Warbird Information Exchange

I was chatting with Jack Kosko on one of my recent trips to Fawn Grove when he made a statement/question that made me think "There probably aren't too many (TBMs) that haven't been restored now." I told him I wasn't sure, but it was hard to think of a currently active TBM restoration project.

So, how many are still out there that are potentially restorable to airworthy? I would not include ones that are being preserved as tankers or ones that are static or planned to be put on display as static? Even the two TBMs that were shipped to Israel as spray planes, once considered unrestorable, have found new leases on life. One of the two was restored to static and is on display at the IAF Museum at Herzelia. The other was under restoration to airworthy. The one airframe that I think has the potential to be restored to airworthy is the one in the Soplata collection, but I know that has a whole set of separate issues involved. Any other potential TBM projects out there?

I find that the TBM has a greater representation of all its variants, marking, roles and units than many other warbirds, from early war to postwar, from single tone, to tri-color, back to glossy sea blue, old North Atlantic and later North Atlantic, to the gaudy COD markings applied to postwar TBMs. I wonder if any of them are restored to the markings of the ones that flew into the emergency strips to help bring supplies and evacuated the wounded during the Chosin Reservoir battle in 1950? While it wasn't a combatant, it was probably the last time a TBM was flown into an active combat zone.

I'm not sure about TBMs, but I have a feeling the RNZAF machine being restored to static/running at Tauranga is a TBF. Another Kiwi member may be able to help with that. I'm not aware of any airworthy restorations going on here.

_________________
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

The only to-airworthy restoration that comes instantly to mind is the combat-vet TBM under restoration at Pacific Fighters right now, that will be painted in its original squadron markings from 1945 in the Pacific (VT-40/USS Suwannee).

http://www.warplane.com/vintage-aircraf ... craftId=39

Hopefully flying this summer..

_________________
JDB.

How about the Yanks Air Museum example?

I should clarify TBF or TBM is fine -- It's just that the original TBFs are so rare, I wouldn't expect to see many flying or restored to airworthy. Very cool that there is a TBF under resto in NZ. I'm pretty sure the NASM has a TBF in their inventory, but I doubt we'll see any kind of restoration / preservation done any time in the near future.

I remember in the 1980's there were about 70-80 survivors not including those in Lake Michigan. The only one I know of that's been destroyed is the one that caught fire upon landing a few years ago. Where did they all go? I saw one at a smokejumpers museum in Missoula, Montana last year. For an unrestored example that's been sitting outside on the ramp a few years, it looked pretty darn good.

Mike Rawson (aka Helldivers) has this one waiting to be restored at KANE:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerr ... 4172a.html

Approximately forty-one Grumman/General Motors TBF/TBM Avengers in Lake Michigan.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

What is the current status of this one?
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerr ... 85715.html

In the late 70s there were a dozen or more parked at Lewiston, Idaho.
I recall seeing a bulletin board flyer with prices around $10k.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Here's a project for you.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerregistry/avenger-85833.html

_________________
remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

I think all the Avengers in NZ are TBF-1cs, aren't they Zac?

There is or not long ago was one in Frederick, MD. I know some work was being done on it in Hagerstown. But been a couple years since I saw it or heard any details of its restoration.

Looks like I was thinking of this one, now apparently based in Culpepper, VA. I had no idea it was finished and flying again. Well done!

http://www.capitalwing.org/tbm_ours.asp ... 1~21~23~23

Has anybody heard about where Mr Soplata's Avenger will end up. It looked very restorable when I saw it.