TBM FINDS NEW HOME

[Michel Lemieux]

[Matt Sharkey]

Here is a photo I have from 2002.

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

Hey Mike;
Congrats on your new project! Did you grab the retardant tank also?
Scott.....

[HELLDIVERS]

HI WELL LOTS WENT MISSING BEFORE I GOT THE A/C EVEN THE CHEMICAL TANK! WITH ANY LUCK MAYBE FELLOW WIXERS CAN DO A LITTLE SEARCHING AND HELP REUNITE THEM DURING THE RESTORATION PROCESS! IVE ALREADY RECIEVED SOME GREAT INFO ON THIS A/Cs HISTORY.WE THINK THE BU.NO. IS 53763 IT SERVED WITH VC-79,VT-152,AND CASU-66 BASED AT NAS BROWN FIELD CALIF.CAN ANY WIXERS FIND ME PHOTOS?I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE GARY APPLEBAUM A GREAT BIG THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING TRUCKING SERVICES TO MAKE THE TRIP FROM KISSIMEE TO ANOKA COUNTY AIRPORT A REALLITY!! GARY IS A TRUCKING BROKER AND GOT ME A HECK OF A DEAL ON SHIPPING.IF YOU NEED TRANSPORTATION CONTACT HIM HES VERY HELPFUL AND KNOWS HIS STUFF.THERE ARE MORE AIRCRAFT THAT ARE LEAVING REILLYS AND IF YOU NEED TO SHIP THEM CONTACT FELLOW WIXER GARY APPLEBAUM!!! THE TBM SHOULD BE HERE AS SOON AS TOMARROW WE JUST GOT 14 INCHES OF SNOW DUMPED ON US SO IT SHOULD ADD A LITTLE EXCITMENT TO THE JOB OF UN LOADING BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE IT SHOULD KILL ANY UNFRIENDLYS THAT HICH HIKED UP FROM FLORIDA I WILL TRY TO KEEP YOU POSTED AS THINGS PROGRESS. STAY TUNED FOR MORE PHOTOS AND INFO THANKS MIKE

[Warbirdnerd]

Mike sent me some shots of his new Turkey all loaded up ready for it's trip North.








Can't wait to see it in person!
Does this one have the same aroma as many of the ex-sprayer TBM's do?

[Rob Mears]

What is that structure sitting on the very back of the trailer?

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi yep thats the center section plus remains of another tanker and a box full of parts. It all fit and we were with in limits so no permits Kinda looks like Sanford and son but it will be a relief to have it home.I dont think we could have got it on if it were a complete a/c,as you can see we maximized the space on the truck if there would have been much more I would have needed 2 trucks.If it gets here today I will post photos asap Thanks Mike

[marine air]

Best of Luck, you' re the right guy for the job!
Also, how did the TBM get from being airworthy as seen in the photos from the 1970's to being disassembled and donated to Reilly's? I was down there in January and they were loading items from inside the big hangar; any more neat aircraft available? What happened to the Fouga, the vampire, the A-4 and the S-2, and the remains of a P-38 that I saw about three years ago?

[O.P.]

Thats very cool that you got the TBM, HELLDIVERS. That guarantees it is in good hands now.


That P-38 was for sale a couple of years ago as a project for 300 some odd K on their web site. That was my dream project, until it went off of the website. It'd be cool to know where it ended up.

[HELLDIVERS]

THE TBM SHOULD BE HERE AROUND HIGH NOON JUST IN TIME FOR ANOTHER 8 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW YAHOO!! IT SHOULD MAKE FOR INTERESTING PHOTOS THANKS MIKE

[airnutz]

Congrats on your "new" Turkey HELLDIVERS, glad you got your dream!
You said earlier that this was the first warbird you ever saw, but is this the
first you've owned?

Note to N4172A..you are one Very,Very, lucky girl!! Saved from the
Reaper!

About the P-38 project... rather than a particular P-38, wasn't that project
composed of various bits of which some were bits of Scatterbrain Kid II..
or am I misrememberating?

[Warbird Pilot]

In referance to the P-38,

The "project" was mostly part that were clean up from Addak and bits of other US crash it was a major rebuild to say the lest the last time I heard it was still for sale and that maybe Mr. Brooks might just buy it.

RER

If I recall correctly, the P-38 remains at Reilly's have been gone for a couple of years. I believe they were part of some kind of settlement between the purchaser of the -4 Corsair and Reilly. Could be wrong, though.

[HELLDIVERS]

The TBM arrived this morning!! Unloading went very well the snow plows went by early around 0500 .IT WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE IT GOES BACK ON ITS GEAR THEN TO A TIE DOWN.It will go in the shop as soon as the A-25 is finnished I think the P-38 stuff may have belonged to Jim Fry Thanks Mike

[Lynn Allen]

Congrats Mike, All the hard is done and now the fun begins. Good luck with it and keep us posted.


Regards,

Lynn

[Bill Larkins]

Mike: I can't post photos here so contact me and I'll send them to you.
wtl@earthlink.net