Memphis Belle update

[whistlingdeath77]

wow. it looks like no corner is cut in this project. bravo

Phew!!

....

Uhhhhh....I guess this is the type of childness were going to get from the B-29 guy. Anyways, the belle engines, will they be in working order as well? I know she's static, but will they be able to turn over IF it was choosen to?

[mustangdriver]

The engines were zero timed engines. They had them already in storage and restored them. My understanding is that they would run, however inorder to run the engines many of the systems in the aircraft such as fuel lines and such would have had to been replaced. The museum chose the route of preservation instead and left the original equipment in place. Repairs that were done in the post war years have been replaced, however any repairs done during the combat record were left intact. Flak damage to the radio room bulkhead has been left intact.
The goal of the museum was to restore the aircraft to as close to airworthy as possible but not at the cost of removing anything that was in place during it's combat career.

[whistlingdeath77]

The engines were zero timed engines. They had them already in storage and restored them. My understanding is that they would run, however inorder to run the engines many of the systems in the aircraft such as fuel lines and such would have had to been replaced. The museum chose the route of preservation instead and left the original equipment in place. Repairs that were done in the post war years have been replaced, however any repairs done during the combat record were left intact. Flak damage to the radio room bulkhead has been left intact.
The goal of the museum was to restore the aircraft to as close to airworthy as possible but not at the cost of removing anything that was in place during it's combat career.

thats interesting. From the looks of the pictures, it looks like the Belle is brand new again with the work that has been done

[the330thbg]

The engines were zero timed engines. They had them already in storage and restored them. My understanding is that they would run, however inorder to run the engines many of the systems in the aircraft such as fuel lines and such would have had to been replaced. The museum chose the route of preservation instead and left the original equipment in place. Repairs that were done in the post war years have been replaced, however any repairs done during the combat record were left intact. Flak damage to the radio room bulkhead has been left intact.
The goal of the museum was to restore the aircraft to as close to airworthy as possible but not at the cost of removing anything that was in place during it's combat career.

thats interesting. From the looks of the pictures, it looks like the Belle is brand new again with the work that has been done

[Warbird Kid]

[the330thbg]

We are proud!

Last edited by the330thbg on Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

OK well my account comes from the restoration team themselves, The restoration lead, one of the gentlemen highly respected in the B-17 world, and my time being there in person on several occasions and not just on a Friday tour of the shop.

[wwrw2007]

Thanks for all the inside info Chris. I look forward to seeing your posts on what's going on at the NMUSAF. Hopefully in the next year or two I finally get down there to tour it.

[Warbird Kid]

Awesome you have two accounts!



We are proud!

Wait..... you think Frank and I are the same person? Is that what Im getting from this? If not then never mind, but If thats the case then your sorly mistaken as we are indeed two different people. More than a few people here can attest to that. Just because we have a bunch of Corsair crap on our profiles doesn't mean were the same person. In fact I find that offensive to all if us Corsair lovers out there! Thats *planist!


*Planist: Racist against particular types (and/or) all airplanes and people who like that particular type (and/or) all planes


BACK ON TOPIC:

This aircraft will be a real amazing piece of history preserved when completed!

[the330thbg]

"Warbird Kid"


Thanks for your insight!!!

[Mike]

Thanks for the updates Chris. It will be good to see the 'Belle on display. Are they working on the Swoose at a similar rate, or is that on the back burner until the 'Belle is completed?

Do you know if the plan is to display all 3 (the 'Belle, Swoose and Shoo Shoo Baby) when the restorations are complete?

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the updates Chris. It will be good to see the 'Belle on display. Are they working on the Swoose at a similar rate, or is that on the back burner until the 'Belle is completed?

Do you know if the plan is to display all 3 (the 'Belle, Swoose and Shoo Shoo Baby) when the restorations are complete?

When the Belle restoration is complete, Shoo Shoo Baby is headed for Udvar Hazy in Virginia.

[Mike]

When the Belle restoration is complete, Shoo Shoo Baby is headed for Udvar Hazy in Virginia.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten about that. I wonder if they'll strip off the 1980s-applied camouflage before they put it on display?

[mustangdriver]

The plan was always to send the SSB to D.C. Then I had heard there was a chance it may not go there and stay at Dayton. If it does go and they do mess with the paint, I hope the leave the nose art alone as it was painted by Tony Starcer before he passed.

As for where B-17's are now, well I don't think you've seen the last of B-17's getting moved around.

[StangStung]

Thanks as always for the NMUSAF updates Chris.

Wasn't their some talk that the whole reason SSSB was painted in the first place was their was unsightly and/or cost prohibitive corrosion to cover up? Someone out there can refresh my memory, I'm sure. I would imagine that the NASM could rally the resources to put it back as it was in combat and still preserve the nose art.