f2A1/b-239 update pensacola

Apparently a decision has been made to reassemble the aircraft to its
just recovered state and do preservation work on items needing
stabilization and to leave the current paint on the aircraft for the
present (good decision). Will be interesting to see it all together as
when originally photo'd it was already being pulled out of the lake and
subsequently stuff was already taken off. Even has some bullet holes
that are going to be left. Once reassembled, I assume time will tell if
aircraft as a whole makes an interesting display as is. Even the
plane's tires were in good condition...they are being reconditioned but
not replaced. Perhaps the only major reconstruction will be one of the
horizontal stabilizers that was destroyed in the recovery? and the
sliding canopy which was missing, or perhaps already damaged. All in
all, it will be a sight to see.

Coincidentally, a full scale F2A3? static replica is nearing completion
at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island. Another , perhaps in
its B-339D-23 configuration is on order with CoA to Holland but that may
just be a fuselage. I think some of the first F2A3's with spinners
flew off the USS Long Island so I assume the possibility it may have
those the case, I assume it will be painted in
overall gray neutrality? color of 1941. See the most current Warbirds
International for two pics of the near completed replica.

One of these days I hope an F2A3 will be built, even a static replica,
and displayed in the colors of VMF-221 at Midway in honor of the Marine
pilots who fought there.

Some millionaire out there needs to get us built some flying replica
Buffalos to take on those Oscars coming out of Texas! Ok, those were
Brit and Dutch Buffalos but that's hair splitting. :-)

Al

Putting the Buffalo on display in it's current condition sounds like a great
idea. The museum did the same thing with a Dauntless and a Wildcat brought up
from the bottom of Lake Michigan. They made a neat display with spotlights
shining through tanks of water to give the illusion that the aircraft were
sitting on the lake bed.