Stratford Corsair Update

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:06 pm

Check out some close-up photos of the Corsair restoration in Stratford at:

www.corsairrestoration.com

You won't believe the inside of the wheel wells!
Jerry

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:17 pm

it is a crime what they did to that plane. It is a miracle the wings have held on with that much corrosion.

They need to sell that plane and use the funds to build a fiberglass replica to be put back on the pole.

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

Where in the wild world of sports are they going to get a new spar!?? I agree with mat! i would come down there a help put it together but what's the point if it is going back on a pole!

kenlyco · **Joined:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:05 pm **Posts:** 656

Man that thing just needs a little fuel and some oil
and you are ready to go.

51fixer · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:24 pm

If I follow the pics properly, they are calling the upper pin the locking pin?
The bottom pin is the locking pin and the upper is the pivot for folding. The bottom can be accessed from a removable panel along the wing break line on the bottom of the wing that covers the spar.
Hope all goes well as they work on it.
Rich

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:42 pm

Wow, and I stood under that! :shock:

I really hopes that everyone comes around to the idea that it can't go back up on that pole! That really would be a SIN!

Tim

Hal B · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:43 pm

Day-um, that thing is corroded

And yellow-jackets to boot. All we had on 88382 was dried mud, dead fish and corrosion to deal with, and we thought that was bad...

As far as prepping the pylon goes; a few pounds of C-4 would do the trick :wink:

(I know, don't cause hate and discontent)

Seriously, these folks have a heck of a job ahead of them. Hope it goes well.

F3A-1 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:56 pm

What the guys are doing to fix it up is great, however as mentioned before if they are going to remove the upper pin first (it will not come out until the wing is fully folded) they may do more damage than good. It is not a good sign that the canopy is closed and they have a support under the wing.

Again I don't mean to criticize. I can loan you a manual.

Thanks for your efforts.

Pirate Lex
www.BrewsterCorsair.com

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:00 pm

Broken-Wrench wrote:

Where in the wild world of sports are they going to get a new spar!?? I agree with mat! i would come down there a help put it together but what's the point if it is going back on a pole!

Ezell Aviation, Breckenridge, Texas..... They can make anything.... :wink:

Lynn

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:16 pm

Broken-Wrench wrote:

Where in the wild world of sports are they going to get a new spar!?? I agree with mat! i would come down there a help put it together but what's the point if it is going back on a pole!

John Lane, he has one all ready underway. If they had any that did not pass inspection, maybe they can be used on this one.

n5151ts · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:55 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

it is a crime what they did to that plane. It is a miracle the wings have held on with that much corrosion.

They need to sell that plane and use the funds to build a fiberglass replica to be put back on the pole.

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

Some pictures from the aforementioned link:

Wow, that spar is in pretty good shape!

Do you think this Corsair would have fared better resting in a swamp in New Guinea?

I've got an idea! Why don't we offer PNG this Corsair in exchange for Swamp Ghost! I think we would come out ahead.

kenlyco · **Joined:** Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:05 pm **Posts:** 656

Actually it was sitting in a swamp only it was on a pole less than a mile
away from L.I.S. and as far as how it got that way it all comes down to
money and politics, in this case a piece of history has lost.As far to replace it, good luck you have to fight a bunch of old Marines who
will not part with it,Also that Airport for years has been fighting with the
public to expand so some $$ can come into it but I am sure any of you that live by an Airport that wants to grow with the time's you got the
old farts and treehugger's that say not in my ..... ....!

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:43 pm

How many of you had your eyes bug out after looking at those pics?!! :shock:

In all fairness to the web master for the Corsair Restoration in Stratford, he's not that versed on the specific details of the Corsair. He's just taking pics for the website. They are operating with the proper manuals for the Corsair. I think he just called it the wrong name.

As far as the comments about the aircraft, the only reason I got involved with the project, even though it is to go back on the pole, was that at least SOMETHING would be done to the aircraft. If we let it fall off, (which could have been very soon!) it would have been a pile of junk. Anything would be better than leaving it up there until it was too late.

I think we got it down just in time.

I don't have to tell any of you how bad this is.

We actually had some people demanding it be returned to the pole, repaired and refurbished, by Memorial Day 2009! :shock:

Maybe with a million bucks!
"Hey buddy, can you spare a dime?" :wink:

Jerry

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:52 pm

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

We actually had some people demanding it be returned to the pole, repaired and refurbished, by Memorial Day 2009! :shock:

Maybe with a million bucks!
"Hey buddy, can you spare a dime?" :wink:

Jerry

I got a idea, lets leave the Corsair on the ground and put them on the pole and see how they hold up to the weather.

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