Memphis Belle progress?

[Pat Carry]

For those who have been through the restoration area at the NMUSAF recently, how is the restoration coming along. Steve Nelson, I know you stated in another post you were just through the restoration shop. How is the Belle looking these days?

[mustangdriver]

I hear she is about to go up on her gear soon.

[Steve Nelson]

The fuselage is now in one piece, and it appears work is being done on some control surfaces. They also have a set of props ready to go. Superficially, it doesn't look like much has changed since I saw her in March, but I'm sure there's a ton of detail work that's been done that isn't readily apparent.

Here are some pics from last Friday..really looking forward to seeing her finished (there are a few Swoose bits mingled in with the Belle parts, including a B-17D elevator on sawhorses getting treated with some really powerful solvent.)

Enjoy!

Steve

[StangStung]

Thanks so much for posting these! Every time I get over to the NMUSAF the resto tour never works out for me.

They really are humming along at a pretty good pace on a wide variety of aircraft it seems. Anyone know how many volunteers they have working at any given time?

[Pat Carry]

Looking good! Thanks for all those great photos.

[pjpahs]

I see from the pictures all this great restoration work being done, props covered in plastic looking like new. Engines on stands also looking like new and the internal wing structures looking to be painted in anti-corrosion yellow. All this work , will it be airworthy? I'm thinking that the engines are shells and the props are correct for the aircraft but only shined up for display. A really noble effort for a historical piece of aviation, but man I wish it would take to the skies.

[Pat Carry]

Judging from the amount of work that has taken place, what are we looking at for a time frame 4 years?

[Pat Carry]

I see from the pictures all this great restoration work being done, props covered in plastic looking like new. Engines on stands also looking like new and the internal wing structures looking to be painted in anti-corrosion yellow. All this work , will it be airworthy? I'm thinking that the engines are shells and the props are correct for the aircraft but only shined up for display. A really noble effort for a historical piece of aviation, but man I wish it would take to the skies.

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere the engines are complete which would be inline with them creating a totally authentic B-17.

[mustangdriver]

May 17th 2013 would be 70 years after it flew it's last mission with Morgan.

[mustangdriver]

Also the aircraft is being restored as close as it can be made to how it appeared and was loaded out in 1943. While the engines are complete and runable, in order to run them much of the original plumbing in the plane would have had to be replaced. Rather than do that, as much of the original equipment is being preserved.

[pjpahs]

I don't see the logic for the added expense to use for a static display, fully operable engines. A clean empty block , jugs, etc., maybe with some faux grime for realism, some bogus oil drips . Are there really that many Wright 1820's out there ?

[mustangdriver]

I for one applaud the NMUSAF for raising their level of restorations. When you are restoring aircraft as historic and important as the Memphis Belle and the Swoose, there is no need to short cut anything. The NMUSAF has raised their bar close to that of the NASM, and I am happy to see that. If you are going to do a restoration do a restoration. Flying or not the goal should be to make it as close to original as possible.

[JohnB]

While the engines are complete and runable, in order to run them much of the original plumbing in the plane would have had to be replaced. Rather than do that, as much of the original equipment is being preserved.

Makes sense...why replace original systems if they're not going to be used?
In other words, keep as many WWII-era parts as you can.

[Garth]

Couple questions:

In the fifth picture down (the one taken from the port side of the radio operators compartment" is that a remnant of graffiti scratched into the aluminum? Looks like it says "Blythville" or somesuch.

Also, it looks like Belle is no longer next to Swoose, but rather to the HH-3? if so, that seems a bit of a shame to me, it would be interesting to see a sharktailed "D" fuselage next to an "F" just for compare/contrast purposes. But I understand that the priority is efficient restoration, not artistic juxtaposition

[Steve Nelson]

is that a remnant of graffiti scratched into the aluminum?

The entire fuselage from the radio compartment aft is absolutely covered with grafitti (mostly names and such.) Some was the result of vandalism during her years on outdoor display, but I understand most of it was added during her War Bond Tour, when people were encouraged to write or scratch their names on her at tour stops. Since they're part of her history, the scratched-in names won't be polished out but they will be painted over. Some of those scratches are pretty deep though, so I'm sure they'll still be visible if you look closely.

it looks like Belle is no longer next to Swoose

The Belle is in the same place, but the Swoose's fuselage has been moved into the hangar next door. The rest of The Swoose parts are still in the area around the Belle. I understand the Swoose project is sort of on hold at the moment, as resources are focused on Vietnam-era aircraft (the Skyraider project is coming along nicely.)

Here are a few pics I got of The Swoose fuselage..she's pretty much the same as when I saw her last spring. The new-build gun tub has been installed, and the interior completely stripped for restoration. The skins with the flags are just clecoed in place..I believe they're slated to be replaced and preserved seperately (Chris?)













In that last shot, you can see the bomb racks still in place, as well as the guide ropes for the bomb bay catwalk. I was a bit surprised at that..I had assumed the the bomb bay was sealed up and turned into a passenger compartment during her days as General Brett's personal ride.

SN