TEXAS RAIDERS- First Flight in Seven Years- Oct. 14, 2009

flyingsailor · **Posted:** Wed Aug 19, 2009 7:17 pm

Don
Thanks for the update! Sounds like good progress is being made. I hope to see her back where she belongs soon!

Chris

MattP38 · **Joined:** Sat May 20, 2006 7:36 pm **Posts:** 273

Sounding good Don and congratulations on the plane!

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:14 pm

3/4's of the first Flight Crew have accepted their assignments, including PIC.
Co-Pilot has been identified but we haven't heard back yet.

I am not at liberty to announce who left and right seat are yet but I can say the two required mechanics are Maintenance Officer- Chuck Conway and Wing Leader -Don Price---

It is sort of a "Put your money where your mouth is" policy.

We are still digging our way out of the paperwork and there are a jillion things to get done. Some of them seem so inconsequential, but if they are not handled correctly they can be a deal breaker.

Everything from tags on Safety Belts to installing the 50 cals. and ammo for weight and balance.

It is safe to say first flight will NOT be in September.
Beyond that put your bets down at your own risk.

SPANNER

Scott Apple · **Posted:** Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:59 pm

Spanner,

It sounds like TR won't make it to Midland for Airsho this year? I sounded like that was the goal. David Carr had contacted me a few months ago about doing some of the IA work since I've been around Sentimental Journey for a while. It logistically wasn't going to work out with me being in Phoenix and having a full time job here. Anyway, looks like you guys are doing a great job. I was looking forward to seeing you guys along side us during the show. Maybe next year! Let us know if you need anything!

Regards,

Glen · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:29 am

Will Texas Raiders be on Public Display during WOH 09 ? What Field is She based at again ? Would like to se her when I attend the Airshow.

skymstr02 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:27 pm

Raiders is at Houston Hobby, and the airshow is at Ellington Field.

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:41 pm

If all goes well we will fly TEXAS RAIDERS at Wings Over Houston 2009.

While it was my hope to make it to Midland Airsho this year we are just falling short... I can see it in my mind... Swinging down from the belly hatch and dodging the tumbleweeds at Midland International.
Darnnit, it just looks like it is going to be 2010.

CrewDawg · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:49 pm

Keep up the good work Don (and crew). I know how you feel, I was hoping to have Chuckie flying in October, but it's now looking like towards the end of the year or early next year. Better to take longer to get it right than rush it and miss something. We'll get that all Texas B-17 formation yet!

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:50 pm

An all Texas B17 formation would be all the sweeter seeing as how much support we have gotten from Lone Star Flight Museum lately.

Heck... make it an ALL TEXAS HEAVY Bomber flight with Ol' 927 and FIFI!
:supz:

Throw in the mediums... Yellow Rose, Devil Dog and LSFM's Special Delivery and every A-26 in the Lone Star State and you might have a photo opportunity!

Back to reporting instead of just day dreaming.

Installed the new tail wheel and tire... check
We did the gear swings... check
The flap extensions and retractions...check
The bomb-bay door swings... check
Sealed the top turret to fuselage adaptor ring...check
Various antannae mounts prepped...check
Put the APU in and pulled it back out for tweeking...half-a-check :roll:

The new plexi for the top turret is being molded this week.
Randy Wahlberg shocked the MO when he proceeded to come up with a new, in the box from Boeing co-pilot's side window glass. That's just how the Rand-Man Rolls!

S&T is rebuilding an inverter.
People are starting to look at us funny, like we might go flying this decade, or something!

airnutz · **Posted:** Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm

Great job Spanner and all...been a long road. When was the last flight of TR? I saw her landing at Hobby in the
autumn of 2001(?), perhaps her last..

Are things better now that this cold front has been with us the past few days? :wink:

Up to now it's been August
since June..one rough summer! :shock:

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:08 pm

Now that we have rain I wish it would go away... at least for a little while!

The Houston area is looking at an 80% chance of rain Sat. 9/12/09 and we REALLY need to start our engine compression checks.
All the second guessing in the world won't change the fact that we didn't get them done after the last engine runs, but that was a slow taxi-test mission and by the time we finished up with that we were pretty much shot for the day anyhow! (Oh to have a crew of 18-20 somethings ALL trained through mechanics schools, led by people experienced with WWII bombers and ALL dedicated to keeping us Mission Ready! and none distracted by Day Jobs...)

On the fun side... I hung the receivers for the 50 cals. in the chin turret yesterday.
When I get the barrels on I will try and get a pic for WIX.

Back to kvetching... we are in eternal PARTS search mode.
Sign on the chalkboard, "Anybody know where the Astrodome dogs are?"
At first I was thinking it was a joke because the Texans have been playing in Reliant Stadium for years now. :roll:

Then I tumbled that they meant the Nav. Dome fastening latches.
And I know I have seen them and probably moved them twice... I am just suffereing from CRS Syndrome.

Also... If anybody has a source for the canvas-zippered dust excluders for B-17 Chin Turrets please forward that info on.
No one has seen TR's in ages.

SPANNER

B29B24crewchief · **Joined:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 9:44 pm **Posts:** 379

Hey Don, I know too well how long things take that you think will take a couple of days. I have many months of agony waiting for stuff to get done and have to just hang in there. I will look forward to the day that all the Texas Warbird Bombers fly together! How cool would that be?

Dave

coldaffyduck · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 5:34 pm

I went out and seen TR today and man is she looking good. I just wish I lived out here, talk about a mini warbird heaven. While on the field I got to see TR, plus an A-26, T-34, C-47 and a Staggerwing. Keeping up the good work ya'll she is getting there.

SPANNERmkV · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:08 pm

I am having problems getting Photobucket to generate links or I would post the photos Kevin Hong took of the chin turret on the plane with the 50s mounted.

We are in perpetual "Has anybody seen..." such and such a part mode.
This includes:
1. the mounting sockets for the cheek guns
2. The dust cover for the chin turret
3. Closing panels for the pilot's side cockpit, although we are down to just one of those.
4. The turbo control box on the quadrant

Anyhow, it is all over the spectrum around the hangar. Pride at the accomplishments. Nervousness that some BIG or small gotcha is going to get us. Giddiness that in a few weeks we are going to get the OK to run a fast taxi test and if she passes muster four of us are going to roll back out and she how she flies.

There is a ton of paperwork to do yet, but even that doesn't seem insurmountable compared to what has taken place during this last two years.

bomberflight · **Posted:** Wed Sep 23, 2009 7:30 am

I don't get much time to visit WIX at the moment ~ but when I do this thread is the first place I look

E X C E L L E N T news !!!!

You've run the 26 mile marathon ~ just four laps of the stadium and you're done.

Stay focused and make her fly

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TEXAS RAIDERS- First Flight in Seven Years- Oct. 14, 2009

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