Aircraft Recovery

[HarvardIV]

I really don't understand why you keep insisting that you just can go into Indo. or PNG and negotiate with the Natives and presto you can recover a wreck. It doesn't work that way those days are long and dead. Chris give MAAM a call and ask them all about the 61 recovery and get yourself a copy of the UNESCO Laws and that goes for anyone else read it know it if not then get yourself a Lawyer who can recite it by heart.

Rob, you definitely don't know my friend who works for BP in Babo. The dynamics in different areas vary. At Babo, you can pull a negotiate and recover stunt. The natives are relaxed, and not the same variety as what MAAM ran into.

At Kalmintan (Borneo), I still have to research their demeanor, and make sure it is reasonable.

[HELLDIVERS]

HI PACK YOUR BAGS!! I THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE AS MUCH DESIRE TO RECOVER A/C AS THE TIME YOU SPEND ON THE COMPUTER YOUR A NATURAL!IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY PERSON THAT SAID I COULD NEVER REBUILD THE A-25 I WOULD BE RETIRED NOW!!IF YOU BELIVE IN YOURSELF THE WORLD IS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS.THERE IS SOME GOOD ADVICE HERE SO GET YOUR GEAR PACKED AND GO HUNTING!!LOGISTICS CAN BE SORT OF TUFF IN REMOTE AREAS,DISSASSEBLY OF A/C IN GOOD CONDITION WITH THE HELP OF FORK LIFTS, CRANES ECT CAN BE A DIFFICULT JOB,TRY THE SAME THING ON A MOUNTAIN TOP ,JUNGLE OR UNDER WATER AND ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.AFTER 60 PLUS YEARS STUFF THAT WAS DESIGNED TO UN BOLT IS NOW A FUSED MASS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DISSASSEMBLE.REMOTE AREAS ADD ANOTHER DIMENTION TO THE PICTURE.IF IT WAS EASY EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT, THE REALITY IS ITS HARD HARD WORK. MORE THAN ONCE WHILE ON ONE OF MY TREASURE HUNTS WHEATHER IM ABOUT TO DIE FROM HEAT STROKE, HALF FROZEN, OR SO TIRED THAT YOU CAN HARDLY PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER THE THOUGHT CROSSES YOUR MIND THAT YOU COULD BE SITTING AT HOME IN TOTAL COMFORT SIPPIN A COLD BEER AND TALKING TRASH ON THE WIX BOARD!!SO AFTER ALL THE WORK MONEY AND HOOPS YOU HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH IF YOU ARE SUCESSFUL YOU MAY RETURN HOME WITH A VERY DAMAGED A/C THAT YOU WILL SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO RESTORE.MONEY WISE YOULL DO BETTER WORKING AT THE CAR WASH!!THEN ADD IN THE WIFE FACTOR MINE LEFT 6 YEARS AGO TO THE DAY!! IVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER BUT IF LITTLE SET BACKS DONT DISCOURAGE YOU GET OUT THERE AND GET ER DONE!!WE ALL LOVE SEEING RECOVERYS AND RESTORATION BUT THE TRUTH IS ITS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND SACRAFICE THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN.TALK IS CHEAP LETS SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO SEE YOUR T-6 PROJECT!!THANKS MIKE

[airnutz]

Amen Helldivers,
One of the underbudget...or under-prepared recoveries that I read on
the Pacific Ghosts site, was of a very intact P-47. I forget the details, but
"the guy" had run out of time...had logistics probs... and summarily axe-
chopped the wings of the Jug in order to fit the schedule. I still 'hurl" when
I think if this action!!!

[HarvardIV]

Rob, go ahead and believe that. I'll take a peak at UNESCO, but it don't mean a thing. My friend knows Babo well, and the long arm of Kofi's UN doesn't quite reach in the remote places.

As for me, I believe my BP pal over Rob. Hmm, I would think the UN would have better things to do than hang out in the middle of nowhere guarding a bunch of twisted wrecks.

Anyway, I concur with Helldivers Mike. Hopefully the lady friend won't get too mad about these future explorations. Mike I appreciate that, and as I thought, you of all people have had something to say about all this.

