A Big Day for the Red Tail in Wahpeton
Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:33 pm
All,
I just got home from ND and we had a big day. John Beyl, Mark Tisler, and the rest of the Red Tail Rivet drilling and pounding crew hung the engine in the Red Tail today! This will allow us to finish up the firewall forward, install the coolant pipes and finish up the doghouse and the aft duct while they assemble the wing up in Kindred.
The airplane is progressing wonderfully and looks GREAT!!!! I will leave the full update up to John, he does a great job of keeping you all informed.
We totalled up $$$ and we are going to need a little more money than I figured, and while it will keep us hustling to raise funds, but I don't anticipate it slowing our progress. We have a nationwide direct mail program underway that many of you may receive. If you do, please consider sharing some $$ with us if you can. If you don't get the direct mail piece you can always visit our website and push the "donate" button. Either one works and we appreciate all the donations and support we have received so far.
The nationwide showing of Red Tail Reborn has dramatically increased our web traffic and we have national credibility that should help us in all areas of our fund-raising.
The work has progressed to a point where the airplane has a seat in it. I climbed in the seat and sat down. I put my feet on the rudder pedals and my hand fell on the throttle. The last time I sat in the airplane was the night before the accident. I flew it and gave Brad Lang, son of a Tuskegee Airmen, his first ride. Brad is next in line to fly the airplane. How cool will that be when the son of an Original Tuskegee Airmen is flying a Red Tail Mustang?????
It was incredible. Sitting in the airplane, memories and feelings were flooding my mind. It was a overwhelming and it made me realize how close we are to flying again. That will be a great day!!!!!
As a side note, the crew at Tri-State has recently completed the tooling for nearly all the -A,B,C ribs and has made a few sets. These parts set a new standard. They are absolutely beautiful parts. It is nearly a shame to put skin on them and cover them up.
Anyone concerned that the folks at Tri-State are not up to big challenges since Beck's passing need only look at this tooling and the parts they have made on their own to realize Gerry left, not only the ability to build parts behind, he left the knowledge to develop new ones when needed.
It was a GREAT weekend. Thanks to all the Red Tail Volunteers and Tri-state employees that come volunteer off the clock to help us on work weekends. Our goal of flying next spring continues to look realistic. Yes John, you guys can do it!!
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
Red Tail Project Leader
Dougr(a)petroblend.com
Our wish list is getting short. Most of these items are available. Some are cheap, some expensive. If anyone has any of these parts, or anything else we might use for trading stock that you would be willing to donate, or sell us some good used stuff instead of having to buy the new stuff, let John Beyl, Mark Tisler, or myself know.
Coolant and Oil pipes
-B/C inner gear door skins
-B/C LH spade door
Fuel Cells
induction trunk and elbow
L&R exhaust shrouds
6 RH exhaust stacks
RH top cowl
and any B/C cowl formers
any scoop parts
Spinner and Backplate
Seat Belts
Tires
Header Tank Straps
I just got home from ND and we had a big day. John Beyl, Mark Tisler, and the rest of the Red Tail Rivet drilling and pounding crew hung the engine in the Red Tail today! This will allow us to finish up the firewall forward, install the coolant pipes and finish up the doghouse and the aft duct while they assemble the wing up in Kindred.
The airplane is progressing wonderfully and looks GREAT!!!! I will leave the full update up to John, he does a great job of keeping you all informed.
We totalled up $$$ and we are going to need a little more money than I figured, and while it will keep us hustling to raise funds, but I don't anticipate it slowing our progress. We have a nationwide direct mail program underway that many of you may receive. If you do, please consider sharing some $$ with us if you can. If you don't get the direct mail piece you can always visit our website and push the "donate" button. Either one works and we appreciate all the donations and support we have received so far.
The nationwide showing of Red Tail Reborn has dramatically increased our web traffic and we have national credibility that should help us in all areas of our fund-raising.
The work has progressed to a point where the airplane has a seat in it. I climbed in the seat and sat down. I put my feet on the rudder pedals and my hand fell on the throttle. The last time I sat in the airplane was the night before the accident. I flew it and gave Brad Lang, son of a Tuskegee Airmen, his first ride. Brad is next in line to fly the airplane. How cool will that be when the son of an Original Tuskegee Airmen is flying a Red Tail Mustang?????
It was incredible. Sitting in the airplane, memories and feelings were flooding my mind. It was a overwhelming and it made me realize how close we are to flying again. That will be a great day!!!!!
