Museum A/C you would have flying ? (again ?)

[kalamazookid]

The Kalamazoo Air Zoo Hellcat, Corsair or P-47 for the sole purpose of bringing back some of my favorite childhood memories. Kermit Weeks' B-26 Marauder would be up there on that list as well, as would the MATS Constellation formerly owned by Vern Raburn (assuming it could be put back in those markings).

If we're going completely unrealistic: Air Zoo XP-55 Ascender, NASM Dornier Do335, NMUSAF P-6 Hawk, any SR-71 Blackbird or B-58 Hustler.

[JFS61]

Of all the the choices out there, the B-36 wins hand down. To be able to see one of those in the air again would be a sight beyond comprehension.

Never going to happen, though, as not only the cost of restoring one to flight (if that were even feasible in today's terms) would be enormous, but the incredible operating costs would bankrupt even the deepest of pockets.

Makes for a nice thought, though.

[dweller]

He219
Bf110
Me410
Ki-61

[Jesse C.]

Junkers Ju-87 Stuka
Messerschmitt Me-110
Brewster F2A Buffalo

And the B-32 Dominator, once they get it off the moon!

[quemerford]

Focke Wulf Condor? The incredible restoration in Germany looks close to flight standard.

But the B-36 maybe trumps them all.

[airnutz]

Napier Sabre powered Typhoon or Tempest
Raiden
Stuka
Do335
He 111, or CASA 2.111, very do-able
B-36...why not while we're dreaming?
Saw the B-58's many times, but I could stand a 'refresh' on the experience
Of course my restorations would be equipped with BRS's and giant pillows deployed from underwing bays... did I mention we're dreaming ?
The others are extinct and out of the parameters of the topic...

[Mick G]

Would be nice to see China Doll return to the skies

[Triplane102]

Thanks to everyone !
The SAFEST kind of "RARE Airplane " flying has to be the ones we DREAM about !
Mike has an impressive list !!

Would be nice to see China Doll return to the skies

Yes ! I agree !! The ones that Could certainly be made to fly, that are NOT at the risk of being the Only/Last of it's kind are the most tempting !!
Now, about that B-17 sitting in pieces in the South American Museum.....

[Chris Brame]

Re the B-36: I think if you recovered everything from the two biggest crash sites and added the Soplata remains, there might be enough for one more static airframe, or possibly one heuva cutaway display.

[Kyleb]

Re the B-36: I think if you recovered everything from the two biggest crash sites and added the Soplata remains, there might be enough for one more static airframe, or possibly one heuva cutaway display.

Thinking of how much work Lufthansa has put into their Connie (which was a complete airframe, with several spare airframes to cannibalize), I can't imagine the work necessary to put together a static or (even more monumental) a flying B-36.

But I'd give almost anything to see one fly.

[Rick65]

Beaufighter from NMUSAF.
In RAAF colours would be even better!

[Mike]

I've got to politely disagree with Mike.
Very historic airframes (1903 Wright Flyer, S of St.L, Enola Gay, etc.) should not fly.
They are too important as historical artifacts.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that Americans just dont get irony.

At least there is one person here who understands the purpose of a museum, so my point does seem to have been made.

[Dennis7423]

I'm going to throw a new one out there, and say a Handley Page Halifax (late model with the radial Hercules engines). I've always loved the Halifax; I think it's a beautiful brute of an airplane.

Halifax-mk3 by Dennis SAuter, on Flickr



- Dennis S.
Thornton, CO USA

[Aeronut]

I'm going to throw a new one out there, and say a Handley Page Halifax (late model with the radial Hercules engines). I've always loved the Halifax; I think it's a beautiful brute of an airplane.

You can have the Halifax just so long as you use it to tow the Hamilcar glider I want to (see) fly.

[airnutz]

Re the B-36: I think if you recovered everything from the two biggest crash sites and added the Soplata remains, there might be enough for one more static airframe, or possibly one heuva cutaway display.

Thinking of how much work Lufthansa has put into their Connie (which was a complete airframe, with several spare airframes to cannibalize), I can't imagine the work necessary to put together a static or (even more monumental) a flying B-36.

But I'd give almost anything to see one fly.

Given the discussion scope why would we bother with all that when we could select the best one on indoor display and start with that?

Another coupla' birds..
Mitsubishi Ki-43 Dinah III
Ki-61 Tony

Mebbee not reallllly in the scope, but one I'd looove to see tour in the US, would be the Tu-95 Bear. We wouldn't have to invest anything in a project if Putin would settle his azz down and make a few goodwill overtures...one being a Bear tour in airshow season.