Rebuild of the CAF's P-51C By Request

[Alan Brooks]

Can't wait to see the girl back in the air....... alongside DJ's (CAF) T-Bolt! Hey Doug R, see if you can get a little more heat on Mr Jeanes butt. Seriously, great work and many heartfelt thanks to all... Alan

[Alan Brooks]

Double post...

[Warbirdnerd]

Steve “Slick” Kaminsen sent me some pictures from his trip to Wahpeton this weekend:

The aft-duct work is just about done:

Right hand cockpit panels:

Left hand cockpit panels:

Work has begun on the nose cowlings:

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Tue Jun 17, 2008 7:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Dan Newcomb]

Aren’t these guys great? Kind of makes you proud to be in the CAF.

Thanks for the thread.

Dan

[Rossco]

Almost makes me want to go out and build a mustang....Hmmm,decisions..Spitfire,...Mustang,.Spitfire,Mustang...........

[Airlift]

A neighbor of mine takes pretty aircraft pictures and spins a story to go with them. Follow the link and for the tale of the engine being mounted on the P-51C.

http://www.maxair2air.com/08AIR/MerlinMagic/01.html

[Alan Brooks]

John, Mark, or David. Any pics or updates from the wing rebuild up at Oddegards' shop? Inquiring minds want to know! Alan

[Alan Brooks]

Just took a look at Max Haynes "Merlin Magic". What pics! I know Rosie can't wait to get her back in the air........ I found out a few weeks ago that I was in one of Max's books....... I was in the back of the SBD shooting pics of three SNJ's out at Airsho' in Midland, Tx. Max was in the second SNJ. Thanks Max.... gotta see a few of those pics one day..... Alan

[John Beyl]

John, Mark, or David. Any pics or updates from the wing rebuild up at Oddegards' shop? Inquiring minds want to know! Alan

I have some pix of the wing I took at Brent's shop in April. If I can ever remember to bring the camera to work to download them, I'll send them to Bryan to post.

The wing went in the jig back in March and is moving right along. They had already riveted in the new ribs on side that was salvageable and were in the process of fitting up new skins where necessary. The spars were in place on the opposite side and the ribs were being fitted. I think its reasonable to believe it will be delivered to Wahpeton by early fall. That should leave enough time to mate the fuselage and wing together and finish up by mid next summer. Doug is pushing for a spring debut but I'd say a more realistic estimate is Oshkosh '09. Unfortunately funding is becoming an issue again and there are a lot of big ticket items coming up that need to be purchased. Hopefully the money issue can be resolved so we can meet our goal of next summer.

John

[Lynn Allen]

John thanks for the update. I just received my package from the Red Tail group which included a book signed by Charles McGee on the Tuskegee Airman, a great 2 disk DVD Red Tail Reborn and a hat. All are well worth the money to get her back in the air. I wanted to thank you all for your hard effort to do so.....

Lynn

[Warbirdnerd]

John Beyl sent me this shot from August 30th: Gettin' her ready for the trip over to Tri-State's Paint Hanger:



More to follow from last weekend's trip as soon as Gadget scans the Poloroids he took.....

[John Beyl]

Thanks for posting the picture Scoop. Since that photo was taken the oil and coolant lines have been installed firewall forward, the front section of intake duct has been fit up and installed, the lower cowl formers have been fit up and the front lower cowl is being fabricated. We need to make a form for the lower rear section but it’s a fairly simple part so it shouldn’t take long. Aero Trader is working on getting the last two sections of intake duct and we should have them in a month or so. The cockpit is complete minus the radio wiring and that should be done in the next couple weeks. After we get the upper right cowl skin (on order from Teeters) and finish with the doghouse and air scoop, the fuselage will be effectively done until we get the wing…hopefully sometime in November. That will open up a whole new flood of work to get done but at that point we’ll be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If the pieces keep falling in place like they have been, a late spring, early summer ’09 return to service is a reality.

John

PS: Lynn Allen, I haven’t forgotten about you. I have the skin coupon for you…it’s just a matter of me remembering to mail it to ya!

[JohnTerrell]

Excellent work John, and the rest of the crew, and thank you for your commitment to get the aircraft back in the air! This most recent update is so great to hear! It almost seems unimaginable after having seen the aircraft shortly after the accident, and now to hear that the wing will finally be completed in November and to see how far along the fuselage has come. I grew up seeing the aircraft back when it was tied to a flat-bed trailer for several years, then on its arrival back to Fleming Field for the first time after restoration, over my house and at air shows throughout the following summers, and then witnessed the untimely forced landing. It will be an awesome experience when the time comes to see the aircraft fly again.

For Christmas last year I received three copies of Redtail Reborn, and while at first there was some concern by those who purchased them for me, I made sure to let them know that the more the better - and a couple of friends and relatives interested in aviation and history were able to learn more about the men and the airplane as well.

[Warbirdnerd]

Slick sent me a couple more from their last trip.
I'm heading up there tomorrow, any picture requests?

[Warbirdnerd]

A few from my trip on October 18th..
Dave, Mark and I spent the day getting the tail surfaces ready for paint...
We appear to still be on track for our deadline next summer.

The Fuselage sans tail:



And more of the front office: