Warbird Information Exchange

A Statement from our Vice Chairman:
Over a decade ago we started on a simple journey. The PSAM would return to flight. Our Founder, Bob Pond, had been a key driving force in the warbird community. With his passing, the mantle was handed off to those who would carry his vision to Preserve, Educate, Honor.
We took that vision seriously. Our challenge was that while it’s a clear goal - the details were not that simple. We had to “get the band back together” and form a new team of folks that would get us there.
We began simply enough with a Stearman. Over time we got used to handling aircraft movement. The next step was to bring back Bunny our P-51. Things got more complex but we forged forward. Each aircraft brought new challenges and rewards. We added riders to the planes and event fly overs. A second P-51 also came into the collection. Along the way we grew from about 20 aircraft to the 75 plus aircraft we have today both static and airworthy to include an F-117A Stealth Fighter.
Our buildings and exhibits grew as well from roughly forty thousand feet to the nearly one hundred thousand feet under roof on ten acres.
COVID was a new challenge. But we forged ahead - today we are one of the most attended Air Museums in Southern California and our social media educational outreach/programing reaches nearly two million folks each week.
It was fitting that a few days after our Twenty Fifth Birthday the B-17 “the Movie” Memphis Belle has joined us as we continue our journey of flight to support Bob’s vision .
In a way we have returned to where we started all those years ago flying multiple aircraft to inspire future generations in the magic of flight and the wonder of what can be.
We are grateful to all of those that have supported us to get to this point. To those that believed in us when others did not. To those that have supported us with volunteer time, energy, donations, and talent.
The Museum is beyond grateful for your trust and support. This journey will continue. Join us and be part of what is possible when you have a dream.
May God Bless each of you and your families…
Fred Bell
Vice Chairman/Managing Director

I've heard several stories about how it's going to a permanent static display there, I've also heard it's just there for some deep maintenance and then resume flying.

Zac, BomberFan and Andy,

I did post the story of that single engine landing along with a selection of other pictures mostly from the 1980 Fire Season several years ago. You can find it here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18840

I am only in my 20s but someday I will fly it at airshows. I am getting rich really fast writing software and so I can afford to do really stupid things like put all my money into warbirds.

I'd like to know the source of the stories that this airplane is to be grounded. No one seems to be saying that the Tallichet group or, more properly, MARC, has sold the airplane. The donation rumor seems purely speculative.

This B-17 has been a bit of a vagabond over the years going from place to place (i.e. Farmingdale and Geneseo and Madras) as the financial winds blow. I suspect this is another stop on its journey. I have also heard through second-hand sources that it will be receiving some needed mechanical work which is indicative that it will remain airworthy. Time will tell.

The problem for this and other airworthy B-17s is finding a way to support the costs of flying the airplane.

NWM has been replying to many of the comments on Facebook with something along the lines of "it is our understanding that she will be a static display at PSAM" and a lot of known warbird folks are chiming in with the same story. I really hope it isn't true, PSAM won't actually give a direct answer to the question which has been asked multiple times.

Everyone seems to be asking these questions of people that aren't the owners of the aircraft. Facebook postings are also a notoriously unreliable source for information. Speculate all you want but does it make sense for a private owner group to park an airworthy B-17 outside indefinitely? Dave Tallichet also had a penchant for parking airplanes all over the US for want of free parking. Maybe that's the game? Even better if someone else volunteers to do free maintenance work in the meantime.

That's a fair point, it's just that it seems like NWM was the only party involved that answered the question. Whether the question was answered correctly remains to be seen, but I asked PSAM and they pretty much ducked the question with a paragraph or two about how they started out as a flying museum and how it no longer makes sense to tour the aircraft. They didn't really answer the question about a plan for the future of the aircraft. I know they don't owe anyone any information, but it's human nature to be curious about things that we're passionate about.

They didn't really answer the question about a plan for the future of the aircraft. I know they don't owe anyone any information, but it's human nature to be curious about things that we're passionate about.

I am only in my 20s but someday I will fly it at airshows. I am getting rich really fast writing software and so I can afford to do really stupid things like put all my money into warbirds.

The Movie Memphis Belle received a deep cleaning to clean off years of grime from sitting as she takes the first steps towards returning to flight. Look for regular updates as the plane undergoes the repairs needed to again be in regular service after the first of the year.