On Tuesday, October 7, Jeff Glickman, Aris Scarla and Your Obedient Servant will spend the day at Wichita Air Services. TIGHAR video cameraman/producer Mark Smith will be there to document our research. We will have full access to Lockheed 10A c/n 1091, including the interior structure in the area where the window and later patch were installed on c/n 1055. Unlike c/n 1052 at the New England Air Museum, the area in question on c/n 1091 was not restored as a lavatory but rather as a simple baggage compartment so there is no sink riveted to the wall. We'll have a nice clean fuselage, inside and out, to compare with 2-2-V-1. We'll also have full access to the skins that were replaced. (Wichita Air Services re-skinned 90% of the airplane, including the skins in the subject area.)
This is a unique and timely opportunity. We have decided to spend the money (money needed for other things) to make it possible to put our best experts on site to collect photographic and structural data. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say this will be make-or-break for the question of whether 2-2-V-1 is the Miami Patch.
Aris, Jeff, Mark, and the restoration staff at Wichita Air Services are donating their time. TIGHAR is covering the travel costs. The tab is $2009.51. We're doing this on faith that you will respond with contributions to the
1937 Fund to help cover these costs. Thank you.