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Several are aware that the Yellow Rose has been down for an engine change, and work on the left wing, for several months. Here is the maintenance officer's report from the January 2009 squadron newsletter, giving progress updates. It is possible that she may be flying again in six weeks, if everything goes well, but like Ray says in his report, it's 100% or no flight.
"Notes from the Maintenance Officer: Ray Clausen
Work continues steadily on the Rose. After several thorough inspections, the interior of the left wing was cleaned and polished and given a coat of
zinc primer. We are working to get the metal parts finished and returned so we can begin to put her back together. We hit a bump in the road with the auxiliary fuel cell. There was a hole in the cell so it had to be sent out for repair or replacement.
The company we sent it to suddenly doubled their price, so we told them to return the tank. Some web searching and phone calls turned up at least three other companies with B-25 fuel cell experience and
we hope to get it out to one of them ASAP.
The engine should be ready by the end of the month. Jim Liles and I plan to attend the test run and collect an oil sample. We'll retrieve the engine as soon as Global can get it ready to travel.
Tremendous progress has been made on "the gig list". When Gary Austin grounded the Rose, he included a list of 15 to 20 items that needed
correction before she could return to the air. Jim and I posted the list on the side of the plane and we and the other volunteers have worked hard to knock items off the list. Much of the work has been removing grease and loose paint, removing and treating surface corrosion, and painting.
We have spent many days inside the landing gear nacelles with mineral spirits and tiny brushes removing years of built up grease and oil. This week we started preparing to paint the inside of the nacelles.
Last summer, the interior was cleaned and painted from the tail guns to the Bombay and this winter, we've had some dedicated folks working from the nose back. We can always use more help.
None of this would be possible without the hard work of all of the volunteers. Even as Gary grounded the Rose, he complimented the overall
condition of the aircraft and praised the squadron for its obvious pride in the plane. That pride has clearly grown and the morale in the hangar is as
high as I've seen it. I've had many comments from pilots and owners in the hangar, visitors from other squadrons, tourists, and even Gary Austin about the number of volunteers and good work they do. I, personally, couldn't be more proud of them.
I'm sorry that I can't tell you right now just when we expect to see the Rose take to the air again. The airshow season is coming fast and I, like
all of you, want to see her at as many shows as possible. However, we will not compromise safety in order to make an airshow. That plane will be
100% ready or it will not go. Still, we are all looking forward to hearing both engines rumble back to life and seeing those wheels leave the
runway again."
Mike Renck, Operations Officer
Yellow Rose Squadron, CAF
_________________
Mike
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