OKC B-52F

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:11 pm

At a risk of wearing out my welcome, here are some pictures of the B-52F at the Oklahoma City Fair Park. As mentioned before, according to the NMUSAF, this is the only F model that they are aware of still in existence. In person, up on poles, it's sure a big bird. I'll just post a couple of the pics I have here. The one detail pic at the end is looking into the cockpit, which, like the B-47, was gutted. The Fair Park is also looking to have this aircraft moved, and the NMUSAF is working on a new good home for the F as well. Enjoy.

kevin

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bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

How did you get the flight deck photos? Camera on a stick???? Looks pretty high up!

GIJOE290 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:57 am

Whoa...Look at the BIG BEAUTIFUL BEHEMOTH!! aka B-52.

Hubba-Hubba.

Thanks for sharing your pics!

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:28 am

In the B-47 thread a Cherry-Picker is mentioned.

Thank for the photo's I really hope they find a good home, I'd hate to see another B-47 destroyed and I'd really hate to see a B-52F lost if it is the only one left. I wonder if they still have the gear in them. If they are that stripped they may not even have those. That could make things hard for a museum to take them.

Tim

oscardeuce · **Joined:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:34 am **Posts:** 1021

Looks like the are pegged to the posts with the gear, or atleast what's left of the gear!

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:33 am

Tulsaboy, Thanks for the photos. No way are you wearing out your welcome here on the WIX! I'm curious as to what plane is mounted in the background to the right of the C-47?

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:51 am

Looks like an early twin Aero Commander to me...

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:55 am

The flight deck picture was taken from a cherry picker/man-lift that we used to get up that high. Check out the pics of the B-47 and you'll see how high up we were.

To answer someone's question, the picture in the background is actually the first production Aero Commander, nicknamed the "Blue Goose".

The B-47 and the B-52F do sit on their gear. Supposedly the gear was extended, and then the bottom portion of the gear was dropped out and the aircraft were set down onto metal posts anchored in the concrete pylons. To answer that concern, NMUSAF does have the lower portion of the gear for the B-47 and there are ample spares in the boneyard for the B-52, so that won't be a major inhibition in finding the aircraft a good home. The wheels and tires of the B-47 and B-52 are also largely interchangeable. Apparently the McConnell B-47 is actually sitting on B-52 wheels and tires. Below is a close-up of the mounting of the B-52 for your info.

kevin

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slinky · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:32 pm

ZTex, you correct sir! That is actually the FIRST Aero Commander built. It was called the Blue Goose and was flown to Washington DC on one engine with the other propeller stowed in the cabin to show how safe the and stable the aircraft was. After that when it went into production President Eisenhour ordered one for his personal transport. Very historic aircraft and supposedly going to be restored and placed in the rebuilt historic Curtiss Wright Hangar being restored at the extreme west side of Wiley Post Airport in Okc.

On the B-52, rumor has it that it is to be taken down and going to a museum. I have the full story of the move from Tinker for display years ago and also where the B-52 is wanted. I'll have to dig it out....

Found it! It is supposedly going to Chester, West Virgina to be displayed at the VFW 6450. The proposal looks really nice but I really hate to loose the old gal from the fairgrounds. They will hopefully take much better care of her than they did here though....

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:40 pm

Slinky,

The Chester proposal, from what I understand, is dead in the water. Apparently after they got the sticker price for moving a B-52 by truck (neighborhood of $500,000, possibly a little cheaper) they said thanks but no thanks. The NMUSAF is working on a plan B for that airframe.

kevin

slinky · **Posted:** Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:51 pm

Any chance it might stay? I'd love to see it stay, but with no care given the airframes that were displayed, it deserves a better fate. Thanks for the update Kevin. I have a slew of pics of the move from Tinker if you want to post them....

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