"Prestons Pride" interior?

[McKConnor0307]

Quick question. Does anyone have any information reguarding what might be left of the interior fittings(cockpit, instruments, etc) on the B-17 "Prestons Pride"?
Thanks

[Cripes A Mighty]

I cant believe that bird is still just sitting there. What a shame. Wonder how many run away semis will have to hit it before someone does something.

Anyone have any recent pics of her?

[hang the expense]

From what I hear most of the cockpit parts have been robbed.Somebody else may know who is the culprit.

[JohnH]

From what I hear most of the cockpit parts have been robbed.Somebody else may know who is the culprit.

The ripster?

just kidding he didn't need to go up there, it was right in front of him.

John

[hang the expense]

YEP

[aerovin]

Considering the airplane has been sitting there for 50 years and has been virtually wide open for a good part of that time, there is little left of anything that is detachable. When I was in the airplane....err...I heard that when someone else was in the airplane back in the late 1960s most of the instruments and fittings were already gone. The throttle quadrant was still there. Not sure if it still present or not, but it is pretty rough inside. The airplane is much better secured now, and doesn't look too bad all things considered, at least on the outside.

The USAF Museum, or whatever it's called now, retains control over the airplane and various threats over the years to the airplane's custodian (AMVETS) are what have brought it to the minimal level of care now. As always, it is a case of too little money, too few people, and a bit of apathy. There are a good number of other airplanes out there in similar shape but this, after all, a B-17. It is special.

[mustangdriver]

I have heard through the grapevine, that there are some upcoming plans for this aircraft. If the plans are true, it will see it brought indoors to a museum that can give it the level of care needed.

[GARY HILTON]

I have heard that most of the interior was gutted by the early 80's by the locals at Tulare. I used to go buy my Trade-a-Plane from the FBO that was in the now empty WWII hangar right by the B-17 & F-4
Believe me...it wasn't runaway simis that have nailed the old girl...there wouldn't be much left if that were the case...it has been the smaller chicken, fruit/veggie, and hay trucks that have twisted her frame and almost totaled her tail section
I have heard rumors that some of the instruments and fittings were mindight requisitioned by friends of the Conferderate outfit...going to Sentimental Journey, and Delta Rebel...and some of the restored B-17s that were being traded back to the USAF for their museum pieces..Barksdale, La., and the Elgin,Fa. bird.
Some of the turrets were legally (???) obtained by replacing with fiberglass reps for the original parts...Anyway, this is what I was told..
I would love to see our government waste some of my tax-payer donations on this once proud bird

[Cripes A Mighty]

From what I read, when it was almost broken in two by the runaway truck, a deal was made with a local restorer who crudely patched it up in return for anything of value....including the turrets. He replaced them with the dummys that are on it now. Also all the fabric control surfaces have been re-covered in aluminum.

[Taigh Ramey]

It was a person named James D.F. Ricketts who owned a company called Aero Nostalgia here at Stockton, CA that ended up with the turrets and other parts. A while ago his company went out of business and he has been off of the airport for 10 years or so.

He did a deal to repair the Tulare B-17 in trade for original parts that he removed from it. He replaced the turrets with fiberglass shells and stripped the interior of anything he could peddle.

He was heavy into trades back then but a lot of them never worked out. A few too many deals that went bad led to his downfall. I hear he is trying his hand in the boat business these days.

[Jack Cook]

James D.F. Ricketts

B-25 Dream Lover owner???

[Taigh Ramey]

The one and the same Jack.