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The B-17 Fuddy Duddy, which was for sale for $3.5 million, has found a new home in Southern California.
Formerly owned by the National Warplane Museum, now called the Wings of Eagles in Horsehead, NY, the plane was "sacrificed" to help the museum pay of its bills, which exceeded $3 million.
The new owner? Martin Aviation at John Wayne, Orange County Airport in Southern California.
Said President Pat Kenna, 61: "We're going fly it and we're going to exhibit it."
Asked if the museum got what they asked for, Kenna laughed and said, " They got pretty close." The museum, which has an extensive collection of warbirds from trainers to WW II fighters and bombers, said the sale allowed them to pay off all their bills.
Kenna said Martin Aviation had big plans for the B-17, including guided tours and flights to nearby air shows. The company also owns a B-25 and an A-26 and their pilots would be trained to fly the B-17.
When its not on tour, the airplane will be parked at Martin's Location. Tours will have to be scheduled in advance, due to airport security rules, he said.
"What we're going to do is take small groups our to for escort,"
Kenna said Martin had been interested in the airplane for some two years because the previous owner wanted to sell it then.
Martin will not change the name of the plane, which was leased to the EAA last year when its B-17 was sent on a western tour and had a mechanical problem at Van Nuys Fuddy Duddy finished off the tour, adding 300 hours in flying time.
Kenna said once the plane is thoroughly refurbished and the pilots are certified, the plane will be sent to a limited number of airshows this summer, mostly in Southern California.
Asked if Martin planned to add any other warbirds to the three they have now, Kenna said Martin had been looking for a B-17 for nine years and now that they have one, they have nothing else on their want list.
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