Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:07 pm
That sux about the Convair. Anyone know what happened to the F-86 that used to be there?
Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:31 am
Kyleb - Were you able to get a hold of anyone on the phone?
Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:31 pm
viking73 wrote:Kyleb - Were you able to get a hold of anyone on the phone?
Not yet. The first number I found was disconnected and nobody answered the second number when I called. I have not gotten around to calling again.
Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:09 am
ripcord wrote:That sux about the Convair. Anyone know what happened to the F-86 that used to be there?
It is being restored at MAPS Air Museum. Right now it is being polished and as soon as that is done paint will be applied. It should shine when completed.
http://www.mapsairmuseum.org/F86.asp
Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:37 am
Wonderful! So glad it was able to be rescued from that airframe hell. Keeping my fingers crossed for the F-84.
Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:04 pm
CorsairFreak wrote:ripcord wrote:That sux about the Convair. Anyone know what happened to the F-86 that used to be there?
It is being restored at MAPS Air Museum. Right now it is being polished and as soon as that is done paint will be applied. It should shine when completed.
http://www.mapsairmuseum.org/F86.asp
Nope, right from the page you quoted:
Formerly assigned to the Florida Military Aviation Museum at Clearwater-St. Petersburg Airport, when the museum closed the aircraft were removed from the facility and placed in outside storage.
It came from Florida with the rest of the hulks. The Mercer Sabre went to Warner-Robbins AFB for restoration.
Jim
Mercer air field orphans
Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:39 am
Good morning everyone - new guy on the block here!
It is very sad to hear the T-29 is (essentially) gone. I first visited Mercer in 1991 and somewhere (in a box) I have 35mm prints of the line up at the time. I most recently stopped last May and took shots of the last of the squadron... I managed to get up on the wing of the T-29 (not as young as I used to be, you know) and took some shots of the interior (yes, there were wasp nests, but I managed to escape and evade). In any case, I talked to the business at the end of the field, got the name of the owner (Edwin Mercer), and did an on-line search that gave me an address nearby. Unfortunately, I have not had time to get back or contact him.
I have been reading the posts here and wonder - if these are still "military" propoerty and no-one here has been able to contact someone that can release these a/c to a group that would care for them, who is salvaging them and who did they contact? I am traveling for the next few weeks but if someone local could contact the salvage company, they might have a contact and we could save the F-84 AND T-33.
Anyone know how to disassemble these birds?
It is very sad to hear the T-29 is (essentially) gone. I first visited Mercer in 1991 and somewhere (in a box) I have 35mm prints of the line up at the time. I most recently stopped last May and took shots of the last of the squadron... I managed to get up on the wing of the T-29 (not as young as I used to be, you know) and took some shots of the interior (yes, there were wasp nests, but I managed to escape and evade). In any case, I talked to the business at the end of the field, got the name of the owner (Edwin Mercer), and did an on-line search that gave me an address nearby. Unfortunately, I have not had time to get back or contact him.
I have been reading the posts here and wonder - if these are still "military" propoerty and no-one here has been able to contact someone that can release these a/c to a group that would care for them, who is salvaging them and who did they contact? I am traveling for the next few weeks but if someone local could contact the salvage company, they might have a contact and we could save the F-84 AND T-33.
Anyone know how to disassemble these birds?
Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:41 am
First of all, I really like your "call sign" here on WIX...and welcome. 
Second, good luck on your quest to save 'em all. It ain't as easy as it sounds sometimes.
Gary
Second, good luck on your quest to save 'em all. It ain't as easy as it sounds sometimes.
Gary
Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:08 am
Welcome to WIX, WishICouldSaveEmAll. The Mercer Field situation is sad indeed. It was a nice collection at one time. 
Too bad they were allowed just to sit there & go to crap.
Too bad they were allowed just to sit there & go to crap.
I volunteer for Operation Mercer Salvage...
Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:34 pm
Good evening everyone, thanks for the warm welcome!
I found an online copy of an RCAF manual on their version of the T-33... it looks like the wing comes off in one piece and the tail is not too hard to separate... anyone for a midnight auto oops airplane parts run? Seriously, last time I was there I checked out the T-33 and found many of the fasteners on the upper surfaces rusted - they would have to be drilled out or cut off, but the lower parts were not too bad. If it is still there, it would be worth a try to get it off site (with permission, of course). The F-84 was in worse shape, but would still be worth it. I can see my wife's expression and hear her comment as I pull in the driveway... WHAT is THAT? Its our new mailbox, dear... you know, an aviation motif!
OK, who's near Mercer and can give us an update? I will be back the end of the month and can probably sneak out, but it is a 4 hour round trip and my wife would probably get suspicious...
I found an online copy of an RCAF manual on their version of the T-33... it looks like the wing comes off in one piece and the tail is not too hard to separate... anyone for a midnight auto oops airplane parts run? Seriously, last time I was there I checked out the T-33 and found many of the fasteners on the upper surfaces rusted - they would have to be drilled out or cut off, but the lower parts were not too bad. If it is still there, it would be worth a try to get it off site (with permission, of course). The F-84 was in worse shape, but would still be worth it. I can see my wife's expression and hear her comment as I pull in the driveway... WHAT is THAT? Its our new mailbox, dear... you know, an aviation motif!
OK, who's near Mercer and can give us an update? I will be back the end of the month and can probably sneak out, but it is a 4 hour round trip and my wife would probably get suspicious...
Re: I volunteer for Operation Mercer Salvage...
Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:20 am
WishICouldSaveEmAll wrote:OK, who's near Mercer and can give us an update?
I was by there a week and a half ago (and may get by again this week). Nothing had changed since the last time I visited 3-4 weeks ago.
Re: I volunteer for Operation Mercer Salvage...
Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:49 am
I was by there a week and a half ago (and may get by again this week). Nothing had changed since the last time I visited 3-4 weeks ago.[/quote]
Good morning Kyleb
I will be very interested in the (hopefully) lack of progress on the T-29 salvage. Perhaps we can save some bits (Cockpit? Instruments?). If the salvage contractor is there maybe we can get some information on how to save the other a/c. Good luck.
Good morning Kyleb
I will be very interested in the (hopefully) lack of progress on the T-29 salvage. Perhaps we can save some bits (Cockpit? Instruments?). If the salvage contractor is there maybe we can get some information on how to save the other a/c. Good luck.
Re: I volunteer for Operation Mercer Salvage...
Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:29 pm
WishICouldSaveEmAll wrote:I can see my wife's expression and hear her comment as I pull in the driveway... WHAT is THAT? Its our new mailbox, dear... you know, an aviation motif!
If you need a mailbox that big, how can it possibly be that I keep hearing the economy is in the toilet because consumer spending is down? It's sounds like you're shopping enough online to save us all!
I too would like to extend a welcome, and also say that I like your handle! Save 'em all? We could do it if it weren't for the need to seek out that pesky green paper stuff and our need to eat occasionally....