Warbird Information Exchange

Bob & Randy, thanks for your thoughts about the jumpseat. We have a contact in TUS who knows the curator at Pima so will see what they know or maybe get some pics. On another matter, we are happy to report that enough donations came in to help us get the two 0-6000 ft range Rate of Climb Indicators like the originals. Should be here in time for the cockpit crew to install them on Saturday. The Meacham Fly-in this coming Sat is still on. If anybody flies in, they can taxi down to the museum and park after having burgers and dogs at the Cornerstone FBO ramp where the festivities will take place. Be glad to have folks drop by to see how we are doing with the restoration work. Looking purty good!! Now if I can just get back across the Red River from the Territory to the Republic on Friday evening, that would make my day!! JR

Just an un-informed question......................what is the rate of climb that the 0-2,000 fpm indicator is insufficient?

Ober, we can only speculate at this point that diving attacks resulted in rates greater than 2000 ft/min and the pull ups momentarily exceeded 2000 also. This would have been hard on the smaller ranged instruments. While we probably won't be reaching these rates very often, in the interest of originality, we thought it better to replace the less authentic gauges. Does this make sense? As for the normal rate of climb, it should be close to 2000 ft/min up to about 6000ft since we will not be loaded up with real ordnance. Good to hear from you!! Regards, JR

JR... do you know if anyone has looked into 666 on display at Herbie to see if the jump seat is still in there?

_________________
Bob
Memories of Naked Fanny
More Memories of Naked Fanny (Nov 2013)
609th Nimrod, Bomb loader, Gun Plumber, '68 - '69

Bob, we have an active duty guy on the ground there who requested a looksee. Met resistance with the idea. Was told there was very little left in the cockpit and they didn't want to open it up to see about the jumpseat. Still hopeful that Pima might have something soon. Thanks, JR

[quote="This is one of the biggest puzzles about the airplane. We have stories from the Nimrods about getting fam rides on their first flights over Laos riding on the jumpseat. Anybody have drawing or picture of the jumpseat? Thanks, JR[/quote]

Jr: I believe the illustrated parts breakdown, page 2-286, fig 88 has what you are looking for on the jump seat. Woodie

Jr: I believe the illustrated parts breakdown, page 2-286, fig 88 has what you are looking for on the jump seat. Woodie[/quote]
Woodie: that figure is listed as the forward gunner's seat which is confusing in itself, but there are two things about it that cause us to question that it was actually the jumpseat besides that. The description we have from some of the Nimrods who sat on it doesn't jive with the drawing and two, there is absolutely no evidence of any fittings or holes in the floor, sides or hydraulic area sill that there were ever any of the things in the drawing installed. So that is why we are puzzled. It looks like it could not be raised if the canopy was closed and since we intend to use the bomb bay entrance as an alternate bail out exit, we don't want to install something that will block the way. Leaves us in a quandary. What we need is a picture to confirm the drawing and how it works. Maybe Pima will come thru for us. Thanks, JR

[quote=" It looks like it could not be raised if the canopy was closed and since we intend to use the bomb bay entrance as an alternate bail out exit, we don't want to install something that will block the way. Leaves us in a quandary. What we need is a picture to confirm the drawing and how it works. Maybe Pima will come thru for us. Thanks, JR[/quote]

Jr:
I know that tail no. 640 that I was around while it was being tested at Edwards AFB had the jump seat in place. I was told by the On Mark people it could be released to fall through the open bomb bay after those doors were opened. The crew then could bail out through the opening (that is, if there was time to do all that...). Woodie

Jr:
That seat was probably originally installed when they used a 75mm cannon and the operator sat there as shown in the B model -1 T.O. Looking at the -4 T.O., you can see where the entire sloping hatch was released by a cable connected to the two pins in the hinges on the rear wall when the D handle was pulled, as well as the front latch release. This allowed the hatch to fall out. That is all that holds it in place, so the sloping hatch was not actually bolted to the floor. Is there a D handle on the right side near the seat location as shown in the -4 T.O. with cables connected to it? If not, maybe the T.O. was not complied with on this aircraft.
Woodie

Woodie: I don't believe there is any D ring for the mod, but I will sure look on Saturday and also review the B model TO. When it was a single pilot airplane, we assumed the gunner/navigator had a seat beside the pilot instead of behind the nav's location. But if it had a cannon, it might have moved that seat back obviously. Thanks for the lead. 640 spent time in civilian hands so no telling what is left, but if Pima doesn't come thru like we expect, then I'll call Rapid City. Regards, JR

Here is a puzzle the cockpit guys are trying to resolve. The placard on the yoke has faded out so that only parts of it are readable. We want to refinish the yoke, but want to confirm this placard first. Ray, Larry and JR have been working to decode it.The top picture is our yoke. The bottom one is a black and white that we found while searching for the verbiage on the placard. Between the two, we think we have it solved. What do you folks think? We think we have it with 99.99 % accuracy. Anybody see something to cause us to change our minds?

[/quote] Woodie: I don't believe there is any D ring for the mod, but I will sure look on Saturday and also review the B model TO. When it was a single pilot airplane, we assumed the gunner/navigator had a seat beside the pilot instead of behind the nav's location. But if it had a cannon, it might have moved that seat back obviously. Thanks for the lead. 640 spent time in civilian hands so no telling what is left, but if Pima doesn't come thru like we expect, then I'll call Rapid City. Regards, JR[/quote]

Jr:
In the picture you have shown with the insulation going in on the rt. side of the cockpit on page 81 of this thread, there appears to be a D-ring (in yellow color) at the rt. edge of the picture similar to that shown in the -4 T.O. So if it is rigged correctly, the hatch should fall out onto whatever (or, hopefully not whomever) is below it if you were to pull on that D-ring. The seat should have been mounted to the hatch as is shown in the -4 T.O. figs 88 and 89. Woodie

Ray put the two photos together and has approximated very well. He also noted that the black/white photo only has 6 lines as opposed to our 7 (odd).

The museum cockpit photo isn't any help. They painted over the decal. We're just trying to keep it authentic as possible.

It is a little disconcerting that the safety of us ground pounders relies on a little sticker.

Larry

Hmmm, Larry, believe me, there are a lot of things that ground pounders have to depend on pilots for beside the opening and closing of the bomb bay doors at the right time. For instance, we know how to work the flap override switch that allows full travel. You know, the one that is supposed to prevent full extension if you have the pylons occupied where the flaps would smash into them. I distinctly heard you say today, "well, guess we still need pilots around!" Might be good for something once in awhile, right?? I felt a lot better afterwards knowing that I am still needed!! JR PS Be sure to check back tomorrow for a full report on today's events and progress.

New Mystery Part of the Week!! The thingee with two small holes in it. Whatzit? JR