Warbird Information Exchange

That is sickening

Here is one of the wings that blew out of the lot. Note the downed power line right beside it. Billie took that out so this is between Billie and the fence line. You can also see the parts bucket fuselage which didn't move. I don't know how Billie didn't hit it. Had to have come over the tail. Microbursts can produce some really strange winds for sure. Our damage though is not nearly as bad as up on the north end of Meacham. Lots of corporate airplanes damaged and one hangar completely collapsed with several others damaged. Not a pretty scene on the news. JR

The VFM hangar took a hit near the roof. It appears that the roof was lifted just enough to let the door fall off the upper tracks. We are incredibly lucky that the door went outward because the A-26 is parked right beside this section of door. The manlift and one of our parts bins with our new glass for the doghouse were both within 6 ft of this door and they didn't even get touched. We were very nervous today about the crew and crane that came to lift it out for repairs because of the way the wind was blowing and making it difficult to control. After one near heart attack last night when I saw the damage, I couldn't stand to be around to watch this effort today!! With more weather predicted later in the week, it sure would be good to get everything covered up again. We can't move the airplane since it is still missing one leg and is up on jacks. Too close for comfort! JR

Inside view shows just how close we came to disaster. Note to self, move airplane away from door as soon as that doggone last gear piece comes in and we can get it off the jacks. Sheeesh... JR

Wow, talk about mixed emotions. Sorry about the loss of the C-47, yet thankful that Special K weathered the storm.Got to be a real kick in the gut to have spent so many hours on something like that only to have it al wiped out in seconds.

On another note, I met an elderly gentleman here at the campground we're staying at that was a P-47 pilot during WWII. Got to spend about a half hour with him. He had some very interesting stories about his flying. He shot down one FW-190, and said he was about to get shot down himself during a dogfight, but one of his buddies shot down the German plane before he could draw a bead on him. Great hearing those stories!
Y'all take care down in Ft. Worth.
Randy

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

Hey Randy, how was the camping trip? Sounds like you got more flying stories than fishing stories??? They weren't biting or what??? Anyway, there were thousands of man hours devoted to Billie and JR, the airplane. I spoke with 3 of the guys who worked full time on them the last two years and they are sad to see all of their work go down the drain even though all of them had moved on to other jobs before this disaster. They may come help on the A-26 or B-25 when that gets back on the front burner. Learned that Stevo is getting married in April. Seems he found a low mileage gal he really is sweet on. It will be awhile before we see him at the hangar again seeings how he is in love now!!! Congrats to Stevo. Rick got a new job and the opportunity to also work on the DC-3 AA Flagship Detroit for a bit. Pat is still blowing up stuff (pyrotech) and flying SAAB's when he can as a factory delivery guy. So there is life after volunteering to work on old airplanes, but I don't want this to get out. Keep it to yourself! Good to hear from you Randy... keep those cards and letters coming! JR, the pilot.

So sad

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Magister Aviation
www.fougamagister.be

This evening's report is fairly good. The hangar door got set back on the tracks so we can close up the hangar, which is a good thing because we are experiencing another storm tonight. There is some sheet metal work that needs to be done up above the door to plug the areas that were ripped off. Then some painting to make it match will take place later. The fence where the C47 blew thru has been replaced with some details yet to go. Most of the wreckage has been picked up and moved back into the yard. Just holding breath that tonight's weather doesn't do more damage. Again, we were very fortunate compared to the north end hangars at Meacham. Many airplanes were damaged by the hangar collapse and debris flying around from the materials being stripped off the other hangars. The one good piece of news weather wise is that we are expecting only low 90's for Saturday's restoration work on the K. Be nice to get some relief there. Yall take care... JR

Well, after a long hard week, things are getting back under control. Inu (E-noo), our floor manager decided to take a break. He had a lot to do trying to supervise the clean up and setting of the hangar door back on the tracks. VFM had scheduled a meeting of WWII vets on Tuesday, so everybody was scrambling to get the power back on or provide a generator for the event. The meeting went off without much of a hitch and was a success. When that rare vet comes up and starts talking about A-26's back in the day, wow, that makes it so worth it. First hand knowledge is slipping away so quickly. Here's a salute to our veterans!! JR, the pilot

Some of the visiting Vets could probably have told us many stories about this picture. It was taken by our ol buddy and B-25 comrade, Steve, from the right seat of Fifi up toward Chicago recently. Not hard to picture yourself looking at those clouds and wondering where the target might be or whether YOU are the target..... hour after hour... just waiting for those propeller driven SAMS to get in your way in that airspace or ATC to find new ways to torment you because they don't understand how much room a B-29 needs. Hmmm, I just thought of something.. wonder which one is faster, Fifi or Lucky Kay?? We started calling her Lucky Kay after that hangar door fell outward instead of inward!! Grateful in the Republic, JR

Are you sure that is a view out of Fifi, and not the view looking out of Darth Vader's Tie Fighter? I think it is pretty obvious what they based some of the Star Wars stuff on.

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The nose art/aviation artist from Houston, Texas http://www.jasonbarnett.net

Oh absolutely, Jason, Lucas even said that they watched hours of combat film to get the scenes more realistic. I think the B-29 shot looks most like the scenes from the Millennium Falcon where Luke is shooting back at the bad guys. George and company got a lot right in those scenes as a result even though it was so futuristic for the 70's and given the limitations on special effects then as compared to today. Now if we could just get some movie company interested in using Lucky Kay??? I think it is past due to make a movie about the Nimrods!! There is a spot in Georgia that Roger Graham says would be a perfect double for Laos and the HCM Trail. What say ye, Brethren? JR

Made it back from NJ tonight in spite of more storms. Luckily they went around us so far. Not ready for a repeat of last Monday night. Anyway, the day looks to be relatively cool in the morning and the whole team is expected to be banging on the airplane. Come on out and see our progress... Meacham Field, south end at the VFM hangar. Be glad to visit with anyone who would like close up pics or have burning questions. JR, the Pilot

Ta dah!! The real JR, the ace DAR and Ray, finished out the top of the rear spar repair, hung the overhauled upper rudder hinge bracket and placed the cap on top of the vertical stabilizer. Yes, Virginia, the upper rotating beacon is working again!! What a milestone. The rudder is all fitted out with gap seals and ready to be hung. A big kudo to all of the troops who worked on this project! Thanks so much!! Oh, but there is more progress yet to report in the next picture. JR, the pilot

Yes, that aileron is going on, not coming off. Miguel, Filipe, Steven, Arnold and Big Mike fitted the control surface and checked the fit of the new gap seal. It all checked out so now they will take it back off to measure the other half of the gap seal. But gosh, it sure was pretty while it was up there with that new fabric. We had a storm coming in so we closed up the hangar and headed out in case we get another freak microburst like earlier in the week. Will post more pics later, but shutting off the puter due to frequent lightning in the area presently. JR