B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

[A26 Special K]

Our electrical system guys were busy yesterday rigging and checking out the landing gear warning and indication system. The horn works!! This is a gear in transit indication. All of the lights are doing what they are supposed to and the only thing missing is a lens cap for the center gear indicator. JR will no doubt come up with a source, but if anybody just happens to have one laying around, feel free to give us a shout! The Other JR

[A26 Special K]

Another shot of the gear indicator lights which show "three green"! Well, ok, two green and one white... the white being the missing lens cap. This marks another milestone on the road back to flight. The team was very pleased to get this done. JR

[A26 Special K]

It seems like there has been something missing under the wings for a long time. The bomb racks were pulled off after the paint was stripped in Denton to finish the job underneath them. We have dragged the racks out of storage and have begun the clean up on these. JR

[A26 Special K]

These are the said bomb racks. The two inboard pylons are plumbed for 230 gal external fuel tanks. We would like to acquire two of these tanks if anybody knows where to look!! Functional is desirable. JR

[A26 Special K]

The famous 42D patch is ready to shoot as is the leading edge of the right side horizontal stabilizer. We have been looking for a Cherry Max rivet gun to help with the places where we have to use them. The A-26 Legacy Foundation came up with a donor who is shipping same to us as we speak. Many thanks to Don and Tom for contributing so much to our effort. If you have not visited the Foundation website, please check out the photos and stories of the Nimrods in action. This website was founded by the sons and daughters of the A-26 vets and they have long supported getting the K model back in the air to tell their story. Ck out http://www.a-26legacy.org Thanks! JR

[A26 Special K]

Several of the team members have been working to finish up the vent lines in the left main gear wheel well in anticipation of the last gear part coming back from plating so we can hang the gear. Talk about "anticipation". Can't wait to see her back on her feet. The brake overhaul is also progressing now that we have all the parts needed to finish that job. Yay!! JR

[A26 Special K]

We also dragged out some of our 100 lb practice bombs. The plan is to repaint these the proper colors and hang them in the front of the bomb bay where there were racks for small ka-booms. I suppose hundred pounders would be too big for a pig hunt? Some of you might think that is cheating, but I contend that we could get the whole herd with one pass. Heck, probably take out a few of those pesky little buggers called fire ants, too!! I am all for that. We could open the mounds with the hundred pounder and then roast the lot with a nape on the next pass. Now that is what precision bombing is all about!! JR and the Ace Hog and Fire Ant Extermination Company of Texas!!

[A26 Special K]

Nope, this is not the same picture as one shown earlier. Big Mike and his daughter who was visiting from VA are in this one. Always glad to have family come out to see what we are doing. Big Mike is one of the mainstays of our team. He, like most Aggies, always gives 110 per cent in whatever he is doing! Somehow though, his daughter is much prettier than he is!! Anyway, this shot shows one of the main features of the K model wing. OnMark rebuilt the wings and placed steel spar caps on the top and bottom to make sure they stayed where they belonged. This also enabled the wing to carry 4000 lbs on each side plus the 165 gal tip tanks. Would be handy to have the external tanks and the tip tanks functional for those long hauls out east or west... you know to the Texas border with La. or NM. From the Lone Star Republic, JR PS to the O2Lady, I am still waiting on those meeting minutes!!

[A26 Special K]

Trivia question of the Week: What is the name of this aircraft and I don't mean like A-26 is the Invader? What noseart name is it known by and who operates it? I got this shot while coming back from the Edwards AFB show awhile back. A good friend of mine was flying it and we had learned formation flying back in the early 70's together. So I was showing my protege how to do a cross under and got him to hang back just a bit for the shot. Don't see this angle very often!! We would have been easy pickin's for the ball turret gunner! There are good clues though as to the identity. Who will be first to get it right?? JR

[LadyO2Pilot]

Sentimental Journey.....B17-G

Do I get another pony?????

[A26 Special K]

Sentimental Journey.....B17-G

Do I get another pony?????

O2Lady: I had to refer your answer to the judges and they replied, "NOPE". They did mention that RTFQ, to use an old military phrase, might apply here. But since you are so close, we will give you another chance!! Thanks for playing!! JR

[LadyO2Pilot]

OK OK.....Sentimental Journey.......B17G operated and flown by the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. But when the pciture was taken it was probably the Confederate Air Force.

[A26 Special K]

OK OK.....Sentimental Journey.......B17G operated and flown by the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. But when the pciture was taken it was probably the Confederate Air Force.

O2Lady: Don't you recall the old admonition to not give too much information in an answer? The judges have now ruled that your answer is inaccurate whereas, the first answer was just incomplete! Now you have swung too far the other direction. Want to try again?? Sorrrrrryyy, JR

[LadyO2Pilot]

Do you want a possible and maybe probable pilot's name too????????

Nope I'm done

[A26 Special K]

Do you want a possible and maybe probable pilot's name too????????

Nope I'm done

O2Lady, oh don't give up so easily!! Did you ever get that checked on your report card in elementary school or did they do that back in your day?? Anyway, this shot was taken just a couple of years ago so the name of the CAF had already been changed. I can give you a hint about the name of the B-17 driver... his intials are F.H. How's that for being a big help??? JR