Warbird Information Exchange

The guys at the restoration hanger jokingly call it their "Submarine". Actually, it's a:

Boeing Condor-Built entirely of composites, wingspan wider than a 747, powered by two Continental TSOL-300-2 engines.
In 88 & 89, it set several records for piston powered aircraft by reaching a top altitude of 67,028 ft and stayed aloft for nearly two and one half days. Because of it's size and slow speed, it was deemed too vulnerable for military use.
sounds like this got replaced by the Global Hawk.

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Well, bud, you almost had me going there for a little bit. Boeing Condor, huh? It is almost the size of the K. And after staying aloft for a couple of days, I bet that felt about the same as the guys who ferried them across the Pacific and back. Ugh... my aching back. Think I will take it to bed. Getting too old for this late night stuff. Haven't seen the Duck Driving Lady on tonight so guess she is out partying. You know how those youngins are. And here I was all set to give her the story about the Titanic that I have been saving for the 100th. By the way, when you were at Florence looking at the K, did you go see where the B47 dropped that A bomb back in '58? Anything to mark the spot? Did they haul all of the dirt away? The chem explosive went off and made a 35 ft deep crater. I am still scratching my head about the one missing off Savannah and why it has not re-emerged with some kind of trace. Can you imagine somebody finding that thing a 100 years from now and trying to figure out what it is? Kinda like that the Civil War sub they found a few years ago.. similar but different. That is going to be a bad surprise if they try to open it up. Wouldn't want to be around for that unveiling. JR

The Condor project was more of a lead-in to the current Boeing Phantom Eye than anything else. Its main goal was to prove that high altitude, low power flight was feasible for a UAV. The Phantom Eye takes it to the next level by using hydrogen to power the craft for even longer endurance.

Also, the Hiller museum has one - http://www.hiller.org/condor.shtml

........................when you were at Florence looking at the K, did you go see where the B47 dropped that A bomb back in '58? Anything to mark the spot?
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All I remember about the nuke drop was that there was a placard at the museum that told about the drop and that it was a couple miles from the museum, but I never went to the site so I don't know if there is any markers or not.
And you would think with the improvements made in underwater searching, that someone would have found the one in Savannah.
Back to the "K" (671) that was at Florence, the first time I saw it in 84 it had the correct engines and props. Next time I saw it the engines and props had been swapped out. I understand the AF wanted the correct ones for 676 at the museum in Dayton. And of course, the last time I saw it, it was in pieces. Should have taken a bigger vehicle, I'd have gotten more of it.

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Looked at the picture of the Hiller airplane... it does look like a cross between a PBY and a submarine. Thanks! JR

You wouldn't have gotten the small door off the bottom of the fuselage that goes into the avionics compartment in the tail, would you?? We are needing either a replacement door or the latch that goes on it. It is a slide latch sort of thing. JR

This nacelle panel and another one like it without the small hatch in the center is all I have. I cleaned the other one back to bare metal and was surprised to find that it is stainless steel. Must have had something to do with engine heat?

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Yes, a sticky keeps your thread always on the first page. A good thing for this one. See sticky's above.

M

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Well, we had a good day at the hangar in spite of it being a holiday weekend. There were 12 bodies who pounded on the airplane. The real JR got a lot done on the vertical spar repair. Felipe and David have the trunnion support in the left wheelwheel about done. Actually it could have been finished today except for the need of a couple of tapered washers. Amy is working the last bracket in the bomb bay doors. David A and Tim worked on making a good landing light for the right wing. We have four that we are trying to find the right combination to make one work. One will extend the light from the bottom of the wing and that is as close as we got today. Will have to troubleshoot the wiring to the retract side of the motor. David L and grandson worked on stripping paint and cleaning up the inside of the tail cone. Denis and some of Hawkeye's sons/friends pressure washed the cowlings and wheels thanks to Brian's rig that he brought. He also helped Felipe in the wheelwell after David had to leave. Denis also has taken on the task of sorting out all of our hardware and putting in cases with labels where we can find them when needed. What a concept!! Hawkeye was taking an unairworthy prop apart to make art out of the blades. We had one that was all done up nice and the Nimrods signed back in Oct at their reunion in FL that was put up for auction on Ebay awhile back. It sold for a very nice sum that will help us out a bunch. Perhaps we can build up others that will attract some interest. We did some preliminary planning on the A26 guys mini reunion and thought about having a BBQ or fish fry where other folks could come have lunch or dinner with the guys and listen to their stories. Hawkeye would like to video a roundtable discussion with them at some point that people could watch as they are doing it. It would be kinda like the "After the Catch" format currently on tv. Will post some pics tomorrow. Headed to friend's boat to join the crew for an evening cruise and cookout.... Jim T just got the thing running for the first time in 20 years so hope we don't sink. Later, the other JR

Yep, Randy, you are right. Stainless steel was used on that area around the engine due to heat. Too bad we didn't know all about the airplane before it was scrapped in Florence. I have some other interesting pics that I will have to find about when they were used as target tugs. JR

Our two AA guys are shown here about to finish up the trunnion support that was fabricated via our resident engineer, Jerry D. David and Felipe whipped out the ol torque wrench and actually used it. The usual method of just running it up until it smokes and then giving it half a turn was frowned upon by our resident DAR, that would be the real JR so we complied with his instructions about using the T wrench. As stated earlier, we need some tapered washers to finish 3 of the bolts and then it will be ready to start hangin the left gear back in as soon we finish the rest of the work in the nacelle and get the outer cylinder back from plating. All in due time... the other JR

We haven't had a new Mystery Part of the Week lately so to get back on track, what is this stovepipe looking thing sticking up on the work table?? Hmmmm?? Bueller, anyone, anyone?? JR

And a Happy Easter to everybody!! We hit 48,000 views today. That is just plum wonderful. We are glad there is this level of interest in our project. Can't wait to show everybody when the K is ready for her debut at an airshow. Thanks for your support and encouragement. JR

This is the door I referred to earlier, Randy, that leads into the avionics bay where the oxygen bottles are also stored at the top. Door is closed in the left picture looking toward the tail and open in the right. It has this pull down handle that pulls a latch tongue out of the slot. The spring that holds it normally in place is gone. Too bad you didn't have one in your collection. Forward of this door is where there was a machine gun turret in WWII that has been removed. Back in the 50's and early 60's, the airplane served as a target tug. Now there is a plate that covers up the door where the cable and sleeve was let out by the airman who rode in the back and controlled the winch. I bet that was a hairy job at times.. rookies coming in and shooting live ammo at the sleeve and getting very close to you instead, not to mention the risk of a midair collision. Sounds even more riskier than combat, huh? JR

This is looking up thru the avionics bay door toward the top where the oxygen bottles are located. The two black boxes in the foreground are the inverters we cleaned up and checked out. They work fine to give us AC power where needed. JR