P-38's rescue

[mipoikel]

They are going to rescue 5 more P-38's in Greenland.'

http://www.lost-squadron.org/index2.html

[Debonair]

maybe easier to wait & let global warming to do the job for them

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by mipoikel
They are going to rescue 5 more P-38's in Greenland.'

http://www.lost-squadron.org/index2.html

They've been saying it for a while.  Considering the time and expense that went into Glacier Girl, I'll believe it when they're up.  That's not to say that I don't want it to happen, but a number of groups have talked about doing it since Glacier Girl and none have followed through.

But as an early 38 fan, I wouldn't mind one

[mipoikel]

I saw this in local newspaper , was quite big write about it with pics.

They said that 1 plane is going to germany(Berlin), 1 to denmark and 3 others are propably for sale.

They are going to start this job in april-may 2008 and it lasts to november 2008.  There is more than 300 people doing this job, also 2 Finns.

[VooWho]

What about the B-17 that crashed there with the P38s? I think after all the years of ice covering it, it might be crushed, but who knows.

They say theres global warming, and there might be, but its sure ain't in Greenland.

[mipoikel]

Originally posted by VooWho
What about the B-17 that crashed there with the P38s? I think after all the years of ice covering it, it might be crushed, but who knows.

They say theres global warming, and there might be, but its sure ain't in Greenland.

 There are 2 B17's but they are crushed badly.

[Debonair]

Originally posted by mipoikel
...There is more than 300 people doing this job, also 2 Finns...

Finns aren't people?

[mipoikel]

Originally posted by Debonair
Finns aren't people?

What you think?

[Benny Moore]

If it happens, that will be very good.  Steve Hinton's ground crew told me at the last air show that there are only two P-38s flying in the world and he's the only one who is insured to fly them.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Originally posted by Benny Moore
If it happens, that will be very good.  Steve Hinton's ground crew told me at the last air show that there are only two P-38s flying in the world and he's the only one who is insured to fly them.

I don't think you understood them correctly. The insurance policy held by the late Roy Schoffner (who owned "Glacier Girl" from the recovery until his death in September of 2005) that covered "Glacier Girl" stated that only Steve Hinton was authorized ot act as pilot in command of the plane. Mr. Roy died over a year ago, and Steve is still the only person who has flown the plane, at least Bob Cardin, who still manages the museum, and takes care of the plane, told me last month.

However, the Planes of Fame P-38, which was until recently painted as "Porky II" is flown by another Planes of Fame pilot on a regular basis, and especially when "Glacier Girl" and "Porky II" appear together. So Steve is the only pilot authorized to fly "Glacier Girl", but not the only pilot authorized to fly the other P-38. There are also about three other P-38's in flying condition.

[Benny Moore]

Thanks for the clarification.  I was aware that there were other flyable P-38s, but I don't know who owns them or why they aren't insured.  Hopefully, White Lightnin' will join the ranks of the flying again this year.

[Guppy35]

Red Bull own's "White Lightnin" now.  Ezzel Aviation doing one heckuva restoration.

There's a 38L being restored here in Minnesota to flight too.  

Putt Putt Maru is now in Florida with a new owner and should be flying again.

I think it's safer to say that there are only 2 38s regularly flying with Hinton getting the most stick time in both.

Give it a couple years though and the flying 38 population will definately have increased.

Paul Allen apparently has the recovered wreck of 80th Headhunter Ace Jay Robbins  "Jandina III".  Considering the beauty of the restorations of his birds, I can't wait to see that one.  There are some others I can't wait to see appear as well

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by mipoikel
What you think?

Wow...Finnish women aren't as hot as I thought they'd be.


ack-ack

[Bodhi]

I seriously doubt that they have the cash flow to pull 5 more aircraft up from the ice.  300 volunteers is great, but unless they have the money to support that level of crew, and the actual recovery, it is just words.  Admittedly, Schoffner's people spent oodles just trying to find them, and that part has been somewhat eliminated, they still need to asertain the exact final location of the remaining 5 aircraft.

As for the B-17's, well, the one they went down to was so badly mangled from the ice pressures and shifting that they were deemed unusable if recovered.  The dorsal turret (top shell only) was removed from the one B-17 they went to, and was sent to Tom Reilly's Vintage Aircraft to be restored.  It was a mangled mess, and basically became more new than it was original.

I guess after being in the restoration business for close to 15 years I can say that all things are restorable, it's just how much history actually remains and when does a "one off" restoration begin?  I'd say that it is up to the person, but I'd like to think that anything containing more than 50% of the original structure or all the usable portions that add up to 50% should be considered "original"

[Benny Moore]

As far as I'm concerned, if the project is built around the surviving piece or pieces of an original, then the finished airplane is a restored original.  Of course the dataplate's the part that really matters.