Warbird Information Exchange

Our neighbors across the hangar have their A-26 "Texas Special" up and flying again. Tom Travis and Al Maxwell flew it down to Temple for the airshow yesterday and today. Joe Maynard, Nimrod pilot, and the real JR helped them get started and on their way. They are expected back to Meacham in the late afternoon depending on what the time the show ends. Congratulations to the CAF maintenance crew for making it happen. The other JR

Our R2800 engine overhaul campaign continues. We need to raise at least $25,000 to get the matching funds from the TWH Foundation of NH for our first engine and we need to do it soon. We can make it add up to $50,000 with the matching funds. If you can help, please see this website: http://www.A-26Legacy.org to make a contribution with PayPal or credit card. They will obtain the matching funds and forward those to us. It is tax deductible since they are a 501c3 organization. For our part, we are offering a B-25 ground school next Saturday, May 11 from 8-5. The next DC-3 class is June 1. Please contact Dana at http://www.gga1.org or greatestgeneration@yahoo.com to sign up. We have some specials running on these. Come have some fun with us and the B-25. A raffle will be held for free ride on the B-25. Sign up today!! Thanks, JR

Mystery object of the week!!! The black thingee on the table. What is it and what type aircraft did it come out of... no wait, can't end a sentence in a preposition...... uh... what airplane puked this out? Is that better for all you grammarphiles? JR

Fuel bladder for some plane

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Our main man Ray has been fabricating pieces to install back in the area between the bomb bay and the nose wheel well that had been damaged in one of the gear collapse events of the past. This is the first of the installation process to rebuild it!! It will be the bionic man compartment!! We can rebuild it... well, Ray can anyway. The man has magic in his fingers for metal that rivals any of the great pianists... at least to our ears!
JR

Self-sealing fuel tank from an A/B-26. It's about 3/4 of an inch thick. It's made from an inner and outer layer of the thin rubberized fabric that is fuel proof. The thick layer between the inner and outer layer looks like pencil eraser rubber. When a bullet/FLAK went through it, the pencil eraser type rubber swelled up to slow down/stop the leak.

I never elaborate because JR never gives me the deserved ponies for a complete and correct answer

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Well, let me look up that word "elaborate" and I'll get back to you on that. For a Duck Drivin Lady, you sure use big words. Now, lessee... oh here it is... hmmmm, if I may "elaborate", you didn't get the pony because you didn't answer the question completely. The B29 guy came real close, his explanation was excellent, but no pony for him either. Awwww...
It is one of 3 outboard aux tanks from the B-25. Now I am done elaborating. Any questions? JR

Maybe I should have been precise........I have given elaborate Correct answers in the past and didn't get the pony

This time I just answered in the ball park

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Next time, knock it out of the park!! And when you get your voice back, please let me know. I have visions of you being the perfect woman... no voice and owns an PLB airplane!! You will be demoted from perfect when that happens!! Eeehahwwww

Oh, and well, if you had come to our B25 ground school, you would have known the answer!! BTW, we have another class this coming Saturday, May 11, from 8 am to 5 pm. Contact Dana at greatestgeneration@yahoo.com or go to our website: http://www.gga1.org to sign up. Have a great time at the Corsicana Airshow if you don't make it to class!! Support our Veterans! JR

Well, one of our ASI's didn't come out quite like we expected but luckily we found another one all calibrated and certified in CA. Should be here next week plus the 3 in 1 engine gauge should be back from overhaul then as well. We are nearly ready to start installing instruments in the panel. Still need to get the avionics package figured out. Would like to have one of the new Garmin 650 nav/com/gps. Does anybody have a connection that might help us get one at cost and w/o the need to have the same outfit install it? That has been one of the hold ups on getting one secured. We can't fly the airplane yet to a shop. But we can't wait until it is ready to fly because we need to get a lot of the installation done first. Sounds like a Catch 22 doesn't it? Speaking of, B-25 ground school this weekend. Call Dana at 817-659-9249 to sign up. Besides this w/e class, we have June 8 and June 15 available. The next DC-3/C-47 class is June 1. Get up close and personal with these fine airplanes! See you there! JR

Well, what an eventful afternoon. First, the Duck Drivin Lady launched in the PLBA O2 to Corsicana for the airshow tomorrow. Then the CAF A-26 BUBA followed a little behind to the same location. Now they are all partying while I have to stay here and slave over a hot B-25 class tomorrow. BTW, we are considering joining forces with the CAF guys and put on a joint ground school on both A-26's, their B and our K on a Saturday in late June. Will keep yall posted when the date is finalized. Meanwhile, our gun show is taking place this week down in Burleson and next weekend is the big Military Vehicle and Militaria show at the VFM Hangar, Meacham. See our website for more information. www.gga1.org. Come on out and join in the fun. JR

Some good news for our Sparkies. This little jewel in the aft avionics bay is the remote gyro control unit for the original cockpit attitude indicator. It is called a K4A vertical gyro control unit for those technophiles. Anyway, we think the one that came in the airplane is probably inop. The original gyro was replaced by a plain ol vac driven attitude indicator, but now we have found an original AI and the K4A that drives it. When we get power back on the airplane, we will try these out and see what works and overhaul as necessary. The other good news is that we found a new Garmin GTN 650 for the panel. The bad news is now we have to figure out how to pay for it. Seems like it always something, huh? The B25 class went well today and surprisingly, there were more non pilots than pilots for a change. Most were warbird enthusiasts who wanted to learn about the airplane. We have two more classes available..June 8 and 15th. It looks like we will do an A26 class the 3rd or 4th Saturday of June, but haven't got it set just yet. Stay tuned. Regards, JR

While I was busy last Saturday teaching the B-25 class, the guys finished up the right main gear. But then today, I found these parts. I think maybe we are going to have to look at the pictures again. I hate it when there are things leftover. Looks like they were just funnin me that they had it done. Anyway, I am leaving for the sandbox on Wed and will be gone awhile so it will be interesting to see what they have completed when I get back. Also, the GGA Militaria and Military Vehicle Show is next weekend, May 18-19. Two and maybe one more of the Nimrods are coming in to see K and share stories about their days. Feel free to come visit with them and see/buy some WWII or other era military equipment, uniforms, etc. The Military Vehicle Club is bringing their trucks, jeeps, armored car... who knows, maybe even a tank. Those guys seem to be able to make just about anything run again. Hawkeye is in the middle of it with the 609th Special Ops Deuce!! I have heard there will be re-enactors there as well. What a great time to come out to the VFM Hangar at Meacham Airport, Ft Worth. It will be a fun family day! JR

Texas Special and the PLBA that belongs to the Duck Drivin Lady had a good airshow at Corsicana this weekend. Both made it back home ok. The CAF TX Special is turning out to be reliable and crew training continues. We are planning a joint organization (GGA-CAF) ground school for late June or early July. Stay tuned. JR