DTAM P-47D Thunderbolt "Bonnie" Unveiled

[Mark Allen M]

Great job, it I’m starting to lean more towards “replica” than “restoration” over the past several numbers of years. Really just how much original makeup do these pristine warbirds truly have?. Data plates alone have never convinced me of a true restoration. And not even a few original parts and pieces convince me. It may have started as a pile of “combat veteran” junk out in the islands in the South Pacific, but there isn’t much (if any) “combat veteran” to it now. Looks all brand new to me. As with so many others out there flying.

Owners can call them anything they wish, it’s theirs to label, their money and their egos. Me? Just my thoughts and opinions.

[quemerford]

Great job, it I’m starting to lean more towards “replica” than “restoration” over the past several numbers of years. Really just how much original makeup do these pristine warbirds truly have?. Data plates alone have never convinced me of a true restoration. And not even a few original parts and pieces convince me. It may have started as a pile of “combat veteran” junk out in the islands in the South Pacific, but there isn’t much (if any) “combat veteran” to it now. Looks all brand new to me. As with so many others out there flying.

Owners can call them anything they wish, it’s theirs to label, their money and their egos. Me? Just my thoughts and opinions.

Though the warbird community will recognize these as replicas, the general public will likely assume they are the actual aircraft that have "been there and done it". It does make me feel a bit uncomfortable with the obvious sin of omission when these aircraft are displayed, but I also think it's a transient phase. In the classic car world, originality has already become widely recognised, with unrestored vehicles often having a higher monetary value than those which have been restored. The cultural value is likewise skewed.

For me, a more honest way of dealing with this subject in the warbird world would be to display the original airframe (or wreckage) alongside the replica.

Nevertheless, for me this is 100% a razorback P-47 and it's great to see another one in the air. (it's still too shiny)

[Mark Allen M]

Who knows! It may look like this rendering some day if allowed to 'weather".

[JohnTerrell]

One of the most incredible warbird restorations ever achieved, fully equipped throughout as if it were back in the south Pacific. It was great to follow just about every step of the project over the last 10 years, thanks to AirCorps Aviation and owner Bruce Eames' willingness to share regular progress reports throughout the rebuild, with the excellent research and writing/reporting by Chuck Cravens. I look forward to seeing the results of further developments between now and Oshkosh.

A photo shared by Windland Photography & Design:

[JohnH]

This is a really special airplane. I think it's only the third razorback to be restored to flying and the other two were forty years ago. It's a combat veteran and restored in markings appropriate to where it served. The Thunderbolt has an excellent safety record in civilian hands and maybe this one will fly frequently. It will be a crowd pleaser and is especially authentic. Last, even though it's a one seater, it's capable of being converted to a second seat like the other two. This slightly increases our chance of riding in a Thunderbolt someday.

I made the mistake of posting “it’s the third “ too , but it’s actually #5. 1: USAF Museum’s was restored to fly by Republic, then flew in there after some shows. 2: POF’s. 3: Champlin’s- now at MOF Seattle. 4: Ray Stutsman’s now with Charles Somers , and now this - the 5th.

Last edited by JohnH on Mon Jun 19, 2023 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

[quemerford]

Who knows! It may look like this rendering some day if allowed to 'weather".

Now that would indeed be cool

[Richard W.]

Just gorgeous.

I know most of us have seen this photo of 42-27609 by Charles Darby that appeared in his book in the 70s, “Pacific Aircraft Wrecks and Where to Find Them”.

No longer own the book, but I remember that the caption said the someone had used a gas saw to cut the supercharger out of the bottom of it. Wasn’t known if it was post-war scrappers or if the Army had salvaged it to use during the war.

Studied that picture over and over. Never dreamed in a million years that it would be flying again, and looking so beautiful. Strange world.

[quemerford]

Just gorgeous.

I know most of us have seen this photo of 42-27609 by Charles Darby that appeared in his book in the 70s, “Pacific Aircraft Wrecks and Where to Find Them”.

Studied that picture over and over. Never dreamed in a million years that it would be flying again, and looking so beautiful. Strange world.

