Hypothetical B17 restoration, Black Cat Pass B17E

[Dan Johnson]

Mr. Birdsell's posts on this particular B17E, along with some more recent posts on WIX and elsewhere regarding restoration vs conservation, and the Swoose got me thinking. (always a dangerous thing)

I win the lottery tomorrow and somehow I manage to buy the remains of the Black Cat pass B17E and bring it home.

I show up in Illinois at the home of Desert Rat, tell them I'm putting my millions into paying for the restoration of Desert Rat for them and the Black Cat pass bird for me and Mr. Birdsell since he's put so much time into the history. Money is no object. My only wish is it's a flying time capsule to be used to share the history and pass it on. Hang the Expense and company then get to go to work on 17s fulltime.

How would you restore the Black Cat Pass B17E? It's clearly a historic combat vet, with a very unique history. Would it be a mistake to find a way to make it a flyer? Too much new metal?

I have my own ideas but am curious as to what other folks think?

[DryMartini]

You need to win the lottery - I like this idea!!!

Next, the airframe has been sitting there for 60+ years.
Can it fly again? Certainly! But you'd need (what Hang
would call) Sixty-Eleven dollars. (In lay-man's terms,
A Boatload of money). If the corrosion and vandalism
is not too bad, the airframe restoration should not
be all together difficult. It is 1935 era technology.

As for how to finish it - well, that would be up to you
and Mr. Birdsell. I'd go for combat conditions and markings
as of a certain date. Makes a line in the sand which to meet.

Honestly, the Rat was in similar conditions, except for the
grass fires. There are spares out there for outboard panels
and stabilizers. Engines are getting expensive, and expertise
is leaving us. It can be done.

[Second Air Force]

expertise
is leaving us. It can be done.

You know, that part of a sentence got me to thinking.......a lot of us on this forum are going to have to step up and become the experienced people going forward. Just those few words you posted make me realize what a great responsibility it is to lay hands on these old machines. I've had a lot of time to reflect the last few days--it is truly an honor to be involved with restoring, researching, and operating these aircraft, not to mention learning from those who have come before us.

Scott