Warbird Information Exchange

The solid Grizzly tire is the tailwheel that came with the Bobcat project. The wheel and tire have been mounted on a new metal axle, to replace the WOODEN (!) axle the plane came with, and has been re-mounted on the strut.

Dick Santora is busy rewiring the entire electrical system, most of which he accomplished at home.



The cleaned up Relay Junction Box, with relays for battery, starters, landing gear, and flaps. The circuits at the top are the two DC Voltage Regulators.

Pics from today's visit (4/19/13). It has been exactly one year since I first started heading up to Fawn Grove. It's been a great opportunity to work on planes, and getting to know some really great people, too.

The entire metal framework is now painted:

DSC_0009 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bill & Frank working on the rudder pedals:

DSC_0011 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Rudder pedal installation:

DSC_0012 by onyxsax, on Flickr

One of the Jacobs engines:

DSC_0015 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Dick working on the instrument panel wiring:

DSC_0021 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Circuit breaker block is now in place:

DSC_0023 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Gene working on one of the longerons:

DSC_0027 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Overhead view of the shop. Frank and Jim are by the plane. Tiny, Jack and Dick are seated around the table:

DSC_0036 by onyxsax, on Flickr

My job for the day was to start prepping the wood for varnishing. Here I am going over the wooden "roof" section with a Scotch Brite pad:

DSC_0041 by onyxsax, on Flickr

There's a LOT of wood on this plane! No wonder they called it the "Bamboo Bomber"!

DSC_0043 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Nose on shot. Even in skeletal form, you can see the 30's Art Deco styling of the plane:

DSC_0049 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Another "ceiling shot" from inside the plane:

DSC_0054 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bob finishing up a new window frame:

DSC_0055 by onyxsax, on Flickr

I finally had the opportunity to head back up to Fawn Grove on what was a rainy day. Steady progress continues to be made with this project:

All the metal framework has been painted and the wood varnished:

DSC_0018 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Control yokes are now installed:

DSC_0023 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Good view showing the painting and varnishing

DSC_0024 by onyxsax, on Flickr

The two Jacobs engines.

DSC_0026 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Nose detail:

DSC_0030 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Shot of the hangar from the loft:

DSC_0039 by onyxsax, on Flickr

More woodwork detail:

DSC_0043 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bill, Dick and Tiny inspecting one of the stringers:

DSC_0050 by onyxsax, on Flickr

An inspection stamp still visible from when the plane was originally constructed in 1943:

DSC_0051 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Jim & Barry, the newest member of the team. Barry flew both as a FAC and in cargo planes during the Vietnam War

DSC_0053 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bill putting some varnish on one of the stringers:

DSC_0065 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Detail of the woodwork at the right front of the plane. My favorite pic of the day:

DSC_0066 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Throttle quadrant waits for installation up on the loft. The Fawn Grove hangar would be an "aviation pickers" dream come true!:

DSC_0077 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Frank working on the fuel tank selectors:

DSC_0079 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bob working on the door frame:

DSC_0080 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Such a pretty aircraft

_________________
Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

Finally made it back out to Fawn Grove after nearly 3 1/2 months...too long!

Wing has been laid flat (was stored upright until recently)

DSC_0002 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Fuselage is off the rotisserie and continues to take shape:

DSC_0004 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Relay box now installed:

DSC_0005 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Instrument Panel installed:

DSC_0007 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Overhead view of the hangar:

DSC_0013 by onyxsax, on Flickr

A couple of you have asked for more pics of the engine test stand that sits outside the hangar. Here goes:

DSC_0029 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Power unit for the test stand:

DSC_0033 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Unrestored control panel:

DSC_0034 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Close up of the control box:

DSC_0038 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Back to our regularly scheduled program:

Bill working on a longeron:

DSC_0044 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Dick working on the electrical system hookups:

DSC_0045 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Tiny looking on:

DSC_0047 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bill and Bob:

DSC_0067 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Gene at his workbench:

DSC_0068 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Now we have a good idea why there aren't more T-50s around! An awful lot of work.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Did that engine test stand come from the Mid Atlantic Air Museum? Looks similar to one that used to site behind the museum.

The Bobcat is coming along nicely.

_________________
Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

Yes, that is the MAAM engine test stand.