Castle Air Museum, Merced, CA

[Zachary]

Holy crap they made your hole an exhibit!!

Worst. Quote. Ever.

[Bear]

Holy crap they made your hole an exhibit!!

Worst. Quote. Ever.

Now that's funny!!

[mustangdriver]

[jdvoss]

Peter,

Yes, the Vulcan is sadly in need of a re-paint. IIRC, I read where the aircraft remains as RAF property and therefore they are responsible to perform any maintenance work on it. It doesn't appear that anything has been done to it since its arrival at the museum 20+ years ago. Perhaps a 1950's paint scheme of O/A WHITE might be appropriate to weather time and the San Joaquin Valley sun.

JohnV

[JohnB]

Peter,
Perhaps a 1950's paint scheme of O/A WHITE might be appropriate to weather time and the San Joaquin Valley sun.
JohnV

Our English friends/RAF fans would point out it's the wrong Mark for that scheme. But in terms of durability, I agree it would be nice.

Last edited by JohnB on Sat Jun 16, 2012 11:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Clifford Bossie]

Surprisingly the Vulcan does not look much different from when I saw her in 1989. In fact at some point the Union Jack and the fin flash have been repainted since this photo:

[Fouga23]

Holy crap they made your hole an exhibit!!

Worst. Quote. Ever.

Just be glad they didn't order a guy to fill your hole up!

[CWBuff]

Isn't there B-29 Raz 'N heck haunted? lol

Supposedly, yes.

Holy crap they made your hole an exhibit!!

Worst. Quote. Ever.

Just be glad they didn't order a guy to fill your hole up!

Nice photos jdvoss... thanks for sharing 'em!


Fade to Black...

[APG85]

Speaking of the B-29...any pictures of it?

[jdvoss]

Due to popular request I've posted the "Raz'n Hel" B-29 images...haunting as they may be!

[rwdfresno]

Great shots! But DANG do I wish that B-24 was sold off to Jerry Yagen or FHC or somebody that will fly her!

I'm not sure how complete the B-24 is on the inside. IIRC she was a stripped out South American freight hog when the museum got ahold of her, and the restoration is largely cosmetic.

I'm not complaining, mind you. It's great to see another B-24 saved from oblivion.

SN

Not that a bottomless full of money couldn't fix it, but unfortunately the aircraft has been subject to several structural cuts including the spar. Although it has been stitched together cosmetically it would require significant structural overhaul. Of course all of that is moot being that it is owned by Uncle Sam.

[jdvoss]

I cannot help but agree with you about the B-24. But given that it is the "ONLY SURVIVING PB4Y-1" (Bu No 90165) it seems that preserving it in original Navy colors with an ERCO ball turret fitted in the nose would be most appropriate. According to Joe Baugher's website it was modified into a -1Z executive transport and used by a USMC General. Anyone have an original photo??

I'm sure the USAF would welcome the modification...

[jdvoss]

FYI: I have now posted the entire photo set (50+) from the Castle Air Museum in to the "Photo Gallery". Since there are so many photos I broke them down into THREE consecutive sets in the "Gallery" depending upon your interest. The photos posted there are not necessariy the same views of a given A/C in page one above.

BTW, after the posting I realized that due to 'Old timers Disease' I neglected to photograph the C-119, B-26, C-46 and the C-45...reason to go back!