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

[A26 Special K]

This is the cockpit of "Lady Liberty", one of the stock airplanes we hope to fly formation with one of these days in K. The airplane is based in Enid, OK, and is down for winter maintenance. Should be up again next month and we hope to join the crews for training sessions in her. Wish our cockpit was this far along, but we are still assessing where to put the avionics if we can get some help from Garmin. Sure would be handy to have a GTN 650, transponder, encoder, audio panel and intercom.... oh, a GDL 39 to run the IPad we got for the airplane would be nice too. I dunno, maybe the cold weather has me hallucinating?? Brrr for the folks to the North of us. Don't envy that situation one bit. Will stick with the rain we had this morning!! JR

[A26 Special K]

In the left wheel well, the emergency release for the gear has been all painted and secured. As originally found, it was really a mess. Might have worked, but it wasn't too pretty. Anyway, she looks good with her new red lipstick, huh? The gear door links were installed today and tested. Found a problem with the adjustment and the fit of the outboard door. Looks like it might have to be reskinned and sized. It had a crack that had been welded at some time so the fit was not as good as we would like. The gear actuator works perfectly though. Better get out of the way if the gear is coming down! The retract time is running about 12 seconds or less. Overall, a good day! JR

[A26 Special K]

Another amazing discovery.... Too Tall Tim spent today making friends with the blaster in the right wheel well. This is what he discovered under the first layer of paint. The original placard for the color codes on the hydraulic lines was still legible. We plan to protect this placard and paint around it hopefully next weekend if we can finish the paint blasting in the rest of the well. The gear should come together as well and be ready to install shortly after.

[A26 Special K]

Some homeless man wondered into the hangar and started sifting the blasting media we use for paint stripping. This was very much appreciated! Actually, no, this is Too Tall Tim. We just didn't recognize him at first because he has been on a job down near that little town with the big community college... forget the name of it.. but they have a Longhorn steer (which is ugly as sin) as a mascot for their girls football team or some such. JR, the Aggie

[A26 Special K]

What happens to a nose tire when left in one spot for too long in the hot NM sun? It is only flat on one side, eh? One more OnMark A26 is being restored to flight that is currently stored at Las Cruces. The owner is bringing it up to ferry flight capability and then will take it to FL for the full spa treatment. When finished, it will come back to the Republic so we will have another 26 to join the formation. A full bomb run on those wild pigs out at the ranch will bring enough meat to feed Jerry Jones Stadium most likely. JR PS, we are looking for replacement nose tires. They are 36 SC, 10 or 12 ply rated, ribbed nylon and usually made by Dunlop. They are shared with the P-38 mains, B-24 and B-29 nose tires. If anybody has a serviceable one or know where one might be located, please PM me. We do not want diamond tread or rayon tires though. These don't last very long. Thanks!

[A26 Special K]

Big Mike, JT and Denis unloaded the new Conex trays and drawers today and brought them inside so that we can repair them and put them back in later. We will use this for storage of some of our stuff. This particular one was used by the US Army in Iraq so we treat it rather special. We are pleased to have the extra storage space. This will help get some of our things off the floor... yes, just like mom always said! JR

[A26 Special K]

OK, so you are doing a preflight walkaround inspection on your B-25. What's wrong with this picture... if anything? Hmmmmmm?? JR

[Warbird Kid]

Missing a door?

[flyingsailor]

Missing a door?

I thought he was referring to the boat anchor on the floor

Hopefully just a precaution.

[A26 Special K]

Well, yes, there is a missing gear door and associated linkages. This was done as part of the SB on the upper gear and hasn't been re-installed yet. The boat anchor on the floor, aka R-2600, is the engine pulled from the left side that is being replaced due to time. It still runs good, but no use going past time to have a look inside. The replacement engine is expected soon. So anyway, sharp eyes, guys!! Thanks for catching these on the pre-flight. If yall would like to know more, we are offering a B-25 systems and flight operations ground school for pilots, crew chiefs and warbird enthusiasts at Meacham Field in Ft Worth on Saturday, April 27. It will run from 8 am to about 5 pm and include hands on pre-flight inspection and servicing of our B-25, Pacific Prowler. Highly experienced B-25 pilots and crew chiefs will give the training and a drawing will be held for a free ride in the airplane for one lucky participant. Contact Dana at greatestgeneration@yahoo.com to schedule for the class. The GGA website is http://www.gga1.org. We will conduct a similar gs for the A-26 as we get closer to a first flight date. See you there! JR

[Ken]

I assume this has been seen before, but ...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... flight.jpg

[NImrodA26]

I assume this has been seen before, but ..

===============
That's one of the best shots of 671 that I've ever seen. Sadly, it was scrapped in 1999 at Florence, S.C. I still have a couple panels from it.

[rdennard]

Wow Randy... do you still have that pannel? Perhaps someday it will go to the Air Comando Asn in Fort Walton Beach.

That pic of 671 had to have been taken in the "early" days. By late '68 we were no longer flying our on flares. (The flares in this pic are on the outboard wing stations.)

It's a shame it was scrapped. As one of the surviving original eight it may have had more combat sorties than all the other A/C.

[NImrodA26]

Wow Randy... do you still have that pannel......................

=================Yep, still have it along with another and a couple other artifacts. I donated a couple pieces to the TLCB assistance auction some years ago, and they did real well in that auction.

[A26 Special K]

Hey Randy & Ken... thanks for the pics. Those are great. We need to get some of those patches made that are on your panel Randy. I already have been talking to Jason Barnett about painting small versions of those on the sides of the airplane under the cockpit. It will help us tell the story of the guys at NKP, England and Hurlburt AFB's. BTW, Saturday, March 2, is the big auction day at the hangar. Come out to see a lot of Jason's artwork and noseart panels along with many aircraft parts, WWII equipment and other things. It starts at 9 am sharp. The VFM hangar is located at Meacham Field, Ft Worth, TX. For more information, check out our FB page at http://www.gga1.org. The restoration crew will be there working on K and tours will be given of the B25 and K both. Come see us!! JR