Warbird Information Exchange

We've made some tremendous progress in the past week ---

Sat 10/11:
- Removed 3 of 4 (really stuck) bolts holding up our major structural repair project
- Installed the #2 engine main fuel tank (all fuel tanks now in)
- Successfully pressure tested all four of our rebuilt cowl flap actuators
- Patched a small hole in our recovered rudder

Tue 10/14:
- Closed out installation details on all tanks except #2 (waiting on parts)
- Added 110 gal of 100LL to tank #4 and it held!

Thu 10/16:
- Completed all sheet metal work below floor in nose section

Sat 10/18:
- Completed IA "clear to close" inspection for R wing panels with only 1 outstanding squawk
- Pulled out the last of the really stuck bolts holding up our structural repair
- Installed cowl flap actuators on engines #1 and #4
- Installed tank #2 boost pump
- Test fit tank #2 under wing panel
- Replaced leaky boost pump on tank #1
- Removed and bypassed leaking fuel transfer valve
- Tested transfer pump and successfully transferred fuel to tank #1 and #3 (finally no leaks!)
- Vacuumed nose section, cockpit, and R wing intercooler
- Installed floor in nose section
- Damaged freshly covered rudder during painting --- oops (cable snapped)
- Completed more plexiglass repair work on the nose bowl
- Primed brace structure in bomb bay
- Painted rudder access covers and trim tab
- Got our flap jack boot repairs approved by our IA

As you can see, our maintenance team has all the levers firewalled for our run up to Nov. 30th. (Hmm. Is that a hint?)
This week will be a bit slower because of WOH. Even still, we should still get a good bit of work done as the Hochsteins have come down from OKC to work all week.

TR WILL FLY AGAIN.

-DC

_________________
B-17 Texas Raiders --- Maintenance Officer

What David didn't list on the accomplishments is the POM operation going on at the same time. With the impending move to other accomodations, packing, loading and moving is going on at the same time as aircraft maintenance. When Elly and I arrived yesterday afternoon there was a large crew working on both the airplane AND the packing. It reminded me of descriptions of Bomb Group Preparation for Overseas Movement that went on at the Phase Training Bases during the war. The only thing missing was the POM Inspector gigging everyone for not "acquiring" enough extra stuff for the move. When it all belongs to you anyway you don't have to steal it from Base Supply.

We'll get some photos of the progress posted soon.
Scott

Looks like she is slowly but surely coming back together. Has the weight of the paper work surpassed that of the aircraft yet?

Came across a couple shots of her I shot back in '78, Orange or Port Arthur TX visit, don't recall which airfield. Looks like she has really come a long ways since then. Especially the interior! $1 dollar per tour, is that still the same?

Interesting factoid from a 1944 government report. The average life span of a B-17 is 231 days!

At the rate I am going it feels like my life span is about to be 231 days!

Moving is SUCH fun!
We had some (offensive word removed) clowns ready to throw away a bunch of B17 parts if they weren't out of the office side of the hangar today.

We have moved tons (no hyperbole) of parts and we get to do it some more and again in 6 weeks. Some of it has to stay with the airplane so we have to re-arrange the part of the hangar we are allowed to keep for the time being.
Some of it has to be prepped for long term storage.

Fortunately when I left the hangar this AM the Compression Strut Tie was having the last of the cross bolts reamed and installed.
Now we can serious about hanging stuff.

Moving is SUCH fun!

SPANNER
the exhausted

_________________
Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

Slowly but surely coming back together. Moving is NEVER FUN! Especially when you know you will just be turning around and moving it all again. Bummer

Ran across a couple pics from 1978 tour in SE TX. Tours still $1.00?

Wow Holedigger...
Seeing that picture is inspirational.
They flipped the last letters (PV?) and I think that is the cargo door era.
I certainly don't see any waist gun window!

Yeah, we totally bummed Second Air Force with the notion of the move.
Fortunately he and Mrs. 2nd worked like mules and got us DAYS ahead of the curve! THANKS SCOTT... no matter WHAT!!!

We suspended moving and worked Wings Over Houston this weekend and it was marvelous to be around pretty warbirds that made ALL the Wright noises.

Back to moving tomorrow though.

SPANNER the wayward

But then again, my Dad's unit's motto was KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD
384th BG(H)

_________________
Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

It was ROUGH! Didn't even get to take the $1 tour as they were getting ready to crank up and had to clear the flightline. Got to poke my head inside and took one VERY blurry picture...it was totally gutted, just a plywood floor inside and not much else.

You all have come a Long way with her. She seems to be in good hands

Texas Raiders is sitting on its own tires as of Oct. 28th!

We are (maybe) hanging an engine this weekend if all the stars align.
(Yes Gary, the Pressure Panels are on that wing!)

I am spending ALL my time on moving and hangar issues, but I am as proud of the folks working on this airplane as it is possible to be!



Don Price
Wing Leader
CAF-GCW

_________________
Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

I'll see you down there on Monday, Don. Great work by you and all of the TR volunteers in getting the airplane on her own feet again!

Gary

Sorry. This bird deserves it.

Gotta start somewhere.
We are stashing parts ALL over the place. We aren't particualr, except I hope that Jag doesn't leak oil all over the bombs!



And here are some lovely shots of the Compression Strut Tie Bracket "Napkin Holder" mostly installed! WE still need to hock bolt in the top of the diagonal brace and get the bolts reamed to size through the napking holder. But it is a lot farther along than it was three weeks ago!

SPANNER

_________________
Support Your Local Warbirds! KBO!
The only reasons the airplanes matter is what the veterans did with them... and why.

Just worry about a nosy neighbor seeing the bombs and calling the Bomb Squad (or Homeland Security)! Then you have real trouble! They will blow up your house and ask questions later!!!

Da dum...



Who can spot the changes in this picture? (Hint: one is easy and the other one is a bit harder to see...)

-David Carr

_________________
B-17 Texas Raiders --- Maintenance Officer

Ditto!!!!! Do yourself a favor, take a cardboard box and open them up and block off the view to the outside world.

I collect military vehicles and I attend Living History shows. I personally have not been harassed yet but usually twice a year someone posts how they were pulled over in there MV because someone called in to the PD and said that their is someone running around with a machine gun on a vehicle.

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Looking good!!!! Wish you guys were still progressing foreward instead of packing the thing up.

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005