Great shots Will. Can I get a high res copy?
Still trying to catch up with the updates:
A few more radio goodies are finding their way back where they belong.
Mark came up with the antenna capacitor for the ART-13. These capacitors normally come on a mounting plate where they are arranged in a triangle pattern. I couldn't find a set of holes where the plate would fit as there was no room between the transmitter and the bulkhead where they were supposed to mount. Mark solved the mystery by taking them off of the plate and sure enough the three capacitors fit individually and the mounting holes lined up perfectly.
The antenna system was originally wired up with Packard high tension wire so we found the same stuff and began wiring up the long wire antennas.
As we started the push to get ready for Reno Daniel was hard at cleaning the belly starting with the bomb bay doors
While working on the doors I found a stamped bureau number on one of them. This practice was often done when the aircraft went through overhaul so the specially fitted parts would go back on the same aircraft. Alameda NARF was one of the bigger PV-2 rework facilities. We have many parts on 062 that are stamped from different PV-2's. I like having parts from many other aircraft flying again on 062.
Bill and I flew the PV-2 up to Reno alone. We couldn't get anyone to come along probably because we were going up on a Tuesday. I hate flying with empty seats.
After a slight bump we were positioned along the back next to a beautiful Grumman G111. The idea was to set up the PV-2, G111 and the howard 500 as a backdrop for the awards ceremony on Sunday. What an honor.
We had a lot of people come through the harpoon and a few celebrities too.
Here is one of the special guests that came to visit us: Lt. JG Howard Hassett. Howard was a copilot with VB-137 in the South Pacific.
Howard's two sons Doug and Brian drove him up Friday night and they spent the weekend with us. Howard sat in the shade of the PV-2 and shared his stories with the public. Both he and the public had a great time together. Not only was Howard in his element but Doug and Brian were immensely helpful too.
Howard brought some of his memorabelia along to show us. I didn't realize that the VB guys would have been issued blood chits but here was the one Howard had:
He also brought some awesome photos from his South Pacific adventures. Great stuff
Here is a shot of the damaged right wing of his PV-1
We have had a heck of a time finding PV vets. One at OSH, one at Topeka but we were quite fortunate at Reno.
Here is Pat Patterson, a Copilot in VB-135. His squadron was the first to receive PV-1's at Whidbey Island. He did three tours at Attu!
Pat joined us and shared stories with Howard and the public.
A guy came by on Saturday and said his Father was a PV vet. I had to ask the delicate question if his dad was still around and he said yes and that he was in the grand stands just down the ramp! He called him and told him to come on down and he did just that.
When John Leep showed up he looked real familiar. He was even wearing our old PV-2D shirt. It turns out that John was the very first vet we met at our first air show at NAS North Island, San Diego for the Centennial of Naval Aviation back in February of 2011. John was a gunner from VB-136 also from Attu came by for three PV vets at 062 at the same time. Too cool!!
The awards for the National Aviation Heritage Invitational program was set up in front of the harpoon on Sunday. Howard had a front row seat right next to the VIP seating section. I think he enjoyed it.
As you can see Matt Walker and John Sessions are more than tickled by our PV-2! Matt was the winner of the overall grand Champion award for his outstanding Beech D-18S and John was the winner of the Military award for his beautiful Spitfire. Well done guys!
After a great safe race week we were ready to head home. We had a special copilot for the flight to Stockton. Here is Howard and his son Brian all ready to fire up and go.
That isn't a peace symbol Howard is holding up. Its the original V for victory. Old school baby!
As Howard is getting ready in the cockpit the ground crew pulls the props through. Here are Caleigh and Michelle working hard on number one.
So Howard had his hands on the controls for takeoff and climb out. We arived at cruise altitude and I ran through the cruise check and set cruise power. Throttles set and props to 2050 and synced up and mixtures auto lean etc. Syncing the props is done by moving one prop lever to precisely match the RPM of one engine to the other. You can get the props close to synchronization by using the tachometer but you need to finesse it by sound and feel. The idea is to make the engines sound like one instead of a wah wah wah drone that makes me crazy and adds needless vibration wear to the airframe and passengers.
Howard took the controls and his left hand was shaking a bit as it moved across the throttles and landed on the prop controls. I was wondering if he meant to hold the throttles but was on the prop controls accidentally. I was watching the tach to see if he was changing the RPM as I wasn't sure just what he was doing.
Now I consider myself a stickler for syncing the props and when I have a student that has them a little out of sync it makes my head spin. I am usually ragging on my students to do a better job of synchronizing.
So after 20 seconds of Howard's hands on the props I realized what he was up to. even though I had synced the props myself Howard was doing a much better job than I was! a few seconds later he raised his hand and said "Hows that?"
How's that? it was magnificent Lt. JG Howard Hassett! Just perfect Sir!
He went on to tell me that when they were on a mission they would look though their own prop arc to the prop arc of the aircraft next to them in formation. When you do this there is a strobe effect of the prop blades and he said they would adjust their own props to sync them up with the aircraft next to them. This way both aircraft would have the same exact fuel consumption.
I have done this in the B-24 looking down the prop arc of number 1 and 2 or down 3 and 4. I had even done it from the astrodome in the B-29 Hawg Wild when I was a kid but I never thought about doing it with the aircraft flying next to you. man you just can't get this stuff from books or manuals. What a great honor to be flying next to Mr. Hassett. I am not sure who had more fun. actually I am sure.
This is exactly why we are doing this and selfishly; it is the best feeling in the world being able to get these guys up once again. It just doesn't get any better.
Michelle came up for a shot with Howard and when I showed him the photo he said that the guys back home would not believe he had such a good looking crew. He was obviously talking about me...
Michelle kicked butt and was always helping out loading gear, setting up and taking extra special care of Howard and our other vets. She worked hard and we really appreciate the help. Thanks Michelle!
Howard's son Brian was able to see his Father fly the Harpoon. He had a great time too. Poor Doug had to drove to Stockton to pick up Brian and his dad.
It was the best Reno I can remember. We have flown two PV crew members so far and we are just getting started.
we have found; two Copilot/Navigators, a Radio Operator, a Radar Operator and two AOM's or turret gunners. Now we need to get them together to so we can have a complete PV crew flying once again.
We have a new mission
_________________
To donate to the PV-2D project via PayPal click here
http://www.twinbeech.com/84062restoration.htmWe brought her from:
to this in 3 months:
Help us get her all the way back
All donations are tax deductible as the Stockton Field Aviation Museum is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tell a friend as the Harpoon needs all the help she can get.
Thank you!
Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'
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