Curtiss Hangar Cleanup - (Sikorsky Airport, CT)

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

I've anybody needs them, I already have the set-up paid for for our Lockheed Coveralls.
Jerry

Is there a pic?

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:16 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

One more for the guys!!!

simply love it Jerry! Wonderful to talk to you again and talk warbirds while working on history. You are a walking book filled with great aviation knowledge. I don't think there was a single question you didn't answer with a great story or wonderful information. I'll pm you some more questions later. :drink3:

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:27 pm

ZRX61 wrote:

Fouga23 wrote:

Hey Chris, what's the price on those coveralls? Can they be made with other logo's?

Was wondering the same thing. Years ago in the UK I was at a car race & some company had racks full of coveralls in all the F1 team designs & also a lot of defunct auto companies etc. They were selling like crazy.
There is a company that makes the coveralls in the old herringbone/twill(?) material in the US in a variety of colors. I'd like some retro Lockheed ones

I would highly recommend talking with warbird kid and check out his line for warbird wear. He's got some great visions, designs and awesome work ethic. He has put countless hours into a retro look, yet modern enough to be worn for anytime of seasons. It's because of Chris I was able to get my chance-vought coveralls. He didn't have to help me out, but he did. And that's the type of people we have at the CASC. Greatest bunch of people I know. Anybody looking to get involved in anyway, shape or form- contact the CASC-and surround yourself with the best wingmen and wing ladies i know!

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:02 pm

ZRX61 wrote:

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

I've anybody needs them, I already have the set-up paid for for our Lockheed Coveralls.
Jerry

Is there a pic?

Here's a link to Tyson Rininger's gallery. Scroll down and there is a pic of one of my guys. There is also another shot in there somewhere.
http://tvrphoto.photoshelter.com/galler ... 332spOnzPU

And here's a link to Mark Loper's Photo of us.
http://www.markeloper.com/aviation/CCAS10.html#14

Wildchild · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:46 pm

2 things:

Will your Corsair be a flyer, and

What did u guys do with the Mooney??

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:02 pm

Corsair will be a non-flyer. Mooney is in another hangar and is not the museum's airframe.

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:48 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

Corsair will be a non-flyer.

However IIRC, there's been a good change in the restoration objective, since the original plan? Can you update those of us who haven't been following the plan?

Regards,

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 10:59 pm

JDK wrote:

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

Corsair will be a non-flyer.

However IIRC, there's been a good change in the restoration objective, since the original plan? Can you update those of us who haven't been following the plan?

Regards,

James,

What you may be referring to was the original intent to restore the plane, then return to her to the pedestal. This plan has become defunct, and now the airport is helping the museum find and fit the pedestal with a fiberglass replica at some point in the future. This is not immediate and will take sometime since a fiberglass Corsair can cost as much as a flyable Stearman. The original Corsair is undergoing a much more authentic restoration to static display. So for any of you Wixers that have some parts we'd love to hear from you. We are definitely in need of some parts. Heck hopefully at some point we'll be able to have an "open cockpit day" where we'll be able to have the public actually sit in the aircraft. Under supervision of course. :wink:

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:03 pm

The restoration is a static restoration. It will be placed in the Curtiss Hangar serving as the center for the Corsair Memorial. Dedicated to the Men and Women involved with all phases of the Corsair's history. Since the airplane is property of Bridgeport CT it has to go back to the airport, plane and simple. The CASC is simply the Restorers and Curators for the long term. We are attempting to restore it as best possible as skills and budget will allow. We are in need of several major components including canopy & Windscreen glass, seat, gear bay doors and lots of small bits... Donations are always welcome!

JDK · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:07 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:

[What you may be referring to was the original intent to restore the plane, then return to her to the pedestal.

That was it - thanks chaps. IIRC, you were having some problems explaining to certain 'stakeholders' why restoring the aircraft and then putting it back on a pole in the weather was a bad idea... So I'm please that's no longer an issue!

