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

[hawkeyepoole]

From Fox News Today:

Buried for more than 40 years inside the plane they were flying when they were shot down over Laos in 1969, Major James Sizemore and his navigator Major Howard Andre made their final journey home Monday to Arlington National Cemetery, where they were laid to rest just the way they flew: side by side.

Full story: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/23/vi ... latestnews

There were a few unusual aspects to this funeral:

1.) Buried Side by Side: apparently either a first or at least very unusual
2.) Two caissons. Not done in recent history
3.) Civilian flyover supported by the combined government entities and totally paid for with private funds

All in all a great tribute to OUR NIMRODS who deserve this kind of respect.

Soon we will fly a real A-26A Counter Invader to honor these gentlemen and not just an A-26B Invader which is a similar but not the same aircraft as they flew over the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Hawkeye out, from Boston MA....

[hawkeyepoole]

Another article:

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/09/fa ... 94395.html

[NImrodA26]

Thanks for those sites, Hawkeye. If it wouldn't be for the fact that I'm in Florida now, I would have went to that service. God bless those guys and the ones who did the flyover.

[NImrodA26]

I guess this settles the question of how many rounds each gun held on the A-26. Took this at Fantasy of Flight today. Don't think this would count the rounds that could be in the belts between the boxes and gun, probably about another hundred or so rounds.

[A26 Special K]

Some folks who install an avionics master also add an alternate master so that the failure of one switch doesn't disable everything. I only mention because it sounds like you still have a little time to decide on how y'all are gonna rig it up and maybe this is something you've already considered.

Ken

Exactly what we had in mind. The A team is workin on it!! In spite of my absence for the past two weeks, they have soldiered on with the work. When the wiring harness arrives next week from the shop along with all of our new radios, we should see the instrument panel going back in the cockpit soon. We were able to find some original NOS tachometers and tach generators along with the overhauled OAT gauge so we hope this completes the system. Now if all that stuff will really work!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Randy, thanks for the report on the ammo boxes. I have seen numbers around 2700 total rounds for the 8 .50's so that works out very close to your number. Wish we could find some of the ammo boxes. They were a special phenolic box it appears. They must not have survived very well. We have run the part numbers several times on the internet search engine, ILS, without a single return. We are hot on the trail of fabricating some replica guns, but might be sorta pointless without the ammo boxes. Belts and links we have found. Might have to put that on our to do list for later. Need the weight in the nose for a better CG position than we what we currently have. Thanks again! JR

[A26 Special K]

Lou and friends made the repair to the side of the fuselage where the FOD went thru during the crash landing back in the Georgia days. It nicked an underlying fuel pressure line and we were just lucky it never started leaking. So this repair is close to being finished. One less hole to patch. This may be compared to eating an elephant. Just have to do it one bite at a time or it would be overwhelming. JR

Last edited by A26 Special K on Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[A26 Special K]

Here is the crew entry ladder that we talked about earlier. It appears to have been painted red at one time. Do any of our Nimrod guys remember what color it was back in the day? Be nice to go back original. Thanks, JR

[A26 Special K]

Saturday afternoon saw a downpour at Meacham airport. Our CAF neighbors pulled their A-26 out to wash it I hope because it got a good washing. Got nearly a half inch in just a few minutes. The wind blew so a lot of the rain was almost horizontal at one point. Had to close the hangar doors to keep it out. The wx forecast is good the rest of the week though. Should be good for the VFM 1940's Hangar Dance on Sat, Oct 5 with the BBQ dinner starting at 6:30 pm and the dance at 8:00 pm. GGA will be offering rides in the DC-3 as well. We decided we couldn't pull K out for the hangar dance because she is still up on jacks awaiting the overhaul of the nose gear drag leg brace assembly and the trunnion support assembly repairs. The A26 was notorious for having the nose gear collapse so we are taking every precaution to prevent that. Engines and props are just too expensive to repair on top of everything else. JR

[A26 Special K]

Denis got the nose gear pieces painted that we needed done and David A got some rework done on some smaller parts. The nose gear is getting closer to going back together. Although the nose gear strut itself was the first thing overhauled, the drag leg brace assembly was left until after the two mains were completed. Should be a couple of weekends probably before it is all back together. We are still on the hunt for a 36 SC or diamond tread nose tire if anybody has some solid leads. This would finish up that section. Please be sure to drop by and say hello at the VFM hangar dance this coming Saturday, Oct 5. We will be there to show folks around who want to see our progress. See ya there!! JR

