WIX Archives

Re: Consolidated Privateer Future?

Posted by Joe Scheil on Fri Jul 04, 2003 06:47:23 PM

In reply top Consolidated Privateer Future? posted by Andrew on Fri Jul 04, 2003 03:38:46 PM

It depends on the nature of the grounding, and the "value" of the airframes to the collectors. The B-17 was grounded from firefighting due to failures in the A frame sections going through the bomb bay I believe, with all B-17 tankers being withdrawn by the USFS in 1980 and California in 1984. There was not a public failure of the airframe however, and this changes things. The PB4Y is a ver historic combat aircraft, and a WWII tricolor bird would be an incredible sight. However the current existing airframes are heavily modified and need an extensive rebuild to reach airshow spec. I hope that they will survive as flyers, but with the current tanker fleet depleted due to groundings, and these aircraft being valuable as "trading" stock. They may go back to the government for static displays. NASM may also want to consider adding a Privateer as it represents the ultimate sword to plowshare of the WWII/Korean War demobilization. The Air Tanker is an American invention, and the H&P tankers exemplify this category that should be represented at NASM. So perhaps they could preserve one in tanker configuration....

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