Chris

[HELLDIVERS]

WOW YOU GOT TO LOVE THE WIX BOARD!! GREAT IDEAS BUT THE CHANCE OF GETTING A GLOBE MASTER OR BETTER YET A C-133 AIRWORTHY IS BEYOND ANYONES WILDEST DREAMS.JUST FUEL COSTS ALONE WOULD KILL YA!!LET ALONE RESTORATION COSTS!! MAYBE A C-123!! BUT ITS ALWAYS NICE TO DREAM.IF YOU ARE THAT FLUSH WITH MONEY IT WOULD BE ONE HECK OF AN ADVENTURE!!BUT THEN WHERE DO WE LAND?RUNWAYS AND THE SUPPORT TO OPERATE A/C OF THIS TYPE DOES NOT EXIST IN THESE REMOTE AREAS. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH LOTS OF HARD WORK AND MONEY SO LETS SEE WHERE THIS GOES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SHIP LOAD OF PROJECTS COME OUT WE WOULD ALL BENIFIT THANKS MIKE

[Jack Cook]

Maybe ya'll could make a deal with the AF for some free C-130 service. Then pay'em off with a lashed together airplane.
Wait, that's been done!

[Shay]

By Request:







Taken 7 months ago




Real AirLifts happen from Dirt Runways






Shay

[bdk]

...or under-prepared recoveries that I read on the Pacific Ghosts site...and summarily axe-chopped the wings of the Jug in order to fit the schedule. I still 'hurl" when I think if this action!!!

I don't necessarily see that as a big negative. If it is cheaper to repair it than to haul it out intact, it is better to recover to the west when the opportunity presents itself. Diemert hacked up his share because the aircraft had to be hand carried out by the natives. At the time, it wouldn't have been worth the effort to pull it out intact. In any case, there are plenty of warbirds flying that have had damaged spars and longerons replaced. If the spar hadn't been cut, the spar caps would have likely needed replacement due to corrosion anyhow.

[HELLDIVERS]

YEP THEIR THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS!!IF YOU HAVE THEIR SUPPORT THEY WILL BENDOVER BACKWARDS ,BUT TRUST ME IT AINT EASY AND ITS ON THEIR TIME AND AVAILABILITY.THEY HAVE ALL THE TOYS AND TALENT TO MAKE AN OPERATION LIKE THIS A SNAP BUT TO US LITTLE PEOPLE JUST THE GAS FOR MY TRUSTY RUSTY FORD EXPLORER CAN BE A CHALLENGE. HAPPY HUNTING!!MIKE

[airnutz]

BDK,
I'll defer to your experience..but the difference between a spar that has
been intact for 50 or 60 years having some corroded spar caps and
hacking the SPAR with an AXE!, for a time or budget expedient still makes
me "blanche at the thought". Your in the business... so I can't really say
what is correct...Thanx..

Shay,
Thanx for the 133 fotos..good schtuff!!!...a grand old lady, with an N#,
no less!

[HarvardIV]

Rob, I really doubt it.

[HELLDIVERS]

FULL SPEED AHEAD!!! NICE SHOTS OF THE T-6! ANY CURRENT PHOTOS?ITS GOOD TO SEE YOUNG AND FEARLESS BUT DO BE CAREFUL OLD AGE ISNT SO BAD. LET US ALL ENJOY YOUR EXERIENCES WHEN YOU RETURN,TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS,WELL BE PUTTY IN YOUR HANDS!! THANKS MIKE

[HarvardIV]

Mike Ha Ha Ha! No old bold pilots, got to be careful..

Chris

[airmanual]

Just my little word on the subject :

- Indonesia and security : Seriously did any of you ever go to Indo ! I worked and lived there and Malaysia for 5 years from 97 to 02, traveled all around, including trips to Kalimantan, Flores and Sulawesi and never, never had a single problem. I of course would not have been stupid enough to go to Ambon during the civil/religious state of war that prevailed during 2000/2002 and would still be very cautious if i would have to go there at the moment; but this is a common rule applicable to any place, not only Indonesia. So, once and for all : Indonesians are NOT head hunters westerner killers and as long as you do not do it stupid and take a minimum of precautions, 99 % of Inodnesia is as safe as any other place.

- Unesco and export : i "unfortunately" have to agree with Chris : rules and application of the laws are still something very adaptable in this country. As long as you deal with a good forwarding agent who knows who and how ($$$$$$$) to talk to customs, you can export almost anything. But of course, for doing this, you have to accept to actually break the laws.
As far as what may happen once you try to import them, i have absolutely no idea so will not comment. But, if i remember correcly, quite a few P-38 and P-47 where imported in the US and AU in the last 2 years from PNG and Iryan Jaya. Did all those concerned filed correctly with Unesco ?

Laurent

[HarvardIV]

Rob:

So let's so you bought a ki-51 wreck in Indonesia. It you take it apart, and tell the customs folks it's scrap metal, or aircraft parts (which it is) will the CIA walk right up and say that's a 19.. ki-51 with a 600 hp ....etc..?