Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:45 pm
I saw the plane in Oshkosh. It looks great! I'm looking forward to seeing news of it's return to the air!
Mon Aug 10, 2009 7:35 pm
Hi Rod,
We're still working on the Skyhawk in anticipation of a first flight soon. Thanks for checking us out in Osh. I wish I would have spent more time with the airplane so I could meet some of the Wixers who are following our progress. We spent quite a bit of our time preflighting the F86 for the Heritage Flight and then a problem with the Skyraider kept us occupied for the later part of Airventure. We now have both of our Douglas airplanes in Oshkosh requiring a little maintenance before we get them home. I'll post when we make our first flight. Check out our website, as we added our pictures of the Skyhawk and TR Swartz at Airventure.
Thanks again,
David
WHF Maint
www.warbirdheritagefoundation.org
We're still working on the Skyhawk in anticipation of a first flight soon. Thanks for checking us out in Osh. I wish I would have spent more time with the airplane so I could meet some of the Wixers who are following our progress. We spent quite a bit of our time preflighting the F86 for the Heritage Flight and then a problem with the Skyraider kept us occupied for the later part of Airventure. We now have both of our Douglas airplanes in Oshkosh requiring a little maintenance before we get them home. I'll post when we make our first flight. Check out our website, as we added our pictures of the Skyhawk and TR Swartz at Airventure.
Thanks again,
David
WHF Maint
www.warbirdheritagefoundation.org
Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:09 pm
David,
Here is a picture of 685 that my father took aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard in the Gulf of Tokin . He was a rescue swimmer with HC-1 at the time.
Kevin
Here is a picture of 685 that my father took aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard in the Gulf of Tokin . He was a rescue swimmer with HC-1 at the time.
Kevin
Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:17 pm
Dummy here, is that the CAT harness to launch and its attach points? If so, what are the other cables that seem to lay out behind?
Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:25 pm
I think they are the hold back cables, if that is the right name for them.
Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:15 pm
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for sharing that picture. Would it be possible for us to use that on our website? We're working on finishing some of the items that were deferred until after Oshkosh now. A little more to go before we bring the Skyhawk home.
David
WHF Maint
Thanks for sharing that picture. Would it be possible for us to use that on our website? We're working on finishing some of the items that were deferred until after Oshkosh now. A little more to go before we bring the Skyhawk home.
David
WHF Maint
Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:26 pm
David, you are more then welcome to use the picture.
Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:21 am
Here is a direct acount from T.R. regarding the Mig kill, just got this in my email from him.
Another member of the Yahoo Skyhawk group asked him about how the aircraft was loaded that day, here's his response;
To whoever started the string about the ordnance load on A4-C 148609 on 1 May '67.
The A4-C was loaded with 4 Zuni packs, 4 rockets per pack, switches on the packs set on salvo except one pack was set in single fire. My wing man was loaded the same but all 4 packs were set for salvo fire.
Actually, the MiG fight occurred after we had completed the run on the flak sites at Kep Airfield, NVN. During the run, we spotted the MiGs at my 2 o'clock, coming from right to left, I judge about 450 KIAS. I had no choice but to complete the firing run on the flak sites, shooting 13 Zunis in salvo, my wing man expended 16 in salvo, and I pulled off left accepting the dogfight with the 2 MiGs inside my left turn, at my 7:30 position. The 2 bandits were in close wing formation, firing 23 and 37 MM cannon. I executed a "hi-G barrel roll" and forced them out in front. I continued the roll to their 6 o'clock and fired 3 Zunis individually, the first two missed, the third hit. Thus, my 13 Zunis were salvo fired during the flak suppression run, and after pull-off I had 3 left. I would like someone to make a correction to the text on the web. TR Swartz.
Another member of the Yahoo Skyhawk group asked him about how the aircraft was loaded that day, here's his response;
Don. Yes on the 300 gal. C/L tank and yes on the TERs. The inboard station of the TERs couldn't be loaded because of interference with the cat launch bridle or the gear door, I don't recall which.
The LAU 10 (?) zuni pack had a frangible nose cone and when you launch rockets out of 4 packs the drag rise is instantaneous. I considered cleaning off the airplane but realized I had but a fleeting second to shoot at the bandits and was quite frankly apprehensive about mucking up the switchology, thus I chose to stay with what worked, the remaining pack on single fire.
