The Process

The Museum's Boeing B-52G, Midnight Express, was repainted in its original Vietnam-era livery in 2017. It was disassembled at Paine Field in Everett, Washington and transported to the Museum's main campus over the following summer where the aircraft's fuselage - the largest and final piece of the B-52 - was officially "welcomed home" in June 2018. 

The B-52 was then reassembled and moved into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park in time for the park's dedication ceremony over Memorial Day weekend on May 25, 2019.

The Museum of Flight is grateful to the leadership and enthusiasm of Bob Bogash, without whom this project would not be possible.


Watch the B-52's Restoration as a timelapse below:


 


Restoration & Transport Timeline

  • July 2017: The aircraft is relocated from behind Castle & Cooke Aviation, where it has sat for the past 24 years, to Boeing's Kilo-6 to begin restoration work. (Paine Field, Everett, Washington)
  • August 2017: Prep work begins with power washing the exterior and outlining the color blocks for the camouflage design. Painting was complete the end of the month. The Museum extends a big “thank you” to the skilled experts of Global Jet Painting, Sterling Lacquer Manufacturing and AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings, without whom this project would not be possible.
  • March 2018: World Wide Aircraft Recovery arrives on-site at Paine Field to begin disassembling the B-52 for easier transport from Everett to Seattle.
  • April 2018: Some of the smaller pieces, like the engine covers, begin to arrive at the Museum's main campus at Boeing Field.
  • June 2018: The B-52's wings and fuselage - the largest and final pieces of the aircraft - are transported in the middle of the night and a welcome party is on-hand to celebrate the historic delivery. The team begins reassembling the B-52 right away so it will be ready in time for the Museum's "Wings of Heroes: Honoring Those Who Served in Vietnam" Gala at the end of June.
  • December 2018: Site preparation and construction begins on the new park.
  • March 2019: The landscaping is complete enough for the B-52 to be moved into its new home.
  • May 2019: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park officially opens to the public!


View the Boeing B-52G Stratofortress