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

[A26 Special K]

I thoroughly enjoy this thread.

Ken

Thanks Ken... keep coming back when you can and join the fun. Maybe you can visit with us when K starts flying because we will be coming thataway! East coast tour is in our planning for next year. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

The patter of little Duck Feet was heard over several North Texas aerodromes late yesterday. The PLBA flew well and new engine really performed well and seems to be broken in. The pilot flew well enough and safely enough to get the BFR done; however, after 14 or so months needs to knock some rust off.

Excellent and congratulations!! We are going to need a FAC to mark those wild hogs out at the ranch so we can roll in on em with napes in the K. Ta Dah!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Guess who is out of town for the Burnet Airshow this weekend?? Only then would we dare post this. We think she took her broom in the PLBA, but in this picture, we are thinking it is the third one from the left. Does anybody know for sure? Uh oh, she must have sensed something. Ribet Ribet... JR

[A26 Special K]

BTW, our neighbors down the street are well into a major renovation of the former home of American Airlines during the late 20's and 30's... like last century. The corporate offices were in the brick addition to the hangar. The ceiling is being raised about 12 feet in the hangar and the floor is being completely replaced. New windows will be done when everything is settled back down. It is going to become an FBO as soon as it is completed. There are other renovations and new construction going on around the airport. Sure will be nice for the AOPA convention in October, but this is not the reason for doing all of this. It just needed doing. JR

[A26 Special K]

This is over the entrance to what would have been the main corporate office on the side of the hangar. Each corner of the hangar has the AA Eagle symbol on it similar to what is shown each side of American Airways. Would like to get a picture of K sitting in front of the hangar when both are done! We have several AA guys working on K so that would be very fitting. Ta dah! JR

[A26 Special K]

It is not all that often that an historic aircraft gets worked on by a man who flew it during its prime. Joe M was part of the first contingent of AF flyers who went to VN in 1962 in C-123's. Then went back again in A-26's. Now he is helping to bring this national treasure back to the skies where she belongs to help tell the stories of those who flew and maintained her. It is indeed an honor to have Joe on our team! Work continues on the nacelle in preparation for the right gear installation. David and Rand buttoned up the electrical wiring and re-installed the battery tray so that everything will be ready. The upper portion of the gear is set to receive the main leg next weekend. Big Mike has some painting to do inside the nacelle end caps and there is a high probablity that we could see some gear swings soon. Overall, a good day! JR

[A26 Special K]

Work continues on the inventory of parts and proper storing/recording in the new bins. Big Tim and the real JR spent a good part of the day unloading boxes of engine parts plus another load that we got yesterday from California. We found a genuwine cockpit heater for the A26 in this last load. Joe M says he used it some and it worked well back in the day. Looking at the other hardware needed to make it work though puts it in the nice to do later category. It was gas fired. Hmmm, maybe we will just wear longhandles instead.... as expensive as gas is?? The other JR

[A26 Special K]

Too Tall Tim's eyesight, we noticed, doesn't seem to be as sharp as it used to be. Maybe it is all the fine print and part numbers he is trying to read so we can get a handle on what we have in these last two big boxes of parts. That's his story anyway and he is stickin' to it. Tim is checking out the numbers on a vibrator in case the Duck Drivin Lady is wondering. BTW, we have it on good authority that she flew a good show today at Burnet. We sure would like to make it down there with K next year and chase her around the field a few times, but only if she promises not to burn up the airport or turn the nice Air Boss into a toad. JR

[NImrodA26]

.............. We found a genuwine cockpit heater for the A26 in this last load. Joe M says he used it some and it worked well back in the day.
==========They also work well at stopping bullets, as Joe K. found out one night in 666, after taking some AAA fire.

[ALAN.L]

Hi JR, really enjoying seeing your regular updates on the project, from this side of the Pond, if only I was closer ,I would love to give a hand !

Best regards, Alan

[A26 Special K]

Hi JR, really enjoying seeing your regular updates on the project, from this side of the Pond, if only I was closer ,I would love to give a hand !

Best regards, Alan

Thanks Alan... we sure could use a good hand. Sorry you aren't on this side of the globe, too. We do have some Brits helping though so the UK is represented if that is any consolation! Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

Randy, speaking of the heater stopping a shell, check this out. Stainless steel and very thick. No wonder it stopped one on 666. Any recollection of how long it took to fix it and put her back in the air? There is a lot of associated ducts, valves and fuel lines. Good thing that shell hit the heater instead of the fuel line. It is right under a bunch of electrical stuff. I think I just convinced myself that we won't put the heater back in for certain! Besides that, the thing weighs a ton. JR

[A26 Special K]

Here's a view of the heater innards! JR

[A26 Special K]

These two panels of armor are the upper and lower covers of the inboard leading edge where the cable and lines run from the engine nacelle to the fuselage are being prepped for primer on the inner surfaces. They are heavy aluminum but wouldn't stop a 50 cal or bigger shell. Still better than nothing when no foxhole is available. JR

[A26 Special K]

The right wheel well is just waiting for the gear to be hung and a bit of touch up paint by Big Mike. We could then put her on her own feet, but we want to send the nose wheel off to have the tire checked and the wheel overhauled. As soon as the right main is solid, we will take care of that chore. JR