Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Dave - hope these images come through ok. I suspect only the URL will appear in this post rather than the actual photo. I can fly aircraft but I sure can't post pics on websites properly!!

Happy flying.

Let's try....




and...



Dave

That's a very lovely paint job. Ordinarily I'm not too keen on the "bandit" pattern around the windows, but your use of the cowl and fuselage trim stripe is perfect. Proportions are just right. (I need to make sure Robin sees this!) We'll probably do something like that someday.

If you're missing the 2 gear fairings, the Fairchild Club might be a source.

Also, I made a template for a floor carpet to stop things falling through the deck into the belly amongst the cables, but even with a photo, I don't see how it could help you. (Too bad -- it took me days to make that bloody thing, and a lot of stiff paper and a whole roll of tape.) Then I cut the carpet out and got the edges sealed or hemmed.

I have relatives in Perth. Where are you?

Dave

Jim, (WWIIABN)

Whose PT-26 did you buy? I know an outfit that's looking for one in good shape.

(And I admire your judgement.)

Dave

Nice! I love an airplane painted in my school colors.

_________________
"I love the smell of 100LL in the morning."

Hi Dave - I'm over on the east coast of Australia. The aircraft is based in sunny Queensland (where it's currently about a pleasant 80 deg F).

The only problem we've had here with the Fairchilds (currently 3 Warners, soon to be 5 and 1 Ranger are airborne) is that the Warners tend to run a little hot when the ambient is much over 20degC (55degF). Some folks have installed ram-air inlets and/or modified baffle arrangemets but I'm keen to preserve the original aircraft as much as possible.

Regarding the paint - I wish I could take credit for that but that credit belongs to a previous owner and a couple of talented restorers who recovered it in Ceconite nearly 25 years ago. Continuous hangarage has meant its still almost as good as new - the regions high UV not having caused any major problems. I have actually toyed with taking the aircraft (an ex-RAF a/c based at White Waltham west of London) back to its original Royal Air Force Air Transport Auxilliary camo paintscheme, with trainer yellow undersides. But at this stage can't really justify that until such time as she needs re-bagging.

As for the carpet, yes that sounds like a fine idea. I was keen on a pic you had earlier in the thread and you made mention of a stencil applied to your new carpet? I'd also be keen to add carpet and the Fairchild logo would be a fine touch. Am I correct about this stencil or was it simply the metal skid-plates either side of the control column that you had masked-off? Having visited Oshkosh a few times over the last few years (and visited the Fairchild club meetings) I was hugely impressed by one gentleman's F24 resplendant in fabulous crimson leather seating, each one with an embossed Pegasus. Very impressive. The same logo on a floor covering could also be very effective.

Another brilliant Fairchild should you ever get to see it someday at Oshkosh (gifted I believe by an elderly gent to I think a Texas chapter of the CAP) is a late thirties model in blue and yellow - absolutely beautiful! If I can figure out how to post images - thanks for the help above - I'll add a photo to a new post.

Regarding the wheel spats, yes I'd love to get a hold of some. I did advertise in the Fairchild Club magazine about 1 year ago but with no luck. I guess glassfibre alternatives could do the job but again, i'd prefer the original. I had heard that it's possible to fill the spats with mud and debris so thus far I've simply elected to keep the wheels exposed but she certainly would look a little more polished fully faired!

Anyhow, much appreciate the forum and enjoy your pics.

All the best - Paul

Paul,
I've seen another good shot of your plane on the Australian Wikipedia site.
Jim Long
Santa Rosa, CA

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... _Argus.JPG

Peter Lubig, photographer, (and Airline Captain and Piper Pacer owner), passed me a CD of the photos we took last October (it was the day we split wood earlier on this thread). Sure makes me wish we didn't have a foot of snow.







Dave

It's interesting flying formation in left echelon in a high-wing airplane. Your left (wrong, in my case) hand is on the stick, the wing is in the way, and you're looking through a windshield that has major optical errors at the joint, plus a large hanging compass in the way. Peter kept waving me closer. I would have, if I could have reliably seen where he was.

Dave, sorry for extremely slow response. I didn't have email notification set up and I don't check in here on regular basis. I didn't buy the PT-26, my brother did. It belonged to Roger Miller of Eads, TN. Roger is a retired Northwest Airlines pilot. He completed the restoration on 1992 and had only flown the PT 106 hours since. It has not flown in six years so it is undergoing a pretty extensive annual right now...........and waiting for the field to dry out. We keep getting rain and the runway is in the "bottoms" and stays wet. We are also waiting on my Starduster to leave the roost. I sold it last month but the buyer hasn't yet been able to come get it so the hangar is currently full with two Cubs, a Swift and the Starduster. We are hopeful we can get the PT in when the Starduster is gone.

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Jim Rice
Collierville, TN

1946 Piper J-3C-65 N7155H
1946 Globe Swift GC-1B N3368K
1987 Starduster Too SA-300 N300S

Hey Dave, it looks like Peter got some very nice shots. Great late day lighting. Like you, I can’t wait of the thaw. I have to find someone I can do some winter photography with. I’m on withdrawals.

Eric

_________________
The air resounds from the Rolls-Royce roar!
To an enemy the warning is dire: here only eagles soar,
and the last thing he'll see is a mirrored Spitfire!

Jim,

Good luck with the strip. Frozen hard as a rock, here.

Dave

Dave, it was frozen solid here last week. We were hoping to fly it out then, but the inspection wasn't finished yet. By the time it was, everything had thawed! Patience is tough in this situation. LOL

_________________
Jim Rice
Collierville, TN

1946 Piper J-3C-65 N7155H
1946 Globe Swift GC-1B N3368K
1987 Starduster Too SA-300 N300S

Dave

Nice to see some of the images online, have to go up again, but this time shoot from the right side and see you easier.
Eric, we should meet up and work on a few projects, I like to get some shots of my Pacer.

thxs Peter Lubig
finally got my website working, now I can start adding.
www.planepictures.ca

I was out working on my Swift today when my brother returned from a flight in his Cub. Seems he had been up to Charles Baker airport (2M8) in Millington, TN to meet a man about a familiarizaton flight in a PT-26. He told me his isurance requires he gets 3 hours familiarization in the PT-26 with someone (doesn't need to be a CFI) else who has time in one before he can solo or carry passengers. The guy he met with only had a couple of hours a PT-26, but was willing to ride with him to meet the insurance requirements. I promptly told him I had more time than that (3.2 hours total in two different ones) in a PT-23, so he is going to check with our insurance agent to confirm a PT-23 is okay in lieu of a PT-26. I would assume the insurance underwriter will be okay with it, but who knows. I can't image they will see a difference....and one of the PT-23s I flew had had a PT-26 canopy installed so the engine (and bassawkwards mixture control) is the only real difference.

_________________
Jim Rice
Collierville, TN

1946 Piper J-3C-65 N7155H
1946 Globe Swift GC-1B N3368K
1987 Starduster Too SA-300 N300S