24" but that changed about 3 years ago. I am sure that anyone who works with the media on a daily basis on items like this realizes that the media gets it 100% correct only about 10% of the time.

As for seeing the two aircraft in flight together, it seems to me that they are both scheduled to be at Thunder Over Michigan in August, so there is a pretty good chance of that happening.

Thanks for the clarification there. Again, I'm NOT trying to stir the pot, but after all the hard work to make our aircraft accurate, it's tough to watch news stories that mention y'all's airplane being the only one. I very much understand that the media doesn't always get it right, but perhaps a simple change of terminology would work. For example, when giving interviews about our airplane, we always tell them ours is one of two B-24s that remain airworthy, and the only "A" model in existence. Often times, I will even mention the Collings bird, just to try to make it clear we're not implying we don't have the only one flying.

But it bears repeating........great job on the tribute in the news article that this thread is really about!

Gary

[Greg87]

I never understood the point of emphasizing how rare the aircraft is... For example, there are many P-51's around, but I enjoy seeing them fly as much as I enjoy seeing our local Lancaster fly. I know we do emphasize that ours is one of two airworthy Lanc's in the world, however, there are other rare birds in our collection that we don't fuss about. The idea is to use the aircraft as a tool for educating people about the people that flew them, and the history they represent. I think our museum would be just as popular if there were 50 Lanc's flying, however, I could be wrong, I'm thinking like a wixer not Joe Public. Anyways, I look forward to Thunder when I'll get to see the CAF B-24 for the first time since it was restored to a B-24A.

One quick question, could you enlighten me as to what the main differences are between a B-24A and B-24J?

[rwdfresno]

I never understood the point of emphasizing how rare the aircraft is...

Museums have to market their exhibits to the public in order to get public interest and funding. The goal is to make it sound as interesting as possible to gain peoples attention. Typically in marketing you highlight the points of interest in whatever you are marketing.

If the fact that it is rare might make 5 more people show up a month to see it then you mention it. I think it is pretty obvious that rarity is a point of interest.

Like you say there are 100 P-51Ds out there which is exactly the reason I would never go out of my way to spend money to go see a P-51D because I can see one whenever I want. I might fly a long distance to see something that I can only see in one place as opposed to something that is one of 100 and I can see 5 of them at any air show I attend at any airport across the US. It is pretty simple marketing and I think it makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

One quick question, could you enlighten me as to what the main differences are between a B-24A and B-24J?

I am certainly no expert but off the top of my head.

1. Tail plane
2. All gun positions
3. Entire nose section
5. Window configuration
6. Many crew member positions
7. Cowling configuration
6. interior equipment such as radios, bomb sights and other technology items
8. The role that most of them played during the war

Ryan

[Greg87]

Thank you.