Warbird Information Exchange

Here's a shot of the GGA auction at the VFM hangar last Friday evening. There are some items left that would make great mancave or office displays. Contact Dana for more info. The website is http://www.gga1.org for the contact info. While the auction was taking place, some of our A26 team members gave tours of the airplane as folks were waiting for their item to come up for bid. We appreciate Brandon's loan of his '37 truck for use as the auctioneer's platform. It is a beautiful restoration in itself and Brandon has it for sale as well. Come see us this Saturday and we will be glad to show you our progress on the airplane. JR

The Duck Drivin Lady sent this beyooootiful picture of the PLBA taken at the CAF Airsho in Midland last weekend. Unfortunately, the weather turned less than cooperative and our CAF neighbor's A-26 BUBA and the PLBA had to stay in MAF while the crews drove home. The PLBA was based at NKP with the FACS about the same time as the K's were doing their thing over the HCM Trail in Laos in the mid to late 60's. We look forward to the day when we can get our K up and flying with the Duck Drivin Lady at an airshow for the VN re-enactment. It was rare that the 26's operated in the daytime, so everybody at the airshow will just have to pretend it is night. Makes perfect sense to me! Hmmmmm, wonder how we could do a movie of that if it all took place at night?? JR

Well, we would like to mention some special help we got from David Bardo at USBid. We had exhausted all of our usual sources of electrical connectors and the avionics guys really needed two hard-to-find 16 pin connectors to rebuild some wiring. David not only found these for us, but his company donated the connectors. They have a program to help non profit groups like GGA in instances like this. Check out their website which I found just by a google search for the part number. Normally, these connectors have to be ordered by lots of 100 or more, but they made an exception for us since all we needed was two. They had them shipped in from the manufacturer directly to us. That's what I call product support. It certainly helps with our goal of honoring the A-26 vets. Thanks David and USBid. The website is:

http://www.usbid.com/ JR

The report from Larry today is that the avionics guys ...Larry and Stan assisted by our metal guy Ray, got the #2 radio, audio unit, directional gyro, transponder and encoder mounted this afternoon. The main avionics wiring harness is ready to install so this means the instrument panel can go in once we verify that all of the hoses behind it have been changed out with new build. Stan finished connecting the right wing wiring from the flux valve to the HSI harness in the bomb bay. The intercom is close to having enough parts to install at all of the seat stations. So overall, a good day even though the doghouse didn't get painted. Seems the new owners of the Porterfield, 4 of our guys, spent the day learning to fly it. Promises were made that paint would be done before 3 pm tomorrow!! We shall see!! Weather should be cooperative. It was absolutely gorgeous in Ft Worth today! Can't says I blame them. I would rather have been flying myself. JR

The deed was indeed done! Denis is shown here finishing the first coat in the gunner's compartment, ie, the doghouse. After getting a look at it again in the next day or so, it may need another coat. Will just have to wait and see how this one turns out. It is the only area in the airplane that was painted gray so in keeping with the original, we went back with that color. I was holding out for a nice sparkly hot pink, but got outvoted. It happens all the time so guess I should learn that lesson. Anyway, thanks to Denis and friends for getting it prepped and painted. It was worth missing the first day of the Alliance Airshow. Several of us are going to the Sunday show as we hear it is a good one. See ya there. Don't forget to drop by our hangar and see the progress on the K. JR

The doghouse paint is all dry. Hard to see in this light, but looks like we might have to put on another coat when weather permits. Everything is covered but needs to be a little thicker in my estimation. Will see what the other JR says this weekend. In other news, BUBA is still stuck in Midland. After getting a lot of rain, apparently the right engine ignition system decided not to cooperate. Common thang on old round engines. But the PLBA made it home in time for the Alliance Airshow last weekend. That Duck Drivin Lady was even named "Lead" in the two ship Oscar Deuce flight. Guess Ralph, the Air Boss, finally figured out she can be a PITA if she has to fly wing. Her words, not mine!!! OOps, this close to Halloween, maybe I should be a little more cautious about irritating Broomrider One. JR

Our elevators are about ready to hang. Just need some finishing touches on the gap seals. Those trim tabs are a bear to get attached and have taken quite a few man hours of the guys working on these projects. They just have hung in there until the tabs give up. David B and Tim have been using finesse and patience where I might have been tempted to use a bigger hammer. JR

This is the right side lower back bulkhead of the doghouse. The plumbing and mounting pad are for the gun charger compressor and accumulator tank. We have the compressor, but looking for the tank. We have the gunsight. Now if we could just find some real .50's, we could definitely take out some of those wild hogs we have been after out at the ranch. JR Ace Wild Hog Extermination Co.

No No No....you got it all wrong. That is not what I said.....LOL Being a PITA has nothing to do with wing or lead position.... Starting the cauldron aboiling now

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OMG, am I having a hot flash or is it getting hot in here???? Why is my skin turning green?? Rivet Rivet JR

Here's a picture to look at while you're simmering..........

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Lady O2 pilot.... the armament load panel on the side of your Duck says armed with a "few rude gestures" among other things. I can't quite tell in the picture. Are you making one there?? We, of the A-26 community, would never be found in public doing such a thing. BTW, are you going to the CAF A-26 ground school in Enid around the weekend of Jan 18 I think it is? I'm going to do one small part of the course on how to play well with others in the sandbox. Don't you think you should come?? It's never too late to learn CRM, right? JR

No silly....I'm waving to the crowd!!!!

I may go.....in spite of your comments.

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Regarding flight helmets used by Nimrods, the helmet shown a few posts back isnt the right type as far as i know on my knowledge and research of USAF operations in Vietnam/SEA.

That helmet is a possible former 1950/60s era US Navy or even a US Army APH-5 and was seen in the helicopter or propeller roles/use mainly.
The helmet can be determined by the cord coming out the rear, the reversed style rubber com boot, the chin strap style, the metal visor track and blue visor knob.

The USAF did use a similar helmet type called HGU-2/P in early Vietnam days which was essential same design but modified for USAF set ups. They also added a different boom microphone to the side .. this one in photo is a M-33 bannana type i recall..

I have seen some films of Nimrods active at NKP i recall and the crew maybe if active or ferry flight wore a gold visor cover and blue on another. Combat would of been im sure painted green , black or mix with tan as well.

or camo taped

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book