B-54A & XB-44 ... The good ole days of lots of ideas ...

[The Inspector]

Awesome photos! But I have to say the first photo looks like the illegitimate offspring of a B29 and the Oscar Meyer weinermobile.

be happy that PSA didn't fly MD-80's in a pink scheme using the under the nose smile

[Pogmusic]

It would seem that an easy (relatively speaking) fix to have a B-29 converted to XB-44 if engines were the only hurdle to flying. If I understand what the XB-44 was is that it was the engine test bed for what became the B-50....

[The Inspector]

B-50 (and model 377/KC-97) were also 'advanced' by greater use of the new wonder metals Magnesium and 7075 T6 aluminum. making the B-50 more prone to corrosion and cracking. Anyone who's ever dealt with corrosion knows that 7075 looks awful when corroded, sort of like a dark gray wet phonebook all layered and delaminated and mag just' disappears' in a 'wormy' manner, in the same time frame Titanium sheets could be flexed by hand and eventually torn like a B+ book report.

[sandiego89]

B-50 (and model 377/KC-97) were also 'advanced' by greater use of the new wonder metals Magnesium and 7075 T6 aluminum. making the B-50 more prone to corrosion and cracking. Anyone who's ever dealt with corrosion knows that 7075 looks awful when corroded, sort of like a dark gray wet phonebook all layered and delaminated and mag just' disappears' in a 'wormy' manner, in the same time frame Titanium sheets could be flexed by hand and eventually torn like a B+ book report.

Yes sir, I have noticed that. On the B-36 as well. The difference between how the different panels have fared is striking. I noted this on the B-50 lucky Lady II at Chino and the B-50 and B-36 Atwater. The tradtional aluminum sections (covering pressurized spaces) tend to be doing better, the magensium not so much.

Hope more of the uber rare B-36's and B-50's can move indoors. Yes I realize what a task that is. Those outside at Pima should do a bit better, but I worry more about the B-50's at Atwater and MacDill (have never seen her, unsure what shape she is in? but the FL climate is rough). I wonder if all the indoor hangars at Atwater (ex-Castle AFB) are really being used by paying customers?

[AURktman]

Awesome photos! But I have to say the first photo looks like the illegitimate offspring of a B29 and the Oscar Meyer weinermobile.

be happy that PSA didn't fly MD-80's in a pink scheme using the under the nose smile

You owe me a new keyboard... The orange Fanta Zero is too difficult to clean out of the keys... and my nose.

[The Inspector]

Awesome photos! But I have to say the first photo looks like the illegitimate offspring of a B29 and the Oscar Meyer weinermobile.

be happy that PSA didn't fly MD-80's in a pink scheme using the under the nose smile

You owe me a new keyboard... The orange Fanta Zero is too difficult to clean out of the keys... and my nose.

[Mark Allen M]

This looks to have been Bill's last post here on WIX.
Fitting for Bill with how I knew him and how I'll remember him. He was a very good man.
I'll miss you Bill

Mark

[Cherrybomber13]

This looks to have been Bill's last post here on WIX.
Fitting for Bill with how I knew him and how I'll remember him. He was a very good man.
I'll miss you Bill

Mark

Mark I'll second that motion. Bill was a really great guy.

Drew

[DH82EH]

And here he is, laughing



Posted on another thread by his buddy Bill

Andy