Taylor's L-5

[dougdrivr]

Who's L-5 did the tree almost fall on? What's the story?

[t28pilot]

Were the aluminum fittings blue in WW2? Or were they all brass?
Curious?
Thx,
VL

Flared fittings during that period were gray color and were referred to "AC" fittings. They had a 45° flare. The blue ones currently used have a 37° flare.

They were not a 45 deg flare.
Lets take a look at an original print for an AN819. Thats the Sleeve coupling that goes on the aluminum tube and along with an AN818 nut tightens down on all the different style of flared fittings.
These prints are original and still in the original books. NOT repros.(I love the OLD smell!)
First approved for service 13 Dec 1940. last revision #13 dated 23 aug 1954.
The Flare is 37deg. (The drawing actually shows 18 1/2 per side)
Finish is per MIL-F-5509.
Material can be any of the following...
Steel
Aluminum alloy
Aluminum bronze
Corrosian resistant steel(type302, 303,304,316 or 321)

My T6-D/SNJ-5 parts book lists both AC AND AN fittings. Its dated 5 July 1945, last rev 3 dec 1954.

Actually looking thru most of the AN8xx series of AN fittings, looks like the large % were approved for service on 13 Dec, 1940. The AN826 had 6 revisions,
1 July 41
10 Sept 42
22 Feb 43
8 Mar 45
1 June 53
1 Jun 54


I firmly beleive you CANNOT say any given fitting is not correct for a WWII date. There was so much going on, so many revisions to prints, so much inventory, so many vendors and then its widely known the US NAVY said NO AC fitting very early on in the WAR after the cracking of the sleeves started, so when did what get changed at which OH facility and when at what production plant. I have seen to many contradicting prints, spec sheets, etc that its a mess. I may be wrong to a certain degree here, I mean its time, I havnt been wrong for almost an hour now so I'm due.(just finished dinner)

I know my SNJ-5C had some blue AN fittings and very few brass AC fittings CAD to Class I. No clue what parts changed when.
The Corsair project here is stock as stock can be and last flew in 1958. Way up inside the wheel wells are many many fittings. I have seen blue AN ones throughout, painted over with glossy sea blue. Even the parts book calls out for them. Its FG built in June 1945. a FEW are early style AN but most are late style. Heck it still has the original "GOODYEAR AR-145" HOSE !! There are NO AC fittings.
I think the US NAVY made it a point to change as many as possible just because of the possible cracking issue that made the AC fittings vulnerable to leaks.
And whats MIL-F-5509 for the finish? I'm done here, got to many airplanes and parts to work on. Someone else look it up and quote it.
Chuck

[Taylor Stevenson]

Thank you all for the kind words. We are mighty proud of our L-5G! The story of the tree limb falling is true... and it was on my aircraft.

The weather was turning from bad to worse and we were calling it a day. We piled in to the suburban and started heading for the hotel. About a mile out from the airport, Dad suggested we turn around and take a look at the L-5 to make sure she was tied down properly. When we arrived we saw a 20 foot long, 8 inch in diameter tree limb laying on my right wing. The prop hub to the right wing tip was solid tree. I had a heart attack because I knew that there would be horrible fabric damage. It took 20 people, and 2 gators to get the branch off. Luckily there was only slight paint damage and we were left with a small dent on our left leading edge slat. We got lucky. I was so scared that we had worked so hard to get the plane to OSH only to have it crushed by a tree limb.

I did an air to air photo shoot with EAA today and we got some cool shots of the L-5 with Wisconsin fog in the background.

[Taylor Stevenson]

Thank you all for the kind words. We are mighty proud of our L-5G! The story of the tree limb falling is true... and it was on my aircraft.

The weather was turning from bad to worse and we were calling it a day. We piled in to the suburban and started heading for the hotel. About a mile out from the airport, Dad suggested we turn around and take a look at the L-5 to make sure she was tied down properly. When we arrived we saw a 20 foot long, 8 inch in diameter tree limb laying on my right wing. The prop hub to the right wing tip was solid tree. I had a heart attack because I knew that there would be horrible fabric damage. It took 20 people, and 2 gators to get the branch off. Luckily there was only slight paint damage and we were left with a small dent on our left leading edge slat. We got lucky. I was so scared that we had worked so hard to get the plane to OSH only to have it crushed by a tree limb.

I did an air to air photo shoot with EAA today and we got some cool shots of the L-5 with Wisconsin fog in the background.

[RyanShort1]

Yikes! Glad to hear the damage is minor. Hope all goes well tomorrow!

Ryan

[C170BDan]

I did an air to air photo shoot with EAA today and we got some cool shots of the L-5 with Wisconsin fog in the background.

Happy to hear of minimal damage. An EAA photo shoot always seems to produce good pics... cant wait to see those! Let us know asap on the award results!

Have a safe flight home.

[LadyO2Pilot]

Taylor......so glad to hear damage was miminal...I can imagine the "heart stopping" first reaction !!!

The plane looks superb as I knew it would. You should be very proud and congratulated for all the hard work you have put into it's restoration. I sure hope the awards committee rewards you for your efforts.

So nice to say I knew you when for many years and when you were shorter than me (inside familial type joke for all you other guys....LOL)

[Taylor Stevenson]

go to photo 6 on this page to see an air to air photo of my bird
http://www.eaa.org/apps/galleries/gallery.aspx?ID=230

[skydaddy61]

Were the aluminum fittings blue in WW2? Or were they all brass?

Flared fittings during that period were gray color and were referred to "AC" fittings. They had a 45° flare. The blue ones currently used have a 37° flare.

The difference between Olympic gold and silver is sometimes measured in thousandths of a second. As though that really matters...

[Cvairwerks]

Congrats to both Taylor and Lanny on the awards...I'll let Taylor speak up with what he won, but it's posted on the EAA website if you just can't wait...

Lanny was given a Silver Wrench award for the project....

[N3Njeff]

Congrats to both Taylor and Lanny on the awards...I'll let Taylor speak up with what he won, but it's posted on the EAA website if you just can't wait...

Lanny was given a Silver Wrench award for the project....

Congrats to Taigh too!!!!! Always my fav category!!

[Chris Brame]

Here's to you, Taylor - Fantastic job!

So what exactly is the Dirty Bird award, Taigh?

[DocThrock]

Taylor, I very much enjoyed meeting you and your father at OSH. I showed your L-5 to several of my line crew buddies and they all LOVED it! I think your aircraft and presentation was stunning. Well done on a beautiful aircraft!

[mustangdriver]

Taylor great to meet you, and congrats on the L-5. She is a beauty.

[Django]

Congrats Taylor!