Warbird Information Exchange

Intake duct #3 engine

#2 engine J box

wing center section looking outbard

trailing edge of center section. 140 foot span

Andy by #3 nacelle

leading edge and main spar

right elevator. about the size of a B-25 outboard wing panel

right aileron

another view of wing ctr section

the greenhouse

three of six props

tailcone

rudder

jet pod

fwd fuselage section

inboard flap section

vert stab

rear fuse section, notice the wrinkles

outbaord wing panel

outboard wing panels

more wing

there's an airplane in there somewhere. They are looking to have the main fuse sections joined to the wing by the end of June

Chris, thanks for sharing them. It gives a new meaning of some assembly required.

Regards,

Lynn

1:1 Scale B-36 model!

I am always amazed whenever I see the one at MUSAF...it is nice to see one outside to get a different perspective on the size. (Its still huge!)

What's the plan for re-assembly / restoration?

We are in the process of stripping the old paint and taking care of whatever corrosion we find. You can't tell from the photos, but the wing is mostly down to primer now. The paint has been coming off pretty easy. Once we've repainted the center wing section and fuselage sections we will reassemble them and drop the gear. We are hoping to have that done by the end of June. Because of the size of the plane we'll tow it to its display spot at that point and do the final reassembly there. For those that know Pima it will be parked just west of the 390th museum in the center of the large aircraft area. Hopefully a chance to see it going together will bring a few extra people out this summer.

James

Holy Mole! She's BIG!

Thank you for taking them and sharing them with us!!

_________________
David
1953 M38A1 jeep owner
& Student Pilot soloed 09/09/06
USAF 1984-1986

Hey, James in Tucson, I want to thank Scott Marchand and Jeff in the restoration facility for taking the time to show us around last weekend. Without their help, I wouldn't have been able to get any of the B-36 photos. Every time I've been to Pima, It's been a wonderful experience. You guys do a great job down there and I wish you all the best in putting the beast back together again.

fabulous pics...... at 5 foot 8 inches i stood in front of walt soplata's b-36 wings dead on the dirt & my chin barely reached over the top. looks like the desert air has been kind to the magnesium alloy components!!

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Thank you for posting the pics of the current status of the last B-36 to come off the production line. It is a shame however that the dream of the B-36 Peacemaker Museum group to restore her to fly will never come to pass. Here is a photo taken by my dad in the early '70's when the now named "City of Ft Worth" sat at the soon to be closed Greater Southwest airport. This was right about the time that work began to get her ready for a short hop to either Metcham field or Lockheed plant where the restoration was to begine. However clearance was never granted by the Air Force for the flight and it was taken apart and trucked away.

Yes, thanks for the great photos Chris, it's great to see the old girl has a
good home.

Connery, when your dad took the photo, B-36J 52-2827 was known as
"The City of Ft. Worth", and had been since the 1959 retirement ceremony
at Amon Carter Field where she was flown in her last flight from El Paso,
Texas. "The City of Ft. Worth" noseart was painted on her before she left
on her last flight. She is actually the second City of Ft. Worth. The first one
was B-36A, 44-9205, dedicated and accepted into the AF at Carswell AFB
26 June 1948...7th Bombardment Wing, 492nd Bomb Squadron.

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Great info

Any plans for the Boxcars in the background? I used to love watching waves of them fly over our house enroute to Bakalar Air Force Base, Columbus, Indiana in the 60's.
PJ

No plans. Everything at Pima is on the ground to stay.