Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

[John Cotter]

I don't have the full details yet, but it was sent out tonight that the tour is a go!!!! It looks like it will be at OSH also.

[John Cotter]

I heard that the B24/B29 Squadron is without a mechanic?

[retroaviation]

I heard that the B24/B29 Squadron is without a mechanic?

Yup.

[CAPFlyer]

I hope this isn't the start of a revolving door.

[snjfxr]

I can't say too much but breaking news may be days away! Stay tuned!
Dave

[Jason Langley]

I would like to thank all of you for being such a important part of this forum and the everyday workings of "OL'927". I have enjoyed your comments, valuable insight, and humor very much.

Unfortunately, I am leaving the position of Crew Chief for the B-29/B-24 Squadron and it was a hard decision to make... several days with little sleep trying to decide. However, I will still be a member of the CAF and the Squadron volunteering my time as often as possible.

I will miss working with Gary...he is a Good Egg. I would like to say thanks to him for allowing me the chance to work on these beautiful old girls and enjoy his humor! GOOD LUCK at Reno, keep me posted.

I have taken a job with St. Louis Helicopter as the ASTAR Crew Chief and I will be working 7 days on and 7 days off.....so I will spend as much time as I can in my off time helping the squadron keep OL'927 in the air. I will also be living near Addison, TX and it will allow me time to spend time turning wrenches on both aircraft in the future.

I will be helping the new Crew Chief as much as I can, so it will hopefully be a easy transition. The squadron is in good hands at CFM, they are a great group of people and to have that experience near is an awesome advantage.

I still have photos to post and I will try to get them up tomorrow.

I will still be active on the board as much as possible.

Later
Jason

[CAPFlyer]

Jason, I'm glad you'll still be helping. I hope you didn't take my comment the wrong way. I did not mean it as a reflection of your ability. Sometimes things come up and you get an opprotunity you don't want to pass on, and that's perfectly understandable. I just think that planes like OL'927 and Fifi benefit from having "stable" working conditions and not guys coming in and out a lot becuase they are (like most pistons) very individual aircraft and it helps when the people working on them know them from experience and know where to look when something goes wrong.

STLH is a great bunch from what I've heard. I hope you find them the same and I think you'll have fun on the ASTAR. I've worked with them a couple of times on the line and they seem to be good mounts.

[Chief]

We left Cavanaugh with the B-24 at noon today for a 5 hour flight to Duluth. Every thing went great. We were about 5 minutes out (just after the Blue Angels finished their practice)when a fog bank blew in over the airport, off the lake. Duluth went IFR and we could not make the approach and landing. We went back down to St Paul and are spending the night. We will wait until tomorrow morning to get up to Duluth.

Jason, good luck with your new job. We miss you.

John

[CAPFlyer]

John, good news that you guys are on your way, unfortunate that you didn't make it to Duluth.

Then again - too bad I miss her again by a day. Couldn't you have waited until after the Summer Staff Conference?

[snjfxr]

I am very pleased and honored to announce that the B29/B24 Squadron has accepted me as the new Crew Chief for these one of a kind aircraft! For those of you that don't know me, I'll give you a brief background. I have been a Squadron member since 2003. I crewed on the B29 and am currently Flt. Engineer on the B24. I also have been given the assignment of Flt. Engineer Instructor Grader which means I will train and check out B24 Flt. Engineers. I have 28 yrs with a Major Airline and served as a Lead Mechanic since 1988. I am 52 yrs young and I will be retiring from the Airline sometime around the 1st or 2nd week of Sept. My wife and I will then relocate to Midland Tx. where the continuing work on the B29 will begin. I am commited to "Stay The Course" and give some much needed stability to this project and the many others to follow. Make no mistake about the fact that I will be working closely with Gary's guidance and technical support to carry on the reengine program he engineered. I look forward to the challenges that lay ahead and will do everything in my power to make Fifi airworthy again!
Please feel free to ask questions and give me your input. I am going to ask that this thread be used in the future for "Ol 927" and I will post updates on FiFi in one of the threads that have started in the Maintenance Hangar.
Dave Miller
Crew Chief
B29/B24 Squadron

[TAdan]

Congratulations Dave!

All the best with the new position.

[b29flteng]

Good news on the job!

I saw the 24 flying north out of St. Paul (STP) yesterday morning around 1100.

[Second Air Force]

delete

Last edited by Second Air Force on Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[snjfxr]

Thanks Scott!! Yeah, the Airlines are in trouble again!!

[snjfxr]

My personal thanks to Jason! He has been a tremendous help over the last 4 mouths and will continue to be a big help as Caf member and volunteer. His help with my transition is also greatly appreciated. It's my hope that he and the additional volunteers that show up in Addison, will take care of "OL 927's" needs when she returns, so I can put my full efforts into the B29.

Thanks Jason!
Dave