Warbird Information Exchange

Hawkeye brought the fixins for burgers and dogs while Big Mike and Bryan got the grill going. Wow, what a great meal. There is just nothing better than a cookout and good friends.

We got a chance to visit after the meal and get acqauinted with the wives who accompanied the A26 vets to the reunion. We want to thank the ladies for coming and sharing their other halves with us one more time. It is always special for us to get a chance to talk to them. Our restoration team members were so in awe of your guys!! They will be inspired by this no doubt!! Thanks so much. JR

The real JR introduced the restoration team members to the Nims at the beginning of the program yesterday. We were pleased to also have Don and Joyce Vogler join us. They are at the left end of the front row. Don's dad flew with the Nimrods back in the day. Joyce found where dad's airplane was on display in Korea and got Don interested in starting the A-26 Legacy Foundation. They provided the new Nimrod t shirts and hats today which depict our airplane on the back instead of dad's airplane. Will get some shots posted next week of these. We appreciate this so much. They have been helping us and collaborating on the restoration. Many thanks to the Vogler's for hangin in there with us. JR

Yes, that is Darth Tristan from Star Wars modeling the latest Nimrod hat and T shirt which were delivered to our team by Don Vogler who heads up our sister organization, the A-26 Legacy Foundation. They designed the new shirts with K's profile and name on the back. Will post one of the back when we can get Darth Tristan to "cooperate". Why is it that two year olds and pilots have so much in common?? JR

They designed the new shirts with K's profile and name on the back...............
=======Jim, if you've got those shirts, put one of those aside for me also in addition to the On Mark shirts. We'll settle up when I get there. The count-down has started up here. Weather here has been crappy, overcast, and windy. Hope it's better in Texas when we get there!

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

We are announcing that these prints will go on sale shortly. They are specifically of our Special Kay as she will appear in SEA camo paint and her old number IF 679. It was done by the renowned Japanese artist, Taichi, who has done countless other beautiful drawings of most of the Reno Racers. It is indeed an honor to be chosen, for his attention to detail is incredible. The prints are 1/48 scale, full color, printed on card stock suitable for matting and framing.. AND, they have been signed by ten A26A vets who flew, armed or maintained the aircraft at NKP, Thailand from 1965 to 1969 during the VN war. There are only 10 of these signed prints available. When they are gone, they are gone. The asking price is $250 which includes shipping. Higher donations would be accepted and would be tax deductible since we are a 501c3 organization. Those interested can send a PM to me after 5/10/2012. These prints will be probably be priceless in a few short years. All proceeds will go to the restoration and return to flight of Special Kay. Won't you help us out? Thanks, Jim R, Greatest Generation Aircraft Foundation.

Randy... sure will save you a shirt and some nice weather. Our cold front has gone thru, the storms went south of us so all is well. I washed the car and watered the yard to tempt Mother Nature to allow some rain here, but alas, all in vain. Drat.... Have a safe trip!! JR

He's back.....Darth Tristan modeling the new A-26 Nimrod hat in stealth mode. Isn't he kewl? Well, now that you mention it, maybe he does resemble Yoda more?? I dunno about this? JR

Tim and Gus in the cockpit in their usual positions!!! Our guy restoring the cockpit is on an extended tour of duty in Savannah and we can't wait for him to get back to work here. Come on home, Rand!! Anyway, Tim and Gus were among the last of the Nimrods and helped return the airplanes to the US in '69. They pulled into the boneyard at DM and just left the engines running for awhile even though they had the cut signal. They were not ready to give up the greatest flying and best airplane of their careers just yet. They wanted to have time to say goodbye and savor the moment for a bit. To hear them tell it, it was like giving up an old friend. I'd say that is exactly what it was like. JR

Somebody snuck up on me to get this shot. I am showing Don Vogler the left main gear laid out on the table and just waiting for the last piece of the puzzle to come back from the shop so we can assemble it. Also looking on are Ken Yancey and his wife. Ken was a Nimrod pilot and got the name of "Magnet A$$" because he brought home so many shot up airplanes. He was hit on five different occasions with one time requiring the entire tail to be changed out. This took three days for the line crew to do after the tail section was received at NKP. JR

One of the highlights of the reunion was a cruise and BBQ on Eagle Mtn Lake. Hawkeye was our master chef and brought the brisket, beans and salad. It was so yummy that we are going to throw another BBQ and cruise for our volunteers who have been working so hard for a good long year now. The use of the boat was donated and we certainly appreciate this. Being on the ground floor of this marvelous restoration is another big reward. It will be cool to look back and be able to say, "I did that"!! I think all of the team feels this way. JR

These prints are now on sale at $250 including shipping. The original was done by Taichi in Japan. They are signed by ten of the A26 vets who flew, armed or maintained the airplanes at NKP from 1965 to 1969. One has the distinction of being one of the few who successfully bailed out of an A-26. The A-26 did not have an ejection seat so it had to be done the old fashioned way. Contact me with a PM if interested in purchasing this tax deductible treasure. Each is unique in that the order of signatures varies. We have only ten prints so first come, first serve. Jim R

That landing gear looks outstanding!!

_________________
Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Thanks, Randy, can't wait to show it to you. I am hoping it is installed by the time you get here. The guys are taking a lot of pride in restoring it to like new status. Have a safe trip out to Texas! JR

Here is an update on the cockpit restoration. The Nims were very impressed with how original it all is. We still have to find some drum and pointer type airspeed indicators to replace the existing types, but for the most part, we are in good shape. The gunsight is going to be mounted on the flat plate attached to the glare shield on the pilot's side. Won't those hogs look pretty for their close ups in that?? EEEhawww.. can hardly wait. JR