Warbird Information Exchange

Not as dramatic as some of the later examples but I once found an 8 inch steel scraper inside a Beech 99 fuel bladder. It was the type with 90 degree bend. It was lying bent side up. I have a quarter inch deep well socket that has nice rings ground into it from lying wedged between baffling and a cylinder barrel.

An FBO I once worked for opened up the wing of a brand new Bonanza to install a flux gate and found a complete riveting set, gun, sets, and several bucking bars. Beechcraft had been involved in one of thier recurring labor disputes a few weeks before.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

I think they have more smarts than that! It was not found like that but the witness marks indicated where it was.

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

My story isn't exactly about finding a tool but it is relevant to the thread,

After a few hours towing gliders on a good soaring day, I finally got to relax as they were all airborne and I had no more customers. After a smoke and a coffee I got bored and decided to have a closer look at the PA-25 Pawnee towplane. Found a hunk of 2x4 pine about 3 feet long wedged down inside the rear of the fuselage by the tail.

My fault for not doing a proper pre-flight inspection when I changed over from the earlier 'morning duty' pilot at lunchtime. We just swapped over while the engine was running - it was busy!

When I asked him later how he missed it during his early morning pre-flight check he just shook his head and walked away without a word.

Learnt that checks actually matter - before you fly.

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Little Johnny : "When I grow up I want to be a pilot!"

Johnny's Mother : "Don't be silly Dear - you can't do both!"