B-25 "chapter XI"???

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:16 am

Anyone know her where abouts, last I heard it was in PA and had not flown in a few yrs???

Jase · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:26 am

It's now painted as "Lucky Lady", and is in outside storage at FKN, Franklin VA rotting away. One engine off, prop under airplane, bomb bays open, tunnel top removed, and birds nests all over her.

Sad to say, I doubt she'll ever fly again.

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:40 am

Tom Reilly saved her once, but I guess he's too busy working on the B-17 to do it again. I have to admit this kinda amazes me. In a day and age when these planes command the prices they do, you have to be well off to let such an investment just rot away! For how long has it been there?

T J

airnutz · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 4:03 am

I'm no insider...but as I've heard Mr. Reilly has a full plate. Hurricanes,
movi'n to Georgia, monumental salvage-to-flight B-17 project...
and we chickens ain't get'n no younger...

just my 2 pfennig's......

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:33 am

is there anyone or already have pic of her in her current state?????? I remember her when robbie robinson owned her. That was back in the day with the Valiant Air command/ then the big fight and split up to form Wings Of War. Those were some neat days for me. Working the shows on the flight line, and being fire guard for Jaybo Hinub in John Silbermans P-38.

Coert Munk · **Joined:** Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:09 am **Posts:** 169

I'll leave a note at the B-25 group and the warbirds group at yahoo.
The late John "Jeff" Hawke calle dthis plane during BoB filming "The Psychedelic Monster" when I'm correct

aerovin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:00 am

Look at the B-25 Locator page (http://www.aerovintage.com/b25loc.htm) at the Aero Vintage website under Franklin, VA, for a May 2004 photo of this airplane.

eric_stevens · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:06 am

I saw the airplane in 2003 and it was in a hanger being worked on they also had a PT-26 in the hanger. They still had not hung the engine all they were doing was trying to polish it. Also inside of the airplane was a bunch of junk. Last I heard from a friend that is in the area is that it is a bag of corrosion. He mentioned you could see through the skin in some places. The current custodian of the airplane is not a mechanic so not much technical stuff is being done. It would reguire a major restoration to get it airworthy again.

Warhawk · **Posted:** Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:44 am

Well Rob, so long as we are still on for NEAM in April we need to convince Jeff to join us.

Thats April 30th Jeff. Get an early start. :wink:

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:35 pm

WOW, I do remember the Guardian!!!! BIG PROP!!! Some where i have pics from that show!!! OMG yes all the mustangs. When ever I look at that show, I think about how popular it was back then. Hell that guy flew that albatross all the way from AZ one yr. I think that was the show that Jabo flew Johns S2F. I did not work at the VAC show, but did later go across the way to the hangar where they were all sitting and watching, and yes XI was parked there in the hangar. Thats where I met and really got to know Jim Empy..... a WW2 ace with 5. Somewhere I have a pic of his mustang in italy that he signed.
When we were with the WOW, we put on a show in williston Fla. thats where jaybo had the P-38. Was tragic when he lost his life a few yrs back.

I havent been to TICO in a few yrs or any warbird show in a long time.

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2005 8:05 pm

N3Njeff wrote:

thats where jaybo had the P-38. Was tragic when he lost his life a few yrs back.

I have heard about him flying A-26A's in Vietnam. Didn't know he was gone. What happened?

T J

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2005 5:09 pm

Yep, I knew all about him flying B-26K's. A very good friend of my father was Jabo's Chief of Maint in that unit. Heard quite a few about their exploits in SEA. But my fav. has to be before he went overseas. Jabo was due to report in to the Unit commander and meet with him. He said that he flew in with John Silbermans A-26 that he owned at the time. When he lands to report in, a kid that was a crew chief went up to Jabo and said " Good morining sir, how is the aircraft? Everything check out ok??" Jabo said camly "well the #2 generator has been acting up". So he heads to the commanders office for his meeting. When he returns, they were pushing the ladders away and the kid says, your all set. Jabo climbs up and takes off returning home with a new generator.

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B-25 "chapter XI"???

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