Jerry O'Neill wrote:
kmiles wrote:
I will be interested to see what they do for pricing and seating on TBM flight experiences. We looked at it several years ago with our aircraft, but with only one seat besides the pilot seat that has any visibility, the cost to operate a 2600 with only one passenger would have made the pricing too high (in our opinion) for a ride in a TBM. I know there are several other groups that have considered TBM rides, but nobody has done it yet (on a large scale) to my knowledge.
I'm not sure Ken, but I believe it has dual controls and there is a third seat where the turret would've been. The turret ring is not in it and it has a full greenhouse. It could possibly fit five passengers and be available for pilot checkouts in type. The whole airframe only has about 2000 hours on it. Ex-Dutch Navy and it was a TBM-3U with the radar dome underneath. Only one I know of.
I will ask my uncle about this as he was part of the restoration. Correction to the WIX registry. Andy Deeds is from Charlotte Vermont!!!! Not VA. The airplane was shipped from Aces high Unlimited to Burlington VT with Dean Martin at Warplanes INC. I remember the airplane when it was it its Dutch markings. It was then moved to Middlebury VT to Downey Corp where most of the metal work was created as it had a hard back and no windows if I remember right. I also believe that the lower rear turret was built up. I will see if any of the local guys have pics. I do know that the R2800 was a Garside overhaul and my uncle made the comment that you could put a glass of water on the cowl and it would not spill a drop.
Its amazing what kids get to mess with.
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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005
