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B-17F Memphis Belle®
The sheet metal repairs to the aft fuselage have been completed and the sheet metal around the tail gun position is being repaired and fabricated as needed. The radial engines are still being restored and built up, and restoration of the wheels, brake, and left inboard wing is in progress. The ball-turret is being assembled and nearing completion. The left inboard wing has been completed and restoration has begun on the right inboard wing. Restoration has started on the right and left outboard wings. Sheet metal repairs and cleanup have been done as needed. A fixture has been fabricated for the horizontal stabilizer so the skin can be removed to gain access to corrosion. The forward fuselage is being stripped of miscellaneous interior items, and is being prepped for plastic media blasting. Items that are missing are being fabricated with the help of Boeing blueprints. The missing glycol heater and duct work has been fabricated and is currently awaiting installation. Miscellaneous panels and pieces are also being stripped for restoration. 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 prepped for movement to the corrosion control booth. Repair and fabrication of the nose compartment ring frames is complete and skin is being done now. Corrosion control and stripping of waist gun position of the fuselage is being done by hand and with carbon dioxide ice blasting. Steel components are being removed from the aft tail cone for corrosion removal, and the radio room, waist gun position and tail cone are now being stripped. Miscellaneous parts are being inventoried and catalogued. The cabin door has undergone sheet metal fabrication and repair. Other parts are being machine fabricated by the volunteer machinists as needed. Click here for more information and photos. |
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B-29 Rescue Boat
Volunteers are cleaning up the parts from the donor boat that were missing on our other boat. The engine has been removed from the donor boat and has been restored and installed. Other parts from the donor boat are also being installed on the new boat, and a display stand has been fabricated for the extra engine to go on exhibit. |
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British Bristol Beaufighter
All control surfaces have been fabricated and the fabric and finish is now being installed. (Note: The restoration of this aircraft is being completed while on display in the museum's Air Power Gallery.) 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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F-84E
This aircraft has been moved from the Korean Gallery to the Restoration Hangar to be refurbished. The paint has been stripped and the aircraft will be polished and new color and markings will be added. Click here for more information and photos. |
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GAU-8/A
General restoration work has been completed on the GAU-8/A storage boxes for the loader, which were used on the A-10. The restoration staff is in the process of acquiring the missing feed chutes. |
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Grumman HU-16B
A major clean-up effort continues on the flight deck and crew quarters of the plane, and the upholstery is being cleaned and repaired by the volunteers. Click here for more information and photos. |
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Minuteman I
The missile has been moved to the Restoration area and is being disassembled and corrosion and repair has now started. Click here for more information and photos. |
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O-46A
The Restoration staff has started on the O-46A by fabriacting fixtures to hold items while the skins are removed to gain access to the inner granular corrosion. Click here for more information and photos. |
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R-3350 Engine
Volunteers are restoring the engine and fabricating a display stand. |
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VC-137C (Air Force One)
The Restoration staff is re-painting the aircraft (SAM 26000) with Presidential markings. Click here for more information or here for more Restoration photos. |
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XC-99
The final pieces of the XC-99 have arrived at the museum. Corrosion control on the right-center wing box has been completed and the left-center wing box is being done now. Once the corrosion has been treated, re-assembly will be done by a contractor. Once re-assembly has been completed, restoration will be able to take place. |
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. 
