Bald Eagle Aviation

51fixer · **Posted:** Sun May 30, 2010 8:31 pm

Folks,
I'm far from being a genius and it has been years since I've slept at a Holiday Inn Express.
There are many who are better and more talented than I am.
I am thankful to Jim and his Dad for allowing me to work on these aircraft.
I think it is cool to have a place here to share the inner workings of some of these machines.
Lets keep the focus there.

Ed Shipley took the Spit up for a quick flight today-

Some recent pics of work-
Brake dics built up-

Wheels installed for good-

Aileron trim tabs installed on polished and painted Ailerons-

Paper is to protect paint on the tabs until balancing and installation on wing is accomplished-

Have a happy Memorial Day!
Be glad that there are many to remember. That they have served, and continue to do so.
Rich

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 7:23 pm

More flying today as Jim and then Ed took the Spit up today. Also Andrew was up in the T-6G.

I'm currently balancing the Ailerons-

A while back there was a discussion about the external stiffeners on the wings of Mustangs.

They are there because of the curtains and the projection forward on the front of the ailerons.
These need a large opening so the structure to support the skin was the above stiffeners.
This is what occupies tis space in the wing.
The fabric is the curtain that attaches to the rear spar and the aileron to prevent airflow through this area.

Rich

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 9:07 pm

Rich, thanks for letting us look over your shoulder. In the first picture of the Spit, it looks like the first stack is white and the others are dark? The departure picture shows the same on the other side. Are the front two cyl's leaner or just have more air flow over the stack?

Lynn

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 9:41 pm

Lynn, I think what you're seeing is soot on the 2nd stack on. Don't have that kind of problem on radials.

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 10:07 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

Rich, thanks for letting us look over your shoulder. In the first picture of the Spit, it looks like the first stack is white and the others are dark? The departure picture shows the same on the other side. Are the front two cyl's leaner or just have more air flow over the stack?

Lynn

The stacks have some kind of plating or coating on the base and also the welded doubler at the open end of the stack. The coating is a silver color. That is why the end of the 1st stack appears such a light color in comparison to the 5 others.
It's not soot. It is hydrocarbon fuel remnants or exhaust. Soot is something you find on jet engines.
Rich

Chris · **Posted:** Mon May 31, 2010 11:59 pm

Rich, is the aileron gap seal/curtain attached to the rear spar where we see the holes in the photo?

51fixer · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 5:57 am

Chris wrote:

Rich, is the aileron gap seal/curtain attached to the rear spar where we see the holes in the photo?

If you mean this pic, then yes,
Holes are nutplates riveted to the spar.

Rich

asb.tv · **Joined:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:41 am **Posts:** 1

One thing is for certain... it is way easier to fly these things than take care of em! Thanks Rich for keeping them flying.

Shipley

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:14 am

asb.tv wrote:

One thing is for certain... it is way easier to fly these things than take care of em! Thanks Rich for keeping them flying.

Shipley

Welcome Ed, Rich, what do you use to balance the aileron??

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:22 pm

51fixer wrote:

Lynn Allen wrote:

Rich, thanks for letting us look over your shoulder. In the first picture of the Spit, it looks like the first stack is white and the others are dark? The departure picture shows the same on the other side. Are the front two cyl's leaner or just have more air flow over the stack?

Lynn

The stacks have some kind of plating or coating on the base and also the welded doubler at the open end of the stack. The coating is a silver color. That is why the end of the 1st stack appears such a light color in comparison to the 5 others.
It's not soot. It is hydrocarbon fuel remnants or exhaust. Soot is something you find on jet engines.
Rich

Close up of the front exhaust stack.

Rich

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:28 pm

51fixer wrote:

Lynn Allen wrote:

Rich, thanks for letting us look over your shoulder. In the first picture of the Spit, it looks like the first stack is white and the others are dark? The departure picture shows the same on the other side. Are the front two cyl's leaner or just have more air flow over the stack?

Lynn

The stacks have some kind of plating or coating on the base and also the welded doubler at the open end of the stack. The coating is a silver color. That is why the end of the 1st stack appears such a light color in comparison to the 5 others.
It's not soot. It is hydrocarbon fuel remnants or exhaust. Soot is something you find on jet engines.
Rich

Close up of the front exhaust stack.

Rich

Roger that, thanks

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:50 pm

Took a quick look under the Rocker Cover on the A bank.
All fingers accounted for and the cam looks good after 6 flights.

Rechecked the pre oiler feed-

Changed a leaky CSU or prop gov gasket-

Shouldn't delaminate this way-

CSU mounting pad. Located behind the A Bank over the Supercharger-

Rich

CraigBirkhold · **Joined:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm **Posts:** 64

Hi Rich, I guess I need to catch up a little bit. I remember seeing Frenesi during some restoration work (before paint) at Fort Wayne Air Service/John Dilley's shop many moons ago. At the time I figured that this P-51 would be in great shape for many years to come and was surprised and confused why it was undergoing another restoration again. I wanted to find out what event caused the need for the new restoration and rework. I don't know if the response is for public info, but I was just curious. I have always thought that Frenesi was one of the best and loved the dash panel! You and Jim are doing a great job with these warbirds. Did I just date myself? Thanks, Craig :roll:

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:02 pm

Rich, does Roush make any Griffon fingers like what they have for the Merlin's??

51fixer · **Posted:** Fri Jun 04, 2010 9:15 pm

Lynn Allen wrote:

Rich, does Roush make any Griffon fingers like what they have for the Merlin's??

Roush doesn't make them.
They use Fingers that are produced by David Walker when they can get them.
They were using ones from England but unsure whether they still do.
We have investigated doing Griffon Fingers and have yet to pursue this direction.

Rich

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