Warbird Information Exchange

Tom P. here and I need a bit of help with a part and some knowledge. Also - I posted this in the Maintnance forum but thought I'd put it here as well.

First, is there anyone out there who has been a crew chief or work a lot with an F-86D model? I need help with the hoist attach points in the nose of the plane - specifically, even with the Tech Order I cannot find where the heck they are. Am I over looking a simple thing or what??

Second, the plane we are rescuing is missing the brace that locks the nose gear in the down position. I desperately need this piece so that once I get the plane off itss pole I can set it down on its own legs for the first time in more than 20 years. SO, does anyone out there know where I might be able to track this piece down? I believe the piece is the same between the "D" model we are getting and the other models out there. It does not need to be a tagged piece - this plane is not going to do any flying.

Thanks do much!

Tom P.

Here is the email of the crew chief of the F-86D at MAPS Air Museum. He may be able to help you.

-Timothy Spencer

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

You need someone that has a real good mechanical apptitude, to figure out some temporary part to do the job. As long as it doesn't wreck something any old ugly piece of steel welded up or fabricated will do the job, till you find or make the real part.

The lifting it may be the same. You may have to jury rig, using very wide load distributing straps. Or even give an out fit a call that does that sort of thing and ask questions, if it has to leave in a hurry better you bend it than let a construction crew do it. Even fabbing something like a U shape steel bracket to slip under the wing to lift at a jack point. Good luck.

Tom: If you have to do a lift in a hurry and don't have the correct slings, you can make good ones from some retired trap strap from the reefing units from the base. I've got about 50' of this stuff. It's about 10" wide and rated for a huge load as its on the reefing reels on the trap units. Makes great slings by folding the ends over and bolting through the material with a couple of steel strips to prevent the hardware from pulling through. At 10" of width, you can use it directly on the fuselage and not worry about crushing anything.

thanks for the pointers! I actually have a KC-135 lift sling I may have to use for the nose - I have fabricated a sling to work with the rear "factory" lift points on the sabre. But this is all good info to know - thank you much!

Tom P.