Skyraider 139665 Restoration

[bdk]

I just received a reply from the museum also. The airplane is "still in CO" undergoing restoration. Does anyone know where? Details? Photos?

WestPac in Colorado Springs. No. No.

[Ken]

Pardon the bump, but do we not have any WIXers who've infiltrated West Pac?

[kalamazookid]

I talked to Neil a couple weeks ago at Indy and he said the Skyraider has flown. It was still in Colorado as of then.

[ktst97]

I chatted with Neal at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation on June 2nd and 3rd. The plane had already flown by then. He had shown Kim and me some of the parts he was accumulating for the Skyraider back in December, and then he had acquired more when we were there in April and in June. He has the original cowl and a replacement. He planned to display the original in the museum.
At the Indianapolis Air Show he told me that the Westpac guys were going to fly it some more in the next couple weeks. Wish I knew when it was going to arrive at Sevierville -- I "need" an excuse for another trip down there.

[BK]

Wish I knew when it was going to arrive at Sevierville -- I "need" an excuse for another trip down there.

Start getting ready. The museum's website has been updated, with restoration and test flight photos. No arrival date yet but it's getting within sight. "Don't call us, we'll call you." I just hope we get enough notice that I have time to jump in the car and get over there before she touches down.

http://www.tnairmuseum.com/node/49

[DaveG]

yeah, this is found at the bottom of that page:

The museum staff and volunteers will not have any more information to pass along other than what is posted here, and we ask that those interested parties ............

Please refrain from calling our switchboard.

When the Skyraider arrives in Sevierville, the date will be posted on our web-site.

Thank you for your cooperation.


We gots to get us a mole in the operation to call us when it's comin' in!

[Ken]

Of the four airframes that were saved from Thailand: this is one, one is at the Smithsonian, another is with Bob Grondzik in San Diego, and the E-model is with Danny Summers. As far as I know these (three) are the only actual Vietnam veteran Skyraiders in civil hands.

If you followed the link to the TN Museum, there is a photo of the 4 lined up with wings removed and seemingly in fresh paint. Does anyone know why this would have been done to these rogue/hidden airplanes?

If you haven't heard the story of their escape see:

http://www.airspacemag.com/military-avi ... scape.html

For some reason, the SEA camo color shades seem to be a trick to faithfully replicate ... one of the reasons Naked Fanny looks so great is the original paint she wears ... knowing the standards at West Pac, let's hope Lieutenant America is every bit as sharp ... it's too cool seeing a real veteran wear her old stripes.

Ken

[viking73]

Thanmks for that link Ken, great article.

-Derek

[BK]

Well the plane arrived at the museum today. I guess they didn't want anyone taking pictures of it, so the announcement was after the fact. I checked the sight last night as I have every night for the past couple of months and there was no mention of it.

http://www.tnairmuseum.com/node/57

Kinda sucks as I was in Sevierville today for the Smokies game and could have easily gone to the museum. I'll be out of state for the Salute to Veterans event in a couple of weeks so I likely won't get to see her fly until next spring. Tim, I'm counting on you to get some kick butt photos. On a happier note, I got to meet Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

[51fixer]

For some reason, the SEA camo color shades seem to be a trick to faithfully replicate ... one of the reasons Naked Fanny looks so great is the original paint she wears ...

Ken

Naked Fanny, being an AD-4, would not have been painted in the SEA camo.
This aircraft was given to the French, used in Chad, and recovered to the US through France.
This one was recovered to the US with a companion AD-4. It's companion was painted in a more realistic Marine Blue scheme and Naked Fanny was painted in the SEA scheme.
No less significant of an achievement though. Great to see the survivors in their original clothes.
Rich

[Oscar Duck]

Brian Huckee won a DFC flying this A-1. He was on a ResCap and was, I believe, the closest to Hanoi for such a rescue. Check out Brian on A-1 Skyraider Assoc website.

The aircraft was called "Lt America".....

[/img]

[Ken]

Naked Fanny, being an AD-4, would not have been painted in the SEA camo.

I agree. AD-4Ns weren't flown by the USAF (or anyone that I know of) in Vietnam. I was trying to compliment the paint in the can for being original/authentic since the shades seem tough to match. I could have chosen my words better.

I'll be working to find a date to visit the TN Museum and plan to take the USAF's leading Skyraider combat sortie record holder with me to see 665 in person. We were looking through his logs recently and I was disappointed to see that although he has detailed records, including the ordnance load for each sortie, he didn't record tail numbers. Maybe a search at Maxwell would at least show if this tail was ever assigned to his squadron(s).

Ken

[BK]

Brian Huckee won a DFC flying this A-1. He was on a ResCap and was, I believe, the closest to Hanoi for such a rescue. Check out Brian on A-1 Skyraider Assoc website.

The aircraft was called "Lt America".....

This is the nose art used for the restoration. Byron Hukee has a combat journal online here: http://skyraider.org/hook/index.htm

I'm sure the museum will make an effort to bring in the pilots that flew 139665 to be reunited with the plane. I expect next Spring's event to focus on the Skyraider like last Spring's focused on the P-47.

[travis2500]

I was at the museum when the Skyraider arrived and took many photos. I will be happy to upload some if someone would provide instructions how to do so, inasmuch as I am new to the forum.

Thanks much,
trav

[Matt Gunsch]

I was at the museum when the Skyraider arrived and took many photos. I will be happy to upload some if someone would provide instructions how to do so, inasmuch as I am new to the forum.

Thanks much,
trav

Here is how you do it
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... php?t=1822