LSFM news

bomberfan · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 10:09 am

It was announced on Facebook that LSFM's B-17 Thunderbird will fly for the final time in 2020 this Saturday the 25th. They haven't specified if it's just for the remainder of the year our if it's a permanent thing. They cited rising costs as the main reason. They encouraged anyone interested to be there, and are selling rides for the event.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 10:52 am

bomberfan wrote:

It was announced on Facebook that LSFM's B-17 Thunderbird will fly for the final time in 2020 this Saturday the 25th. They haven't specified if it's just for the remainder of the year our if it's a permanent thing. They cited rising costs as the main reason. They encouraged anyone interested to be there, and are selling rides for the event.

Woah. Hmmm. I'd bet insurance after last year's crash.

Combatmech · **Joined:** Tue Feb 11, 2014 9:09 pm **Posts:** 116

RyanShort1 wrote:

bomberfan wrote:

It was announced on Facebook that LSFM's B-17 Thunderbird will fly for the final time in 2020 this Saturday the 25th. They haven't specified if it's just for the remainder of the year our if it's a permanent thing. They cited rising costs as the main reason. They encouraged anyone interested to be there, and are selling rides for the event.

Woah. Hmmm. I'd bet insurance after last year's crash.

Possibly. I'd suspect that kind of thing would hit everyone.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 11:22 am

bomberfan wrote:

It was announced on Facebook that LSFM's B-17 Thunderbird will fly for the final time in 2020 this Saturday the 25th. They haven't specified if it's just for the remainder of the year our if it's a permanent thing. They cited rising costs as the main reason. They encouraged anyone interested to be there, and are selling rides for the event.

Bummer

menards · **Joined:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:46 pm **Posts:** 543

It was bound to happen sooner or later. At some point it will no longer be economically viable to keep em flying.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:16 pm

It appears that some of the less active / aggressive groups that fly a B-17 are going this way as a trend.

Fuddy Duddy
Pink Lady
Thunderbird

The aircraft are flyable but the groups that own them currently are being more selective in operating them. Maybe taking off a year or two (or more) from operating them, eliminating all the costs (and insurance) that would go along with it. With a great group like the LSFM, and their amazing new headquarters, I'm sure its only a matter of time until they get her flying again.

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 12:35 pm

LSFM has been through a lot with the damage from Hurricane Ike and the subsequent relocation of the collection to Houston. Hopefully this grounding is temporary and can be resolved in a way that makes sense for the museum.

wendovertom · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 1:56 pm

ARRGH - First Neil Peart now this! Alas I agree, it will come to pass at some point for all of them I guess.

Tom P.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 4:46 pm

Slightly off topic but, where is the former LSFM PV-2D Harpoon now?

67N20 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 23, 2020 5:55 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:

Slightly off topic but, where is the former LSFM PV-2D Harpoon now?

The Harpoon was sold before the move to Houston to a guy in Northeast Texas. This guy has a ranch with several airplane remains. Was gonna used the Harpoon as a “bunk house” for kids to sleep in. Don’t know if those plans have changed. I can’t remember the guys name. He removed some parts right away. As of a couple weeks ago I saw a picture of the fuselage on a trailer looking like it was almost ready to go.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:54 am

67N20 wrote:

Warbird Kid wrote:

Slightly off topic but, where is the former LSFM PV-2D Harpoon now?

The Harpoon was sold before the move to Houston to a guy in Northeast Texas. This guy has a ranch with several airplane remains. Was gonna used the Harpoon as a “bunk house” for kids to sleep in. Don’t know if those plans have changed. I can’t remember the guys name. He removed some parts right away. As of a couple weeks ago I saw a picture of the fuselage on a trailer looking like it was almost ready to go.

That's really depressing. Wish I didn't ask now. :cry:

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri Jan 24, 2020 1:36 pm

wendovertom wrote:

ARRGH - First Neil Peart now this! Alas I agree, it will come to pass at some point for all of them I guess.

Tom P.

One heck of a drummer he was!

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:29 pm

Wonder if Collings would make a trade for the ex-CIA B-17, if Thunder Bird is ready to go into service now?

JFS61 · **Joined:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:44 pm **Posts:** 305

Chris Brame wrote:

Wonder if Collings would make a trade for the ex-CIA B-17, if Thunder Bird is ready to go into service now?

I doubt it, especially after the FAA pulled the plug on the Collings Heritage Flights.

bmoran · **Joined:** Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:48 am **Posts:** 142

JFS61 wrote:

Chris Brame wrote:

Wonder if Collings would make a trade for the ex-CIA B-17, if Thunder Bird is ready to go into service now?

I doubt it, especially after the FAA pulled the plug on the Collings Heritage Flights.

Can you site a source?

This one seems to indicate otherwise: https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2020/01 ... -b17-crash

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