Warbird Information Exchange

Agreed, but did you see what happened to the last fella who got cross ways with her? She put a pox on him that is still festering after 15 years.. Poor guy. Not me on this one..... you tell her. JR

Ahhhhhh, the main gear parts are all painted and dry. Mark did a nice job laying these out and finishing the project. Now if we can get the parts that were sent out for plating back and a spring, we got progress as far as hanging the gear back in the well. Can't put the wheel back on yet though since the brake assy is not back from overhaul. Seems like it always something, huh? JR

This is another view of the main gear after painting. Thanks to Mark, Denis and Big Mike for getting this done. Great job guys!! Our paint scheme is basically "if it moves, it gets silver and if it doesn't move, it gets green." We should not be confused with the typical tourist way of taking pictures around the hangar. If it moves, shoot it. If it doesn't move, shoot it until it does! JR

That is some great looking gear parts. Can't imagine how nice that's going to look all reassembled. That crew you got does some great work. Getting itchy to see it again.

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

We're back from watching the Shuttle being delivered to Dulles this morning. Was worth the trip. The first pass was right over the parking lot at the museum, then it went downtown, then came back, made another low pass, then landed. Quite a site. The parking lot had filled by about 10am and they closed it. Good thing we got there early. Well worth the trip.



me and my fine photography. cut the nose off this one. With the camera I have, I'm probably lucky to get that much!!

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

Whoa Randy, you got some incredible shots!! Were you the LSO for the 747 approach?? Almost looks like you were beside the runway!! Nice job..many thanks for that!! I will remember forever being in the Orbiter trainer down in Houston and wishing I could have flown her for real. There will never be a better machine in this Century for space exploration and utilization as long as the current climate continues in Washington. We need a new leadership that will set a new goal AND put the resources into obtaining it. We all benefit when that happens with good jobs, better technology and a national purpose that can unite us. Whatever happened to our values?
Stepping off soapbox now.... nice to see we have gone over the 50 k views mark. Thanks again for your interest in Special Kay. Other good news today, JR obtained a lifetime supply of landing light bulbs for us along with some really nice support stands. We had been wondering about where to find those bulbs. We have one landing light retract mechanism working and the guys are working on the other side. It will come down but not retract. Don't you just hate that when it happens? Would severely limit our speed if we get it in flight. I mean the Red Line is a goal, not a limitation, right? The other JR

Thanks Randy, we would love for you to come see the K anytime. The invitation is always open!! Appreciate your comments and will be sure to pass those along to the team. We are very proud of what they are accomplishing. It is a purty dedicated and talented group and with JR as the leader, they can whoop just about any problem. For the other folks, you can also follow us on our website which can be reached through http://www.a26K.org Feel free to have a look. We did some additions to the Friends page today ... these are the companies and friends who are helping us out. Not quite got everybody on there yet, but we are working on it. Many thanks to those folks for supporting what we believe will turn out to be the best restoration of one of the finest A-26's for her day!! That could be because she is the ONLY flyable model of her day that is left!! It really will be special to tell the story of those who flew and supported her!!

Here's something that may interest you ... or depress you

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... "What'd you say your name was again"? ... "I didn't" ...

OMG, that is priceless!! The K goes thru that much money every week or two just for parts, paint or supplies for restoration and here they are giving airplanes away in 1959. Let's see.. in 1959, I was working for 25 cents an hour and was very happy indeed to get a raise to 50 as a kid. I don't think I could have afforded it then either, but I would have been chomping at the bit to be there. I started flying lessons in 1960 and paid $3.75 per hour for an L-16 or L-4 including gas. In 1964, I moved up to the big leagues with renting a Cessna 150 for $10 per hour. It even had a radio and electrical system so it was well worth the money even if it was a nose roller. So maybe $5000 was a lot of money after all. It was 1968 before I made more than that per year. All things in perspective I suppose. Many thanks for the flyer. Would like to put that on our website if you don't mind??? Thanks, JR http://www.a26K.org

A guy I used to know who flew P-51's said that after the war they had new planes with 8 hours time on them and they offered them to the pilots that were mustering out for $800 each. He said, " One, I couldn't have afforded the gas to fly it home, and two, I had seen quite enough of a P-51 by that time, and sure didn't want one in my driveway at home! I guess in retrospect, I should have reconsidered."

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

Yeah, exactly Randy... Most of those guys came home just wanting to be away from war and get back to their lives. I think though to some extent, the war was the most exciting thing they ever got to do in their lifetime when they had time to reflect back on it. The country was together and they accomplished a great victory. They could be proud of that. We grew up as their next generation admiring what they did and wanting to show them we were grateful. Who could have seen how popular warbirds would become 30 or 40 years into the future and continue to be or we wouldn't be here talking about them, right? We are so lucky that as many airplanes have survived as did. It is a small miracle that K made it through to get this chance at a new life. She is the only one left. We will fix her up right and she will be something we can all take pride in for a long, long time. Don't forget to visit us on http://www.a26k.org or http://www.gga1.org. Ck out the Facebook page on Greatest Generation Aircraft to see what activities are planned for our other airplanes as well. As always, we welcome anybody who is interested to come see us on Saturdays at the Meacham Hangar in Ft Worth. We always will make time to stop and chat about our favorite subject!! JR

Anybody notice anything different??? Bliss!! JR

Anybody notice anything different???

darn!! What a difference!!!!!!!!!!

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

Mark sent the pic from this afternoon's work. Can't wait to see it in person!! All of the hoses and lines are still taped off so they don't get painted. Will have to do another round to touch it up probably before we take that all off. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!! Love it when a plan comes together. Thanks, JR

Hang in there, Friday is coming!! Yay!!! Saturday promises to be relatively cool to work in the hangar so no 106 deg days yet here in Texas. Might even get a little rain out of it. Can always use more. Anyway, my point is that it will be a great day to get out and come to Meacham to see us. We have the new OnMark Engineering T shirts delivered and available now for sale for those who want them. They are black, our standard anti oil stain color, and have a beautiful red A26 behind the logo. Come see the airplane, the team and pick you up a good lookin shirt. These have not been seen since On Mark Engineering went out of business and are a collector's item for sure even if you don't wear it. These were designed by us and especially made for us so there is no other way to get one. Please come see us Saturday at Meacham!! Love to have the opportunity to chat about the airplane or the history of the AF guys who operated them in WWII, Korea and VN. Chow.. JR