PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life

[Taigh Ramey]

Murray's just doing the Harpoon Huggie.

Actually....lower right corner...

What all will be required to install a turret and armament when the time comes?

We have the turret and the dome already. We need to make the turret adapter ring which will be straight forward. I also need to get our original turret fairing back from Carl Scholl and then we can mount the turret.

Gotta love the the OSHA approved ladder!

[Invader26]

I'd say that that looks like a Ventura and not a 'Poon...

[hercrat]

That is a Ventura for sure. Looks like a USAAF example, maybe in Cuba? Any details you can give about it?

[cco23i]

I'd say that that looks like a Ventura and not a 'Poon...

????? I didn't know they made a PV-1 with 8 .50 calibers in the nose?

Scott

[the330thbg]

That is a Ventura for sure. Looks like a USAAF example, maybe in Cuba? Any details you can give about it?

It was taken at Lambert Field, 1943. That is all I have on it.

[GARY HILTON]

Taigh....I thought the fellow working down by the oil cooler was Murray???? and the other guy was Rick???

Rich...in Arkansas, we'd call that ladder an expensive waist of material...our OSHA ladders consist of two long sticks, with a buncha other sticks horizontally positioned evry 8 or 9 inches apart, held in place with old used chickin wire, and extra nails and screws found behind the J.C. Pennys shippin house. Save the paint for the outhouse seat. (no splinters)

[davidbray]

Taigh....I thought the fellow working down by the oil cooler was Murray???? and the other guy was Rick???

Rich...in Arkansas, we'd call that ladder an expensive waist of material...our OSHA ladders consist of two long sticks, with a buncha other sticks horizontally positioned evry 8 or 9 inches apart, held in place with old used chickin wire, and extra nails and screws found behind the J.C. Pennys shippin house. Save the paint for the outhouse seat. (no splinters)

Nice, a composite ladder!

[rclausen]

I'd say that that looks like a Ventura and not a 'Poon...

????? I didn't know they made a PV-1 with 8 .50 calibers in the nose?

Scott

Go get 'em Scott!

[Taigh Ramey]

Half Moon Bay's Pacific Coast Dream Machines show originally offered us 200 gallons of fuel to bring the Harpoon to their show which wasn't going to work for us. We can't be out of pocket...more than we already are anyway!... so it looked like we were only going to go in the Beech since we sell rides in the C-45H. Then a few days before the show they called back and we worked out the Harpoon gas thing so off we went.

The Dream Machines is a great show full of every kind of cool vehicle, engine, machine that us guys and a few gals like. Its a gear heads Mecca but I am a bit sad that I don't get to see much of it since it is a working day for me. I am flying rides in the Beech so the closest I get to the cool stuff is flying over it while hopping rides in the Twin Beech.

The Harpoon was pretty much ready to go since we had been working on her and flew the Saturday before. Vincent gave her a bath and she was as shiny as she can be in her dull bare metal finish...man, I can't wait to get her painted...oooh, non specular sea blue...my new favorite color.

Jerry came over to fly the Beech for us and since Ricky has been busting butt volunteering on the PV-2 a lot lately he got the right seat for some flight instruction. Here is a shot of Ricky doing just that and he did great too. The sunburn says that this was taken on the way home but he looked the same on the way over just not so red!



We arrived in Half Moon Bay around 7:15 am and parked the Harpoon on the ramp in some nice company



There was a good turn out at the show with an ocean of people milling about. Here is a real bad shot of the PV-2 on the ramp. My camera needs an overhaul



The aircraft for the most part were on one end of the field and the vehicles/machines were on the other end. The ride aircraft (Twin Beech, biplanes, P-51 and SNJ from the good folks at the CAF in Camarillo) were about in the middle and we all were busy throughout the day. The weather was fantastic with the only problem being the wind that picked up later in the day. It was fine for flying but hard on the ground folks. That wind sure can drain you out. Can you spot the Harpoon?



Here is a shot of the other end of the show taken late in the day when folks were already heading home. The parking lot was jammed full earlier and now you can see the precession of cars packing up the roads. I have heard that it takes many hours to get out of the show. Sure is noce to see it from the air and not the ground!

You can also see the aircraft trying to get to the runway to take off. This was a bit hard for us ride folks who really like getting in and out as fast as possible but that's part of the game we play.

The temporary ATC tower volunteers have been controlling this show for many years and are wonderful to work with. They really make things nice for us ride folks. Sorry about the bug splats on the glass. I cleaned the glass several times throughout the day too! The Beech earned her title of bug smasher today!



Here is Ricky and Cade attending to the fuel appetite of the Harpoon. I think Ricky is thinking 'is there anything in there?'



It was a good show but we need to put some display material together for the PV-2 to show the folks what she has been through for the last 65 years.

A good time was had by all but we were sure beat by the end of the day last night. Maybe we will catch up on the sleep tonight.

[cco23i]

OUTSTANDING PHOTOS! Ricky and you are my hero's, manthat's great! I think the PV-2 photo shoot with us in our dungarees will be a good thing for publicity and such also.

Scott

[Dan Johnson II]

Not sure what it is about this particular restoration, but I find myself racing to WIX to check on the latest all the time.

I've learned a lot about the Harpoon since this thread started and find myself looking for more all the time.

Thanks for saving this bird and bringing her back to life

[k5083]

I saw your plane at the show this weekend Taigh. You are doing some nice work on that and it was a treat to see. Sorry we didn't bump into each other. That is such a pretty airport too.

August

[the330thbg]

Your new bombbay doors work like a dream!

Awesome job!!

[cco23i]

Your new bombbay doors work like a dream!

Awesome job!!

Uh Oh, I can see where THIS will lead! When we load?

Scott

[me109g4]

Looks better everytime i see pics,, good work. This is the link i look for first whenever i come onto WIX, cant wait to see it once i get out to the West coast. JT