Warbird Information Exchange

Looks like the Buchon has been sold, anyone know where it is headed?
http://courtesyaircraft.com/

England.

The good news is that the money from the sale will go straight into FIFI's re-engine program and the first engine will start being built very soon.

Gary

Glad to hear that the sale will help FIFI.

Gary, any idea of the new owners plans for the Buchon?

_________________
Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

This is excellent news, Gary. Thanks for sharing.

Not that it's any of my business, but I'm pretty ignorant as far as engine rebuilds go. What kind of paperwork do the Feds require to approve your R-3350 "hybrid" plan for FIFI? Have your plans already been approved? Not a problem if you don't wish to answer.

_________________
It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

First the PV-2 now the Buchon, lets get that C-46 sold and go to Vegas!

TAdan...No. I don't know what their plan is. I assume restore it and fly it, but it's only a guess. I am not at liberty to pass along their names, however.

Sasnak...It's no rumor. As of right now, we have not received a single penny from the pledged $2 Million. However, that may still come to pass, but we had to keep trying to move forward with other means of funding. I want this B-29 back in the air!!!

Dan K...Well, technically, the airplane is in Experimental Category, so we could (in theory) put chainsaw engines on it and just get it recertified, but we opted for the "more horsepower" version. We have already spoken with the FAA regarding our proposed changes and they have no problems whatsoever with what we're doing. As a matter of fact, they were more concerned with the reliability and other problems with the original engines and were quite happy to see the changes I brought to them. So all is good on the FAA front.

Warbirdnerd...Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack your thread here with the B-29 saga.

Gary

Didn't it just emerge from restoration?

In theory. It seems to me that all they got done was some cockpit work and firewall forward work, but again, I don't know for sure about everything that was done.

Gary

When was the last time it was flown?

When it flew in to Midland. I believe it was September of 2004. Skip Holm flew it here.

Gary

<The good news is that the money from the sale will go straight into FIFI's re-engine program and the first engine will start being built very soon.>


Gary, Can we hope for a photo essay here of the 3350 engine rebuild, ala B-24A?

_________________
It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.

Well, it will ultimately be up to whoever the new Crew Chief is, but I will likely still be heavily involved with the re-engine program, so I'll see what I can do about getting y'all some updates.

Gary

Gary, Sure hope so. Here's a video of a possible R-3350 test bed idea!

http://www.roude-leiw.lu/video/verl_fullpull.wmv

_________________
It's what you learn after you think you know it all, that counts.

Heck, here's a whole website dedicated to round engined tractors.....

http://www.chez.com/pullinghue/rdphotos.html

Gary

Hey Ober. All three of these planes have been up for assignment for a considerable length of time. Why not put in your bid and get them assigned to you. Otherwise they'll just sit around and deteriorate.

_________________
The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.