Warbird Information Exchange

Hi,
Now that would be too cool I dreamed of getting that BT for many years it was still there when my family moved to Minnesota in 1973.I really got the warbird bug at an early age, between the BT-13, the fleet of Aerial Applicators TBMs,(which I now own N4172A) and of course the A25s that crashed in Black Rock canyon I was pretty much hooked and this was in the early 60s. Who says you cant live your dreams. The A25 is almost finished, the TBM is waiting outside, and the BT-15 is well under way. I currently own 2 BTs 1 BT -13 and half owner of a 15 with Wings of the North thats under restoration to fly.You can see the progress at http://www.wotn.org/ go to BT-15 project.

Thanks Mike

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

If this is indeed the WHS's BT, could we get a Hi-Res jpeg that could be used for the Sqdn.?

Tim

_________________
"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue

Hi,

Pm me with an address and I will ship asap any chance for a ride?

thanks Mike

_________________
IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Here is an e-mail from Rick Sharpe. I sent him a link to this thread and here is his response!!!
Tim,
When I acquired this aircraft from Paul White in 1980, I was told that it was the aircraft that was displayed on top of that shop for years. The wings were so corroded that we scrapped them at the time as beyond economic repair. I purchased the wings that are on the aircraft from Vernon Boyd, who had a shop at Clover Field for many, many years. He had the wings stored at Clover Field. I had built up the bottom end of the R-985 and donated the aircraft to the CAF. Jim Williams and Dick Gammel would lead the project to get the aircraft back into the air. I think that it first flew around September 1982 with Tom Gregory Jr. at the Controls (Gumby and Larry's father). After that Gary Judkins took over the aircraft and after the engine suffered a hydraulic lock that broke a rod on start up the aircraft was moved to the West Houston Squadron. I remember this happening about 1992 or so maybe 1991. They had called me to amend the donation letter since the original donation stipulated that it would remain in the Gulf Coast Wing. I hope that this will be of some help to you.

Best Regards,
Rick Sharpe

_________________
"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue

PM your e-mail address and I will rescan this picture that I have ( the one I posted ) to you asap tonight.

PM sent and THANKS!. I will be making a story board on the history of our BT-13 to display at our Open House. I will post a pic when finished.

Helldiver wrote:


Yes, rides are available.

Tim Landers
CAF West Houston Sqdn.

_________________
"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the info it's great to know that it's flying and not the one that I heard was destroyed. That BT-13 really caught my eye as a young kid I know its the main reason that I started gathering BT parts several years ago. Hearing that it's still flying was a highlight to my holiday weekend and I hope to see it soon. I enjoyed the input from Rick Sharpe would he have any restoration photos? I would love to see the transformation from a roadside attraction to a flyable BT-13 Can you get any cockpit photos of how it looks today? I will get a good scan of the early photo off to you A.S.A.P.

Thanks Mike

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Check your PM Tim and Check your E-mail Mike, I just sent the larger hig res of this photo to both of you!

Thanks!

Hi,

Thanks Paul and Tim I also sent you both a high res of the earlier photo this is what is great about the wix board it sure beets another political rant n rave

Thanks Mike

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

Got it this morning! Thanks.

Sometime in the next week or so I will swing by the hangar! ( Mike )


Paul

Pics recieved and THANKS! Here is a bit of information that was in our Sqdn. newsletter a while back:

Slips and Skids June, 2007 Page 4

BT-13 Facts
By Don Johnson

Sam Hoynes has unearthed the following information about our own BT-13 which you may find interesting:
The aircraft was manufactured by Vulteee and accepted by the Army Air Corps on March 5, 1942.
It is officialy a BT-13A, BuNo 41-21178 and cost $18,082.
Initialy assigned to AAF Basic Flying Training School at Goodfelow AAF, San Angelo, Texas on March 17, 1942, where students put it through its paces until September 1943, by which time it had 669.4 hours on the clock. It was declared surplus on January 24, 1945, disposed of at Lamesa, CA the next day; then, purchased from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation by Gulf Dusting, a Houston outfit, for $690 on January 14, 1946.

_________________
"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue

I tell you what, I will give you $700 and you can make $10.00 on that purchase for her? LOL!!!!

I just love those BT's!

One of the things I find so interesting about warbirds is individual a/s history like this one. Especially since this one was almost junk but lived to make it big.
It's a beautiful aircraft, all of you who have had a hand in it. All it needs is "Gomer" and "Goober" painted on the side .lol

Canso42

Hi,

I bet the spray outfit bought it for the engine it must have been trucked to Salt Lake from Texas. Tim when is your open house? Can you post us some info and anymore photos?[I would love to see cockpit photos] Last but not least how much would a ride set me back ?

Thanks Mike

_________________
IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

That is what I would like to find out, I hope someone can help me. The info. I have so far is Evans Welding and Fabricating located at 2110 (need street name), Salt Lake City, Utah (need zip). I am hoping to contact any surviving Evans family for any info. they could provide. I have tried to find info. on Gulf Dusting, but no luck so far. The Spring WHS Open House is Apr. 19-20 and the following weekend is LSFM show I believe and the BT might be there, I'll check. The revenue ride in the T-6 is $250.00 at this time according to WHS website. and I have not paid for a ride in the BT, but I think it's the same.



I told a buddy about this thread the other day, and he dug through his office drawer and had this photo that he took in the early 90's from the Stearman.

_________________
"If I had to fight the same war over again, I'd sure want to fight it from the cockpit of a Corsair."
-Archie Donahue