If you really like Propeller driven planes like C-97's

[engguy]

Then why not donate to this place, so maybe someday we can see a
C-97 flying?
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/

[retroaviation]

I've tried donating all the stuff I have, but they didn't want it. Don't have the room to store it.

Gary

[engguy]

Hmmm what do ya got? Any engine parts? send message.

If you had a bunch of $$$$ taking up space I know they will find a place to keep it. Or 100LL credit cards too.

[retroaviation]

Just a quick list here.....

2 main gear, with wheels & brakes
1 nosegear assembly, with wheels
1 nose section (upper only)
1 fwd cargo section (upper only)
1 pair of flaps
A gazillion instruments for flight engineer's panel
Miscellaneous cowl flap actuators, radio units, etc.
Etc., etc........

Gary

[Airlift48]

It's not that we don't want it, Gary, its that we can't afford to ship it right now..

Please don't think we're refusing donations... but it's very expensive to ship stuff like that from Midland to NY. If you know someone int he shipping business or on a cross country drive in a pickup truck, by all means, let me have their number!


This is the stuff we want:
A gazillion instruments for flight engineer's panel
Miscellaneous cowl flap actuators, radio units, etc.
Etc., etc........

This stuff is just too big... (Except the brakes)

2 main gear, with wheels & brakes
1 nosegear assembly, with wheels
1 nose section (upper only)
1 fwd cargo section (upper only)
1 pair of flaps

By the way, in case anyone's interested, we hung the engine in the #3 position about amonth ago.. We're currently getting replacement hoses, etc and we should be able to start the process of waking up these engines...

[retroaviation]

Yeah, I kind of mis-stated that Kevin. After re-reading my first post here, I could tell it sounded a bit acidic. Not the intention for sure. I appreciate the hard work y'all have done to get the big bird in the air and didn't mean for my post to sound as if y'all were refusing donations. The shipping thing is very understandable, as I'm still trying to figure out how to pay for moving a freakin' C-121.

Gary

[Eric Friedebach]

A few years ago someone wanted to donate a bunch of Ham Standard hubs. We didn’t have a need for them, so I contacted other CAF wings to see if I could find them a home. Unless you have an immediate need for something, it’s hard to justify the shipping costs for something that may turn out to be a non-airworthy, heavy, doorstop.

We need an uncle in the heavy-equipment hauling business, LOL.

[Airlift48]

No problem Gary..no offense taken.

Dont get rid of that suff yet......I'm sure we'll find a way..
I'm sure our schedule's will cross paths again someday, and maybe we can arrange a drop then.. (Of at least the smaller stuff)

Kevin

[retroaviation]

Well, it's all for sale now, but I'm sure I can work out donating some of it to you.

Gary

[Airlift48]

Thanks,

Kevin

[APG85]

You can't fly the C-54 down to Midland and get some of that stuff? Seems like it would be worth the expense...no?

[Airlift48]

Fly the -54 to Midland and fill er up you say....


Even though it sounds like an easy way out, it's far more complicated than it seems...

1900 miles...
200 miles an hour....

10 hours x 200 gallons/hr= 2000 gallons each way x 2

4,000 gallons of fuel@ oh...$4.00/gallon =$16,000. Plus, roughly 6 gallons of oil/hour x 10= 60 gallons of oil...$1,000.

So, without factoring time, accomodations, wear and tear, parts, maintenance etc.....

We're already looking at around 20K. Now, that's assuming we can get to 200MPH. Factor in winds, slower speeds once loaded and you're talking more time, more fuel and more oil...

It could easily amount to $30K or better just to transport the stuff back via the C-54, and that would only be after removing all the displays, seats and all of the airshow gear, which would all have to be put back in.

It would be cheaper to get a truck.

Unless we were contracted to participate at Airsho....(nudge nudge...wink wink....)