Glacier Girl Documentary – Channel 5

She was an Antartic supply machine and was recovered for a return to service. Far cheaper to recover her than have Lockheed build a new one! I think she might well still be flying.
As for the ‘Glacier Girls’ well the global warming is having a decided effect so we might well see them again.
I think with lessons learnt from these expeditions they might well be recovered.

There is a story on Galcier Girl over here in an American magazine in which it is suggested that a tour may be in the offing, with Steve Hinton taking the plane around the country so folks can see it….like the recently completed and successful east coast swing of the Corsair, Hellcat, P-40 and P-38 from Chino…I sure would welcome it if it came ANYWHERE near Denver, would be worth going to Arizona or Kansas to see if it makes it there….

Mark

You’re right, of course.
To return to “the Lost Squadron”. My personal belief is that they will “rest in peace”.

Best regards

Originally posted by atc pal
There was a C-130 rescued from “the other end” – Antarctica – after several years in deep freeze.

That was another matter! The C-130 was recovered and returned to operational status, as it was still required for service and nothing to do with preservation. Also, don’t think that was as hard to get out as the P-38 buried for 50 years!

There was a C-130 rescued from “the other end” – Antarctica – after several years in deep freeze.

Great program, just had to watch it even though Ch5 has ‘snow-storm’ reception in this area. Ch5 do seem to do a fair amount of aviation based programming, good on ’em!.

I seem to recall a similar recovery of a C130a (possibly gunship variant???) from the ice. Not so deep though, the engines were replaced/overhauled and she was then flown back to th USA. I guess she is now in a museum.

Some years ago there was a Danish attempt at the P-38’s. Didn’t get anywhere near the required money. (Got the T-shirt though 😎 )

But there is a clause of some sort, that the NEXT P-38 up from the ice should be donated to the Danish Aviation Museum. So you have to rescue two!

Best regards

Droptank – I don’t think we should expect German wartime aircraft in Greenland. Maybe a Condor COULD reach Greenland on an Atlantic patrol?

Best regards

Great thread. Lancman – I laughed my **** off at your summary. Moggy – good observation on expenditure. Ther whole exped was to me just so…American. Lots of money, determination, and that Frontier spirit, resulting in a fabulous aircraft.

A nicely balanced documentary, complete with personality hiccups. Did you see the knot that Mr Methodical ended up making? Talk about insurance policy – the knot appeared to take up half the length of the rope. I hope he made it to see the maiden flight, fired or not.

Originally posted by Moggy C
“Hey Hiram. Waddya say we blew a few million dollars on rescuing an airplane from the Greenland icecap?”

“Sounds good to me Walt. My wife won’t be too pleased though”

“Yea, you’ll probably lose her”

“Getting better all the time Walt. Right, best get the money spent then before the lawyers take it all. What sort of airplane is it?”

“A Whitley”

“Excuse me? Is that a kinda P51?”

“Naw! It’s a limey bomber”

“Are you sure we couldn’t find a P51? They are the coolest airplane in the history of the universe”

“Naw, it’s a Whitley. They didn’t do too badly until the war started in 1941, then they got a bit outdated”

“Couldn’t we find a B17? That’s the coolest bomber airplane in the history of the universe”

“Sorry Hiram, a Whitley’s what I’ve located”

“And this is going to cost us five million apiece?”

“Yup”

“Er… Let me get back to you on that one Walt”

:rolleyes:

Moggy

That was absolutely priceless – many thanks for the tears of laughter!!
😉

Well put Yak 11 perhaps this will lead to others exploring that part of the world for more treasures,because at the end of the day all warbirds are rare i can think of only 2 P38s that are regularly flown PORKY 2 and GLACIER GIRL now that is rare.

Originally posted by Yak 11 Fan
I for one admire what these guys have achieved

If you read back I don’t think you’ll find anyone who disagrees with you.

Moggy

Missed it….:(

I for one admire what these guys have achieved, perhaps we should stop knocking them for not recovering something rarer and restoring that instead, lets face it with the majority of the exotic types endines will be a big problem no matter how much money you throw at it.
They have done a fantastic job in recovering a P38 (still a rare aircraft) and getting it back into the air, it was their money after all. When it becomes my turn to spend $10m I’ll choose the way I spend it and won’t fear the consequences of not having gone out and recovered the most obscure aircraft I could possibly find.