[bmoran]

36" SC Tires Cross Reference List:

Convair B-24/PB4Y
Aux Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Diameter: 36.15"
Avg Sect: 12.47"
Load lbs.: 10500
PSI: 70
Rim Diameter:17.75
Rim Width:12.47

Douglass A-26
Aux Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Siameter: 36.5"
Avg Sect.: 20.44"
Load lbs.: 8200
PSI: 51
Rim Diameter: 17.8
Rim Width: 13.5

Northrop A-17A
Main Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Diameter: 36.64"
Avg Sect.: 13.5"
Load lbs.: 8200
PSI: 51
Rim Diameter: 17.8
Rim Width: 13.5

Northrup P-61B
Aux Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Diameter: 36.5"
Avg Sect.: 20.44
Load lbs.: 8200
PSI: 51
Rim Diameter: 17.8
Rim Width: 13.5

Seversky P-35
Main Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Diameter: 36.64"
Avg Sect.: 13.5"
Load lbs.: 8200
PSI: 51
Rim Diameter: 17.8
Rim WIdth: 13.5

Lockheed P-38
Main Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Diameter: 36.15"
Avg Sect.: 12.47"
Load lbs.: 10500
PSI: 70
Rim Diameter: 17.8
Rim WIdth: 12.5

North American B-25/PBJ
Main Tire: 36" SC
Avg Outer Diameter: 36.86"
Avg Sect.: 17.75
Load lbs.: 6000
PSI: 38
Rim Diameter: 17.75
Rim Width: 13.5

(While not exhaustive, this list is more substantial than "B24, B29 and P-38", unless there are some subtleties I'm not aware of.)

[A26 Special K]

Interesting facts there. We were aware that the 36's were used on the B-24, B-29 and as mains for the P-38's. One that jumps out as being incorrect at least on the J model is the B-25 main tire which is shown to be a 36 and it definitely is not on the B-25 we had. Again, if anyone has a lead on where to obtain a 36 SC or diamond tread, we are all ears. They are very scarce apparently so a supplier or contact would be deeply appreciated. Both of our nose tires have failed the criteria for recapping. Thanks, JR

[A26 Special K]

Well, a nice surprise arrived at the hangar today. Our avionics wiring harnesses showed up and looks like there are nice diagrams and plans with them so we can finish getting all the avionics installed. Larry will probably start working on them tomorrow and then the rest of the crew on Saturday. Come on by and see how nice it all looks. Don't forget the VFM Hangar Dance Saturday night that starts with a BBQ dinner at 6:30 pm and the Big Band 40's music at 8 pm til midnight. It would be a great trip to Fort Worth for the day. We will have the A26 on display at the dance as well as selling DC3 rides over the city lights. Should be nice if Ma Nature cooperates and the cold front headed our way isn't late arriving. Don't forget the big WWII parts and art auction on Friday evening, Oct 11 at the museum. Viewing begins about noon I heard. Plan to be there. Own a piece of history! JR

[ZRX61]

Arnold, Brandon, Ed and Denis have all worked on getting our crane ready for the big lift soon on the engines and props. It is running fine now and the crane is fully operational. It will be tested on smaller loads before we try a 2800 on it. It is rated to 30,000 lbs though so no problems are expected unless it malfunctions or something. We asked Arnold what we should name the crane. This close to Halloween, what else could he say... "Ichabod" I suppose we should find a good nose art artist to do the honors!

How about "Frasier"

btw the company that makes small cranes like that in the UK calls them "Iron Fairy". It's actually cast in the balance weight on the back end.

[ZRX61]

The cockpit crew removed the copilot's yoke in anticipation of installing a push to talk switch and got a big surprise. The pins that were supposed to hold the yoke in place were missing. It would have been like a cartoon if the copilot had just pulled up on it because the whole thing would have come off the pedestal in his hands. Surprise! And then that time could not be logged as second in command!

That calls for a small Wyle E Coyote (Coyoke?) painted on the yoke when it goes back in