FM-2 Wildcats!

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:46 pm

The guns are not functional.

There are a couple laws about flying around with a loaded fighter in the US. Although it would be fun to do a little hog hunting down here.

This morning the FAA stopped by and graciously granted us our EXPIRIMENTAL R&D certificate. I will fly off 5 hours under this ticket and then apply for the Limited Certificate. More to come tonight, just wanted to let yall know she is airworthy.

DH82EH · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:10 pm

Congrats Conrad!

Thanks for all the awesome updates.

Play safe and have fun!

We're looking forward to your further success! Oh yeah, and more photos

Thanks man.

Andy Scott

Pogo · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:40 pm

Rob W wrote:

Going for Grand Champion Warbird at Oshkosh are ya?

Ha! That's what I've been thinking every time I see these photos!

Would also like to hear more about the guns...

Would also like to learn why 55 degrees coarse pitch is provided? Fabulous foto of it too, pretty scary looking, lol... :shock:

Jesse C. · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:43 pm

Simply Gorgeous! Congrats to you and the crew! She is a beauty!

Thank you for sharing the build with us and I look forward to seeing the others being resurrected!!

And yes, we want more pics! :drink3:

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:55 pm

55 degrees of pitch is for cruise flight, think of the prop as a screw, 55 degrees is course pitch, take off would use fine pitch

DH82EH · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:19 pm

I understood the comment to mean, how much it would suck to have the prop get stuck at 55 degrees.
If all sources of electrics were lost.
At low speed it would be like having a 4X8' sheet of plywood up front :wink:

Andy Scott

51fixer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:47 pm

DH82EH wrote:

I understood the comment to mean, how much it would suck to have the prop get stuck at 55 degrees.
If all sources of electrics were lost.
At low speed it would be like having a 4X8' sheet of plywood up front :wink:

Andy Scott

It would be hard to run the engine with that load on it but it would glide better power off.
That angle is closer to a feathered prop than fine pitch is.

SaxMan · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 10:25 pm

What an absolute stunner!

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:10 am

She is airworthy! We had her up in the air today for a final gear swing and then back down for the weight and balance. Everything checked out and we were issued an Experimental R&D certificate to fly off the first few hours before going into Limited. I just have a few final touches tomorrow morning and then we will pull her out to start and do a couple high power runs. I was able to brush up on my 1820 skills today after work a bit in the T-28. I plan to fly it a bit more and the Mustang in the next few days to get in the right mindset for the first flight. More to follow tomorrow when she hits the sunlight!

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 2:56 am

Shooting some take offs and landings in a 6 would be better than a 51, its short coupled and narrow gear simular to the FM2.

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:55 am

fighter_ace06 wrote:

The guns are not functional.

There are a couple laws about flying around with a loaded fighter in the US.

Hmmmnnn, I thought we were exempt from that in Texas.

Seriously though, noticing your fancy barrel ends...I wondered if they were some sort of "blank firing adapter" plug or gas-gun aperture. I wasn't sure whether some kind of blank-firing display was possible or not. The Kiwi's seem to allow for it in historic aircraft....after running thru proper legal channels, of course. It's legal on the ground here. You guys have done such a fine job Conrad I just figured you went all the way.... :lol:

(99 point restoration?) :shock:

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:09 am

The T-6 would be a good idea if mine didn't look like this...

Dan K · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:33 am

Well, since it was Matt's idea, the least he could do is put it back together for you...I'm just sayin'...

fighter_ace06 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:38 am

Working on it.

DH82EH · **Posted:** Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:31 am

Or maybe he could loan you a T-6

Andy Scott

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