"My Gal Sal" Restoration Progress
The cockpit is not quite ready for paint. "Sal's" cockpit is suspended by a hydraulic lift. Those who believe that this tangled mess of metal won't fit inside the new structure have little faith. Time, patience, and commitment will prevail. Stay tuned, Gary will work his magic.
From the first day we started the restoration our motto was "Divide and Conquer". The cockpit area has really tested our motto. Pictures 1-5 show the "Divide". Earlier pictures show how "Sals" cockpit was rolled into a metal ball. This ball has now been taken apart. These parts will be restored and painted to be put back into the new structure.
Certain parts are being placed in the cockpit structure to see how they will fit. We are making new I-beams that are needed to support the weight of the internal parts. The cockpit is now on the road to "Conquer".
The cockpit is on the mend. There is no question that as the restoration of "My Gal Sal" progresses the challenge of the cockpit becomes more real. As we all know, the B-17 cockpit was the nerve center and the most complicated part of "Sal". The tremendous damage that was done to "Sal’s" cockpit over the 53 years she sat on the Greenland icecap is now being put back together. It is a wonderful feeling to see this day come. Every day it gets better.
The restoration of "My Gal Sal" continues. These pictures show the installation of new structural beams and the painting of the rudder pedals and structure.
These pictures show the cockpit panel support structures being assembled and set in place. You know, it’s beginning to look like a B-17 cockpit!
The cockpit continues to improve daily. If you remember the restoration of the cockpit started with a ball of metal (then photo). "My Gal Sal's" cockpit is only weeks away from being completed.
Please note the flag that Gary has hung off the cockpit in respect to the tragic events of September 11th. This flag has been carried by Gary to over 23 countries in his search and rescue of historic aircraft.
Then Now
Looking forward Looking Aft
The restoration of the aft 40' section is almost complete. The last 12' or so will begin shortly. We have come a long way since April 2000.