The A-4C had the ECM gear stuffed in the ammo can voids, this was before the hump. The jerry rig was dubbed "shoehorn". The cannons had 17 rounds each as a result. I did chase the lone bandit up the railway to China for a short way, but gave up after the guns jammed, I even recharged once in my greed, then the great warrior in heaven said, "TR, that's not smart, you can jam a round in on top of another, blow the nose off, and you will have to walk home". So I quit and went home, (back to the ship) as a straggler behind the main strike group.
My next combat deployment in '68 was with VA-212 on the same Bonne Hom Richard. MiGs were still around and a threat, our F-8 squadrons bagged 3 of them, and I campaigned to have several A-4Fs modified to carry an AIM-9 on station 1 or 5, strictly for the Iron Hand mission where we were mostly solo, without having the benefit of a dedicated MiG escort. To no avail, I think the Crusader drivers were worried that a few savvy attack weenies might give them a run for it.
Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:55 am
Rick, where is the story that he wants corrected? Did I miss it on this thread or is it some other location?
Thanks,
Scott
Thanks,
Scott
Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:20 am
Apparently it waqs on the Skyhawk.org site then repeated on an earlier email on the Yahoo group.
Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:18 pm
David,
Any thoughts at this point as to whether we will see the A-4B flying at some air shows in 2010?
It would be great to see the Collings TA-4J and the WHF A-4B flying together at some point.
How about a 4-plane all jet "Legacy Fight" in 2011 for the Centennial of Naval Aviation: F/A-18 in the lead with both A-4's followed up by the FJ-4B Fury......
Any thoughts at this point as to whether we will see the A-4B flying at some air shows in 2010?
It would be great to see the Collings TA-4J and the WHF A-4B flying together at some point.
How about a 4-plane all jet "Legacy Fight" in 2011 for the Centennial of Naval Aviation: F/A-18 in the lead with both A-4's followed up by the FJ-4B Fury......
Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:28 pm
Hi Jim,
I think that is a real good possibility. We are working on getting the engine calibration runs done and then fix some squawks that remain. We should be ready for a test flight some time in October. After we get the Scooter home it will be disassmbled one more time to work on the ejection seat and canopy. If all those things happen in a timely fashion, we'll have it on the Airshow circuit next year. I'll update this thread when we finish the engine runs as to our status.
Thanks for asking and checking on us.
David
WHF Maint
I think that is a real good possibility. We are working on getting the engine calibration runs done and then fix some squawks that remain. We should be ready for a test flight some time in October. After we get the Scooter home it will be disassmbled one more time to work on the ejection seat and canopy. If all those things happen in a timely fashion, we'll have it on the Airshow circuit next year. I'll update this thread when we finish the engine runs as to our status.
Thanks for asking and checking on us.
David
WHF Maint
Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:17 pm
Good to see the update!
Scott
Scott
Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:54 pm
Hello David,
I saw your F-86 and L-39 up in Oshkosh on Wednesday, as well as your Skyraider out on the ramp. Looked pretty good!
Skyraider ready to go yet? Thanks again for letting me sit in it. Very cool.
Chris Ott
I saw your F-86 and L-39 up in Oshkosh on Wednesday, as well as your Skyraider out on the ramp. Looked pretty good!
Skyraider ready to go yet? Thanks again for letting me sit in it. Very cool.
Chris Ott
Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:02 pm
Hi Chris,
I'm happy to report the Skyraider is ready to come home. We're just waiting on pilot schedules. The Skyhawk is close to returning to the air as well. We haven't finished the engine runs due to conflicting schedules, but I am hopeful we can get them accomplished in the next week or two and then fly it home by the end of October. I will update this thread with photos and details as we get close to first flight.
David
WHF Maint
www.warbirdheritagefoundation.org
I'm happy to report the Skyraider is ready to come home. We're just waiting on pilot schedules. The Skyhawk is close to returning to the air as well. We haven't finished the engine runs due to conflicting schedules, but I am hopeful we can get them accomplished in the next week or two and then fly it home by the end of October. I will update this thread with photos and details as we get close to first flight.
David
WHF Maint
www.warbirdheritagefoundation.org