Warbird Information Exchange

This is not meant to be a thread about bashing the NMUSAF or the CAF. This is about the airframe, and what is coming up for it. It is going to be restored and placed on display as a full out night fighter in the Korean era Gallery. The Betty Joe P-82 will go on display in the new R&D Wing.



These pics are from the NMUSAF website.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

That will be coool! Can't wait to see that....

That will be great. Is there a time frame for when it will be on display?

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Had God intended for man to fly behind inline engines, Pratt & Whitney would have made them.

CB

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Desrt_Wings.html

Why put Betty Joe into the R&D wing? (nevermind, the NMUSAF site answered this for me)

Also, is she THIS Betty Joe or representative? (the image is kinda big, so here is the link rather than posting the pic)
http://hiavps.com/images/1940s_Hawaii/n ... nolulu.jpg

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Maybe the USAF history of the former CAF airplane has been previously covered - but what do we know if its service life and the markings/configuration it had on active duty? (Any photos??) Will this be accurate for this airframe?

There are three types of statics:
1- An airplane like "Bocks Car" that is restored as itself
2- The P-47 "Fiery Ginger", the right model, but painted to represent another tail #
3- Heavy mods like making an RB-25D look like a B-25B

I just saw Django's post as I was typing. I always assumed the Betty Jo was the real deal. Did this bird start out as a line fighter or was it pulled during production and designated for only the special/record setting flight?

F-82s Rock.

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

Thanks for keeping us in the know Chris.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

The Betty Joe in the collection is the REAL Betty Joe. I don't think she was ever a fighter, had the guns removed, and then flown on the record flights. I will look into more abou t it, but I can say that yes she is the real deal on display in Dayton.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsh ... p?id=15063


It looks like she is a Standard B with the guns, and armour removed.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

This reminds me of a couple curious bits of trivia about "Betty Jo". First, some of the period photos of what is now Dayton's "Betty Jo" show the name spelled with an "e" on the end while others do not. Second, the XP-82 now with Tom Reilly, which was preserved in part by Walter Soplata for many years, also bore the name "Betty Jo" at one point...or at least the left cowling of the left engine did. I clearly remember Walter pointing out the "ghost" outline of the lettering on the fuselage, inside the B-36 hulk, during our 1982 visit. The paint had long since been removed, but the name, in the same script style as the Dayton bird and also without the "e" on the end, was still readable on the skin...

S.

Good news on the plans for the F-82. If it's not going to fly, it's great that it will be restored to this configuration and be put on display.

However, I must admit to a sneaking sense of disappointment - I was rather hoping that they might loan it out and that it would find its way to Pima. I visited the museum there for the first time a few weeks back, and was HUGELY impressed with what they're doing there.

That would be great for me! However, it is a good thing to hear that it will be on public display at the NMUSAF.

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Had God intended for man to fly behind inline engines, Pratt & Whitney would have made them.

CB

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Desrt_Wings.html

So, what of the parts and pieces that were allegedly "lost" or "failed to be reinstalled" by the CAF before the airplane went to Dayton?

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Are they going to repair the damage left over from he "hard " landing ? Or are they just going to slap it together and put it on display ? What's the time frame on the project ?

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

I know that they are giving it a full restoration. Timeframe is aiming at roll out in late summer to fall. That is if everything goes on time. I really don't know much as far the missing parts, but they are making all repairs and correcting some other issues. Like I said I won't know much until march when I'm there next. I'm not an twin mustang expert but HD be glad to take pics when I'm there.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Great to hear she'll be going on display. Does the Museum have a radar pod, or are they going to have to manufacture one?

SN