Warbird Information Exchange

Gary,

Do you have any other B-24A pictures you can post? I have looked all through my books and on the web and found very few of them, I am sure you have a few more to show the rest of us.

Mudge, you have a point there. I'm within 10 pounds of that Spitfire's 190 pound weight limit though. Does that count?

Stratofortressflyer, I've got a few more "A" model pictures. I'll see about making some time to post them later. Good suggestion.

Gary

Gary...I'll be the last one to draw the line at who's too heavy and who's not. Since starting my flying lessons, I've learned about CG and that sort of stuff. I've seen (graphics, of course) what moving the CG too far towards the rear can cause. So you're at 200 lbs. and I'm at 250. I guess that would mean I'd make the plane go into the ground backwards like a missile and you'd make it more like a dart.
Hope you get your ride however. (Eat my heart out )

Mudge the massive

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Land of the free because of the brave

Mudge, I was figuring that Gary seems to be working so hard that he hasn't had much time to eat. For a few very special people it is possible to take the remote avionics receiver out from behind the cockpit and allows about 5 more lbs of weight in the 2nd seat. As for the problem with hurting the feelings of an under or overdeveloped lady, we do it this way. We put Jenny M or a similar type on one side( this represents the radial folks) and Gwenyth Paltrow on the other side(this represents the sleek and elegant side of warbirds, like a Merlin powered fighter). All should be happy.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Paint scheme sounds like a plan to me.
Now...let's talk about that 60 lb. piece of avionics that's behind the back seat....

Mudge the porker

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Land of the free because of the brave

Howdy y'all. Just a super-quick update here.

Busy day yesterday, as we are trying hard to get this project closer to being finished. I took a fair amount of photos, but will have to post later. The CAF's Winter Staff Conference is going on now and there are people everywhere, so I'm just not able to make the time for a "real" update at the moment. Was here at 3 a.m. yesterday, left briefly at around 7:30 p.m. to speak at the Desert Squadron's meeting, came back to the hangar to meet with fellow WIXer, Taigh Raimey about some B-29 items, and finally left here around 10:40 last night. Long day, but got a lot accomplished.

Andy worked on sealing up leaking fuel tanks (wet wings on this airplane= persistant leaking ). He then moved on to more sanding. I worked on some steps for the inside of the airplane, along with a section of floorboard. We both also worked on a small modification to the pogo assembly, since I have been unable to obtain a tail skid, as I had hoped. But it looks like this idea will work out fairly well.

Anyway, I need to get back after it here. I'll get y'all some more details when I'm able to make the time needed to do so.

Gary

B-29 items!

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Before I start getting repremanded for no recent updates , I thought I'd share a short on with you this morning.

The CAF Winter Staff Conference is still going on, but should be winding up today. I have been busy with some of the functions related to that, but have somehow managed to evade capture and escaped from most of it.

In the mean time, however, we have been making very good forward progress on the airplane. There are quite a few volunteers out here right now, and they're working quite hard. As a matter of fact, yesterday may have been one of the most productive days overall since this project started. There weren't necessarily any major milestones completed in the project, but there was tremendous momentum, and things were getting done. So much so, that I didn't take the time to snap a single photo yesterday. I do have some from previous days though, and will post them soon, along with some from today as well (if I remember).

We definitely have a daunting task ahead of us. The level of stress for me rises daily, as the deadline gets closer and the expectations from everyone grows at a rapid rate. Another major source of concern is the ever present money issue. In one of our meetings this weekend, we discussed three of the major bills that will be coming due very quickly, which we need to find the money to pay for. They are for the overhaul/repair of our exhaust (the exit stacks that are on the top of the airplane), which will cost in the neighborhood of $11,000.00.....the propellers (sent off to have the recurring Airwothiness Directive done to them, along with a repaint), which will cost around $15,000.00........and our nose section (replacement of all of the glass, which also required the repair of much of the sheet metal structure in the nose), which will cost between $8,000.00-$12,000.00.

So, this is just a small glimpse into the issues that keep us stressed around here. I have been working to do some horsetrading for some parts that are still needed for the completion of this project, and am getting close on a couple of different deals. I am still in desperate need of some waist gunner's doors, since I'm obviously running out of time to fabricate them from scratch. If anyone knows where I can get any, even if it is just to borrow as a pattern, please let me know.

And as much as I hate to sound like a homeless person (which I'll probably be if I don't get this thing finished in time ).....any monetary donations are GREATLY appreciated.

Okay, so I've got to get back to work now. I hope to post some photos for you soon.

Gary

OK everyone...you heard Gary. Now is the time to pony-up and help out with Lil again just like we did with the "gun fund". I just received my tax refund and one of the first things I did (besides paying bills) was to write a check out to Gary for vet bills ....I mean repairs for Lil. Whatever people can spare...$10...$25...$50...more? Let's face it folks...if Gary becomes homeless and starts living out of an old derelict flying boat in the back yard we'll never forgive ourselves.

John

Well, we're all but shut down for the day today, due to an event in the hangar for the viewing of the Daytona 500. Seems the general public isn't going to take too kindly to the sound of rivet guns and orbital sanders drowning out the sound of 40 or so NASCARs.

I was going to take this opportunity to post a photo update for all of you, but frankly, I'm just gonna wimp out and go to the house to relax for the rest of the day (translation: go out and do some work at the house with the tractor and play with my C-47 nose a little bit. ) I will get here early tomorrow and will post an update with plenty of photos for you of the work accomplished over the last couple of days.

Talk to y'all then,
Gary

Okay John,

Sounds like a VERY Worthwhile cause here, and because I didn't even keep up on the "Guns For Lil" campaign with my own work consuming almost as many hours in the day as Gary put's in on Lil, I'm willing to "step up to the plate" as it were. So, that being said, the questions is...HOW do I or WE do this ??

Paul

Hey Paul,

Probably the best thing to do is just send Gary a PM and request his mailing address so you can send a check or M/O. I'll leave it up to Gary if he wants to post the address on here or not. Thanks for helping out!

John

Okay, I've done some asking around about the donation issue and where to send them, etc. I'm sorry I didn't have any info earlier, but I try to stay out of the money end of this business (other than spending it ).

It appears that there will be two ways to get a donation to the "Ol' 927" fund for now. One is to call CAF HQ @ 432-563-1000 ext. 2237, or just dial "0" and tell the secretary chick that you wish to make a donation to the B-24 and she'll forward you to Susan Branum, who will take your credit card number (or other info) from there.

The second way is to just send a check or money order to the following:
B-29/B-24 Squadron
Attn: Gary Austin
P.O. Box 62000
Midland, TX 79711

It is important to make the envelope to my attention so that I can insure that the money goes to the correct account.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at anytime.

Gary

HI EVERYONE! THIS IS DAVE. WHEN I WAS IN MIDLAND A FEW WEEKS AGO PUTTING IN THE WINDOWS ON LIL. I KEPT THE HOLES I DRILLED OUT WITH THE HOLESAW. I BEEN WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO PRESENT THESE AND NOW SEEMS APPROPRIATE. I'VE SPOKEN TO GARY ABOUT IT AND HE SEEMS TO THINK IT'S OK.
SO I HAVE ABOUT 30 OF THESE AND I WILL PERSONALLY SEND ONE OF THEM TO THE FIRST 30 OF YOU FOLKS THAT GIVE $ 100.00 OR MORE FOR LIL'S BILL'S. JUST INCLUDE AN ADDRESS WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION.

Just got off the phone with Susan. $100 from me.