As a side note, the crew at Tri-State has recently completed the tooling for nearly all the -A,B,C ribs and has made a few sets. These parts set a new standard. They are absolutely beautiful parts. It is nearly a shame to put skin on them and cover them up.
Anyone concerned that the folks at Tri-State are not up to big challenges since Beck's passing need only look at this tooling and the parts they have made on their own to realize Gerry left, not only the ability to build parts behind, he left the knowledge to develop new ones when needed.
It was a GREAT weekend. Thanks to all the Red Tail Volunteers and Tri-state employees that come volunteer off the clock to help us on work weekends. Our goal of flying next spring continues to look realistic. Yes John, you guys can do it!!
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
Red Tail Project Leader
Dougr(a)petroblend.com
Our wish list is getting short. Most of these items are available. Some are cheap, some expensive. If anyone has any of these parts, or anything else we might use for trading stock that you would be willing to donate, or sell us some good used stuff instead of having to buy the new stuff, let John Beyl, Mark Tisler, or myself know.
Coolant and Oil pipes
-B/C inner gear door skins
-B/C LH spade door
Fuel Cells
induction trunk and elbow
L&R exhaust shrouds
6 RH exhaust stacks
RH top cowl
and any B/C cowl formers
any scoop parts
Spinner and Backplate
Seat Belts
Tires
Header Tank Straps
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:02 pm
Way to go Doug, we are all waiting for the RT to get back in the air.
Was nice talking to ya here at KUVA and I might add, you have a beautiful airplane!
Come back sometime when you get a chance.
Was nice talking to ya here at KUVA and I might add, you have a beautiful airplane!
Come back sometime when you get a chance.
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:05 pm
mustanglover wrote:Way to go Doug, we are all waiting for the RT to get back in the air.
Was nice talking to ya here at KUVA and I might add, you have a beautiful airplane!
Come back sometime when you get a chance.
I had a great time flying the SuperII with Mark. Do you know if they have gotten an air to air shot of it???
You guys don't have any spare parts do ya????
Tailwinds,
Doug
Last edited by DougR on Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:05 pm
The Red Tail has a Red Nose:
10:00 This morning
3:00 This Afternoon:
10:00 This morning
3:00 This Afternoon:
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:08 pm
DougR wrote:mustanglover wrote:Way to go Doug, we are all waiting for the RT to get back in the air.
Was nice talking to ya here at KUVA and I might add, you have a beautiful airplane!
Come back sometime when you get a chance.
I had a great time flying the SuperII with Mark. Do you know if they have gotten an air to air shot of it???
You guys don't have any spare parts do ya????
Tailwinds,
Doug
I was supposed to do it last week, but a family emergency got in the way.
We will do the A-2-A this week.
Sorry, no spares yet.
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:14 pm
This sounds great Doug! I'm really glad to hear that it is progressing so well. I sure have missed seeing it upon my visits to Fleming, and over my house during the summer. Unlike the first time around, I hope to be at Fleming when it arrives again.
Thank you for the wonderful photos Bryan!
Thank you for the wonderful photos Bryan!
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:56 pm
Doug and the rest of the crew
That is Great News. I am happy to hear the progress. I can't wait for next spring when she returns to where she belongs.
Please keep us update
Chris
That is Great News. I am happy to hear the progress. I can't wait for next spring when she returns to where she belongs.
Please keep us update
Chris
engine
Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:20 pm
Who has done the engine repair this time? I don't have spare funds, but I'll send lunch money for about a day to keep the body full and spirits up. Are you looking for sponsors and if so what is the price. Is this CAF or private?
Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:28 pm
Bill,
This is the Nixon engine we had on the ground when the accident occured. It is a -7 with -500 heads & Banks
This is a CAF airplane and we are always looking for sponsors, but it will be a while before we need pilots. That list is pretty well full.
We take all contributions, beer & pizza money helps too!
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
This is the Nixon engine we had on the ground when the accident occured. It is a -7 with -500 heads & Banks
This is a CAF airplane and we are always looking for sponsors, but it will be a while before we need pilots. That list is pretty well full.
We take all contributions, beer & pizza money helps too!
Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
RT
Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:31 am
Great news Doug, for all of the Red Tails clan. Hopefully the '09 Airsho will be the big homecoming for you, Doug J in the T-Bolt, and the big baby, Fifi, all back in the air..........Congratulations to all involved.... John, we are waiting for the rest of the pics and story on Red Tails.... Alan