Fuddy Duddy

Air Classics, Apr 2002

As mentioned elsewhere in this magazine, the National Warplane Museum's Boeing B-170 Flying Fortress Fuddy Duddy has been sold to the American Airpower Museum located at Republic Field, Long Island, New York. Nearly $4 million in debt, the sale of the rare bomber for a reported $2.5 million will go a long way to lowering the debt and will hopefully allow the museum to reopen this spring.

Fuddy Duddy was a centerpiece for the NWM and its volunteers basically took a tired old fire bomber and restored it back into original World War Two condition. It was a labor of love and the final result is just terrific. "I am absolutely thrilled that we have been able to obtain the bomber for the AAM," said Jeff Clyman. "We have wanted a B-17 in the collection for some time and Fuddy Duddy is one of the best B-17s flying. Also, we have always been close to the NWM and wanted to do something to help alleviate the terrible problems. We will be bringing Fuddy Duddy back to Elmira on a regular basis to support the museum and we also plan to have the museum do the maintenance on the bomber since they are so intimate with the aircraft and its systems."

This certainly sounds like a win-win situation that will benefit both museums so stay tuned for details.