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

hawkeyepoole · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2017 1:09 pm

Here is a nice short of the 1st Official Flight of Special Kay.

https://youtu.be/moGc6-aLhrg

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2017 1:21 pm

It was great to see the first flights of this bird after the long years of work the crew put into the machine!

Here's a link to my Flickr album of some of the shots I took over the weekend.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zaneadams ... 3926027250

Zane

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:49 pm

Thanks for the link Hawkeye, I look forward to watching that tonight!

Last night I watched the other two YouTube videos on our TV, I had a big big smile on my face. Bravo everyone! What a journey (thank you to all who have allowed us to share in it), and what a thrill to see her fly once more.

Bring on the paint. I bet she'll be a showstopper!

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:52 pm

KiwiZac, that is one cool avatar! I get a kick every time I see it...

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Tue Jul 11, 2017 10:46 pm

airnutz wrote:

KiwiZac, that is one cool avatar! I get a kick every time I see it...

The full version has a Polikarpov I-16 behind Comrade Pilot Cat! :supz:

I'm a plane guy, I'm a cat guy, I'm a Poli guy, so why not!

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:07 am

Ztex wrote:

It was great to see the first flights of this bird after the long years of work the crew put into the machine!

Here's a link to my Flickr album of some of the shots I took over the weekend.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zaneadams ... 3926027250

Zane

Zane, I'll be updating Special K's registry entry tomorrow, Mind if I snag some images for it?

hawkeyepoole · **Posted:** Wed Jul 12, 2017 12:34 pm

Here's some more awesome airplane nerdiness. This is the complete footage from the Tip Tank Camera and the Belly/Bomb Bay Camera. The bomb bay camera's battery dies first so the last few minutes is just the wing tank. It dies just before landing. It's about 1.5 hours of airplane noise and the pilots doing their check list items. Nice views of the areas around DFW as well.

https://youtu.be/zkNbp4KC-eQ

Scott WRG Editor: I added a screen cap image. Great point of view!

avenger2504 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:43 pm

Dan K wrote:

video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZRB8t9PXTY

Got a real kick out of watching this because apart from getting to see Special K fly again I was pleased to see she shared the hangar with one of our old Harvards! (ex RNZAF NZ1079 seen in the background)

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Mon Jul 17, 2017 7:22 pm

Me too, Baz! A nice little thrill besides witnessing the culmination of a long-followed project.

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Yes, that T-6 in our hangar is an authentic member of the "Red Checkers" flight team. It is not just a paint job. Two of our guys fly it although it is owned by fella who splits his time between Alaska and Texas. On another note, got my turn flying Kay for a bit. She is still flying tight and smooth like a new car.... only smells better! We have close to 5 hours on her now. There are the usual little problems to fix but remember she is a 72 year old airplane even though she has had several makeovers. In July 1945, she returned from England to the US and was being prepped to continue to the Pacific War but the atomic bomb interrupted the plans. We are thankful that she and a lot of GI's were spared having to invade Japan. Kay went on to a sedentary life of towing targets for aspiring fighter pilots, but now that I think about it, student pilots with live ammo making gun runs on that sleeve was probably more dangerous than flying combat over Europe!

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:10 am

Scott WRG Editor wrote:

Zane, I'll be updating Special K's registry entry tomorrow, Mind if I snag some images for it?

Sure! No problem!

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Thanks Scott and Zane! Zane got some incredible pics of the 75th anniversary celebration of the first A-26 flight in 1942. Kay behaved at least for that day. She now is demanding more attention. So it will be a little bit before we resume flight operations. We are still looking for a paint shop willing to help us out since we got the paint donated. Having a hangar big enough is part of the equation as the wings are a tad over 70 feet and the tail about 20 ft high. Can't hardly wait to see her all decked out in SEA camo. It will be a standout at airshows. Ironic, huh? A "can't see me" paint job ends up being highly visible in the new arena!!

therealJR · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2017 5:23 pm

https://www.facebook.com/a26specialkay/

here's all the latest info on Kay and we don't have to mess w photobucket.

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Greetings tonight all the way from Bozeman, Montana. Saw Kay's old home at Billings on the way. Meanwhile back at the hangar, the team has changed out the number 8 & 9 cylinders on the left engine. The problem with the landing lights was solved by finding secret Circuit breakers in the nosewheel well. The surface prep continues getting ready for paint. A few other odds and ends are being taken care of before the next flight. Also, we are hoping to fly the T-33 this coming w/e if we can fix an intercom problem. Check our Facebook page for pics and more on the story!

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

We are happy to have Chuck back from Oshkosh to join the Day Shift and get the left engine finished up. The team will run the valves on Saturday to complete that chore. Big Ed worked on the right main gear actuator to dry up some leaks. Jeff is continuing the Scotchbrite cleaning in prep for paint. The T-33 is ready to fly on Sunday if the weather cooperates. T-storms in the forecast for Sat & Sun. Larry the avionics guy put his magic touch on the mic problem! Be sure to check back for the latest news!

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

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