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

[A26 Special K]

Ken, this is what Ray had to say about the orientation of the blue formation lights:

"I noticed yesterday when installing them that there was a stencil on the light ring base indicating forward. The wiring harness probe for the assembly is what should face forward and requires a notch in the wings and fuselages otherwise round mount holes. The “notch,” already present in Kay was facing forward. So the formation lights are indeed oriented with the beveled lens aft ward even though I was not aware of the proper mounting orientation beforehand. What luck huh!"

So there you have it straight from the horse's mouth! JR

[A26 Special K]

It was a good day at the hangar today....Mother Nature cooperated and gave us a mild temp in the hangar and a good breeze to help keep things cool. The team got a lot done. David A is checking out the bomb bay switches wiring and seeing where some of the loose wires are going. We hope to be ready to make the bomb bay doors fully operational soon. Looks like we will have to put the real JR on the hunt for new switches. The existing ones are not so good according to David. Thank god for Flomax and ILS searches!!! The other JR

[A26 Special K]

New guy, Jaime, got checked out on the blaster today and had the job of prepping the next gun port for paint. It looks as good as the first one now. Progress on the nose continues. Lou and Miguel continued working the patch on the right side of the fuselage. Should be done by next weekend looks like. Meanwhile, we had some distraction at the hangar. The B25 took a short test hop and came back with only two little bitty adjustments that need to be made. Should be fully operational by next weekend. Yay!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Rand blasted the doghouse cover and now our Magicman, Ray, is doing his thing on the repairs to it. We need to have this done with new glass installed by Oct since Kay has to sit outside for a week or so during the VFM hangar dance and the AOPA Summit of 10-11-12 Oct at Meacham. We plan to put her on display on the AOPA ramp along with our DC3 and B25 which will be giving rides and tours. Be sure to put Meacham Airport on your schedule during that time as nearly a thousand airplanes may show up including some of the very latest designs. Just seems unnatural though to have an airplane that doesn't mark its territory! JR

[A26 Special K]

David B and Arnold spent the better part of the day getting the trunnion fittings installed in the elevator and getting it ready to hang. Would like to have both of these done by AOPA Summit time. Meanwhile, Ed installed the repaired gas tank on our surplus crane so now it runs purty good. Will sure need that right after the Summit in order to remove both engines. JR figures that we are about the 70% mark on the airplane with the engines being the next big step. Painting not included in the figure. But if things go right, that should not take much time. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

JR and Ed cleaned up the escape hatch of the doghouse cover and just about have it ready to go. We had some visitors today from Mt. Pleasant who came over in their T-6. Nice noise, but more distraction!! Funny how everybody runs to the front door when a round engine enters the downwind pattern. So we welcomed Scott and Matt to the A-26 corner. Billy Bob's was also mentioned as another reason to come to town!! EEehawwww... Will have to see them off tomorrow. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

While I was gone this week, James Sizemore paid a visit to Special Kay and I regret I was not able to be there, but Hawkeye met with him and shot some video. His dad was the last Nimrod A-26 pilot lost in Laos in 1969 and the last to be recovered. This was so recent that burial service is planned now for Sept 23, 2013 at Arlington National Cemetery. You would think the military would honor a request for a flyover, but since this Sequester nonsense is going on, they can't. Write your congressmen and tell them what you think of that... PLEASE. James is trying to arrange for an A26 to come up from NC to do the honors, but it will cost close to $20 K to make it happen. Just wish K was up and flying. We would do it for sure.. and it would not cost the family I can tell you that. One way or the other, we would be there. JR

[A26 Special K]

A good friend of mine in Australia sent this shot. He is getting the full treatment of Tiger Moth acrobatics. Alex and I go back a long time to a little jaunt to Turkey back in the 80's with a few of our other friends from UK, Germany, Canada etc. I am going to trade him a ride in the A26 for a ride in the Tiger Moth. Don't you think that would be a fair trade? JR

[A26 Special K]

Very pleased to get the nosewheel back from overhaul at the Aviall shop. It was worth every cent and then some. Like new car smell and look. Can't wait to see the tire all mounted up and back in place where it belongs. That leaves one little look at the nose gear linkage and the gear should be completed. JR estimates we are at the 70% completion point not counting engines or paint. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

Rand worked on cleaning and stripping the paint on the doghouse canopy frame so Ray could finish up the metal repairs today. We had the before picture earlier. We will call this the half way done picture. When the repairs, paint and new glass are installed, that will be the rest of it. We want to have this done by the time of the AOPA Summit at Meacham in October since the airplane will be outside on display for a week or so. Hope to start painting the doghouse area soon as well. It originally was the only gray part of the interior so JR found the right mil spec paint to go back there. Should be looking spiffy soon. Since Big Mike went off to Alaska, we have been missing his painting skills. If you would like to volunteer and have that ability, please come out next Saturday and visit. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

Here is another Tiger Moth shot from Alex in Australia. He said he would trade me a ride in the A26 for a ride in the Moth. I think it would be worth a trip to Australia for that!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Inu, our floor mgr, was seen leaving work early on Saturday. Seems he had to go by the shop and pick up some cool new shades for his ride home. They are supposed to be good for flying as well. We are trying to figure out how to get some good ear muffs for him so he can ride in the B-25 since it is one of the loudest airplanes out there short of a C-130 on the inside. He might fit in the back of the A26... where else, but the doghouse!! Ha, you wondered how I was going to lead up to that, huh, O2 Lady?? Caught you napping!! Yes, the doghouse is going to get painted soon, but even though gray doesn't really go with your nails or Inu's coat for that matter, that is just the way it has to be. No PINK! JR, the semi great Artiste...... Rivet

[LadyO2Pilot]

Never PINK..........RED - Yes, definitely...Black - Maybe

[K5DH]

Never PINK..........RED - Yes, definitely...Black - Maybe

Definitely red 'n black. No pink.

[A26 Special K]

OMG Dean... no, you didn't.... oh man, green is not going to be a good color for you! Better hope she doesn't see it or you are going to be a toad so quick you won't know what hit you.... probably a truck. Try and stay off the roads. Been nice knowing you! Hope this works out for ya. Let us know when you get back to normal. JR