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

[SPANNERmkV]

Hey BomberFlight,
It is going great! Chuck and Ken and Ole and the new guy Col. Col. (Retired US Army Col. so he is double birded!) and others finished hanging the rudder Saturday.

Thank heavens for cell phones. Ole was in the cockpit on the phone to Chuck while they were adjusting the trim mechanism. It took multiple tweaks to get it centered up. Much nicer to call and chat rather than hang out the window yelling at each other.

Cousin Larry has been re-painting the bombs and they are looking Style-Master 2010 Ghetto Fabulous!
OK... they are at least green!

One of the fuel sump access doors now has a new hinge which was a bit of preventive maintenance.

Three of the instruments are at the shop being repaired. That is always big fun because sometimes the shop gets busy and since we are "just a warbird" our stuff gets worked on as they get time.

Bud has finished painting the top of the right wing and it looks great!

We also had a soldier on leave from Afghanistan come through the hangar on tour. He was accompanied by his 90 year old Veteran Grandfather. Humbling is all I can say about that.

Rumour has it it might be trifle chilly in the UK?

Merry Christmas to all and to ALL a good flight,

SPANNER

[Obergrafeter]

Don't forget to put Hondo down for MAY 21 WHEN YOU START LAYING OUT YOUR SPRING SCHEDULE.

[SPANNERmkV]

TEXAS RAIDERS update:
Watch the skies between David Wayne Hooks airport and Hobby this Friday Jan. 21st.

We are repositioning TR for some maintenance work to be performed at Hobby. Hopefully the work will be completed in 7-10 days.
We are completing the exhaust modifications on Engines 2 and 3.
And we are going to get new tires put on the wheels.

Sometime in April we will be hosting an event at Hooks with the Auburn-Cord-Deusenberg club which will include some (B-17 rides, if all goes according to plan.

SPANNER

[bomberflight]

B-17 rides

I've been thinking about nothing else for days !

http://bomberflight.info/2010_Rides/Texas_Raiders.htm

[SPANNERmkV]

ATTENTION Fence Spotters

The flight has been delayed until approximately 1330 hrs
in consideration of Congresswoman Gifford's arrival at Hobby and subsequent LifeFlight to the Medical Center.

Standby to standby.
And dress warmly!!!

SPANNER

[flyingfortress1000]

Here is a video i recently shot, friday Jan 21st, of Texas Raiders departing Hooks for Hobby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nELTuwAo_-E

Hope you like it!

Keep 'em Flying,
Chris

[SPANNERmkV]

OK...
Here is a preliminary look at TEXAS RAIDERS operations for 2011. Everything is subject to the vagaries of operating 60 year old warbirds.

MAR 19 - 20 Jasper, TX Airshow

APR 2 (Sat) West Houston Open House - West Houston Airport (IWS)

APR 8 (Fri) Houston Astros Opening Day Flyover, 1800 hrs, Overhead stadium

MAY 6 - 8 Central Texas Airshow (Temple)

MAY 13 - 14 Corsicana, TX "Airsho"

May 20 -22 Hondo, TX

AUG 8 - 15 Colorado Springs, CO "B-17 Week" & 381st Bomb Group Reunion

OCT 7 - 10 Airsho'11, Midland, TX, CAF Hqs

OCT 14 - 16 Wings Over Houston

Hope to see you ALL there. At everyone of them!

SPANNER

[T-28mike]

Just watched her taxi in @ DWH. No.3 looks like a steam train going up a steep grade.... She might have a couple of guides going bye bye.

[SPANNERmkV]

There seems to be sumpin' about #3.
It has always been the nastiest engine, except when #2 steals the honours!

It usually settles down tho', but rest assured we will keep an eye on it!

SPANNER

[67N20]

OK...


Hope to see you ALL there. At everyone of them!

SPANNER

I'll make WOH for sure and hopefully the Open House on April 2nd.

[steve dickey]

Planning on Temple, Sunday.

[SPANNERmkV]

OK...


Hope to see you ALL there. At everyone of them!

SPANNER

I'll make WOH for sure and hopefully the Open House on April 2nd.

I have been told that West Houston Open House is TWO DAYS of aviation ecstasy.

April 2 and 3rd

So if you can't make one, try for the other... if not both!

[the330thbg]

good luck!!

[jannypan]

I'll put the first $100.00 in the hat. Who's next, Ober , as long as Scott says its ok. Don, we'll need an address.

[bomberflight]

I've been playing with my slide scanner today ..... I just opened a box of Kodachomes dated Oct 12th 1980 / Location : Harlingen and I found the one I wanted to digitise