TBM FINDS NEW HOME

[Michel Lemieux]

So it's a she

SHE CAME APART THIS AFTERNOON

I HAVE 2 PHOTOS OF HER IN AERIAL APPLICATORS

Congradulations Mike

So how u'r going to name her ?.....If not too early.

Sorry for being so cheerfull. It's just that 5 years ago, I was looking at that airframe and day dreamed of doing what you are doing today. On the same day I got to sit in Liberty Bells fuselage while she was still in pieces all over the place. With 3 very young kids..............none of these dreams will happen any time soon. But I do not dispear (spelling ? ) & keep on dreaming anyway....don't we all

Life is sometime

[Todd Hackbarth]

Two photos of N4172A as a firebomber can be found at:

http://www.scalefirebombers.com/avenger31.html

and

http://www.scalefirebombers.com/avenger32.html

[Warbirdnerd]

Am I the only one thinkng she would really look cool restored back to her tanker days?
It sure would stand out on the ramp...

[HELLDIVERS]

That thought has crossed my mind I would like to find out what her military scheme was, when it was in Aerial applicator colors you could still see the navy paint under the paint, when it was painted yellow the owner had it stripped loseing any trace of its military history stay tuned for more photos n updates thanks Mike

[systemofadown1162]

Here's an update:

Screw the TBM get that nice pretty one in the back!
Just kidding!
What ever you do Im sure itll look sweet.
Congradulations!

[HELLDIVERS]

HAY THERE BOTH YELLOW THATS CHUCK GARDNERS OFFICE YOUR LOOKING AT HE MUST BE ONE HECK OF A T-6 DRIVER AS THAT THING IS ALWAYS UP IN THE AIR!! AND ANOTHER VERY NICE FELLOW WIXER THANKS MIKE

[TAdan]

Congratulations on the new toy Have fun!

I agree the plane would look very sharp painted in its black tanker scheme (and you wouldnt have to restore an original canopy/ greenhouse, hehe!)

[TimAPNY]

Congratulations on the new toy Have fun!

I agree the plane would look very sharp painted in its black tanker scheme (and you wouldnt have to restore an original canopy/ greenhouse, hehe!)

I'd go for that idea, the Tanker Canopys are just butt ugly IHO.

Mike
Good job on saving the A/C, its very sad to think it might have been lost. Its hard to believe that that could (does) still happen these days.

Tim

[helinut]

On the theme of doing the Avenger up as a sprayer or waterbomber, the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum in Halifax N.S just finished up there restoration and did it up as an Waterbomber, a very nice FPL paint scheme.It can be viewed on there website.

[Andy in West Oz]

Way to go Mike, looks like you got the coupe version! All the best with the resto.

Cheers

Andy

[Scott Rose]

Congrats Mike, I love Avengers as I sort of relate to them physically

E-mail me or PM me your info and I'll list you as the new owner in the registry as well as adding Chucks pictures. And if your so inclined I would like to keep an ongoing update of your project as it progresses over time, even if its 20 years in the making.

[HELLDIVERS]

HI THE TBM LEFT IS 20 PLUS YEAR HOME LAST NIGHT AT ABOUT 7 OCLOCK LOADING AND SECURING IT TOOK SEVERAL HOURS,WHICH CAUSED THE PANIC MODE TO GO OFF AS MY FLIGHT HOME WAS AT 8:50.IT WAS FAST N FURRIOUS TO SHOWER AND GET TO ORLANDO INL TO TAKE THE RED EYE HOME I MUST HAVE SET THE RECORD FOR TRAVEL TIME AS I MADE IT TOO THE GATE 10 MINUTES BEFORE THEY STARTED BOARDING IT SHOULD ARRIVE SOMETIME NEXT WEEK,ILL GET SOME PHOTOS OF IT LEAVING ASAP.THE TRIP WENT VERY WELL AND I MET SOME VERY NICE AND HELPFUL FOLKS WHO SHARED THE SAME FEELINGS ABOUT SAVING HER FROM THE SCRAPPERS TORCH AS I DO.CHUCK IF YOU TOOK ANY PHOTOS YESTERDAY FEEL FREE TO POST THEM AS IT WILL BE A DAY OR SO BEFORE I CAN THANKS MIKE

[wendovertom]

Perhaps this is a dumb question but, I'll ask anyway. How long do you anticipate this project taking from coming off the trailer to flying? I assume a lot depends on funding and time available . . . I'm looking forward to watching the project from afar

Tom P.

[Michel Lemieux]

[Matt Sharkey]

Here is a photo I have from 2002.