B-36 on the move...

Cvairwerks · **Posted:** Wed May 04, 2005 11:02 pm

It's finally come to pass that all the bitching and infighting over who will and where to built the new museum to house the B-36 in the DFW area has totally pissed off the AFM. The AFM has announced that the B-36 will be moved this summer to Pima.

To the organizational bigwigs of the involved museum grougs:
Way to go boneheads and a real nice pissing you've done on Lockheed and all the volunteers that worked to restore the aircraft and diplomatically find a solution to keep her here.

After the hundreds of thousands of hours that hundreds of people like me put in on her restoration and protection you can imagine how torqued I and others are and will be when this news gets a full outing.

Rant mode off and steam pressure levels within acceptable limits now....

HarvardIV · **Joined:** Mon Oct 04, 2004 9:08 pm **Posts:** 1437

THat B-36 has been at DFW for years. I heard back in the 70's the CAF was trying to get it in the air. I also heard the spars were demilled to prevent this. What really happened?

JBoyle · **Posted:** Wed May 04, 2005 11:32 pm

I hope Pima builds a building for it. I hear the plane is ion nice shape and I hate to think of what the oven of a Tucson summer would do to the interior fittings and plexiglas.

Hint...put the SR-71 inside with it...it should fit under the wing.

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed May 04, 2005 11:45 pm

Actually, B-36 "City of Ft. Worth" was based at Amon Carter Field for
years..and then was eventually moved to Carswell some years back.
At Amon Carter you could tour the interior of the aircraft. I never heard
about the CAF attempting to get it flying..but that don't mean nuthin!

Beejesus that would be a BIG cover!!!

JohnH · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2005 4:44 am

I also had heard from David Tallichet's former chief of maintenance that there was an effort to get it flying in the 70's, but I've never heard the full details on this from somebody who was involved.

John

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2005 9:16 am

From what I heard someone actually put up $8M to get her flying, but the Pentagon didn't exactly like the idea of civilians in control of such a beast... and I can sort of see their point. At the time, the 70's, the B-36 was still a potentially powerful weapon... Still, I wish they had allowed it to happen! It would have been an amazing sight and sound! Still, I doubt many airshows could afford the gas to bring it, and it probably would have been grounded through maintenance problems.
Cheers,
Richard

PS. Really sorry to hear that they weren't able to pull their fingers out at DFW... that's reallywhere the bird belongs. Pima's not a bad place for it though, so long as they put her inside to protect all of the hard work done in restoring her.

wendovertom · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2005 4:37 pm

A hangar at Pima ?? I sure hope so!

How many square feet would it take to cover that bird? Hill Field Museum just started a 28,000 sqft hangar - maybe they should do a pass interception and bring it to Utah and the comfort of a brand new gallery!

Too bad that the DFW folks couldn't keep her

Tom P.

airnutz · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 5:33 am

When you guys use the abbreviation DFW are you referring to the airport
or are you referring to the region? If you are referring to the airport,
they never entered into the equation of saving the B-36..other than to say
..."Sorry, not interested" whenever they were asked.

There was an attempt to get her flying..but again..I don't recall the CAF
being at the center of that, but some may have been affiliated with that
organization. The flight was planned to get B-36 "City of Ft Worth" either
to Meacham Field or DFW only a few miles away. There was talk of
maintaining her as a living flying museum..but that didn't happen. If the
USAF wasn't being an impediment..then the city fathers of Ft Worth were,
or the IRS..or the conditions of $$$...or deteriation. When all that failed.. she was broken-down and transported to Carswell. If that project would have ever at one time, seen $8 million...she would probably still be flying!!
The truly "sick thing" about all the afformentioned conditions was they all
could reverse at any given time..but they would NEVER mesh and synch-
onize into a viable PLAN to optimize the care for the B-36!!!

