Warbird Information Exchange

Specifically, if anybody knows, what will they be doing to it during this 5 to 7 year restoration? Thanks.

You can do whatever you want with your car. Let the warbird experts figure out where to send their projects. AvSpecs is certainly capable of fitting out this B-17 with all its combat equipment which is what they are doing. Since this is the first time that this has been done by any shop, I think you will find there isn't anyone with that expertise. The heavy structural work is staying in Oregon with the guys that are doing several wing spar projects.

I would hesitate to send any of my projects to Warren. No matter what the type.

You can do whatever you want with your car. Let the warbird experts figure out where to send their projects. AvSpecs is certainly capable of fitting out this B-17 with all its combat equipment which is what they are doing. Since this is the first time that this has been done by any shop, I think you will find there isn't anyone with that expertise. The heavy structural work is staying in Oregon with the guys that are doing several wing spar projects.

I would hesitate to send any of my projects to Warren. No matter what the type.

Dave Homewood has shared some photos of Yankee Lady at AvSpecs.
https://rnzaf.proboards.com/post/332015/thread

I hope AvSpecs' work will speak volumes and quell some of the chauvinism I see here.

You seem to be trying very hard to find offence when none is intended.
So I'll repeat again the value of experience with a type (whether it be an aeroplane, car, etc) during a restoration.

The B-17 has a complex wing center section. If work is to be done there, I would think expert would be desired.

If they are just cleaning and restoring the fuselage "barrel" sections, that is another matter.

A friend's crew are doing non-structural restoration on a C-47. That type of work is straightforward.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Certainly no offence here, but others seems to be getting their pants in a twist and doubting the obvious abilities of AvSpecs (and by extension, the judgement of the aircraft's custodians).

Thanks for sharing the link Errol. I could not get into WIX the other day when I tried to come here to share the photos.

JohnB, perhaps you are not aware, but here in New Zealand we do have such things as telephones, emails, Zoom, Skype, mail and all sorts of other devices that allow our restoration workshops to talk with people in other overseas restoration facilities so advice can readily be sought when needed. Also, the teams here in NZ work closely with aircraft owners and restoration workshops overseas, visiting them in person, or the foreign folks visiting New Zealand, when needed.

New Zealand is not a vacuum chamber where our workshops work totally alone on these projects. Avspecs is world renowned for being one of the very best award-winning restoration workshops in the world. There's a huge network of expertise around the world who work together on these things when restorations are being made. Your guys will do exactly the same, calling on advice, parts, drawings, etc from others.

And also, Mosquitos are not the only thing that Avspecs have restored. The guys there have experience rebuilding several Spitfires, numerous P-40s, Widgeons, a P-36, DH89A Dragon Rapides, the Airtrainer prototype, Bird Dog, Sea Fury, Harvards, etc., etc. And their guys have wider experience on other types. And they also call upon other world-renowned NZ-based restoration companies as sub-contractors who also have vast experience, like Replicore, CAMS, Rob McNair, and many others.

And on this project they are also working alongside the US-based companies that are doing the wing structural work and the engines, etc. So I reckon you should not be so worried.

Don't forget, when they first said they were going to get a Mosquito back in the air there was a chorus of uninformed naysayers then too, and right now they're well into the work on the fifth example that they will have flying later this year. As Tim Savage rightly said, rebuilding a Mosquito is a much bigger ask than the B-17. Nothing is impossible, as Avspecs have proven over and over.

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I seem to have hit a nationalistic nerve.

I appreciate NZ is a real country with communications.
No slight was intended towards Avspecs.
If I had a mosquito project, they'd do the work. No question.

I was not aware of the scope of their metal warbird work.

Just again, it's surprising to ship large aircraft assemblies across the Pacific to do work when there are shops closer with more type experience.
Simple as that.

As I previously mentioned, with my car collection, I seek out type experts so I'm not paying a mechanic $125 an hour to practice.

Perhaps the owner likes Avspecs.
Fine, it is his aircraft.
Perhaps the labor rate is less?
Perhaps he got a deal on shipping?

The airworthy B-17 population has taken a huge hit in recent years. I wish them the best of luck in getting this one returned to the sky.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

...or perhaps the owner saw expertise at AvSpecs that they preferred....