Columbia XJL-1 query

[Dan K]

Hi All,

By now most of you realize I'm into obscure round-engined warbirds. One of the more obscure types would have to be the Columbia XJL-1. Although the bird never made it to production, interestingly both flying prototypes appear to have survived the ages.

One of them, #31400, is the oft-photographed display at the museum in Pima. The other, #31399, I assume (maybe wrongfully) to be under restoration somewhere in the San Diego, CA region.

The Baugher website indicates that 31399 suffered some type of emergency landing in California in March, 1997. The aircraft is still registered as N48RW to a R. W. Martin (Inc.).

Soooo...

Does anyone have a status report on Columbia XJL-1 #31399?

TIA

[Dan K]

Ok, the FAA report for March 12, 1997, indicates this XJL-1 (misidentified in the report as an XJ-7?) deadsticked into a field and nosed over (pilot and mechanic walked away from it though). Does this episode perhaps jar anyone's memory concerning this aircraft?

How awesome would it be to see this amazing survivor rolled out for a first flight!?

So who knows? If news needs to remain confidential you can e-mail me at tbyguy@yahoo.com

[Dan K]

Thanks Rob. The news in 1997 must have slipped completely under my radar--I don't remember a bit of it.

I guess I'm not really too interested in accident reports. Rather I'd like to get some current news. I saw one random posting somehere from 2002 stating a rebuild was in progress, but going slowly.

Photos? (Anyone? pretty please? )

[James Church]

Last I'd heard it was still under rebuild, but requiring extensive repairs. The front float assy. was cxompletly destroyed as I recall... Would appreciate an update myself, always liked that old bird! Jim

[JDK]

Hi,
There were a couple of reports in warbirds Worldwide of the rebuild as it progressed, and we did a feature on Ducks in the special WW 'Airside', which featured a pic of the XJL-1 (Never got a name, AFAK - 'SuperDuck'? 'Donald'? ) but I don't think we ever covered the crash. A real pity, as it was looking really good.

I have some photos somewhere. I'll have to see if we can run a Duck article sometime in Warbird Digest .

Why? If you haven't see Murphy's War - get it...

Feet wet...

Last edited by JDK on Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

I found this while doing a Yahoo! search on "XJL-1":

I work for a small aircraft repair station in SoCal. The other XJL 1 is being restored in one corner of the building. It will be awhile before its done. The engine and cockpit are not on the plane so I could not imagine what the plane was suppose to look like. It is a unique looking plane. Not what I expected.
04/26/2002 @ 01:21

[Dan K]

Thanks Todd. Hopefully much has been accomplished in that two and a half years.

I think the FAA website gave the owner's address as Carlsbad. The airport there is McClellan-Palomar. C'mon all you California-based WIXers; somebody's got to have an answer on where this sleeping beauty is now.

[Forgotten Field]

Dan,
I don't know which one it was, but for a long time (before I was here), one of the XJL-1's was at Essex Skypark, which is what I call Forgotten Field. Supposedly, it was owned by the old airport owner, who bought it from USN Patuxent NAS, and had it TAXIED up the bay! Canopy, engine, and prop were removed and the aircraft sat for a long time, then disappeared. I don't know what happened to it after that, but I'd love to know which one it was. Of course, if somebody is tired of it, I wouldn't mind having it back here. I'm sure I'd find something to do with it...!

[Dan K]

Thar she blows, John!


http://www.aero-web.org/database/aircra ... tm?id=1181


How's that for a trip down memory lane?

[Mike]

Does anyone have any updates on the status of this aircraft? Is it still at Palomar?

[Dan K]

Does anyone have any updates on the status of this aircraft? Is it still at Palomar?

Just break out the checkbook, Mike!

http://www.warbirdconnection.com/forsal ... umbia.html


ps. Apparently still at Palomar

[Matt Gunsch]

it is amazing how much damage can be caused by forgetting to put a cotter pin into the throttle arm attaching bolt and nut...........

[agent86]

it is amazing how much damage can be caused by forgetting to put a cotter pin into the throttle arm attaching bolt and nut...........

Yes the damage can be rather extensive.I saw a similar instance when a fellow mechanic dropped one of the mounting nuts off of the weber carbs on a Ferrari 275 GTB into the intake manifold. My boss and his insurance co both learned that this is VERY, VERY bad and also VERY,VERY expensive. Alloy italian V-12 engines that were built in very low numbers are not cheap to rebuild.Cant go to Kragen for parts.Last I knew,He was still wrenching at Jiffy lube.

[JDK]

it is amazing how much damage can be caused by forgetting to put a cotter pin into the throttle arm attaching bolt and nut...........

Are you stating that scenario is specific?

[Matt Gunsch]

it is amazing how much damage can be caused by forgetting to put a cotter pin into the throttle arm attaching bolt and nut...........

Are you stating that scenario is specific?

I remember reading in air comics that missing hardware was the cause of the accident.
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id= ... 122&rpt=fa
An inspection of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed throttle movement in the cockpit did not
produce corresponding movement of the butterfly valve in the carburetor throat. The throttle
linkage did not show evidence of impact damage. The operator reported that the carburetor is
designed to automatically go to 80 percent power in the event there is a mechanical separation in
the throttle linkage. A review of the aircraft logbooks did not reveal any discrepancies.