USS Iowa BB-61 News

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Battleship IOWA said:
This is a donation box I made for the Iowa to explore the concept that you are more likely to get someone to put money in a donation box if you can get them up to the box in the first place, everyone likes bling.
From what I am told this box brings in about 10 times what all the other donation boxes make and it is estimated to have collected over $3,000 since January including 2 $100 checks. So those of you in the museum ship world might consider a makeover of your donation boxes.
The box is also the world's first solar powered motion activated donation box. Solar powered because our COO Mike Getscher told me sure Craig I can give you AC power if we drill down through 1.5 inches of armor plating (Rusty, check me on that). Motion activated lights so that people at night time events will light up the box as they walk by. The way I look at it, the people attending these night time events don't have to pay an admission fee and would be more likely to put money in a donation box and when you include libations it's a win win for the Iowa.

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That is so " BLING" !!!
 
Check out the latest addition to the USS Iowa.
This is one of the last surviving Piasecki HUP-1, it's been at the Piasecki plant in PA for the last 10 years. They have generously allowed us to purchase the aircraft at a good price and pay over time.
Mike G our COO sent these pictures today, he in in PA collecting the HUP and all it's parts. I am told all the Windscreens are intact and we were able to get most if not all the parts we need to put this back together.
This will be a long project to complete and will take all the hands we can get to do it.
If you want to be involved in the restoration send me a PM.
If you would like to contribute to the cause go to our "Go Fund Me" page. You can contribute at any level. if someone is willing to donate $15,000 (One only) you will get your name painted on the side of the HUP listed as pilot.

https://www.gofundme.com/2nwdpzfv/

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The HUP arrived today and I could not be more pleased. She will be trucked to Torrance airport for restoration I hope it will not take more than a year. It will all depends on fundraising and how many volunteer hours of help we can get.
Check out the Go Fund Me page if you want to donate because every dollar counts, Thanks.

https://www.gofundme.com/2nwdpzfv/

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Pacfanweb said:
Somebody's been plumbing that engine with race car fittings.
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Nothing unusual about that. If it works, do it. Don't forget, the M-18 Hellcat tank destroyer of WW II also used a Radial Engine.

Now, if any of you former aircraft mechanics from Douglas, Boeing, Northrop, Grumman, Hughes or whatever would like to volunteer to put that baby back together, you are more than welcome.

I used to live in that part of Torrance (the suburb called Walteria) and took my flying lessons out of that airport. I don't know what hangar they have found for reassembly, but it would be fitting (to me) if it was originally used by Trojanair right alongside the Pacific Coast Highway (and a 2 minute drive from my house. Well, 30 - 45 minutes now from North Long Beach).
 
Battleship IOWA said:
The L.A. Kings where kind enough to pick the USS Iowa for one of there portable ice skating rinks. This is great marketing opportunity for us. But it got me thinking about just how thick that ice would need to be to bend the deck, teed up for you Rusty.

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http://sanpedro.lakingsholidayice.com/
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Just yesterday the L.A. Kings opened up another temporary rink somewhere in Los Angeles. Where? I don't know and don't care.

OUR rink is on the Helicopter Deck that was built flat as a spanking board. No need for compensation for camber or sheer. Believe me. I had to instruct, review and approve the final design of that helo deck. New Jersey's deck was only 8-inches above the main deck. The other three Iowas was 12 inches above. The support framing was cut to fit the camber of the main deck but the helo deck is perfectly flat.

Now, my grandchildren (9 and under) still need their first lessons in ice skating. Their mother (my daughter) in her teen years TAUGHT ice skating lesson to mentally handicapped children at the Paramount (California) rink.

So, I'm trying to get something going here. Her husband (my son-in-law) is an electrician for DWP and a Volunteer of the Iowa. So don't be surprised if you see my family putting on an ice show.

No, I won't be in it. Though I was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI with a natural rink just in a vacant (low level) lot across the street and a nice rectangular one just 5 blocks from my house, I could never skate. I like something with an engine on it like a Cessna 150 or 172 Airplane, a 2 1/2 ton Studebaker Rheo (double clutch time) or an M-41-A1 tank.
 
Don't forget to use the tie-downs (those holes in the deck with a cross of steel bars) with load binders. Santa Ana winds will be coming up soon and even without the rotor blades mounted, that beautiful chopper is light enough to be blown to the Green Hills cemetery.
 
Craig,

I certainly enjoyed the two videos of HUP - nice to see the immense progress on the bird. When do they expect to finish with rotor installation, etc?
 
Craig,

Thanks for the update - that seems to be a reasonable way to display the aircraft without "little hands" constantly reaching out to touch! Your photo, however, brings up another question - the HUP on display seems to have a darker blue than the shade on IOWA's HUP, and also a bit more "Navy-like" - is this correct, or are my eyes playing tricks?

Hank
 
bbvet said:
Craig,

Thanks for the update - that seems to be a reasonable way to display the aircraft without "little hands" constantly reaching out to touch! Your photo, however, brings up another question - the HUP on display seems to have a darker blue than the shade on IOWA's HUP, and also a bit more "Navy-like" - is this correct, or are my eyes playing tricks?

Hank
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The HUP in the picture is from the USS Intrepid but shows what we plan to do with the blades.
 
RustyBattleship said:
Don't forget to use the tie-downs (those holes in the deck with a cross of steel bars) with load binders. Santa Ana winds will be coming up soon and even without the rotor blades mounted, that beautiful chopper is light enough to be blown to the Green Hills cemetery.
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Rusty, I am assured by Iowa's COO/XO Mike Getscher that a lash down plan is in the works, I will post pictures when it's finished.
 
Battleship IOWA said:
Rusty, I am assured by Iowa's COO/XO Mike Getscher that a lash down plan is in the works, I will post pictures when it's finished.
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Oh I'm positive of that. But I've seen tool sheds torn up at LBNSY from Santa Ana winds, a Tornado touched down at Dry Dock 1 and then it hopped skipped and jump right up Downey Avenue about 100 feet past my house. California is a wierd State to live in and just looking at those tie-down cleats reminded me of (possibly) the hundreds I have installed when I was a shipfitter and the dozens I have witnessed pull testing on. Some night mares never seem to go away.

Oh, as for the question above refering to paint color. They ARE the same color. One photo was taken INSIDE out of the sun therefore the color is "shaded" a bit. Our HUP is in the bright sunlight and looks great. Now if they would just finish installing that rotary engine and reinstall the rotors, I would LOVE to have the FAA certify it for flight.
 
Rusty,

Thanks for clarifying the paint "shade". This project seems to be moving right along - nice addition to the ship!

Hank
 
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