CAF Arizona Wing B-25 Update

[Alan Brooks]

Looks like this B-25 will finally get airborne this year (fingers crossed!). Both engines are hung and the airplane is/has been on jacks... Work is progressing on the Mig-15. The CAF Swordfish is also currently on display, on another part of the website......
The B-25 is now named "Maid in the Shade" and appears to be a combat vet...... This will be the fifth airworthy B-25 for the CAF with the Southern California example ready in probably about two more years, making #6....
Chris Miller or other Az members, any other news?? Alan
http://www.arizonawingcaf.com/pages/restoration.html

[Chad Veich]

Great news for sure! I was over in East Mesa yesterday for an R/C model related function and saw Sentimental Journey out and about as well as several T-6s and the Twin Beech. We drove by Falcon Field on the way home and saw lots of activity going on at the CAF facility. The B-25 has been undergoing rebuild since I was just a kid and it will almost feel strange when it's flying rather than being restored. Kind of like the end of an era!

[Matt Gunsch]

It has been awhile, I started with the CAF when I was 13, and they had gotten the B-25 a few months before,I am 40 now. At one time, I had the nose in my side yard paint stripping it.

[APG85]

Why the grey/silver paint? Was that standard?

[Michel Lemieux]

What a change

Last time I saw her...............15 yars ago or plus......

They just had started to strip her and there was a HUGE pile of plumbing on her side. All that was left was a hulk.

Great work to those involved

[Chris]

Here's the latest poop on the CAF B-25 etc at the Az Wing. It looks like Pete Loguda and his crew have the hydraulic system working properly and the gear doors and flaps are rigged. Both engines are zero time overhauls done by Gene Packard. They're not to far from bringing it out into the sunlight and cranking up the engines. The last major component will be the avionics installation. As mentioned in another reply, Saturday was like a mini air show. The B-17 did three flights, the C-45 did two, The CAF T-6 did three, Dick Jones in his beautiful T-6 "Spanish Lady" did a couple and we got to see the B-25 Barbie III do a couple too. By the way, it's great having those guys on the field. It helps to motivate our B-25 guys to get "Maid in the Shade" in the air. Our MiG-15 is about a MiG 2.5 right now. I'm ramrodding the project now but it's at least a three year deal. It's missing several small components and one large one (Klimov-VK-1) . It may never fly due to the missing parts but all work will be done to airworthy standards and documented just in case the funds become available to finish the job. The Fairey Swordfish is being stored at our facility until CAF HQ chooses a restoration facility to take on the project. If anyone wants some pics, let me know and I'll try to post them on the sight. By the way, On the back cover of the latest Warbird Digest, what cockpit is Tim Savage's son in? Almost looks like a helicopter.

[Matt Gunsch]

Chris,
It is a T-28 cockpit

[Tim Savage]

Chris,
It is a T-28 cockpit

Well, actually it is a T-28 cockpit procedures trainer It was on display at the warbird education area at OSH. I believe that Mark Clark of Courtesy Aircraft donated it to the EAA. The kids all loved it....