Current Status of THE LIBERY BELLE B-17 a B-29 Question

[Mick G]

This whole thread makes me wonder if Kee Bird might eventually be recovered and restored.

Not enough left to restore unless you have a donor fuselage and more. What's left is not worth the gigantic expense and hassle to get it back to civilization. There are other complete candidates for restoration available in the U.S.

How is Kee Bird much different than Liberty Bell? They both look to have had about the same level of destruction after the fire, or am I wrong??? If they are rebuilding the Liberty from whats left of the tail and wingtips, then Kee Bird is much the same, is it not? All of the major castings should be there. Thoughts?? No??

[Chris Brame]

There was a rumor Clay Lacy was working on a Stratocruiser. I had heard this from a couple people that attended the H&P auction a few years ago.

Jim

Not any more; see this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58613&p=577945&hilit=stratocruiser#p577945

[JohnB]

At the risk of stating the obvious...
One big difference between resurrecting the Liberty Belle vs. The Kee Bird:
Although huge by regular general aviation standards, the operating costs and feasibility of operating a B-17 is relativity reasonable.

The B-29, not so much. Just think of the problems the CAF has endured in operating Fifi.

In other words, there is a potential market for flying B-17s.
Witness the number currently under rebuild/construction. I don't think some of these groups would be spending years of work and mountains of money building something they won't be able to afford to fly when finished.

That market means a B-17 will have some residual value when the restorer comes to sell it. The higher costs of restoring and operating a B-29 probably would not be recouped in a sale. Most museums who would like a B-29 for static display already have one or couldn't afford to buy a rebuild of the extent needed by the Kee Bird.

Remember, rarity is not the only factor in determined by value, there has to be demand as well.

[PinecastleAAF]

What's left is not worth the gigantic expense and hassle to get it back to civilization.

This. The damage compared to Liberty Belle might be similar but LB didn't burn in Greenland.

[JimH]

I forgot the Paul Allen E model...but I don't know if it is actively being worked on...the last time I saw it at Arlington it was pretty blown apart. No photos of course.

Jim

[ChrisAldridge]

What is the feasibility of forming and machining new spar tubes for the 17?

[menards]

This whole thread makes me wonder if Kee Bird might eventually be recovered and restored.

Not enough left to restore unless you have a donor fuselage and more. What's left is not worth the gigantic expense and hassle to get it back to civilization. There are other complete candidates for restoration available in the U.S.

How is Kee Bird much different than Liberty Bell? They both look to have had about the same level of destruction after the fire, or am I wrong??? If they are rebuilding the Liberty from whats left of the tail and wingtips, then Kee Bird is much the same, is it not? All of the major castings should be there. Thoughts?? No??

I think its as simple as "no one wants to do it".... For years (decades) the aviation community knew where 5 more p-38s are sitting...and the recovery/restoration is/was indeed plausible, and they sat. Probably gone forever at this point.

[Chuck Giese]

What is the feasibility of forming and machining new spar tubes for the 17?

Wing or bomb bay?

Bomb bay spar cap tubes are in progress.

Wing spar tubes have to be done, just haven't found anyone who can commit to doing it. The internal taper of the wall thickness is the current stumbling block.