B-17G "Chuckie" Update

[Sabremech]

Any new updates with photos to share? Starting to get the DT's with no Fort news lately.

David

[JBrawner]

there was nothing going in way of the 17 or sabre this weekend, i was working on the dc-3. got to see the new to our hangar t-33 which looked pretty good. bill was out there but he was working on hangar stuff and the only other folks in the hangar working were us on the 3. so.... david nothing happening so far.

[Second Air Force]

Nope, not much new. The crew had to make room in the north hangar for a couple of airplanes a few weeks ago in order that the T-33 has enough room to fit in the main hangar. Two weekends ago was the big hangar floor cleaning ordeal. Photos follow:

This first photo shows part of the crew from three Boy Scout troops that worked hard all day in the 104 degree heat on Saturday. Their help was MUCH appreciated!


This is the start of power washing the floor after sweeping and spot-degreasing:


A Sub-Depot hangar looks pretty darned big with no airplanes inside. This was taken on Sunday before beginning to bring the planes back in:


And here is Chuckie being towed back inside:


Hopefully we'll get back to working on the Fort soon.
Scott

[hawkeyepoole]

I'm another new volunteer at the VFM. My second job is video production and I'm carrying a camera with me almost any time I'm at the museum. Any time there's something to see, I'll shoot some video and post it for all to see. I've created a 'channel' on a high definition video sharing site (something like Youtube, but no Youtube garbage). The link is
http://www.vimeo.com/channels/vfm

I have some exciting things in the works, but nothing I can broadcast to the masses yet. Watch Vimeo for updates.

Franklin "Hawkeye the video guy" Poole

[retroaviation]

I know it's off topic, but I couldn't help but notice the Piaggio y'all have in the collection. I thought Connie Edwards was the only one in these parts that had Piaggio stuff.

Gary

[Second Air Force]

I know it's off topic, but I couldn't help but notice the Piaggio y'all have in the collection. I thought Connie Edwards was the only one in these parts that had Piaggio stuff.

Gary

Gary,

The Royal Gull is on the VFM priority list to get back in the air. Other than having GSO-480s on it, it is a really neat airplane in a weird Piaggio sort of way. Here's a picture of it being towed back in the hangar.


Scott

[Ztex]

I made a quick stop by the VFM hanger on Saturday and got to meet Scott, Ellen and Bill. Nice folks! and the Hanger looks great!

You guys are doing good work out there!

Z

[Django]

The big B-17 cut out is pretty neat!

[Second Air Force]

Zane,

It was good to meet you in person! Sorry about my bad table manners, next time we get together I won't have chicken all over me.

Chad,

I'll ask where that Fortress stand-up came from. It looks like some they made for the "new" Memphis Belle flick/disaster.

S

[JBrawner]

it was for a book.. about the lonesome polecat II, there use to be a litle write up next to it a few yrs ago when i was working on the 17 more.

here is the book
http://www.amazon.com/Fateful-Flight-Lo ... 0595325882

other then that you'd have to ask doc or chuckie about...maybe james to find out more.

Last edited by JBrawner on Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[retroaviation]

That B-17 cut-out would look good here at Austin Acres, strategically placed next to the Stratolina. It's pretty fun watching the neighbors come up to the end of my street to see what the "crazy guy at the end of the road" has here.

And that cut-out might be just what it takes to get someone distracted enough for them to drive into the moat in front of my property.

Gary

[CrewDawg]

Zane,
It was great to finally meet you in person. Hopefully you'll have more time to hang out next time. Always great to meet another WIXer

[Second Air Force]

Thanks for the info on the Polecat standup, Jon. I'd been meaning to ask about it.

We're finally going forward with rigging the engine controls on the Fort. I managed to get #1 and 2 done last weekend and started planning for removal of a worn pulley in the #4 nacelle. Engineers back in the thirties and forties were definitely related to the folks who designed the modern Boeings I work on. I'm pointing in the general direction of the pulley we need to change in this photo:

And this is the hole I have to work through:

Only room for one hand and it will take two to change the darned thing. The plan is to stuff Ellen inside the nacelle through an access on the other side so she can lay on top of the intercooler and associated plumbing. She'll be able to reach the top of the pulley bracket assembly from there. Nobody ever gives you enough access to work on this stuff, no matter what size the airplane is.

Ellen spent most of Sunday closing up the inspection plates on the Sabre. For now we're going to put the little jet on the back burner so we can get the B-17 flying.


Scott

[Django]

That's crazy! I'm sure you'll both be bleeding a little here and there after that one!

[Second Air Force]

That's crazy! I'm sure you'll both be bleeding a little here and there after that one!

It's not crazy, its ENGINEERING. I will say this about my friends the aeronautical engineers among us. The 777 is a vast improvement over earlier jets as far as accessing various stuff. The CAD programs they used during the design process seem to have helped make it a little easier for us greasy old mechanics. I won't even begin to complain about Brand X.

As far as replacing those pulleys in the outboard nacelles--nobody designed the Fortress to last long enough to wear out pulleys, and the guys fixing them back in the day were nineteen years old.

Scott