All in all a fantastic achievement and a great testament to the dedication of some individuals.

Originally posted by ALBERT ROSS
Just think what other gems may be lying somewhere buried, just waiting their turn to be unearthed and restored to fly. Hopefully a type that was peviously thought to be extinct, like a Whitley or something?

“Hey Hiram. Waddya say we blew a few million dollars on rescuing an airplane from the Greenland icecap?”

“Sounds good to me Walt. My wife won’t be too pleased though”

“Yea, you’ll probably lose her”

“Getting better all the time Walt. Right, best get the money spent then before the lawyers take it all. What sort of airplane is it?”

“A Whitley”

“Excuse me? Is that a kinda P51?”

“Naw! It’s a limey bomber”

“Are you sure we couldn’t find a P51? They are the coolest airplane in the history of the universe”

“Naw, it’s a Whitley. They didn’t do too badly until the war started in 1941, then they got a bit outdated”

“Couldn’t we find a B17? That’s the coolest bomber airplane in the history of the universe”

“Sorry Hiram, a Whitley’s what I’ve located”

“And this is going to cost us five million apiece?”

“Yup”

“Er… Let me get back to you on that one Walt”

:rolleyes:

Moggy

Saw it and was totally enthralled! That’s dedication and enthusiasm for you! If they have the money and want to do all that, then only WE can benefit. Just think what other gems may be lying somewhere buried, just waiting their turn to be unearthed and restored to fly. Hopefully a type that was peviously thought to be extinct, like a Whitley or something?

Lunch time conversation here in the office today.
Colleague 1 “hey did anyone see that docu about these guys digging that old plane out of the ice last night?”
Colleague 2 ” saw bits of it turned over to celebrity fat decorating makeover(or some such trash)”
Colleage 1 ” Its was great ,hey Phil(me) you must have seen it thats your bag isnt it?”
Me ” Yes I did see it,I have seen it before and , well, know the story “
Colleague 3 ” So what was all that about then? (explanation by C1 with me listening with interest)
C3 “They did what ?……Why?………For the salvage is suppose?”
Me ” Well no, to recover, restore and fly”
C3 “Oh OK, I still don’t understand why though, was it one of these scrapyard challenge programs then?”
C1 ” Scrapyard,you must be joking these guys tunneled deep into the glacier,disassembled the aircraft, winched it out, shipped it home, restored it and after 10 years and about as many million dollar flew it again”
Me ” Bl**y marvelous”
C3 ” Hang on a minute they did all this for a rusty 60 year old piece of scrap, its their money I suppose and obviously they have plenty of it, but really come on what a waste of time, completely stupid”
Me ” Well actually some of them lost all of their money and wives as well”
C3 ” WHAT, are they mad, they need locking up, what a criminal waste of money ,and what for , some old crock and whats more someone made TV out of this?
Me ” Now look her do you…………………………………………………UM” leaves room before disiplinary action has to be taken for assaulting another employee.

Just makes you realise that it takes all sorts to make a world.

What cheered me most was that Steve Hinton arrived in a Cessna and made as duff a landing as I normally accomplish 🙂

Moggy

No wonder the other 5 are still up there:D

Mind you, with economies of scale, a slightly bigger expedition with the equipment to simultaneously dig out the remaining 5, and a restoration production line of the 5 together could make it a viable proposition, but that would be some upfront investment required….:confused:

I thought the large heated cone using self weight and gravity to bore out the ice was a fabulous piece of invention…:D

Plus, great in-cockpit footage of Steve Hinton on the test flight.

I think a few americans have found various warbirds up there nothing that is ultra rare Darryl Greenmeyer is or was interested in a A20 i believe,being en route to the UK during the war there must be quite a few a/c up there.
What planes have the brits lost up there other than a hastings?and you must be correct about german a/c as well, being so cold there must be some good airframes amongst them the ice is a big problem from what was gained from last nights documentary.