Warbird Information Exchange

Took a look back thru the photo files and found this QEC engine bolt cover on Buba. This has to be removed to gain access to the bolts. It is the smaller plate with the screw top in the middle. Looks like it might need a little adjusting. So this was the mystery part we found in the right wing oil cooler compartment and wondered why. And now you know the rest of the story! JR

And looked who showed up this evening at the hangar. Another lady neighbor of Kay.... Diamond Lil. She will be here for maintenance for awhile and will serve as the backdrop for the 1940's Big Band Hangar Dance in Oct at the VFM hangar. Be sure to come by the museum for a look see at Lil and Kay getting their makeovers. Our engine goes out tomorrow for overhaul. Everybody keep your fingers crossed that it goes ok. You can still donate to the overhaul fund by the way. Go to our website and click on the donate button. It will go to our sister organization the A26 Legacy Foundation which will match the donation dollar for dollar. Five bucks becomes ten. What a deal.. and it is tax deductible as they are a 501c3 recognized organization. http://www.thormeyer.net Thanks, JR

Well, there she goes, off on the long trek back to Idaho. I hope the engine does not suffer separation anxiety because it has been with Kay for so very long. Now the waiting begins for the reports back on what they find inside. Kinda like waiting at the hospital for the surgeon to come out and give you the news. The possibilities are endless in something this old with 18 cylinders that has been sitting more than running. The engine originally came off a Martin 404 airliner that was used in the Florida area. When Denny Lynch used the engines from Kay to power one of his A-26's used in making the movie "Always", he bought the Martin in Florida and flew it home. Took the engines and props off and put them on Kay, but it put her back to the CB series engines she had originally instead of the B's he put on it during the recovery from the Macon, Ga, accident. It just is amazing the string of circumstances that has brought her full circle back to restoration for flight. Ta dah. JR

Courtesy Aircraft Sales has had a R-2800 CB-16 for sale for a long time. 75 hours since overhaul and 0 time $50k.
It's the engine that powered a Martin 404, don't know if it came from one though. It shows all related invoices as to work done etc.

Hi Phil, yup we looked at it & came close to a deal. There were more questions about it than answers, however, especially about storage. So by the time we dealt with transport & inspection, we were right back up at overhaul costs. Rather start with a known condition. Good to hear from you! Cheers, JR

Hi,

It's maybe too late but if it can help you

We found this on our A26...



Cheers, Christophe...

_________________
DOUGLAS AD4N SKYRAIDER
http://sites.google.com/site/skyraideravignon
DOUGLAS A26 INVADER
https://sites.google.com/site/a26invaderavignon/

Christophe: exactly what we needed!! Many thanks! And we will give a shoutout to Harald in the Netherlands who now holds the distance record for ordering a Special Kay T shirt. Thanks for the support. The team had to contend with high heat today but got some things done. More later. JR

Just arrived back in the Republic. Lots to talk about since I have been gone. Will try to round up the pics and stories to post tomorrow. Meanwhile, we would like to announce there is a new A26 joining the Air Force of the Republic. Our friends at the Mid-America Flight Museum have acquired the airplane restored by Jack Basler in California. We can't wait to join up for a little formation work!! Congrats to Scott G. More throughout the week. JR

Wasn't Pacific Prowler bought by the same group? Nice collection they have.

Correct.

_________________
Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Why is it I just can't get away from "ducks"?? It is like the Duck Drivin Lady is following me around everywhere. I can't even escape to the mountains for some fishin' without seeing ducks. Starting to get paranoid and craving flies again. She must be up to her old tricks. Anyway, Phil and Dean, yall are correct. Same feller bought the B-25 renamed it "God and Country". He just bought some other interesting hardware. More about that later. The Air Force of the Republic continues to grow!! Cheers, JR

A couple of projects were worked this past Saturday according to JR. The QEC ring was cleaned up and things fixed on it. The barrel nuts that go to the attach fittings had a different pin than the other side so now we have to figure out which one is correct. This is another example of something simple turning into a project. Well, that is not the only simple to project item. The exhaust stacks were cleaned and inspected with JR's eagle eye. Check the next picture to see an example of what he found. The other JR

I suppose we should not have been surprised to find cracks in the exhaust. Heck, sometimes, I think I have cracks in my exhaust, too, and we are about the same age now that I think about it. But I ain't sittin' still to be welded like this here thingee. Exhaust stacks for the A26 seem to be as rare as hen's teeth for some reason. We hope this doesn't turn into a search mission. JR

Here is a closer view of the QEC ring the guys have been working on dollying out the dents and polishing out some of the rough spots. JR, Jim S and Bryan B worked up quite a sweat last Sat hammering on this thing. The temp in the hangar got over 100 deg. Hopefully, we will start seeing the Fall cool down soon which usually starts about the middle of Sept. It can't come fast enough. Could I get an Amen from my fellow Texans? The Other JR

Cowl flaps are on the agenda soon for repair. Will need the Metal Wizard, Ray, to do his magic on some of them. This is another good view of the QEC ring where the polishing is showing up there in the background. JR wants to get it smoothed out as the first step in getting ready for paint. Golly, that's the first time we have given paint a mention in a whole month of Sunday's. The Other JR