Intruder To The Museum

[AIRMMCPORET]

Yesterday I was very fortunate to have helped/tow an A-6 from NASWI to the new Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum just of Ault road.

A friend of mine who’s a retired Master Chief coordinated it, and it went flawlessly.

This A-6 was brought to NASWI for the sole purpose of being a training aid on how to install engines on the Prowler.

Well they’re all gone so no better place than the museum for this old girl. She came from AMARG on a flat bed truck and trailer.

 

[AIRMMCPORET]

Video

Video

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[MIDNJAC]

Nice work Master Chief! So where was this thing at NASWI? Never seen it before, but there are a lot of places I haven't looked. But the flight line gate you brought it through, as you know, is my gate too. Is the museum gonna get the rest of the parts to make it whole?

Also, how is the new museum facility? Looks nice from the bottom pic. You guys/they need volunteers?

 

[AIRMMCPORET]

Nice work Master Chief! So where was this thing at NASWI? Never seen it before, but there are a lot of places I haven't looked. But the flight line gate you brought it through, as you know, is my gate too. Is the museum gonna get the rest of the parts to make it whole?

Also, how is the new museum facility? Looks nice from the bottom pic. You guys/they need volunteers?

CNATTU had it at the school house when they used it, after that it got moved to the flight line/airfield somewhere. It’s not feasible to make it whole again as the cost would be pretty high, the discussion that I heard was to leave it as is so the maintainers/ aircrew could remember it as they knew it, and be able to show friends and family just what the internal airframe and systems looked like.
They do have some of the outer panels that could be put on if they choose to. But the engines, wings, canopy, and the tail section just isn’t possible.

The new building is just a beautiful thing to see, as you go down Ault Field road to the east from the four way stop out Charles Porter gate it’s the last building on the right before the Navy property (white exterior with two big roll up doors on each end). It’s not open yet as they are in the process of moving all the memorabilia to the new site.

Yes they welcome all who want to volunteer with the museum, I’ll be a life member once I retire for real and volunteer on a regular basis.👍

 

[taxi1]

View attachment 42619View attachment 42620

Parts left over after assembly?

 

[wink]

What's the cockpit like? Kids would love getting into the cockpit. For pictures, You might also be interested in putting the work into turning it into a flight simulator of sorts.My chapter of the army aviation heritage foundation has looked into doing that with one of our static Hueys. it's not too hard to convert stick movement to inputs to microsoft flight simulator. Shouldn't that be hard to find some young person on base with the knowledge and ability to help you all with that.

 

[ea6bflyr]

CNATTU had it at the school house when they used it, after that it got moved to the flight line/airfield somewhere. It’s not feasible to make it whole again as the cost would be pretty high, the discussion that I heard was to leave it as is so the maintainers/ aircrew could remember it as they knew it, and be able to show friends and family just what the internal airframe and systems looked like.
They do have some of the outer panels that could be put on if they choose to. But the engines, wings, canopy, and the tail section just isn’t possible.

The new building is just a beautiful thing to see, as you go down Ault Field road to the east from the four way stop out Charles Porter gate it’s the last building on the right before the Navy property (white exterior with two big roll up doors on each end). It’s not open yet as they are in the process of moving all the memorabilia to the new site.

Yes they welcome all who want to volunteer with the museum, I’ll be a life member once I retire for real and volunteer on a regular basis.👍

I understand that engines and wings are difficult to get, but not necessary. The tail, nose cone, and canopy should be available through other museums (Pensacola, Midway, etc), AAMRG, or other places. Those additions would make this jet look amazing. Nice work.

 

[AIRMMCPORET]

What's the cockpit like? Kids would love getting into the cockpit. For pictures, You might also be interested in putting the work into turning it into a flight simulator of sorts.My chapter of the army vision heritage foundatione has looked into doing that with one of our static Hueys. it's not too hard to convert stick movement to inputs to microsoft flight simulator. Shouldn't that be hard to find some young person on base with the knowledge and ability to help you all with that.

Lots of empty holes where boxes and gauges used to be, the only part of the ejection seats is the main frame (no parachutes or seat pans), and they had a bunch of miscellaneous aircraft parts piled on them.

As an AME it was sad to see that.😢

Only the port side boarding ladder was left, and the fwd strap on it was busted, but it was climbable.

 

[GroundPounder]

I understand that engines and wings are difficult to get, but not necessary. The tail, nose cone, and canopy should be available through other museums (Pensacola, Midway, etc), AAMRG, or other places. Those additions would make this jet look amazing. Nice work.

Just a moron comment from the cheap seats, but having the interior access makes it a good exhibit, in my opinion. Lots of people will have seen them " complete " it would be different to see the innards.

Either way, glad it's being saved for people to enjoy and learn from.

 

[AIRMMCPORET]

I understand that engines and wings are difficult to get, but not necessary. The tail, nose cone, and canopy should be available through other museums (Pensacola, Midway, etc), AAMRG, or other places. Those additions would make this jet look amazing. Nice work.

The wings, and tail were cut off with the holes being welded up, probably to keep moisture and birds out.

Thanks, it was a privilege to be able to tow it to its new home.

Spending thirty years in Naval Aviation and never had towed an aircraft being I never got the opportunity to be a PC. So eight years after being retired I jumped at the chance to tow it.

 

[AIRMMCPORET]

Parts left over after assembly?

Taxi1 I don’t understand you question.

 

[taxi1]

Taxi1 I don’t understand you question.

I’m just picturing someone done assembling an airplane, and then seeing a wing box and a tail box unopened in the corner and saying, “oh”.

wings are difficult to get, but not necessary

Wouldn’t have to be Intruder wings.

 

[AIRMMCPORET]

None of that stuff left at NASWI anymore, it’s been hornetized for awhile now.🤯

 

[Griz882]

As a museum professional the best part of this conversation is reading the aviators who want to see it in “flying condition” and maintainers who see it disassembled and think, “That’s how I remember it!” It’s all about interpretation.

 

[wink]

Lots of empty holes where boxes and gauges used to be, the only part of the ejection seats is the main frame (no parachutes or seat pans), and they had a bunch of miscellaneous aircraft parts piled on them.

As an AME it was sad to see that.😢

Only the port side boarding ladder was left, and the fwd strap on it was busted, but it was climbable.

Although not as extensive as I have experienced with Huey and Loach restorations.I am sure you would be surprised at how extensive the network is for acquiring various parts from other organizations and private parties. Trades are common. Start now taking inventory of everything.You have that you can either do without or collect from other sources. Cockpit Instruments and control panels are not particularly hard to find.