Warbird Information Exchange

We posted a new video of the lastest takeoff last Sunday on our Facebook page. Be sure to check it out. We are probably going to put her in winter maintenance after 27 Nov. We have lots that we want to do before we go to paint. It looked like we might get an early slot but that didnt pan out as expected. Actually, this will work out for the best looks like. There is also a great air to air shot by Craig Rembold of Kay just before sunset that is featured on our FB page. Try it out. No login or membership required. http://www.facebook.com/a26specialkay

We were proud of Pat getting finished with his A-26 type rating today. Congratulations are in order! Steve went along to assist. Kay is safely back in the hangar. She is done flying until winter maintenance is completed perhaps by next April. Larry and Chuck tagged along to Sherman to make sure the launch went ok. It’s always good to have backup with a 72 year old airplane. Lots to do this winter besides paint. When we have a show schedule finalized, will be sure to let you know. Happy holidays to everybody!

Nice pass over Prop Wash the other day! My house is about a 1/4 south of RWY 35.

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45-47=-2

Its finally turned Christmas season in North Texas. We were 84 degrees last weekend, freezing today. Plans are to take Kay outside early Saturday for a well deserved power wash. Once FIFI is finally settled in for winter maintenance we can get to work on Kay. Plans include tackling the right aux fuel tank among other things.

This Saturday is the annual VFM Christmas luncheon. Always a good time to visit with all the crews and volunteers.

DC3 Christmas light flights are going strong. Seats still available. www.GGA1.org to book a seat.

All we lack...

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The real JR

To be clear, the VFM Christmas potluck luncheon is at noon on Saturday, Dec 16. It is for members, tenants and their families of the hangar. While it might be a good day to visit the museum, please avoid the noon hour so that we can have some time to eat, visit and share flying stories! Those who are still able to get up from the table will be glad to show you around afterwards. Happy Holidays everybody from our family to yours!

Luncheon was a big success! The team removed the stress plate on the right inboard wing in order to pull the Aux fuel tank. Today. We are happy to report that the “Tank-ectomy” went well. It will be used as a pattern to build a new one. Work continues on other winter maintenance and inspection items. Everybody is pretty well settled in until March or April when the show season starts again.

We are recovering from consuming mass quantities of vittles, but work has resumed. The right hand oil cooler was inspected and buttoned up. Every time we open a panel, we have to close it back up before leaving because the Sparrows are looking for nesting places for the winter. We cleaned out well over 30 nests when Kay arrived from Montana in 2010, so don’t want to repeat that process. They got in some unbelievable places. Our parts blaster was overhauled and a new glass was put in. We obtained some used exhaust parts that need cleaning for inspection. If they turn out to be better than existing, they will be traded out. The engine oil analysis samples came back good. Good progress!

Since I don't belong to Facebook, but still follow on your public site, I seen where you replaced the glass on your beadblaster. WE have a large glass bead blaster in the shop and have never replaced the glass . what we have and use is a clear shield of a flexable plastic to protect the glass. Are you using the same?, I can't tell in the photo. Our "tool man" gets it already precut and all we do is scotch tape it to edges and reinstall glass. As you know the glass beads bounce and ricochet everywhere in cabinet. Or do you use another media? Whatever you use , protect the glass. I gotta get down there soon.

WE have a community hangar. Many use the blaster, however seems the Kay crew are the only ones who maintain the blaster. We use aluminum oxide, plastic and silica media.

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The real JR

Happy New Year.
We closed out 2017 on New Years Eve by helping install the new LED lights in the VFM hangar. Seven rows of four lights will light the place up. We can already see the huge difference with just the first two rows above Kay! It was 24 degrees inside and sleeting outside. At 52 feet above the aircraft, my thanks to Rand for safely operating the boom and Lefty for guiding and keeping us and the aircraft safe!

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The real JR

The new issue of Warbirds International has a nice article on Special Kay, detailing her life from military service up to the point she where was acquired by GGA, along with lots of photos. I didn't realize she had been wrecked that badly in Georgia!

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Just got mine in the mail, looking forward to reading that story! WI just seems to get better every month.

Today was a great day in the Hangar. The weather warmed up and a number of projects got started. The left tip tank was removed and disassembled enough to clean it out. The internal plumbing is a bit more than expected, in part because of the jettisoning system. The biggest problem is pulling new fuel line thru the wing. It is in segments and not a simple pull old with new attached to end. The access panels are not sufficient to reach each clamp so it was obviously installed while OnMark had the wing open for rebuild. Progress continues on finishing up the new lights in the Hangar. They really make a difference. We have some new equipment to install in the metal shop and one of our work tables has been moved into the heated and newly cleaned up shop on the north side so we can work on smaller components during the cold temps like we had last weekend. Come visit to see the action plus all of the other aircraft which are opened up for annual inspections and maintenance. JR

Small crew all weekend but made great progress. All the old fuel supply hose from the tip tank to inboard of the oil cooler is removed. New hose ordered. Sunday we gang banged the aft section of the left tip tank. Its all disassembled, some dents removed, began cleaning it up. Big Tim started making gaskets. Our fwd & aft tank section "O" rings are 70.5" circumference. Perhaps the oil coolers can remain in place for the hose install. The tip tank sump valve was removed and overhauled. We found some sealant inside the tank at the base of the sump valve that had never set up. Will go back in with fresh 890. With all this behind us we hope the "learning curve" will be not as steep on the right side. We still had time to work on bomb bay and nose gear actuators. Ray has the RH aux tank dry bay all ready, tank is in work at the shop, will give ya'll a status update next time.

If anyone has a "K" model tip tank MM or IPC we could sure use it.

By the time we wrapped up Sunday afternoon it was a balmy 50 degrees! Reminds us why we live in the Lone Star State!

All we lack is finishing up...

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The real JR

Good progress on getting new hose in the wing for the left tip tank. Many small dings in the fuselage were rebondoed and smoothed. A number of 50 hr inspection items were done because we don’t want to stop in the middle of the show season to do it. The left prop dome seal was replaced as it had started a small leak which if left alone would probably just get worse. Work began on the right tip tank. The boost pump needs to be removed and sent out for overhaul. It probably hasn’t been used since 1969. The copilot’s turn and bank indicator was just delivered from repair. Another airspeed indicator is out for calibration. The other side was replaced with a newly overhauled unit. We sent our spare Fuel sensors out for repair so they will be ready to install when needed. Still no word from shop on a paint date, but we are still hopeful. We have been invited to participate in an overflight tentatively set for the end of June at the Museum of Flight’s opening of their new Vietnam Memorial in Seattle. Stay tuned for updates on this. JR