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

[Lynn Allen]

Gary, congrats on the July Flypast bit on you & Ol 927. Its right below the part about the newly coming to Texas for "guess who" MKV Spitfire. Now he needs a FW-190

Lynn

[Second Air Force]

Hi all, I know most of you have been wondering about the progress of Gary and Ol' 927 since heading out on tour. I just got off the phone with him (2200 CDT Saturday night) and he asked me to update everyone.

After making a stop in Springfield, Missouri on Friday the #1 engine decided to start acting up (backfiring, snorting, etc). The initial diagnosis was carburetor/fuel system problems, and it was decided to replace the carburetor with a known good unit. The problem is still there, and Gary is going to get some shut-eye and continue troubleshooting in the morning. He feels that it could be a broken valve spring or possibly a pushrod, etc.

Gary wanted me to convey his apologies to everyone on WIX that had planned on seeing the airplane at Selfridge. He is hopeful that the problem can be rectified in time to get to Oshkosh, albeit later than planned, possibly Monday, if all goes well tomorrow. He wanted me to let you all know that he and the crew are working hard to get back in the air and is very sorry that things aren't going according to plan.

He is using me as a relay due to computer problems at his location, so bear with the second-person communication. If (when) he lets me know what the situation is, I'll put up a new post and let you know their status.

Scott

[Second Air Force]

Just to let everyone know, there is another thread pertaining to the engine problem (I know you've seen it, but for the neophyte here it is). The title is "B-24A Update". Tim or I will update you (unless Gary gets to a functioning computer) when he calls us.

Scott

[Second Air Force]

Quick update--

Gary just called, the problem is a bad cylinder. I'm on my way to OKM to pick up a new jug, so with any luck things will be back in order relatively soon. No ETA on Oshkosh, but at least the problem was easy to find. I'll take my laptop to give an update with if the airport has hi-speed interweb.

Scott

[bawest]

I also talked ta Gary about an hour ago. He said they were still working on it. James

[snjfxr]

Latest I heard was the runup after the "JUG" change went well. It was getting dark and everyone was exhausted. The rest of the close up would be in the morning and then off to Oshkosh.

Dave

[Second Air Force]

Gary ran the engine around 19:30 and everything with the cylinder went fine. He has a little fine-tuning left for first thing in the morning and then cowlings will go on. I don't know when the crew expects to be in OSH, but everything looks like a go at this point.

Just an observation--everyone at Springfield/Branson National (KSGF) that I was in contact with today really treated us great. Thanks to all!

Scott

Last edited by Second Air Force on Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[snjfxr]

A BIG Thank's to Scott for all his help, now and thoughout the entire project. Just so the folk's out there know. He and his airplane are responsible for getting that cylinder to Springfield from some where in Oklahoma.

"here I come to save the day"
Thank's

Dave

[tulsaboy]

Found this picture while surfing the web... didn't know if Gary had it, or if anyone else had found it. Here's the website link... my German is bad, so I have no idea what the original source of the photo is.

kevin

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... n%26sa%3DN

[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/TunnelGun.jpg[/img]
[/img]

[David_Aiken]

Aloha Gary, et al,
The air show is not important as the safety of the crew and plane. Be gentle and careful.

CAF "Colonel" Jim Thixston was pilot of that B-24 on the occasion of a Carswell AFB Air Show in the mid-1980s. A long time friend of mine, we spoke after the show about how to start the plane and how the plane flew...and he asked me to join him in the cockpit as he started the plane, and we taxied to another location of Carswell AFB. I was thrilled. We spoke further about the old Ferry Command B-24As and that study continues.
Cheers,
David Aiken

[Nathan]

Found this picture while surfing the web... didn't know if Gary had it, or if anyone else had found it. Here's the website link... my German is bad, so I have no idea what the original source of the photo is.

kevin

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... n%26sa%3DN

[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/TunnelGun.jpg[/img]
[/img]

Talk about a leg cramp!

[Elwyn]

Arrived about 11:40 and looking great. They are wiping it down as it type this.

[Second Air Force]

Elwyn,

Thanks for the update, that is EXCELLENT news!!!

Tulsaboy and everyone else,

Keep digging up that cool research material and remembrances from those who flew them, and, yes, I believe Gary does have that tunnel gun photo.

I imagine Gary will get us all updated as soon as he can get to a working computer, huh boss?

Scott

Last edited by Second Air Force on Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Bill Greenwood]

She looks great. On Thur am at 11:30, George Mcgovern is scheduled to speak about flying the B-24 in combat, down at Aeroshell square. I hope to be there.

[bawest]

That's great news. Glad to hear all went well. I'm looking forward to an update from Oshkosh. James