Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

[bomberflight]

I have to apoligise for not keeping up to speed on WIX of late ( new job has been getting in the way of things ! )

A very hearty CONGRATULATIONS to everyone concerned and a special thank you to the man that's kept us all "in the loop" with this fantastic restoration

Thanks Gary

[retroaviation]

Well, the airplane has been test flown, pilots and crew have been checked out, and I've completed nearly everything that I planned for during this past maintenance session (although I could reeeeealy use another month or so before we went on tour to make things a little nicer ). We've got the ol' pig all loaded up and ready to start the tour season tomorrow. I'm going to be spending the rest of the night finishing up last minute paperwork and calculating the weight and balance for tomorrow's flight to Selfridge, followed by Oshkosh on Sunday evening.

I just wanted y'all to know that I appreciate all of the attention you have given this project, all of the great questions and interest you've had in it, and especially all of the kind words that you've given me along the way. I am by no means "finished" tinkering with the airplane, but I am done for now. I just hope that everyone treats it fine in Oshkosh, followed by the remainder of the tour season.

I hope to see you all soon,
Gary

[snjfxr]

Gary, hope you enjoy your time away from Midland and at Oshkosh! Not sure how long you'll stay on tour but rest assured, we'll take care of her. You have my word on that!

Dave

[Lynn Allen]

Lynn,

Is there a particular thread for FIFI hat you are speaking of? If so, I can't find it.

RICK

Hello Rick, no not yet at least. I was hoping to carry on for her so that we all could help Gary Git Her Done and flying asap

Lynn

[Second Air Force]

[Robbie Stuart]

Gary I just want to thank you & your crew for all the work that has been accomplished. I am sure I can speak for all us WIXer's, as to how much we have enjoyed & learned from your step by step progress reports with all the detail. I wish you the best of luck on the road & hope all goes well. Keep us in the loop if you have time.
Robbie

[OZFURYFAN]

Hi Gary,your grit & determination to get the job done as well as provide us all with pics & commentary is the main reason why this thread ran to 165 pages,I truly hope you find a way to have a break before the 'next' one as it is well earnt.The self portrait on the first flight made me laugh,I've seen some looks on your face kinda like storm clouds in some of your posts but never a look of relief like that one.BTW,the transformation is a stunner!!!!Best Regards,Pete

[Bill Greenwood]

dick luke-iwas a tail gunner on a b24 based at DEVONSHIRE,ENGLAND. i wasin navy bombing squd i105 we were their for d-day. we did sorties ofer
over fr ance,bombed sub pens ,did patrol duty for convoys. we spent 14 month months inthe eto.

[Bill Greenwood]

This last post under my name was a man I met just as I was leaving Akron, who was a B-24 gunner. He was not very familiar with computers but glad to see he got his post on. I invited him to Osh, wish he could make it.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Well, the airplane has been test flown, pilots and crew have been checked out, and I've completed nearly everything that I planned for during this past maintenance session (although I could reeeeealy use another month or so before we went on tour to make things a little nicer ). We've got the ol' pig all loaded up and ready to start the tour season tomorrow. I'm going to be spending the rest of the night finishing up last minute paperwork and calculating the weight and balance for tomorrow's flight to Selfridge, followed by Oshkosh on Sunday evening.

I just wanted y'all to know that I appreciate all of the attention you have given this project, all of the great questions and interest you've had in it, and especially all of the kind words that you've given me along the way. I am by no means "finished" tinkering with the airplane, but I am done for now. I just hope that everyone treats it fine in Oshkosh, followed by the remainder of the tour season.

I hope to see you all soon,
Gary

Gary,

After viewing the inflight shots of "Ol 927" now, I must extend to you my HEARTIEST congratulations for your efforts. You've done a Yeoman's job on her sir. And I am thrilled by her completion. But, as I saw in another posting on this thread. The Bombbay doors are gonna be a very difficult task to install. When you find someone or perhaps a heavy structural group who specializes in airframe heavy structure work, I for one, would seriously set aside a week of vacation to aid in the effort. Having had plenty of heavy structures experience on jet liners I know the difficulty in having the proper shoring to keep the airframe rigid while the mod is being down.

Count me in when that happens and if I can coordinate my vacation with your requirements I'll sure try to make the effort to be there for the work.

Thank you on your efforts and also, I owe you at LEAST a couple of beers because I took the advantage of your fine Ambassadorship to join the CAF myself.

Paul
"newly minted Colonel" CAF
Windsor, CT.

[TAdan]

This last post under my name was a man I met just as I was leaving Akron, who was a B-24 gunner. He was not very familiar with computers but glad to see he got his post on. I invited him to Osh, wish he could make it.

That is very cool Bill! What did he think of Ol'927?

[Bill Greenwood]

Tadan, yes I got to show him the photos of 297 in flight on WIX just before I left the FBO. So he saw and approved of Gary's work. Wish I could have spent more time with him, but I was just going out for takeoff when he approached me. He had seen the Spit on the ramp. I thought it was great that one of the real guys could check in on the Lil site. Wish we could get more memoirs out of him, but he was not too good with the computer.

[skydaddy61]

Tadan, yes I got to show him the photos of 297 in flight on WIX just before I left the FBO. So he saw and approved of Gary's work. Wish I could have spent more time with him, but I was just going out for takeoff when he approached me. He had seen the Spit on the ramp. I thought it was great that one of the real guys could check in on the Lil site. Wish we could get more memoirs out of him, but he was not too good with the computer.

That's what an MP3 recorder is for. Saves a lot of typing.

[bawest]

Hey just wondering if anyone has heard any news on how 927's doing since leaving on tour. I so wish I could have gone, but I am slated for Midland and Houston, so I guess I'll have to wait. I know there was some wonder about the entry door holding up under heavy traffic, just curious about how it's going. James

[mustangdriver]

Bill that is awsome. I have been doing interviews with WWII vets just to get thier stories down somewhere. When they say that they were the greatest generation, I really believe them.