Warbird Information Exchange

traftis- Nope, far from broken. The Mustang is in restoration (should look sweet!), the P-40 was having some maintenance done to her last time I was there, and I can't remember if the Corsair is back flying or not. Other than that I don't know of any that can be considered broken. There are a few projects, but those are what they are, projects.

Valdez- Nope the B-25 isn't flying and it probably won't be. It is one of the most originally restored combat vets out there. Heck, the noseart was painted by the original crew chief (IIRC that’s a major reason they don't fly it). Unlike the rest of warbirds out there (aside from the Save the Girls Nose Art Gallery in Midland), this B-25 is literally a work of American art and therefore should not be flown (in my opinion). The great thing about CFM is that they may not fly all their aircraft, but they've been restored so that they could. I can think of few, if any, better collections in terms of quality, quantity, and availability to the public.

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Taylor Stevenson

Didn't know that about the B-25, so I looked it up. Neat!

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

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So they shouldn't have flown it to Oshkosh after it was restored?

Shoo Shoo Baby, the B-17G at the NMUSAFM had it's noseart painted by Tony Starcer during it's restoration.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Is this the P-47 that burned on takeoff at Albuquerque Intntl a few years ago?

If so, I'd really like to know how the fire started.

It was sickening driving by that wreckage every morning going to work.

Brandon, I agree with flying it one seasons circuit to get the aircraft the credit it truly deserves (ie. OSH and SNF Grand Champion), but to continually fly it would jeopardize the classic piece of Americana that is this aircrafts noseart. As anyone who has ever operated a warbird knows, paint chips/flakes after a while. I'd hate for a piece of art to be scattered across the countryside, wouldn't you?



http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id= ... 098&rpt=fa

The wreck was a testament to the use of Nomex equipment and flying helmets.

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Taylor Stevenson

After reading the NTSB report, am I correct in assuming that oil and fuel lines were NOT firesleeved?

That is the way it reads and I'm not aware that fire sleeving was used as original equipment until much later (not that it couldn't be retrofitted). Even with fire sleeving that may not have precluded a fire. A leaking fitting can fuel a fire, or a hose could have ruptured regardless of the presence of fire sleeving. Even if you sleeve the fuel lines, that still would not prevent engine oil or hydraulic fluid from catching fire.

Fire needs three things to start- fuel, oxygen and an ignition source. Compared to modern airliners, most warbirds are firetraps. The flow of air (oxygen) is not controlled in any of the compartments, fire sleeving/fire resistant hose materials are not used, there are no fuses in the hydraulic systems to limit flow in the event of a hose rupture, and few aircraft have fire detectors or even an extinguishing system on board.



Well, it wasn't the original nose art, and even the Mona Lisa has been touched up numerous times without dramatically affecting its value. I find it hard to believe that the nose art adds that much value. My guess is that the owner doesn't want to jeapordize the literally perfect no-expense spared restoration of the aircraft to factory new condition by putting a bunch of wear and tear on it. Maybe a "penalty" paid from too nice of a restoration?

I believe that Doug Jeanes still has his helmet from that fire....... Doug used one of his nine lives on that take-off. There is more to the story if Doug would care to tell it again..... I have been priviledged to hear Doug recount the event AND the findings...... I have a few pics of the mighty T-Bolt that I hope Doug won't mind me posting as these are essentially the same pics that Steve Dickey posted some time ago........ This was the first P-47 that I ever saw fly..... down at Harlingen..... 1976. I have heard rumors that the bird might soon be coming out of hibernation after the P-40 is completed and a couple of annuals are finished. However, nothing is confirmed until Doug says it's going to happen.... trust me.... he has gotten tired of ME asking him about the P-47N! That being said..... I cannot wait to see the P-47N pull up to the wing of the B-29 and B-24! Alan

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Just call me Al.

Thanks for the updated pics.

She is looking a lot better than the last time I saw her. Such a beautiful aircraft.

According to CFM's website, they did:

"The restoration of "How `Boot That!?" is complete in every detail and all of the plane's systems are fully operational. Jack Kowalik, the same artist, who first created the plane's distinctive nose art in December 1944, faithfully reproduced it as part of the restoration effort. "How `Boot That!?" won the title of Grand Champion Warbird at the 1995 E.A.A. Oshkosh Fly-In and the 1996 E.A.A. Sun `n Fun Fly-In and is a testament to the hard work of the plane's restoration team."

http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/Mitchell.htm

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Scott Greenfield

BDKs question was a loaded one, intended to make me rethink / challenge a position that I had made earlier. The B-25 won GC at OSH '95 and SNF '96.

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Taylor Stevenson

Hello, do you have more pictures from inside the cockpit of CAF P-47?? hopefully during the restoration.