This episode of Dallas and Ft Worths continuing rivalry would make Cliff
and JR Ewings scraps look like a minor schoolyard scuffle! Old politics
was much at the center of this project..from beginning to end.

Paul Freeman has an excellent overview and opinion of this sad time of
history on his website Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields..photos etc..
Concerning Amon Carter/Greater SouthWest International Airport & DFW
"It was all plowed into the ground!"
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Air ... #greaterSW

Brief 3-part history of B-36 "City of Ft Worth"...
http://www.b-36peacemakermuseum.org/History/history.htm

Homepage and final announcement..
http://www.b-36peacemakermuseum.org/

Given all this...I am sure this magnificent machine will be far better off at
Pima...Ft Worth sure as hell doesn't deserve the honor!

I hope Cvairworks can add illumination tohis involvement or special insight
concerning this bird...

Aircraft Mech Paul · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2005 2:25 pm

Hi All,

Say this isn't so !! Sending this plane to the Desert is close to a death sentance for it. I have visited Pima before and although they have a great collection in outdoor storage, the blazing heat of the Arizona desert summer will do much more harm than good for this plane. Any of the internal components will basically self destruct in that heat. ::::sigh::: Unless they are gonna build a hangar to house this massive aircraft, that is most likely the only way it will survive in any semblance of being intact and preserved.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2005 9:06 pm

>Say this isn't so !! Sending this plane to the Desert is close to a death >sentance for it. I have visited Pima before and although they have a >great collection in outdoor storage, the blazing heat of the Arizona >desert summer will do much more harm than good for this plane. Any of >the internal components will basically self destruct in that heat.

I guess that is why the US Govt stores all their surplus planes at DM and about 25 miles to the north is alot of airliners stored. As long as it is prepared correctly, there is no reason it would deteriate any faster in Tucson that it did in Texas

airnutz · **Posted:** Sun May 08, 2005 12:46 am

That was my thinking Matt, especially concerning the magnesium castings
and skins which were taking a real beating in Ft Worth. Very humid and
wet at times. If they got as far as restoring the upholstery then the heat
would be rough on them. I went to Pima a few years back..and is my
memory failing me..or are most of the Plexy panels painted sky blue,
which would tend to stunt some of the interior UV radiation damage?

Cking · **Posted:** Wed May 11, 2005 6:46 am

It is a shame after all that hard work that the "City Fathers" couldn't get thier act together.
Correct me if I'm wrong this will mean Pima will have one of each USAF stratigic bomber since the year dot?
B-17,18.23,24,25,26,29,26,47,50,52,57 & 58. Get them all in a row!!

Rgds Cking

P.S. If Pima dosn't want her they are building a new hangar at Duxford.......... :wink:

Cking · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2005 2:04 pm

I do hope they get her indoors. I saw the Dayton example many years ago and I think the B-36 is the best American aircraft EVER!!!! (Except the 767 maybe!!)
Hear is another question is "Stratigic air command" out on DVD yet?. My old VHS copy is getting a bit worn!. (Is it the best aircraft film ever?)
Oh and I was joking abut Duxford

Rgd Cking

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2005 2:16 pm

I think VHS is the only option for now.

I can't wait to visit Pima in several years, they have had a huge jump in the collection. They have a great bomber line up going.

JBoyle · **Posted:** Thu May 12, 2005 11:38 pm

With all due respect for the Ft. Worth crew that saved her...one more thing in Pima's favor...Arizona doesn't have Tornados....remember what happend to the Bradley Air Museum in the late 70s?

She'll be in a good home. Pima is one of my favorite museums...a great collection and without the bureaucracy (and occasional stupid decisions) found at military museums/collections.*

*The F-86, 100, 105 painted in current USAF fighter colors at Langley AFB, the T-38 painted (and with a sign saying it's) an F-5B at Lackand, the rare B-57A at Lackland in Vietnam camo...the F-82 outdoors at Lackand, ...to name a few of my pet peeves. Don't get me started....

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B-36 on the move...

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