Regards,

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:57 pm

JDK wrote:

Warbird Kid wrote:

What you may be referring to was the original intent to restore the plane, then return to her to the pedestal.

That was it - thanks chaps. IIRC, you were having some problems explaining to certain 'stakeholders' why restoring the aircraft and then putting it back on a pole in the weather was a bad idea... So I'm please that's no longer an issue!

Regards,

Yessir! That was a problem with particular stakeholder(s), but thankfully those issues have been resolved. Seems kind of crazy (especially on this forum) how some individuals would think keeping an aircraft such as this on outdoor display would be the best idea. This hangar is becoming the perfect stone for two birds. Preserving this Corsair in the best local location possible, while giving our organization an excellent base for public exhibition / display. We couldn't be happier. Well.... once we secure the rest of the funding needed to finish the hangar, THEN we'll be really happy. :drink3:

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:45 am

I can't wait till we have a warbird fly-in day to come and say hello. Imagine a b-25 landing and just taxing up to the Curtis hanger!? It's going to be a great accomplishment!

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:20 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:

JDK wrote:

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

Corsair will be a non-flyer.

However IIRC, there's been a good change in the restoration objective, since the original plan? Can you update those of us who haven't been following the plan?

Regards,

James,

What you may be referring to was the original intent to restore the plane, then return to her to the pedestal. This plan has become defunct, and now the airport is helping the museum find and fit the pedestal with a fiberglass replica at some point in the future. This is not immediate and will take sometime since a fiberglass Corsair can cost as much as a flyable Stearman. The original Corsair is undergoing a much more authentic restoration to static display. So for any of you Wixers that have some parts we'd love to hear from you. We are definitely in need of some parts. Heck hopefully at some point we'll be able to have an "open cockpit day" where we'll be able to have the public actually sit in the aircraft. Under supervision of course. :wink:

Hey Chris,

FWIW. The now defunct 56th FG restaurant at Republic Airport had a full scale and very accurate fiberglass Corsair replica (along with a P-47 and P-40) on display for years. Since the place closed the army trucks and replicas were packed up and moved someplace while the building remains. You may want to try and contact the Talichet family who owned the place and still has other locations open. I know that they parted with the F6F replica that was at the 56th and it is now on a pole up at Geneseo. I think they were known as 'Specialty Restaurant Groups'.

It's worth a try.

Pete

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:49 pm

CH2Tdriver wrote:

I think they were known as 'Specialty Restaurant Groups'.

That's Tallichet's organisation, isn't it?

Considering the fibreglass replica issue from another couple of angles, it might be possible to come up with a cooperative build with other organisations, and save on costs on an individual basis. (I'm thinking here of the Full Scale Model Gloster E28/39s built for the Gloster collection ('Jet Age Museum') and two connected towns some distance apart - Farnborough Hampshire, and Lutterworth, Leicestershire. The Jet Age Museum, I suspect, got a deal that made theirs possible.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_E.28/39#Survivors

Secondly, perhaps going the sculpture route might be worth a thought. You can drop a lot more cash on an artist's commissioned sculpture work than on a fibreglass FSM, but, again, getting creative with who is involved on what basis (a steel or moulding company sponsorship for the build could offset some or all costs for a plaque and PR) and a greater flexibility of what goes on the pole (it just needs to be big enough and 'interesting' enough) is worth consideration.

Currently, though, it looks like a giant 'volunteer with broom' should be the thing on the pedestal! Well done, chaps.

Regards,

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:49 pm

I think the hellcat is real isn't it? The fiberglass corsair has been discussed in the past and researched vastly by other members. Ill let them fill you in with much more information than I want to put out there. Even if you could get one for let's say, 15 grand. It still comes down to getting the funds just for a replica. Really tough challenge but in the end the determination and gumption of the group will get it done. When you have a real fg-1d which needs funding and parts, it's tough to justify using anything on a replica until the real one is restored. I know in time both will be acomplished :drink3:

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Curtiss Hangar Cleanup - (Sikorsky Airport, CT)

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