Warbird Information Exchange

Last I heard is that they're still waiting for a permanant place to put it. I heard that the airport it is at was supppose to close, or has been on the ballot for the county to decide its fate. I don't think they were quite ready to fully assemble it and make the museum if that specific property was in jeopardy.

How much of the overall restoration is complete?

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

The skinny is that the airports future is uncertain. The City of Cincinnati owns the airport and wants to close it and develope it into a business park. The City of Blue Ash wants to buy it and redevelop it, but they want to keep the airport and just rearrange the land. The airport is laid out kind of strange. The City of Cincinnati has stopped federal funding for the ariport and wnat to develop Lunken Airport. The airplane is still in the hanger. And recently the guy has sold his armor collection to make room. they are still trying to find a permanent building to display it. It is only going to be time. I have some relativily recent pictures of it, but I am trying to find them.

Sorry for my ignorance-------but is this plane airworthy? Anybody know?

No it is not. Not with pop rivets.

Cool thing to note is that Sal's original fuel tanks were put into "Liberty Belle." The sacrifice of one breathes new life into another.

Tigercat, check out their website www.ultimatesacrifice.com Although the site has not been updated in quite awhile, the story of the plane and the many restoration photos are worth a look.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

When I spent most of an afternoon with Bob Ready (owner) in 2001, he very clearly stated his intent was to build a purpose-built building to create "a memorial, not a "museum", to honor the young aviators who fought in WWII. Further, his intention at that time was to create a full-scale diorama showing My Gal Sal the day she force landed. He showed me a very detailed design and many renderings of the building and the interior diorama. He is by all accounts a very sincere, can-do type of person.

This is still going on? Back when I was learning to fly at Blue Ash (in the late 1980s) it was under threat of redevelopment. All these years later and nothing has changed. Wow.

I never thought the layout was strange...well other then when the deer wandered out of the woods on onto the runway.

Jim

A warning sign of trouble is the fact that the web site for this project hasn't been updated in years...........

Well as for the layout of the airport there is a lot of unused space in a fast growing part of town. At the Departure end of 24 is a subdivision of 200 -300 homes. On the east side is office parks. On the approach end of 24 is more office spaces with restaurents. I used to go to a local pub and watch landings. As for the B-17 DON'T count them out. As previously stated Mr. ready is determined to see this through to the end. They still work on it 1 day a week. He sold his armor collection to make room in the hanger. Come to the Airshow in September and he willhave the hanger open for all to see in.

Any updated pics of this bird?

It still seem s odd that the web site has not been updated in almost 3 years.........

I have read a number of posts through the years about whether this airplane could ever be made airworthy. From my knowldedge of this restoration, albeit limited at best, is that the standard of work, though obviously skillful, is not airworthy. Aside from the documentation shortcomings (A&P work with IA signoffs, replication of pieces and parts, etc.) there are material requirements of bulkheads, longerons, and stringers with regard to heat treatment and strength. Talk to some of the guys working on B-17E "Desert Rat" and the problems they've had getting airworthy extrusions produced and how expensive and time consuming that process is. "My Gal Sal" may look good and if it were all bolted back together with operational electrical, hydraulic, fuel, control, and the myriad of other systems reinstalled, it might indeed fly. 'Course the fuselage might also fold up on the first landing. It will be a fitting memorial when finished...kudos to the guys who did it. But it won't fly again.

This file was locked by a moderator because some individuals apparently lack the social skills needed to interact with others. I have removed the argument in its entirety. I am thus unlocking this thread once more and will allow it to continue. But if the lack of civil behavior continues those invloved will have thier posting privledges revoked for 30 days or possibly banned.

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Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
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Good move Scott.