Waiting to be found

MONDARIZ · 02-28-2008, 12:05 PM

Here is the info on Morotai:

"After the war, the island was one of the largest 5th Air Force boneyard in the Pacific. A smelting operation was established, and USAAF planes from all over the region were flown here to be scrapped. Despite scrapping the island was crammed full of aircraft and vehicles until 1988 when it was cleared in a final scrap drive. The scrap was taken to Krakatau Steel Mill in Java"

I will look for recent pics.

kool kitty89 · 02-28-2008, 04:58 PM

The YP-49 and 35 were still amazing a/c though, considdering they were built with WWII technology. Hell, the program ended before the start of the Korean War!

Bombload and range for the YB 49 were decent with nearly 10,000 mi max and a 490+ mph top speed. The bombload may have been good but the craft couldn't carry the bulky first generation H-bombs due to their girth. (somhing only the B-36 could do at this time, though the B-52 could when it came on the scene)

And contrary to what many may think the stabillity of these a/c was not their main failing (the N9M and YB-35's actually having realitively few problems though the faster YB-49 had some) the lack of H-bomb capacity and the structural problems encountered in maneuvering at high speed with the YB-49 (causing the fatal acedents) were the biggest shortcomings. In fact fly-by-wire may not have been a necessity as many think, though she would have been a handfull to maneuver. And the YB-35 was simply too slow (though much faster than the B-36 w/out jet boost)

Almost complete YB-49's being lined up for destruction

Heinz · 02-28-2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MONDARIZ

A lot of work on that Cat, but great someone is doing it.

Pretty cool houseboat too. At least somebody looked after it a bit.

Will it fly again, or is it for static use?

I did minor structural work on a Cat once and would jump at the chance to help. Unfortunatly I'm in Denmark......

Good luck with it, i will make sure to browse the site now and again, to see the progress.

BTW I will post some more Kingman air field pics soon.

Static display is the plan from what I can tell. Unfortunately the museum really needs a government grant so the whole collection can be put inside. There was a hangar donated many years ago which houses a Wirraway and Beautfighter and parts of a Beaufort among other things.

THe museum has also recently taken in an Avro Lincoln but that is a LONG way away from being started.

cheers Heinz

MONDARIZ · 02-29-2008, 12:29 AM

Heniz, why don't you go and help them?

I have recently joined a group like them and I'm waiting for the work to start. We should get hangar space in april (BIG ex Air Force hangars), so the planes can be moved from their storage and made ready for display.

Heinz · 02-29-2008, 08:05 AM

Like I said I intend to. However right now Im just getting my own life set up but within the next 2 months I'll be putting my name down for help.

MONDARIZ · 02-29-2008, 02:03 PM

Glad to hear it Heinz.

Next time im down under, I will stop by the Cat and see what been happening.

MONDARIZ · 03-07-2008, 07:33 AM

Just came across this picture. Trying to find more info, but the pic is NOT THAT OLD.

Haztoys · 03-07-2008, 07:56 AM

Thats the planes from BoB movie there in Texas..

A4K · 03-07-2008, 08:00 AM

Well, they're Hispano Ha.112's (Bf 109G-5 airframes exported without motors to Spain, the original german designation being 'Bf 109J' -which is why that mark dosen't appear under Luftwaffe variants). So these are either stored in Spain somewhere, or someone's been buying them up and collecting them - I know CASA 111s (Spanish He 111s) have been auctioned in England in the past, so that's another possibility.

A4K · 03-07-2008, 08:01 AM

Clashed with Haztoys- that solves that one then - where in Texas mate?

Haztoys · 03-07-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A4K

Clashed with Haztoys- that solves that one then - where in Texas mate?

Some were on here is info on it ...It is "said" that he was a pilot in the movie and got the plane from the movie theres other he has too...I could be wrong ...

MONDARIZ · 03-07-2008, 10:01 AM

I knew what planes they were, the info i was looking for is WHY AND WHERE?

and I found it:

A Warbirds Resource Group Site :: View topic - What's in the middle of nowhere? (Big Spring, TX)

Thats just amazing!

wilbur1 · 03-07-2008, 10:32 AM

HOLY CRAP !!!!! that guy has stuff that ive.....dont even know how to say it but oh my gosh i could spend days in just one of his hangers, a brand new mercedes in the crate wow

MONDARIZ · 03-07-2008, 10:55 AM

Its just GREAT that there are crazy people like that out there.

If you read the WIX post, it says he once had 15 Mustangs and 13 Buchons.
He could have made a nice little war game for himself.

As I understand it, everything is for sale, but he wants to sell ALL, not a plane here and a plane there.

BTW he not only have a huge collection of Merlins, he has all the tools too, and parts, and......

Simply amazing

Njaco · 03-07-2008, 12:52 PM

must be nice to have money.