Warbird Information Exchange

Yikes ...is this because the CAF won't need your services anymore or because you want a breath of fresh air in a new job?

John

Yes.

Okay, to get back on the topic of Ol' 927 (the newly voted "official" name of the airplane now ), here is a short update from some of yesterday's work......

I started out by continuing on the floorboards around the entry door. After cutting out the first of two halves, I needed to get some structure in place underneath before I moved on. I just used some more of that stringer material for that.......




I then cut out the second piece of floor and clamped it into place, drilled the holes for it, and then clecoed it all together.......






Here it is riveted together......




I was able to get some more structure made and installed on this piece of floor board (which is also a door for another PX compartment), but spent most of the day on the phone and computer, along with some time spent at HQ. The rest of the crew worked very hard and was quite helpful. We are making great progress on the scuffing of the old paint, in preparation for the new. One of our pilots, Ole Nygren, did a surperb job of fixing that tunnel gun window that I dang near ruined a while back with overspray. Andy was putting sheet metal "plugs" in the fuselage to cover up the old transport style windows. And WIX's own Jase and Shae were fabricating the other flush patches needed for the remaining window plugs. They did an outstanding job and actually listened to suggestions I made after their first "not-so-successful" attempt, and did a fantastic job from there on.

Here is a picture of Shae working on one of the pieces they made.......




I just found out that although the local EAA Chapter got off to a great start on helping us with the control surfaces, they will not be able to continue with the recovering like we had hoped. I sincerely appreciate the help they gave us though, as it did save a fair amount of time for me. Unfortunately, however, I have to do the recovering here myself. I will go pick up the two rudders and elevators today and will get started on them whenever I can.

So that's the update for now. I'll see about getting y'all another one soon.

Gary

I'm kind of hoping that since she was already purchased by the British that she gets painted in the scheme that she would worn while serving with RAF Coastal Command.

Heck, we even have Jase (fellow WIXer) here helping, along with his wife. Man, you just gotta love pretty women with low standards! .......

Low Standards?

Shae had Standards?!

Kidding. Love you guys!

_________________
Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

How about getting Doug (F1G Pilot) to help recover the surfaces. He is pretty handy with a needle and thread. Taught me everything I know about fabric.

Doug? Heck, he's on the CAF General Staff......you can't get those guys to do anything!

Okay, okay, I don't really mean that, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to say it.

Actually, I have the ability to do the control surfaces, just not the time. But I'll get 'em done nonetheless. Besides, these should be pretty easy...no rib stitching...just rivets to hold the fabric into place.

Gary

Hm - Thought Gary WAS a breath of fresh air!

_________________
Bob

No, you mean Brannock's mentor don't you??

Lynn

Was looking at my photo CDs and came across my Airsho 2004 photos, guess this photo I took in 2004 will be my last time seeing the Lil, cannot wait to see all Garys work and HOPEFULLY you guys can come to Houston this year so I can see her twice, since I am planning to come to Midland this year.

Gary, I know what you are up against. I know you must think, what did I get myself into. I know you are a true warrior in every sense of the word. You put in long hours and the pay could, should be better. Gary, you do this because you have a passion for making things right. You have a desire for making our GIRLS, the best attraction on the planet. I for one, bow to you sir! Please take the graditude of all of those who respect the craft that you possess and pass on. It is my sincere hope that I will fly with you again and someday you will be my flight instructor on the B-29 flight engineers panel.

Dave,

Hope to be down in a few weeks. Care package is on the way!

Gary,

Are you guys going to strip the old paint off the plane or just paint over the tan?

It's been mentioned several times previously that we don't have the time or money to strip the paint off of the aircraft (particularly after the paint stripper episode we ran into), so it's just going to be a "scuff and shoot" this year. We are working to get a better paint job for next winter.

Gary

Well, another very short update for y'all before I head out of town for a few days to do a little work on Eric Downing's Skyraider. Now, before anyone from the CAF says, "but what about the Liberator," I made the promise to Eric way before the B-24 work started that I would go help him with his airplane for a little bit. I will be back to work on Monday afternoon and Andy will keep the volunteers going until I get back.

Since the last update, I have been continuing to work on the floorboards, although I've not made the progress I'd hoped. The sanding crew has been doing a wonderful job of getting that part of the project pretty far along.

While Andy was getting the fuselage plugs put in to cover up some of the windows, I had him had some rivets in them to make them look more like they are part of the structure, rather than just window cover-uppers. He and Ole Nygren shot them on the fuselage yesterday........






Andy is now working on finishing up the window cover-upppers that Jase and Shae fabricated a couple of days ago. Heck, as I type this, he walked in my office to ask me about the rivet pattern I want on those, and by judging the stupid lookin' grin on his face, he must've found it humorous that I took a picture of him and his little sheet metal project. .....




So anyway, I have a few more things to wrap up here before I head to St. Louis for a few days. I'm sure I'll have something to update for y'all when I get back.

Gary

Stay tuned to this channel for an update, replete and com-plete with pics, of Shae's and my (all too short) time in the booming metropolis of Midland he'pping Gary and Andy et al with the B-24 formerly known as 'Lil. Later tonite...

_________________
Regards,

Jase
www.b26marauder.com
"I'm having a BLAST!!" 2007 CAF Wing Staff Conference

RIP Gary Austin..always in our hearts