Screenshot_2023-06-11_023041-2847384.jpg

I'm not sure how much of the original is incorporated into the new aircraft, but it's clear that wing skins, ammo doors, leading edges, external skinning, gear doors and engine are not from '609. I'd expect all wing, tail and tailplane spars to be of new manufacture too. Additionally, the fuel, oil, hyd and water injection tanks appear to be of new manufacture. So yes, it's great to see one flying again, but this is more a replica of '609 than a restoration of it.

Still great to see, but we need to be honest about it.

[Rob Mears]

Whatever it took to restore and return it to pristine airworthy condition is fine by me. Beats the hell out of seeing it remain a shell of an obscure cannibalized corpse. The history and heritage it will convey to the world now is 1000-fold what it had to offer when it was teetering on the edge of decimated non-existence. I'm more than ecstatic that someone actually invested the time and resources to bring it back into the light and maximize the value of what it still has to offer the world. Any warbird that continues to fly will perpetually have systems, components and skins replaced to meet strict airworthiness standards. It's the price that's paid to keep them alive.

[Dan Jones]

This is a really special airplane. I think it's only the third razorback to be restored to flying and the other two were forty years ago. It's a combat veteran and restored in markings appropriate to where it served. The Thunderbolt has an excellent safety record in civilian hands and maybe this one will fly frequently. It will be a crowd pleaser and is especially authentic. Last, even though it's a one seater, it's capable of being converted to a second seat like the other two. This slightly increases our chance of riding in a Thunderbolt someday.

In a few more years at least one more will be in the air Downunder, plus WestPac will add at least one more to the score. But this one is easily THE PRETTIEST!!

[garbs]

Whatever it took to restore and return it to pristine airworthy condition is fine by me. Beats the hell out of seeing it remain a shell of an obscure cannibalized corpse. The history and heritage it will convey to the world now is 1000-fold what it had to offer when it was teetering on the edge of decimated non-existence. I'm more than ecstatic that someone actually invested the time and resources to bring it back into the light and maximize the value of what it still has to offer the world. Any warbird that continues to fly will perpetually have systems, components and skins replaced to meet strict airworthiness standards. It's the price that's paid to keep them alive.

Well said! Imagine how sparse the Warbird scene would be if we didn’t allow new build craft like this. If John Q. Airshowfan mistakes it for a pristine example just found as is in a barn, I can deal with that. The tenuous connection to a real plane is apparently enough to differentiate this craft from totally new build production like the Flugwerk FW-190’s, but I have to say that I wish I could actually see one of those fly one day. Keep them coming!

[Deuelly]

Everyone at Aircorps did a great job. The plane looks amazing.

Being a detail guy, there's only one thing that bugs me. The one thing that defines the plane, the name "Bonnie". The drop shadow is so far off from the original. It would be like commissioning a Mona Lisa copy but putting a smile on the painting.

Brandon

[wendovertom]

Whatever it took to restore and return it to pristine airworthy condition is fine by me. Beats the hell out of seeing it remain a shell of an obscure cannibalized corpse. The history and heritage it will convey to the world now is 1000-fold what it had to offer when it was teetering on the edge of decimated non-existence. I'm more than ecstatic that someone actually invested the time and resources to bring it back into the light and maximize the value of what it still has to offer the world. Any warbird that continues to fly will perpetually have systems, components and skins replaced to meet strict airworthiness standards. It's the price that's paid to keep them alive.

Hallelujah, AMEN.

Tom P.

[JohnTerrell]

Being a detail guy, there's only one thing that bugs me. The one thing that defines the plane, the name "Bonnie". The drop shadow is so far off from the original. It would be like commissioning a Mona Lisa copy but putting a smile on the painting.

The cowl artwork/name was just a vinyl sticker this past weekend when the photos were taken, as it wasn't permanently painted on yet. Perhaps that detail will be made a bit more accurate when the name is actually painted?

[MKD1966]

Being a detail guy, there's only one thing that bugs me. The one thing that defines the plane, the name "Bonnie". The drop shadow is so far off from the original. It would be like commissioning a Mona Lisa copy but putting a smile on the painting.

The cowl artwork/name was just a vinyl sticker this past weekend when the photos were taken, as it wasn't permanently painted on yet. Perhaps that detail will be made a bit more accurate when the name is actually painted?

Yes Sir - I thought I had read somewhere a week or two ago that the nose art and kill markings would eventually be hand painted on... She is a beauty for sure... I know I will be starting a 1/32 scale build of her in the very near future...
Mike