Spitfire Flight and Glider Practice-Beautiful Day

[Michel C-GNCJ]

Interresting stuff...

Thank you !

[Larry Kraus]

Speaking of oil,Butler had just changed the oil on our two DC-7's prior to our deployment to Southern California for the recent fire bust.That's four engines on each airplane at 46 gl. per engine for a total of 368 Gallons of AeroShell 120W.Yikes!

[Bill Greenwood]

Larry, that is a pretty slippery story. But it makes ordering in bulk easy, just get one 55 gal drum per engine! Do they recycle the used oil in any way, is there any use for it?

[Larry Kraus]

Bill,I'll check with Barry Sandberg,our Director of Maintenance,who is here in Lancaster with us.I'm assuming that it was collected by the same fellow that drains our waste oil tank at Butler's hangar in Redmond.I understand that the used oil then goes though some sort of a recycling process.I'll see if I can get some details.They only want used oil and we aren't allowed to dump any skydrol or other waste liquids in with the oil.We also pour the used oil through fine mesh screens to prevent safety wire or old gaskets and such from entering the waste oil tank. Availabilty of engine oil was one of our first priorities when we came on our current assignment.We have a couple of chase rigs with trailers and brought 8 drums with us along with pumps and hoses.Barry managed to procure several additional drums since we arrived.

In the night pictures of T66 and T62 that were posted via a Fence Check link last week on this site ("TO Calif fires" page 3,I think),you can see one of the trucks with oil drums in its bed in front of T66.In the picture of T62,you can just about make out the oil catching diapers that we strap under the power section cowling and oil cooler scoop when we park.They made of a black rubberized fabric material and are flexible enough to fold up and keep in a tote in the airplane.We use replacable absorbant material similar to "Pig Pads" that come on bulk rolls and we cut to fit.We designed these oil catchers ourselves several years ago and they work pretty well.They just hook to the lip of the center of the lower power section cowling with a couple of modified welding rods with a hook formed on the end and with bungee cords at the rear and middle.We use bankers clips to secure the pads to the outer edge of the fabric outer layer.