Pima Project Updates?

[Warbirdjohn]

I was under the impression that the B-17 was on loan to Pima and the BG raised the funds for restoration and the building she resides in.

On another note, tell me again, James, when are ya'll doing the engine runs on the B-36 ?

This could be correct. I believe ownership is actually with the Air Force Museum though. I believe she is on loan from them, but I'm not really sure who it is 'loaned' out to.

[jamesintucson]

I was under the impression that the B-17 was on loan to Pima and the BG raised the funds for restoration and the building she resides in.

On another note, tell me again, James, when are ya'll doing the engine runs on the B-36 ?

This could be correct. I believe ownership is actually with the Air Force Museum though. I believe she is on loan from them, but I'm not really sure who it is 'loaned' out to.

The B-17 in the 390th Memorial Museum is on loan to them from the NMUSAF not to Pima. The 390th operates independantly of Pima with their own directors, staff, and volunteers. We just gave them a place to set up their memorial with an established visitorship. In exchange we got a B-17 on the grounds when we had been unable to acquire one for our own collection.

James

[red two]

Hey thanks for the update, I along with others really do like the updates, at least someone is doing something to preserve a/c no matter how significant or insignificant there roles were. Let me ask you this, when you re-spray an a/c do you do it based on the original paint scheme or can benefactors with money that happened to fly this particular a/c, or one similiar, have it painted in their paint scheme. This is not a flame or anything just curious as I have seen this done at different museums.

[jamesintucson]

Hey thanks for the update, I along with others really do like the updates, at least someone is doing something to preserve a/c no matter how significant or insignificant there roles were. Let me ask you this, when you re-spray an a/c do you do it based on the original paint scheme or can benefactors with money that happened to fly this particular a/c, or one similiar, have it painted in their paint scheme. This is not a flame or anything just curious as I have seen this done at different museums.

In general we use a paint scheme that the aircraft actually wore during its service history. Like all rules there are some exceptions but those are becoming fewer as time goes on. Eventually we hope to have virtually every aircraft in the collection in markings from its own history although I expect that there will always be some with markings that are representative of a type instead. The MiGs for example, if they were all original they would all be Polish except for the MiG-29, so I expect that we will keep the ones painted in Korean, Vietnamese and Russian markings in those schemes.

James

[jamesintucson]

James(intucson),

I was wondering if you might be so kind as to give us WIXers (who use to go to the Pima website on an almost daily basis for the fabulous restoration updates) an update on the projects that Pima had going as of 3 months ago. For instance, how is the following aircraft coming:

Tornado
P-51D
KB-50J
B-26 (Marauder)
SBD

Have anymore aircraft been pulled from display for any reason(s), such as a refresh of the paint?

Here is an update for you.

Tornado finished and on display.


P-51 getting closer to looking like an airplane.


Other projects:
F-4E getting a new paint job.


And soon to look like this.


UH-1 getting ready for new paint.


Canadair Sabre upside down getting a major rebuild of old nose gear collapse damage.


There haven't been any significant changes on the KB-50, B-26 or SBD restorations. We are working on getting the issues with photo uploading fixed and as soon as the bugs are squished we will restart restoration updates.

James

[TAdan]

Thanks James, great update. I like the markings on the Tornado.

[Joe Scheil]

For the Canadair Sabre, has the forward Fuselage been identified ever?

Ahh...just found it RCAF 23147.. Ex N72491....nosegear collapse White Sands NM on 16 Oct 1979...

Glad she survived at all!

[vernicator]

For the Canadair Sabre, has the forward Fuselage been identified ever?

Ahh...just found it RCAF 23147.. Ex N72491....nosegear collapse White Sands NM on 16 Oct 1979...

Glad she survived at all!

In case anyone is interested, there's a picture of it sitting on it's nose about 1/2 way down this page:

http://f-86.tripod.com/fsi.html

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the updates. Lots of awesome work taking place there. The F-4 is gunna look way kool!

[Clifford Bossie]

Thanks for the updates James! It looks like the F-4E and the Sabre have come a long way since I saw them in January.

[bilwor]

Is the F-4 going over to D-M for Aerospace and Aviation Days since the Thunderbirds will be there? Or will it be finished in time?
bill word

[Greg_in_Ohio]

Does Pima still have the RF-101H? I didn't see it listed on the site. Those single seat F-101's are fairly rare, hope this jet gets a nice restoration some day, maybe even back to a shiny metal interceptor configuration like it was when it was delivered from the factory.

[jamesintucson]

Does Pima still have the RF-101H? I didn't see it listed on the site. Those single seat F-101's are fairly rare, hope this jet gets a nice restoration some day, maybe even back to a shiny metal interceptor configuration like it was when it was delivered from the factory.

We no longer have the RF-101H. It was transferred to an Air National Guard unit for display. I don't remember which one right now. Alabama or Arkansas, I think.

Bill,
The F-4 will not be ready by the time of the airshow.

James

[Django]

What markings will the Mustang get?

Thanks for the pics!

[jamesintucson]

What markings will the Mustang get?

Thanks for the pics!

It will look like this one.