Vintage Jets

[eric_stevens]

About six months ago there was a topic about some RF-84 Jets that were at Wright Pat in Storage, and then they disappeared. Well I ahve found them as well as a few other interesting things. Part of a B-47, An F-105, A-4A, A-7A, (3) F-84's, Drop tanks and what the owner is calling a grand slam bomb that was only carried in the Avro Lancaster Here are a few pics

[Shay]

Hey Eric

Great find.

I posted the pics of the RF-84K's a little while back. I was a little disheartend when I noticed that they were gone. I figured they were chewed up and scrapped. Can mention who owns them and they are located now? If you don't want to post it maybe you can PM me. I would love to talk to the guy. Do you know if he went through the DRMO channels to acquire the airframes? By the looks of it he's well on his way to being another Walter Soplata.

It's sad I have pictures of one of the RF-84 taken 11 years ago in front of the Restoration Facility at Wright Patt. She was a little faded but she was all together and on her own feet in pretty fine shape. Too bad they tore it apart and scrapped the left overs. Which from my latest pictures were quite significant. Not to mention that while in the DRMO yard they were further disgraced by being pushed around by a bulldozer or forklift. It's not like the still making them and from now on parts will only become harder and harder to come by.

Like I said let me know if you can tell me where they are located and who the gentlemen is that owns them. I'd like to talk with him and maybe take a tour of his treasure trove. Perhaps he would a few pictures of his one of his RF-84K's in better times. Thanks in advance.

Just a caveat. But I did notice the other day that a rather parted out F-4 and F-16 airframes had now taken up residence in the DRMO center.

Thanks again, great pics

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Cking]

Is the B-47 a "recently" scrapped one, or one that was broken up years ago? If it's a recent one that is a crime! The poor old 47 is an endangered species isn't it?
Mind you she looks in about the same condition as th Liberty belle was before restoration so she could fly again!! When I win the lottery.......
Thanks for posting

Rgds Cking

[Shay]

Is the B-47 a "recently" scrapped one, or one that was broken up years ago? If it's a recent one that is a crime! The poor old 47 is an endangered species isn't it?
Mind you she looks in about the same condition as th Liberty belle was before restoration so she could fly again!! When I win the lottery.......
Thanks for posting

Rgds Cking

With regards to the 3 RF-84's my understanding is that they were used as part sources for the RF-84K that has recently been restored and is slotted to go on display very shortly if it hasn't already. I didn't notice it the last time I was at the museum. I imagine this might also be the case for these B-47 parts. Being used in the restoration of the RB-47 that went on disply a little while back. Replacing the B-47 that had been on display since the early 70's and is now parked on the ramp in front of the restoration facility. Facing an uncertain (to me that is) future.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[mlenoch]

Are there any engine cans available for a J33?
(I need one.)

[CorsairFreak]

Is the B-47 the pieces one that has been sititng in front of the restoratiopn area down there? Not the complete one that was to go to MAPS, but the one that was pretty much junk.

[Shay]

Is the B-47 the pieces one that has been sititng in front of the restoratiopn area down there? Not the complete one that was to go to MAPS, but the one that was pretty much junk.

I haven't seen any B-47 pieces in front of the restoration facility. I passed by there earlier today the only big stuff there are the fuselage sections of the XC-99. The pictures I took with the B-47 pieces in the DRMO were taken a lil over a year ago. So I guess it depends on when you saw them. I'm sure at one time they were at the Facility.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[CorsairFreak]

I saw it this last summer. If I have time later I'll post some pics.

[JBoyle]

According to the excellent website "www.B47.com" the site of the B-47 Stratojet Association.

"52-0410 was one of two B-47s operated by the US Navy until the late 1970s. It's final flight took place in December, 1977 when it was flown to Pease AFB, NH and put on display at the main gate. Following the closure of Pease AFB in 1991, it was disassembled and trucked to Ellsworth AFB, SD where it now awaits reassembly. More recent information (Dec 2002) has indicated this project was unable to be completed. The nose section and engines were now being sent to Dayton OH to be used on the RB-47H 52-4299 project. "

My questions are:
1. Is that the remains of this AC?
2.Why couldn't have been reassembled at Ellsworth?
I hate to seem cynical BUT was it really that bad..or just a handy (i.e. homeless, so no one would mind) source of parts for the higher profile restoration for the NMUSAF?

Anyone with a source at the museum? I'd love to know the answer.

[eric_stevens]

The remains were seen this past weekend on the 11th of february and the F-84 pices and the B-47 pieces were all bought from DRMO. The B-47 might have been from a navy squadron as there was a sticker from a navy patrol squadron found inside the fuselage. as for were the pictures were taken in south western ohio. the owner does not want to be names I know this sounds familar, but they are in talks with the local officals as to the legality of the display of the aircraft!

[wendovertom]

If the guy truly bought the aforementioned items from DRMO, how is there any question as to the legality of displaying them? Unless the airframes are left as is and they become an "attractive nusiance" I have a hard time seeing local gov't officals having a beef over the ownership.

Tom P.

[TimAPNY]

The remains were seen this past weekend on the 11th of february and the F-84 pices and the B-47 pieces were all bought from DRMO. The B-47 might have been from a navy squadron as there was a sticker from a navy patrol squadron found inside the fuselage. as for were the pictures were taken in south western ohio. the owner does not want to be names I know this sounds familar, but they are in talks with the local officals as to the legality of the display of the aircraft!

I think that is the Pease B-47. If it is, I remember the hatch in the nose gear well was open when it was on display. I think the Navy patrol patch was a "Tagging" of an Air Force jet. Seeing as NAS Brunswick and the ship yard at Kittery are close and closer I see the chances of this being pretty great.

Just my personal theory. I hear tagging is pretty popular in some Navy squadrons. We just stole screws and fasteners off other squadrons aircraft

[Randy Haskin]

Anyone else laughing at that drop tank that is claimed to be a "Grand Slam" bomb?

[RickH]

Randy not to be disrespectful but I don't think that's a tank. The tip is too sharp and it looks rusty. Never seen a rusty drop tank. Also the shape just doesn't look right to me to be a tank. If you look carefully there appears to be some kind of flange on the back end. Maybe an inert practice bomb ?

[airnutz]

Our friends over at Flypast are on the verge of agreeing it's a US Tallboy.
According to specs the Tallboy case was 10 ft long by 38inch diameter.

You saw it Eric, can you guestimate the dimensions? Some Tall reading...
http://members.aol.com/nukeinfo2/