Collings F-4 & UH-1
Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:03 am
The Collings Foundation F-4 has two engines again ! #2 we reinstalled today and ground run should be this week. If all checks go well, return to flight is imminent.
The UH-1 leaves for New Iberia, LA on Monday to start its first leg of the 2009 Wings of Freedom Tour!
The UH-1 leaves for New Iberia, LA on Monday to start its first leg of the 2009 Wings of Freedom Tour!
Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:26 am
Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:34 am
Coo, tough crowd, Rick!
Make sure you host any future 'pichers' on a server that's blocked to the US military...
Make sure you host any future 'pichers' on a server that's blocked to the US military...
Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:46 am
Must be some of Randy's student in Missssippi !
Here are some shots from the previous activities...
Here are some shots from the previous activities...
Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:00 am
Gee, that's a big tie down the stuck on the back of the airplane. MacyD's think of everything! :lol:
Thanks Rick. Funnily enough I was crawling all over a Phantom today on the RAAF Museum's cleaning day, and I'd never realised lots of the detail stuff relating to the aircraft before, like the inverted camber on the upper surface of the tail. Neat machine.
This one:
http://www.raaf.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhib ... hantom.htm
Incidentally, this static aircraft was a donation from the NMUSAF to the RAAFM as a reminder of our 'loan' machines prior to the TSR-2, ops, sorry, Pigs arriving. It's not actually one of the 23 survivors of the 24 used by the RAAF, but a ringer - and very popular with boys of all ages.
I dread to think of the challenge of keeping a beastie like this going!
Cheers,
Thanks Rick. Funnily enough I was crawling all over a Phantom today on the RAAF Museum's cleaning day, and I'd never realised lots of the detail stuff relating to the aircraft before, like the inverted camber on the upper surface of the tail. Neat machine.
This one:
http://www.raaf.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhib ... hantom.htm
Incidentally, this static aircraft was a donation from the NMUSAF to the RAAFM as a reminder of our 'loan' machines prior to the TSR-2, ops, sorry, Pigs arriving. It's not actually one of the 23 survivors of the 24 used by the RAAF, but a ringer - and very popular with boys of all ages.
I dread to think of the challenge of keeping a beastie like this going!
Cheers,
Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:05 am
But Oh so rewarding, James ! 
Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:16 am
Cool shots!
Thanks for sharing them.
My students can't wear beards.
Thanks for sharing them.
My students can't wear beards.
Re: Collings F-4 & UH-1
Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:28 pm
RickH wrote:The Collings Foundation F-4 has two engines again !
Just to be clear;....that's how many it's supposed to have, right? Not sure if this was one of the tri-jet F-4s...
Rich
PS- Congrats, and thanks for all that you do for aviation, Collings Foundation!!
Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:30 pm
JDK wrote: I dread to think of the challenge of keeping a beastie like this going!
Cheers,
Really? I thought it was the usual "change the oil, rotate the tires, keep the windshield-washer fluid reservoir filled" story.
Rich
Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:41 pm
RickH wrote:Must be some of Randy's student in Missssippi !
Here are some shots from the previous activities...
Now tell me that the arresting hook doesn't look like it's made out of clear plastic in this image (due to the reflections)? This is really a 1/48 scale kit, isn't it Rick?!!
Rich
Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:28 pm
You caught me ! You can't believe how hard it was to paint that little bitty orange cone and get it juuuust right !
For those of you who don't know, I'll give you a little background.
3 years ago the Collings Foundation experienced FOD damage to its #2 engine. While a big deal it shouldn't have been a traumatic issue. You see we have 5 engines in storage at AMARC that the Foundation was allocated at the same time the aircraft was released by Congressional action. In our contract with the USAF they are listed as designated spares for the Collings Foundation F-4.
When a spare was requested the USAF balked, saying that they couldn't release an engine without first demilling it, which would render it useless. A signed copy of the agreement signed by the Collings Foundation and USAF representatives was produced and the 2 star in charge of Air Force Material Command determined through his lawyers that the contract signed in 1999 wasn't any good because the AF personnel who signed it were not authorized. The engines are still at AMARC.
With a WIXers help the two engines pictured on the truck were located, found to have good records and a clear ownership record.A deal was struck to acquire them. They went directly to Aero Turbine in California for assessment, repairs, and test cell runs. Because of the AF delay and Aero Turbine's workload, we were now into our second down year.
We recd the engine in Houston and reeinstalled it. As we ran it the engine began to develop an oil leak that was internal. This was most probably due to the engine's many years of inactivity and the more we ground ran it, the more it leaked. Not excessive, but GE says no oil leaks allowed from this area. The problem turned out to be a bad carbon seal.
