New TBM Restoration - Wings Are Back On. First Flight Soon!

[PbyCat-Guy]

Maybe his name can be painted somewhere on the airplane. I think he at least deserves that.

[johnrfuentes]

Yes, the agreement is that they will all have their names on the aircraft (right front) near the bomb bay door or wherever they would like!

That is the least we could do to Thank Them!

JohnGlen

[SaxMan]

I went up to Jack's today, Friday, August 24th. The tempo is definitely picking up as the plan is to have the TBM transported to Martin State Airport by the latter part of September. You could definitely feel it as the TBM was a beehive of activity as Jack's crew works towards completing the plane:

The one thing I noticed with my previous pictures was that I had a lot of the plane, but precious few of the people who worked on her. This was, unfortunately, brought home to me when I went looking for pictures of Don when I heard he passed. I made sure to not repeat that mistake today.

Here's how she looked when we first drove up around 10:30 AM

DSC_0003 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bill and Dave putting on the elevator:

DSC_0008 by onyxsax, on Flickr

The completed port side horizontal stabilizer:

DSC_0015 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Jack inspecting the work on the starboard wing:

DSC_0016 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Frank working on connecting up something in the wing (sorry...didn't ask what he was doing. He looked busy!)

DSC_0017 by onyxsax, on Flickr

My first project for the day (along with the other Dave) was to take this elevator from the other barn and clean it up to prep for painting. The birds had their way with it for a while!

DSC_0019 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Sometimes the work that needs to be done in restoring a warbird can be quite unglamorous, but always necessary. Here I am cleaning the bird crap off the elevator.

DSC_0022 by onyxsax, on Flickr

The end result!

DSC_0025 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Bill, Dave, Frank and Tiny (by the tree) unfolding the port wing so the flap can be attached

DSC_0029 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Those legs protuding from the bomb bay belong to none other than WIX's own BillB24!

DSC_0034 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Jim working on hooking up the elevator.

DSC_0039 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Dave, Tiny, Frank and Bill working to hook up the wing flap. This proved to be quite a pain as one of the hinge points refused to line up properly.

DSC_0043 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Frank, Tiny and myself (in the background) still working on that stubborn flap hinge:

DSC_0045 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Detail of the plumbing inside the bomb bay. The meticulous attention to detail is just amazing:

DSC_0054 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Dave and Frank still working on the flap hinge. Ultimately, we couldn't finish it today, but Frank will be back at it Tuesday.

DSC_0060 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Folding up the wings at the end of the day:

DSC_0063 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Back in the hangar. Cliff Ellis can be seen to the left of the picture talking to Jack (who is blocked by the wall). After helping push the plane back into the hangar, I have a completely new found respect for the Navy deck handlers who would have to push these planes on a pitching, slippery deck and sometimes even under enemy fire. It also gives you a good perspective of just how big an Avenger is. I'm 5'6" and am simply dwarfed by the plane

DSC_0070 by onyxsax, on Flickr

And, of course, no restoration shop is complete without its mascot. Here's Hershey coming in to inspect (and look for treats).

DSC_0075 by onyxsax, on Flickr

With a little bit of luck, the next set of pictures are going to be taken from Martin State Airport as we get ready to get this bird back up into the sky.

[Stony Jim]

Here you go SaxMan and everyone else:
Rooted through my laptop and found these pics of Don. Gene and don riviting the third seat that Don made. He had it done and installed a couple days before he left us.

He on the left walking out the door in this one.

Here he is helping install the vertical stabilizer.

[Chappie]

Hello Jim. Nice to see you on WIX again. It is so shocking to see the photo of Don working on the seat knowing he was gone just a few days later. Sorry I've not been up to see you guys since my one visit in November 2011, but work ya know? I enjoyed the day with everyone, especially when I was invited to sit with you guys at lunch literally within arms reach of the TBM.

If I can get a day off before the aircraft is moved I'll get up there one more time.


Chappie

[SaxMan]

Hi Chappie,

When the TBM gets to Martin State Airport, the crew will be going to a five day a week schedule, so maybe that might be easier to find a day that works for you rather than the normal Tuesday / Friday, and Middle River, MD, where Martin State is located is probably a bit closer than the Airville facility to you.

[planenutti]

John or any of the others close to the project,
Any chance of a fund raiser for the first flight along the lines of what they are doing for the MAM's Mossie's first flight? I am sure that there would be enough interest from and cohorts that it might be worth a thought or two. I am sure I can get a SUV load to make the driive up 95.
Bob

[BillB24]

Tested wingfold, gear retraction and flaps functions, using mule.








Rudder temporarily mounted to mark it for continuation of white stripe already on the vertical stabilizer.

[SaxMan]

Pics from today's visit (10/19/12). The plane is substantially complete. Only a few minor details are needed. Right now, there is still some uncertainty about when the plane will be shipped out. The deal at Martin State Airport fell through. There still may be a possibility that it will go to Carroll County Airport for flight testing. If that falls through, then the plane will be shipped directly to the CAF's National Capital Squadron in Culpeper, VA and the chapter will take care of getting back together and flight tested.

The prop is now on:

DSC_0001 by onyxsax, on Flickr

I was given the opportunity to "turn some wrenches" with the plane today. We were closing up holes in the firewall. This is what I had to work around on the bomb bay side:

DSC_0003 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Frank working on the firewall:

DSC_0007 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Tail feathers are on:

DSC_0009 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Gene bringing over the radioman's machine gun:

DSC_0014 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Machine gun in place:

DSC_0015 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Interior view of the machine gun installation:

DSC_0017 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Radioman's POV of the tunnel gun:

DSC_0018 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

All kinds of activity: Jim working on the firewall, Bill observing, Tiny and Cliff working on the prop:

DSC_0024 by onyxsax, on Flickr

View of the plane in the hangar:

DSC_0037 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Tiny working on the prop.

DSC_0045 by onyxsax, on Flickr

..and, of course, Jack "holding court". Sometimes I am blown away at how much I am able to learn by just sitting back and listening:

DSC_0048 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[12XU2A3X3]

hot darn, looks great!

[avenger2504]

Yes she looks awesome and will be a fine example of the breed. I presume "Tiny" is setting up the prop blade angle with the wood and the clamps?