Dave~What's the plan for FIFI?

Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:31 am

Here's some of the pics from yesterday that I promised!

Don't worry guys, there's plenty of stuff to do!!

It was St. Paddy's day!

She's loose!!

Off she comes!!

Rudy and Jim

Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:08 pm

You don't need a crane for an engine change.., you need one of these!!!

In the 330th, they called this a Cletractor.., not exactly sure why or what.., but necessity is the MOTHER of invention!

Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:43 pm

Very cool, thanks for the pic. Ours is called "The Pettibone" She's really getting a workout lately! Last week the P-82, this week, the B-23 engines.
Then the 3350 yesterday and today a 4360 off the Mauler. Shes worked her butt off.

Dave

Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:55 pm

the330thbg wrote:In the 330th, they called this a Cletractor.., not exactly sure why or what.., but necessity is the MOTHER of invention!

I take it you aren't a farmer, or nowdays it could just be a tractor enthusiast.

Are you sure they didn't call it a "Cletrac", as in Cleveland Tractor Company.

The pictures of the dis assembly of the aircraft was interesting, was everybody to busy to take more, or was it to painful? Just curious.

Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:49 pm

I'm in Big Spring now so I'll be at the hanger in the morning.

Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:50 pm

I'm in Big Spring now so I'll be at the hanger in the morning.

Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:42 pm

ooooh..... the dreaded double post!!!!! You're bad, Brad!!! see you in the morning!

Dave

Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:46 pm

cozmo wrote:
the330thbg wrote:In the 330th, they called this a Cletractor.., not exactly sure why or what.., but necessity is the MOTHER of invention!

I take it you aren't a farmer, or nowdays it could just be a tractor enthusiast.

Are you sure they didn't call it a "Cletrac", as in Cleveland Tractor Company.

The pictures of the dis assembly of the aircraft was interesting, was everybody to busy to take more, or was it to painful? Just curious.

Which aircraft?? there's alot going on out here right now. some of the pics are on different posts, relative to each aircraft.
Dave

Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:21 am

B29B24crewchief wrote:Which aircraft??

I was following the progress on all three of them (P-82, B-23 and now the AM-1). Plus the work on Fifi. There have been updates on the B-23 and AM-1 after my inquiry. But information on the P-82 just stopped after the first day.

Not that I am happy about it (though two of them are leaving to be worked on), but the work was interesting.

Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:37 pm

If you have any new outboard wing photos sometime, could you pass them along?

Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:19 pm

So, Brad.., are you there yet?

Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:48 pm

The hangar is a beehive of activity like I've never seen other than at AirSho? The pics will come and I'll take some more tommorrow. It's not a bad thing that these are going to other places but it's sad that no one in our organization could step up and get to work on these airplanes.
Other than the P-82, of course!!

This is the #3 nacelle now!! No more Boeing Primer!!!

Thanks to Chris for removing all the tape from the "tape party"!!

Mark and Rudy finished removing the engine mount yesterday.

This is Marks daughter, Hope, out helping with some flyer stuff! She's been out before and is a great helper!!

Yeah, Brad's here and he and Chris are kickin ass! They are some really awesome help!!!
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Brad removed the feather pump on #2 and installed a newly rebuilt one in it's place. Chris did the same on #3 with the preoil pump.

Then Brad did the #2 preoil pump and kept going on the mount ring with Chris!

There was a question about the preoil pumps earlier and I'll answer it now. They are the same as the feather pumps but are set at a lower pressure. They just pump oil into the engine and nose case to provide pre-lubrication before engine start.

Dave

Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:00 am

Is there a filter before it goes into the engine? What kind of pump? Gear?
And whats 4360? Pics?

Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:26 am

Yes, it goes through an oil screen before going in to the engine. The pre-oil pump helps to lubricate the engine before angine start. The engine has a large plain bearing surface that can be damaged before the ne driven pump can get oil to it during start. It can save having to tear the engine down for overhaul prematurely.

Electric driven gear type pump.

4360 is a Pratt & Whitney R4360 engine, with 4,360 cubic inches. The R3350 is built by Wright and has 3,350 cubic inches. The "R" indicates an engine of radial design.

Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:46 am

The 4360, is off the Mauler that's being taken apart here. More pics of that are on the Mauler thread.

Work continued yesterday with alot getting done. Among them was taking off the #1 engine cowling. Brad was here with his Dad helping and Chris was assisting as well.

Oh, more yellow primer? That's gotta go!!

Getting this done this week was a real bonus.

Thanks to Chris, Brad and his Dad, Mark and John!!! I really enjoied having you here and you can come and play, anytime.

Dave