The Sandbar Mitchell restoration team at the Warbirds of Glory Museum has been hard at work, as always, over the past two months. After carefully drilling out several thousand rivets, they have fully de-skinned the wing upper surfaces of the B-25’s center section. This has allowed the removal of the upper wing attach angle, stringers and the main fuel cell bay ribs. The team was also then able to lift out the auxiliary fuel bladders and oil tanks. They expect to have removed the spars from the fuselage bomb bay section by mid-November as planned.
On another note, the museum also received a remarkably preserved WWII-era Link Trainer from Mike Dean. Museum members were amazed that despite having been in storage for over half a century, the historic pilot training device still functioned normally when hooked up to electricity again. Several new volunteers at the museum are now in the process of refurbishing the Link Trainer back to display condition.
The Warbirds of Glory Museum is also gearing up to return to Alaska next year to recover the battered center section of another B-25, as mentioned previously HERE. They plan on being in Nome, where the wreck is situated, between June 25th and July 5th, 2015. A select few members of the public will be able to go with the team to help out on this unique adventure. This all-inclusive working vacation of a lifetime will be available for a very reasonable price of $5,500. Further details will be forthcoming on the Sandbar Mitchell Facebook page HERE.
As mentioned in the previous update, the Warbirds of Glory Museum has been gifted the remains of a Russian Lend-Lease B-25J up in Nome, Alaska. It primarily consists of a very battered center section, but never-the-less, it will prove a valuable source of components and reference material. The team plans be on site for the recovery in Nome between June 27th and July 5th, 2015. If anyone has a pair of seaworthy standard cargo shipping containers available for donation, be sure to contact the museum, as these will prove invaluable for the recovery. Also, a select few slots are available for rugged individuals interested in taking part in the recovery mission. This all-inclusive chance-of-a-lifetime adventure can be yours for just US$5,500. Please see the Sandbar Mitchell Facebook page or main website page to see how to apply.
Also, the Museum has crossed a major threshold in having achieved formal public charity tax-exempt status with the US Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3). This means that any US citizen can claim tax deductions for any applicable donations to the Museum.
The Sandbar Mitchell online store is always adding new items to it’s inventory, so be sure to check it out to see what’s available.
Related Articles
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
Be the first to comment
Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art