Warbird Information Exchange

Good evening to all, I'm brand new to the site as a member although I've been hanging around for several months. Quick background info, I am a 40 year A&P (attended A&P school as a Sophomore in H.S.). I don't know whether to admit this or not, but Mr. Widgeon and I have been closest friends for over 32 years, actually he is my nearest friend and best buddy! My son is 262crew and I'm proud to have taught him the bulk of what I know about building airframes and he is now his own sucess story.
I've been at Boeing twice, starting with 737-100s and the first 63 747's (thats when we were all told we could go home now in 1970) Worked @ Lockheed on the big WPA in low humidity project..er..the L-1011, the first B-1A. then Robertson STOL in NooAwlunz for several years.
Returned back to the Northwest and back to Boeing as an inspector on 727 and AWACS. Then 14 years at TRAMCO/BF GOODRICH/BADWRENCH as an inspector and instructor teaching DC8/MD 80/ DC 10, sort of teaching Ford performance to a bunch of Chevy guys, it must have taken as they got really good @ MD80's.
Currently instructing for Edmonds C.C. teaching newbie mechanics for the 787 program-I can't wait until P. Allens collection is all here on KPAE and flying! Merlins, Allisons, R-2800's, DB 601's sorry didn't mean to drool-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Excellent, welcome Mr. Inspector! I'm looking forward to seeing your perspective on the maintenance aspect of warbirds on many of the threads. Do you have much recip experience? Quick question for you for your part of the woods. Have the 262 team started restoring any of those -109's yet? What is the status on them? Are they planning on putting DB motors in them? Any info is appreciated!

Welcome to Wix!

Welcome Inspector...Your resume is quite impressive...BUT...you don't seem to be able to hold onto a job for long and it would appear that you have a little too much "down time" on your hands.

Mudge the observant

As I always say: "Just funnin', son. Just funnin'."

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Land of the free because of the brave

Glad to see you onboard!

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Welcome to WIX!

Now, why did you do to NooAwlunz for Robertson STOL when the headquarters was right there in your back yard?

And what did you do for Robertson STOL?

I am not at liberty to divulge anything about the goings on at the 262 beyond my personal experiences involving the first three airframes-for further insight please read Wolf Czala's book about the 262 project. I have too much respect for what Bob and the team accomplished and overcame to enter into speculation. I will say that everything I saw being done to the airframes was absolutely first class! The old axiom is 'when its done, will you ride in it?' my reply is 'lets go!!'
I have no idea what the long range plans are for the -109, so far the parts on site would almost fill the trunk of a car and the pace will be set by the owner-
My first job in aviation was in Anchorage AK in the mid 60's A summer job working for Red Dodge (now gone West) at his FBO doing grunt work for the mechanics. At the time Red had a widgeon, a T-28A, a DC-3, a couple of B-25 fire bombers, and A pink P-51. The -51 was used as a fireboss airplane and thats why it was pink so it could be seen!
I also spent a couple of seasons in the late 60's as a crew member on a local unlimited hydroplane and am somewhat more than aquainted with Allisons and Merlins (still have a burn scar on my forearm from a plug change between heats) that was back when engines were cheap and plentiful, by the way, I absolutely hate the sounds of the turbine powered unlimited!

As to 'down time' Mudge, I work in aviation where you are either working 27 hours a day or flipping burgers until the next airplane job comes along, if you want total job insecurity, get into aviation maintenance.
I wound up @ RSTOL in N.O. through an ad in the Times Picayune newspaper. I was working as a truck mechanic at the time after accepting a job offer from my ex FIL who was in the area after being vacationed from Lockweed (where it was OK to go smoke your lunch)along with thousands of others. I loved my time @ RSTOL! Pretty much got to fly several times a week on finished aircraft, met some very interesting people (on both sides of legal) and got rides in some pretty cool aircraft, Cousteaus pig boat, the Inovator (how cool to sit 'outside' the aircraft in the R/H blister) turbine Goose's, homebuilts, plus the test flight/rigging flights for the company!
While in NooAwlunz, I met this irritating individual who hung out at the FBO, over the years he has become my most trusted and strongest friend-salute to mr widgeon-
I love my new instructors job as I've always been positively impacted by watching the 'lights go on' when someone new to the art of aviation ( and this career really is practicing art every day) gets it and they can begin to figure things out for themselves. This new type of airframe isn't that far departed from what Wilbur and Orville did, wood and fabric are composites just like the '87 is- I cannot and will not address any of the issues surrounding the airframe as that is way beyond my job description and would over reach my limited authority (I barely get to carry a spear in the opera) I would say it's interesting to note that when I started out in aviation, it was 50/50 wood and fabric and tin, now we've come full circle and it's back to very exotic fabric, full circle-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

"Wolf Czala's book about the 262 project" Hmm, first I knew Wolf had written a book. Got a title, and where I could get a copy?

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Regards,

Jase
www.b26marauder.com
"I'm having a BLAST!!" 2007 CAF Wing Staff Conference

RIP Gary Austin..always in our hearts

Sorry mustanglover- they say the knees are the second things to go-I was an installation mechanic and rigger for RSTOL. The two biggest turnarounds before and after kitting were the 337 and the early Seneca, the Seneca was modified with spoilers for roll control and full span flaps. One really 'fun' part of my job was laying in the R/H footwell with my hands behind the instrument panel tweeking the yoke interconnect turnbarrel as our test pilot added flap, from zero to 40 degrees and the airpane naturally nosed down as flap was added and the spoilers deployed, and here I am upside down. looking out at blue sky as the floor tips away from me at an alarming rate, don't go to Burger King before the flight!!!

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Wolfs book is 'Project 262, a test pilots journal' @www.twentyninesix.com.
It includes a DVD of test flight footage. Tango-Tango the second airframe is in Germany and belongs to the Messerschmit foundation and has flown in several airshows in europe over the past couple of years.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

welcome!
B

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documenting restored B-17s and those undergoing restoration to flight:

Way cool! I know what you are talking about as we have owned the RSTOL line since about 1985.

Welcome aboard.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

Aw Shucks, you tryin' to get me to blush ?
Nah, if I know you, you're looking to get me to buy the Beer again the next time we get together (typical wrenchbender)
Welcome aboard Bro.

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Avoid that sinking feeling -- Check the hull plugs on your pre-flight.

Welcome!

Welcome to WIX!!

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"Keep 'em Flying!"