"If I was in Charge!" - Amvets B-17G, Tulare CA

[Warbird Kid]

I find myself (more times then not) while visiting Air Museums, I end up saying to myself: "Boy, if I was in charge, I'd do this... and that... and this...etc". Almost always involving building / campus layouts, and what could be done in the future to better display their aircraft, or better tell the story their museum is trying to tell. I've made several concepts using Photoshop and Illustrator in the past, and I decided to make this kind of a series, and I figured whenever I got the urge to make one, I'll share it with you guys, in case you're curious and like hanging out in "What If" land.

Disclaimer: This is a personal quest to satisfy my own curiosity and create a visual representation of any modifications / additions / etc. to an existing air museum. In no way, shape, or form am I trying to criticize the staff / management of that establishment. I do not represent the featured air museum and these design concepts are purely made from me. I welcome any questions, comments, concerns, and especially corrections of any info from any members of the highlighted museum.

Original Image
Most of you know the B-17G formerly known as "Preston's Pride" along Highway 99 going past Medford Airport in California. This B-17 has been on display in the area for the better part of 60 years and has had some run in with trucks hitting it and vandals stealing parts. Though in the past few years a concerted effort by volunteers has repainted and polished the bird, and I must say, it looks a whole lot better. That being said, I think this plane deserves better and there is a great opportunity being missed here. An F-4 Phantom is also on display outside next to the 17.



Proposed Expansion
My thought (looking on Google Maps) in that area, is that the solution is only 2000ft away. With an agreement by the USAFM, and the direct involvement of AMVETS (the caretakers of the B-17) the Mefford Field Air Museum would be formed to properly take care of and restore the B-17 back to authentic stock condition for display. Through assistance from the local town government, the original unused hangar (located 2000ft behind the B-17) is acquired to house the plane and additional displays /artifacts about the field. Now I'm not knowledgeable about this specific hangar, but to me it looks like it could be WWII era to house the USAAC training squadron of PT-17s based there during the war. I'm not sure who owns it or the legalities involved. But I think it would make the perfect home for this B-17 and give Tulare an air museum they could be proud of. I am interested to learn any info about this hangar if anyone has any further info.



With assistance from private and state grants, the hangar would be restored back to original condition and the B-17 would go through an external overhaul / restoration process. The plane's wing tips and other extremities would probably be removed during restoration to allow the plane to enter and be positioned inside the hangar for display. Using full rolling casters, the plane would be positioned in place, and then all additional pieces installed back on the plane in situ. The plane's interior would then be detailed and filled out by volunteers for the next several years (similar to the Mighty 8th AF Museum) and allow visitors to see the progress and work being accomplished there. The museum would then be able to start to tell the complete story of Mefford Field as displays are created and built. Maybe a PT-17 project is acquired and restored to represent the 200+ examples used during the war there, not to mention the other random assortment of planes that are either donated or acquired through a GSA loan as the museum expands. The F-4 Phantom could also be brought over to the museum to be refurbished and displayed onto the ramp next to the hangar.

Maybe if the collection expands enough and additional funding is secured, a large pre-fab metal hangar is erected as a secondary display hangar, with a possible smaller workshop / restoration hangar.

And for those missing the spectacle and view of a big B-17 alongside the highway, my solution would be to erect a permanent billboard for the museum in its place, advertising the B-17 and the museum in it's new hangar and how the public can go visit it. That way at least the general public could physically see what happened to the big plane on the side of the highway, and know that it didn't go very far, and that they could visit it.

[ZRX61]

They've been trying to get that hangar for years, there's a bunch of derelict crop dusters etc in it... They've been there so long you could grow taters in the dirt on the wings.

[JohnB]

I'm a bit surprised that the organization didn't build a shelter over the aircraft in the 25 (+ or -) years since Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and The Greatest Generation rekindled interest in WWII and its veterans.
A fundraiser and donations from area builders and suppliers could have at least built an open air cover.

Heck, passing the hat at Oshkosh and the annual CAF show would have probably paid for it.

[Mark Sampson]

As seen with thousands of old automobiles and quite a few boats-
"nah, it's not for sale. One of these days I'ma gonna restore that old thing. It's worth a lotta money, ya know!"
Meanwhile, the machine in question slowly returns to the earth...

[wendovertom]

Having been closely involved with a totally different and unrelated restoration museum project I feel the pain. You would be amazed by how many people will say, "why isn't this being done" or, "this could be so awesome". Then you bring up the fact that it takes cash donations to accomplish anything. Again, a lot of folks will pony up $100 or more for which any organization is super grateful for. I look at what this group was able to accomplish for the restoration of Diamond lil when Gary Austin asked for help!
But to do things right with a WHOLE airplane, and secure a hangar then set it up for long term success, it takes multiple starting level donations of $100K+. And again, you'll be amazed how the offers to help at that level suddenly have other commitments that have greater need.
This looks like a great idea and its too bad that an old investment in (what appears to be ) worthless ancient crop dusters is tying up a good hangar.

Tom P.

[JohnB]

About those alleged "...worthless ancient crop dusters..." .
Nowadays, not so worthless.
Though unidentified, by sheer numbers they are likely to be Stearmans.
A Stearman project is still worth good money, I'm told by a restorer that even the paperwork/dataplate on a Stearman is worth surprisingly strong money.

However, the the dusters have R-985s, i.e. 450s and props, that's where the money is. If they are still attached to the airframes, I'd wager that's why the airframe are inside.

[p51]

2 years ago, my wife and I drove back from Phoenix to our home in the Pac NW, and we took 99. I'd totally forgotten about this B-17 and was quite surprised when we suddenly went right past it.
After seeing its location, it suddenly made a lot of sense why I'd read about impacts to that Fort with vehicles over the years...

[ZRX61]

About those alleged "...worthless ancient crop dusters..." .
Nowadays, not so worthless.
Though unidentified, by sheer numbers they are likely to be Stearmans.
A Stearman project is still worth good money, I'm told by a restorer that even the paperwork/dataplate on a Stearman is worth surprisingly strong money.

However, the the dusters have R-985s, i.e. 450s and props, that's where the money is. If they are still attached to the airframes, I'd wager that's why the airframe are inside.

I didn't say they were worthless, I said they were derelict. I think there's 5 or 6 aircraft in the hangar, a couple of them are dusters, there were 1 or 2 low wing GA potential tater growers (Piper IIRC), I think there was a biplane non-duster/non-Stearman.
There are enough holes in that hangar that you can look through one hole & shine a flashlight through another.

[ZRX61]

Here's the Stearman:

https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDo ... rial=26072