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B-17F Memphis Belle®
The inboard wings have been mated to the fuselage and the landing gear has been lowered for the aircraft to sit on. Sheet metal repairs continue on the forward belly. The pilot's instrument panel and the missing bomb bay door is being fabricated from factory blueprints. The bomb bay door sheet metal repairs are also being worked. In addition, the wing root items are being fabricated and installed and the engines are being prepped for hanging onto engine nacelles. Volunteers are also continuing the restoration of the ball turret and upper turret. Click here to view a photo slide show of the Memphis Belle restoration or here for more information and photos
Note: The original Memphis Belle was on static display in Memphis, Tenn., until October 2005. At that time, it was transported to the museum where it is now undergoing restoration. The B-17 with "Memphis Belle" markings seen at many air shows is not the original aircraft. |
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B-17D The Swoose
All items are in the process of being evaluated for restoration. The interior has been removed from the aircraft and the fuselage is being treated for corrosion control. Repair and fabrication of the nose compartment ring frames is nearing completion and skin is being done now. The aft tail cone is being treated for corrosion control by hand, and the radio room, waist gun position and tail cone are now being stripped. The cabin door has undergone sheet metal fabrication and repair. The corroded right longeron has been completed and the left one is being restored. The lower flexible machine gun emplacement has been fabricated and fitted to the aircraft by a contractor. Other parts are being machine fabricated by the volunteer machinists as needed. Miscellaneous parts are being inventoried and catalogued. Volunteers have restored the rudder and fabric covering has been completed. Click here for more information and photos. |
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C-82 Packet
The aircraft will be prepped and painted and marking will be re-applied. Click here for more information and photos.
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C-123K
Volunteers continue to work on cleaning and polishing the exterior of the aircraft in the Modern Flight Gallery. Click here for more information and photos. |
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Curtiss A-25A rudder
A rudder has been obtained from the National Naval Aviation Museum to use as a pattern to duplicate the missing rudder on the museum's A-25A. All sheet metal repairs are being fabricated. Click here for more information and photos. |
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Douglas A-1H
Assembly and restoration have started and volunteers have begun restoring the R-3350 engine. The plexi-glass for a new canopy has also been fabricated and installed. The wing center section has been blasted for corrosion, primed, painted as necessary and has been matted to the fuselage. missing panels and items are being fabricated or obtained. The cockpit and firewall have been cleaned, primed and painted as necessary and the instrument panel restoration is in progress. The engine cowling has been stripped and repaired as necessary and missing items are being noted. The landing gear has also been disassembled, cleaned, primed and painted and reassembled and installed. The aircraft is now sitting on its wheels and work continues on the rear fuselage clean-up. Click here for more information and photos. |
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O-46A
The R--1535-7 engine and engine mount are being restored by volunteers. Click here for more information and photos. |
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R-3350 Engine for A-1H
Volunteers have completed the restoration of the engine. The engine is now awaiting installation into the A-1H. |
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T-6 Texan II
Parts are being assembled from three wrecked aircraft into a complete display aircraft. Click here for more information and photos. |
Preserving the Air Force's proud legacy, the Restoration Division restores aircraft and aerospace vehicles to historically accurate and visually striking levels. Division members are well versed in a variety of skills ranging from machine and woodworking expertise to precision craftsmanship in sheet metal and painting. Their knowledge of aircraft spans years of technology -- from World War I fabric covered aircraft to the elite fighters of today's Air Force. 
