Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!emory!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: wb9omc@ee.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Warbirds Message-ID: <1990Nov30.023001.9639@cbnews.att.com> Date: 30 Nov 90 02:30:01 GMT References: <1990Nov21.213602.16566@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network Lines: 98 Approved: military@att.att.com From: wb9omc@ee.ecn.purdue.edu (Duane P Mantick) mikes@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Mike Sheumaker) writes: >I read an interesting letter to the editor in a magazine called "Warbirds" the >other day. A gentleman was asking for help in persuading the proper authorities >(FAA, Air Force ?) to allow his group to fly several old planes out of Chanute >AFB for placement in a museum. (BTW, Chanute AFB has quitw a few planes on >static display, and is supposed to be closed down in the near future.) The >specific plane that he mentioned is a B-36. He states in the letter that it is >cheaper to get the B-36 airworthy and flown out than to dissassemble it for >ground transport. Oh.. the runways have been closed for several years. >This immediately raised several questions in my mind: >1. What is usually done to an aircraft on static display? Remove engines, >electronics, etc? Plate over access panels, air intakes? I think that this depends on what the status of the aircraft type was when any particular one was removed from service. The B36 at Chanute was a RB-36H-30 serial numbered 51-13730 which was fairly late on the production line. This means that, being one of the "newer" ones, It *should* have been in better condition than most. If it was retired along with most of the B36 force, it probably wasn't raided for spare parts, as many of them wouldn't be interchangeable with other types. Electronic gear might well have been removed, however. Indeed, a lot of access panels on that particular bird have been covered (I have seen it). From what I have seen of static birds, what gets done to them largely depends on why they were retired, where they are going, why they are going there, and who is taking care of them (if anybody) once they get there. An airplane that has been sittting out in the weather for twenty years does NOT sound like a good candidate for flying, especially one that has been in a great deal of midwest humidity, combined with freezing. Had it been at a dry, more temperate place like Davis-Monthan AFB, I'd be more inclined to trust it. >2. Since the runways have been closed for several years, what kind of >maintenance would need to be done to them in order to support a semi-fully >loaded B-36 for takeoff? I suspect one would want to look for sharp tire-puncturing objects. FOD (Foreign Object Damage) is normally not a serious consideration for piston engines like it is for turbojets. See comments below.... >3. Would all six turboprops and all four jet engines be needed for takeoff? >(Sorry if I am wrong about engine types). No, the B36 did NOT absolutely require the four turbojets to take off. Those so equipped (I think D models and up) were quite capable of getting off without them, although at a somewhat increased roll. Due to the junk that is probably blowing around on Chanutes runways, I'd think you'd be better off without them running to suck the stuff up. >4. I know that this particular A/C has been there for at least 20 years (Boy >Scout field trip in 1970 :-). What would need to be done to an average A/C on >static display for 20 + years to make it airworthy? Holy cow, we could write a book about this! Every system, and I mean down to nuts, bolts and rivets need to be checked and replaced if needed. To give you an idea of how long these birds have been out of service, the last B36 to fly went to the USAF museum in April 1959, over 30 years ago. I think you can figure out the rest. >General Warbird Questions: >1. If a person had the money, how much would it take to buy a WWII fighter? >(restored, airworthy). Bomber? For fighters, lets say, P-51, F8 Bearcat, >P-40, Corsair. Bombers, B-25, B-17, A-20, B-26. Bloody expensive, they are. I think a P51 in flyable status has sold for $500,000 and up. And they are about the most common warbird surviving! >2. If you could buy a fighter, how would you learn to fly it? Talk to the CAF (Confederate Air Force) - many former P51 jocks and qualified instructors are members. But don't even waste their time unless you've got some hours under your belt as a private pilot already. >3. What does it cost to maintain an ex military A/C for private use? If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. The phrase "machine shop" comes to mind, for as you might guess, these parts aren't exactly cluttering up shelves. >4. What is the availability of military jets? Is it legal to own an old >military jet? Not much availablity although there are private individuals that have some. >5. Any warbird owners out there that need a good passenger? :-) :-) :-) >Oh, at the end of his letter, this guy asked for "any financial assistance" >you can send. He also said that his group purchased five A/C from the AF >at Chanute, and would like to fly them ALL out. Sounds like a snow job to >me. I'll post a list of Chanute A/C if anybody is interested. The base is >accessible by the public, and is not closed yet. I am anxiously waiting to hear how this goes.... Duane Mantick email wb9omc@ea.ecn.purdue.edu