b17 swamp ghost poll

[bdk]

I vote for #1. I've seen the fuselage and there is a lot missing already. Not sure if more stuff is in storage, but most of the interior furnishings are no longer installed. The corrosion also isn't much worse than I've seen on other static vintage aircraft stored in relatively dry climates (or even some that were flying and came in for restoration!).

You'd probably like reading the diary about Campbells Bluebird:

http://www.bluebirdproject.com/Bluebirdproject/

How to retain most of the original artifact & add minimal new stuff...Click the "diary" tab

Great read, thanks for that link.

Will she run under her own power?

Yes, Bluebird K7 is being rebuilt to full running condition and will undergo a series of proving trials during which she’ll be worked back up to planing speeds so that what the public see in the museum is not a hollowed out husk of the once great craft as are so many museum objects. This will be a fully functional and proven machine.

[Django]

It will be neat to see Dottie Mae fly, but I still can't wrap my head around replacing everything to make it happen. With SG, it doesn't bother me as much since it has been picked over. I do like the NMUSAF/trade suggestion, but then you'd have just another B-17, if that's possible. Having SG and marketing as such, like Glacier Girl is part of the appeal. Which of course will equal $ in donations hopefully.

[ZRX61]

I have been told the orginal recovered fuselage was repaired with a twist

I'd be having a word with the individual of questionable judgement who built the jig....

[warbird1]

Personally as much as I like flying examples.... I think the best of both worlds would be trade it for one of the gate guardians mentioned get that flying, then display the Swamp Ghost as listed in option #03.
I think it would be a interesting testimate (sp) to the fate of the birds still "out there".
I'd be more worried about it going to Dayton as a long term project never to be seen by human eyes again.. at least in our life times anyway. Kinda Like that scene at the end of Raider of the Lost Ark when it gets boxed up and put into a giant warehouse.

If the NMUSAF got Swamp Ghost I don't think that would be the case at all. Currently museum staff are restoring both Memphis Belle and The Swoose at the same time because it is more cost effective and timely to do the two restorations together where they can share some parts and construction techniques common to both. Add in Swamp Ghost and you have a virtual "assembly line" which would make it even easier to restore all 3 at the same time. The NMUSAF is very hot on B-17's now, and I would be willing to bet she would be done concurrently with the other 2 B-17's.

Chris (mustangdriver), do you agree with me?

Last edited by warbird1 on Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[warbird1]

* sorry, double post*

[Chappie]

She should fly, no question. I mean to be able to see one of only five B-17s that made the first raid on Rabaul fly is intangible. Was there this big of a debate when Glacier Girl was recovered, restored, and returned to her rightful place in the air?


Chappie

[mustangdriver]

I'm not for or against flying it. I just think it should come down to what's best for the aircraft. What will allow it to keep as much of it'd identity as possible. Whether the restoration will be either way I'd love to see the NMUSAF show it's support and allow it to be worked on and restored by the owners team in the shops with the belle and swoose. I agree that things would go faster and it would be a win win. Now if the owner decides to trade it because he wants a flyer, I think the museum should give him the F model being used as a gate gaurd. I can say this, after seeing the work on the Belle first hand, there will be no B-17 more complete.

[Pat Carry]

Hey Chris, has there been any word lately as to when the Belle might be finished? I know there is still much work to do but I was just wondering.

[Chuck Giese]

Airplanes should fly.

At least that's been my strong belief up until now. As I worked my way through this thread, and started considering what may have to be replaced to get this airframe airworthy, it just wouldn't end up being the same aircraft.

If it were mine, I would vote for a static restoration back to around the time that it crashed. (Option #2). I think that the uniqueness of it's history outweighs having a flying E model. Pour the restoration dollars into Desert Rat and rename it "The TV Swamp Ghost", or some such...

Chuck

[groundpounder]

I would have to agree with the static restoration idea. As much as i like flyers, i think that the reality would be that even if it were airworthy it would probably only be flown a handful of times and then permanently displayed somewhere. This has happened before (SSB,Boeing Bee) and i am quite sure that considering the history behind this particular aircraft it would be too risky to fly it on any kind of a regular basis. Further to that, i wouldnt think that in the long run it would be justifiable(?) to replace all of the original parts and panels only to have it displayed anyway. I think this is a case where a nice static restoration/conservation would be the best thing. But what do i know ??

[earnie]

wow this has been interesting so far
it seems that most feel that she should be a display
i for 1 would love to see her fly, however given her historic signifigance i am torn
i believe that she probably would be better to be displayed as she crashed once
she got off lucky, not like the b17 lost during the filming of memphis belle

is it possible for the moderators of this site to show the responses tho this thred in a graph kinda format
and possibly give this info to aeroarchaeology

if she went to the NASM that would be cool as long as she is treated with the respect that this grand lady deseves i am ok

:IDEA" maybe she could be registered as a historic place

[Nathan]

1

[Jarink1]

She should fly, no question. I mean to be able to see one of only five B-17s that made the first raid on Rabaul fly is intangible. Was there this big of a debate when Glacier Girl was recovered, restored, and returned to her rightful place in the air?

To me, the big difference between this plane and Glacier Girl is that "Swamp Ghost" actually flew combat missions.

The big difference between this plane and other combat vet B-17s that have been restored to flying condition like Shoo Shoo Baby and Pink Lady (both of which, ironically, are no longer flying) is that this plane is still in its wartime condition. SSB and PL had a lot of work done on them during and after the way for civilian purposes. They have been returned to their original configurations.