Tuesdays for me are a real treat. I have no classes and only a work study job at my college library late in the day. So what's a Warbird lover to do in Southern Connecticut? Hop on down to the Connecticut Air and Space Center and see what’s up of course!
As many of you know from Jerry O'Neil's postings about our lovely battered and beaten Corsair, she is now out from the cold and in our slightly less cold storage shack out back. Sadly at this time this is the only place the giant 17 foot wide fighter will fit and will have to stay for now. Right now certain volunteers are busy at work constructing wooden jigs for the wings and other sections of the aircraft. These will definitely aid us in making the restoration a little easier.
As of last Saturday I got the chance to take a drill gun to a Corsair's wing! I ended up popping off three panels from the rear edge of the port wing and we started to get a good look at what we were dealing with. (What would have been the flaps) are nothing more than thin sheet metal supported by a few ribs. I had also noticed that the original connection points to the flaps had been sawed off. Probably when the first refurbishment took place back in the 70's.
Still, today I had the chance to work with a newer addition to the CASC family. An 84 year old gentleman that worked side by side with Joe LoSardo, (Another ex-Vought employee) during the War years, and during the VS-44A restoration. This gentleman today drove up in his vintage Pontiac Tempest, and brought his own toolbox (still with the faded words "Chance Vought" on it)
All morning today I heard stories about when this gentleman was working on the Kingfisher line, and when the museums hanger floor apparently collapsed and sunk in during the War!
He also said he remembered watching them pump mud under the concrete to level off the floor again. All this was going on while I mercilessly pounded on a panel located right behind the cowl flaps, trying desperately to loosen up the 30yr old frozen bolts. But alas...
Slow progress but progress none the less! I try to do my little part and hopefully come Saturday, ill be there again and maybe even take a few pictures!
Just thought id put up something that was happening in my life, Warbird related anyways.
Keep Em' Flying
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