New TBM Restoration - Wings Are Back On. First Flight Soon!

PbyCat-Guy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:34 am

Since l live in NJ, love the TBM, and am starting my A&P here in a week or so, do you need any volunteers? I'd be willing to sweep the floors!

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:07 am

Have to get out to Maryland! Thats an awful big Wing for the CAF!

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:36 am

Chris wrote:

It might hide the tramp stamp :lol:

Now that is funny!

Tim

SaxMan · **Posted:** Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:50 pm

Glad to see the old girl is coming along. I used to go to the Frederick, Maryland airshows. Some of the early ones ('94 - '96) were great. One show they had three B-17s at one time, and have had a total of five different ones: Texas Raiders, Sentimental Journey, Fuddy Duddy, Yankee Lady and the "Movie Memphis Belle". By the later shows, the 17s stopped showing up.

Their last show in 2003 was a TBM "reunion" in honor of the acquisition of the TBM for restoration. I couldn't make that show as I was in a Lamaze class with my wife...directly under the flight path for Frederick Airport. You have no idea how frustrating it is to hear radial engines passing overhead and not being able to look out the window!!!

Chris · **Posted:** Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:31 pm

C'mon Saxman. Everyone has to go to the window for a breathe of air during lamaze classes. You have to practice ways of not passing out during the real thing right?

T-6G Pilot · **Posted:** Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:38 pm

Not a great shot but one for now of the turret. I hope to have some more soon.

T-6G Pilot · **Posted:** Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:31 am

More Turret pics:

T-6G Pilot · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:40 pm

I just got a "picture update" from our member, Cliff Ellis, who is helping to lead this restoration for our unit along with his comments from the email:

"Please find attached some progress photos. These show the bomb bay coming together with first fit of bomb bay doors that have been stored in their shipping box for about 6 years! Very exciting. The photo of the autos shows the regular number of volunteers that appear on Tuesdays and Fridays. These guys (excluding me at 48) average 76 years young and are driven by the mission of bringing warbirds back to life!
This place is truly a marvel and magical."

retroaviation · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:02 pm

I hope you forgive me for hijacking the thread for a moment, but I have a request........

More pictures of the engine test cell in the last picture, please! That makes the fourth one of those that I know about. We were told that only three had been built, so this is neat to see.

One was the former "Testiclese" that we started restoring at the CAF (since sold to Ray Anderson).
One is at the Mid Atlantic Air Museum, in Reading, PA.
One is with Lynn Parker, who owns Minden Air (firebombing outfit).
And then there is this one.

Any others out there???

Gary

T-6G Pilot · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:08 pm

Gary,

I'll ask Cliff to get more pictures of the test stand next time he is up there. Obviously, ANY comments/help/expertise on this restoration now or in the future would be greatly appreciated. We want this to be a world-class restoration.

Mike

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:10 pm

Gary, there used to be one of those test stands at Charlotte, N.C. at the ANG base. Last time I saw it it had a C-130 engine hanging on it. I thought they built a bunch of them--remember that SAC used to have KC-97s all over the country "married" to B-47 Wings. I think they were doled out to each Wing for their recip departments.

Scott

Ryan Keough · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:10 pm

Hmmm... there seems to be a trend in restoring TBMs in out-buildings and pole barns! Nate Mayo's shop in MA looked very similar when the Collings TBM was restored.

Speaking of TBM restorations, anyone know how Charlie Cartledge's TBM rebuild is going?

jettek · **Posted:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:23 am

Gary,
Jack Kosko and crew took the torch out of the hands of the Mid Atlantic Museum guys and and quickly moved it down to his place. Thankfully for him, another rare piece was preserved. It has a pickled 3350 on it. Supposedly came from Willow Grove NAS.

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:48 am

jettek wrote:

Gary,
Jack Kosko and crew took the torch out of the hands of the Mid Atlantic Museum guys and and quickly moved it down to his place. Thankfully for him, another rare piece was preserved. It has a pickled 3350 on it. Supposedly came from Willow Grove NAS.

Oh, so that IS the one from MAAM then? Yeah, that has a C-119 firewall forward on it if I remember correctly and still has the ol' Putt-Putt on it that the B-29s used.

Thanks for the info.

Gary

RNDMTRS4EVR · **Posted:** Wed Sep 30, 2009 3:29 pm

Anything new on the TBM????

Scott................

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New TBM Restoration - Wings Are Back On. First Flight Soon!

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