The engine was sent back to Aero Turbine who worked the engine back into their schedule and changed the seal out. They sent it back to Houston last year just before Thanksgiving and we reinstalled it. We ran the engine and detected an oil vapor coming from the same area on the rear turbine frame. As you can imagine we were all pretty distressed at this point. Including Aero Turbine. We pulled it immediately and sent it back to them. Eventually they were able to get back to it about Jan 1st. The new carbon seal had a small crack. The crack was allowing a small amount of oil and compressed air to exit from the number 4 strut on the rear turbine frame.
We went out last week to watch the test cell run and the engine passed with flying colors. We recd the engine on Friday and installed it yesterday.
Our biggest fear right now is the 2000 miles of highway between Stockton, CA and Houston. We've shipped the engine per the USAF TO every time and no one can give a better idea of how to safely ship it.
It has now been three years since the original engine was damaged, it's past time to get her back in the air. We'll let you know when it happens.
For those of you who don't know, I'll give you a little background.
3 years ago the Collings Foundation experienced FOD damage to its #2 engine. While a big deal it shouldn't have been a traumatic issue. You see we have 5 engines in storage at AMARC that the Foundation was allocated at the same time the aircraft was released by Congressional action. In our contract with the USAF they are listed as designated spares for the Collings Foundation F-4.
When a spare was requested the USAF balked, saying that they couldn't release an engine without first demilling it, which would render it useless. A signed copy of the agreement signed by the Collings Foundation and USAF representatives was produced and the 2 star in charge of Air Force Material Command determined through his lawyers that the contract signed in 1999 wasn't any good because the AF personnel who signed it were not authorized. The engines are still at AMARC.
With a WIXers help the two engines pictured on the truck were located, found to have good records and a clear ownership record.A deal was struck to acquire them. They went directly to Aero Turbine in California for assessment, repairs, and test cell runs. Because of the AF delay and Aero Turbine's workload, we were now into our second down year.
We recd the engine in Houston and reeinstalled it. As we ran it the engine began to develop an oil leak that was internal. This was most probably due to the engine's many years of inactivity and the more we ground ran it, the more it leaked. Not excessive, but GE says no oil leaks allowed from this area. The problem turned out to be a bad carbon seal.
The engine was sent back to Aero Turbine who worked the engine back into their schedule and changed the seal out. They sent it back to Houston last year just before Thanksgiving and we reinstalled it. We ran the engine and detected an oil vapor coming from the same area on the rear turbine frame. As you can imagine we were all pretty distressed at this point. Including Aero Turbine. We pulled it immediately and sent it back to them. Eventually they were able to get back to it about Jan 1st. The new carbon seal had a small crack. The crack was allowing a small amount of oil and compressed air to exit from the number 4 strut on the rear turbine frame.
We went out last week to watch the test cell run and the engine passed with flying colors. We recd the engine on Friday and installed it yesterday.
Our biggest fear right now is the 2000 miles of highway between Stockton, CA and Houston. We've shipped the engine per the USAF TO every time and no one can give a better idea of how to safely ship it.
It has now been three years since the original engine was damaged, it's past time to get her back in the air. We'll let you know when it happens.
Last edited by RickH on Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:39 pm
What is the long-term implications of the spares issue?
Will you be able to acquire any other spares aside from engines?
Were you able to come to any new agreement with AMARC?
Will you be able to acquire any other spares aside from engines?
Were you able to come to any new agreement with AMARC?
Sun Mar 01, 2009 1:55 pm
Randy, we have all agreed to not break anymore ! 
Seriously, we are going to repair the FODded engine, It has about 1200 remaining hours. The engines currently in the aircraft have about 1200 remaining.
The allocated spare engines are still in the can at AMARG. The contract still exists. We are pushing down other avenues to get them released. Once we get the go ahead , they will NOT remain within AMARG. Unfortunately the trust with the USAF has been broken. If the guys who come down the road can ignore a valid legal contract by simply saying that the people who signed it were not authorized, then NO contract signed by the USAF is worth the paper its written on.
Because of past actions by USAF personnel, I'm afraid that we have to treat any interaction with USAF hierachy as hostile.
Seriously, we are going to repair the FODded engine, It has about 1200 remaining hours. The engines currently in the aircraft have about 1200 remaining.
The allocated spare engines are still in the can at AMARG. The contract still exists. We are pushing down other avenues to get them released. Once we get the go ahead , they will NOT remain within AMARG. Unfortunately the trust with the USAF has been broken. If the guys who come down the road can ignore a valid legal contract by simply saying that the people who signed it were not authorized, then NO contract signed by the USAF is worth the paper its written on.
Because of past actions by USAF personnel, I'm afraid that we have to treat any interaction with USAF hierachy as hostile.
Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:53 pm
Have you run the engines yet? I heard some loud jet noise yesterday here in Clear Lake.
Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:11 pm
Nope, haven't finished hooking it all up. Probably run it midweek.
You probably heard a couple of transient Hornets when they departed.
You probably heard a couple of transient Hornets when they departed.