AirCorps Aviation is returning an AT-10 to the air...

[Warbirdnerd]

Wow- just wow!
http://www.projects.aircorpsaviation.com/at10-wichita/

[Warbird Kid]

Wow! I was wondering why they were trying to track down a fabricator that worked on the only complete AT-10. Very exciting indeed.

Last edited by Warbird Kid on Tue May 09, 2017 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris Brame]

Very impressive! Is this the cockpit that came from the restaurant a while back, and have they checked with Planes of Fame in Chino to see if any parts from their AT-10 were saved?

[C VEICH]

Fantastic news! Now we just need an AT-9 to go with it.

[OD/NG]

Question for those in the know:

1) It looks like the only original AT-10 parts were a very small portion of the cockpit and an assortment of other non-structural items such as radios, instrument panel, tailwheel, etc. I didn't see any other parts including the fuselage, tail feather or wings at all. Do they have any of those major structural parts?

2) If they don't have those parts, it sounds like they are going to completely replicate the rest of the aircraft except for the small cockpit section. Is this correct? If so, that is a DAUNTING and EXPENSIVE project!

3) Are there any parts on the AT-10 which are common on any other readily available aircraft?

Kudos to Air Corps, but honestly, I don't know how they're going to accomplish that, short of a completely new, essentially, a replica of an AT-10 built off of blueprints.

[JohnTerrell]

I was up there last October, and if I recall correctly, they are beginning with what is considered the largest collection of known AT-10 parts/sections, including, as I recall, a few different nose/cockpit sections, control surfaces, and a good number of other items. With the AT-10, the majority of the aircraft is wood and fabric (almost the entire fuselage, wings, and tail surfaces), which can be built new to the original drawings (as with everything that cannot be found/used). The metal portion of the fuselage, other than tail fairings, was really just the cockpit and nose section, which of course they have - and very complete/full of all of the original controls, hardware, etc. AirCorps has such a proficient way/means of going about 3D-CADing from original drawings and 3D-scanning to seemingly quite efficiently produce new and completely accurate parts. Even though a good percent of the aircraft will have to be made new, having seen what AirCorps can do, I don't see the project as really taking as much time to do as one might think, and of course the end result is going to be nothing short of the best possible (always 110%).

When I was there in October, the project had yet to begin, and with this first project report, it looks like quite a lot has already been done in a very short time.

It might seem an odd choice of project, but the project owners, as kids, grew up playing in one of the AT-10 cockpit sections, and there-forward they've always had an interest in this particular aircraft/having one fly.

A bit more here: http://www.freemanarmyairfieldmuseum.org/at-10.html

AirCorps also has an AT-11 in their shop to be restored for Paul Ehlen/Wings of the North, which is also believed to have been used by the WASP's during a part of its service during WWII (it too will of course be nothing short of incredible, when completed).

Last edited by JohnTerrell on Tue May 09, 2017 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[OD/NG]

Thanks for the info, Encyclopedia John!

[ALOHADAVE]

The end of the war was nearly the end of the AT-10 Wichita. Most AT-10s were scrapped shortly after the war. Only about 12 made it into civilian registry in the limited category doing survey work and they lasted until the middle of the 1960s. Of those 12, only one was an actual Beech built version, the rest were Globe built aircraft, as they were the last ones built and they had the lowest time on their airframes.

The AT-10 Wichita was a big part of pilot training for so many who flew multi engine aircraft during WWII. Many pilots have fond memories of the Beech AT-10 and lament the fact that almost none survive.

Beech AT-10 Wichita historical study with many photos at this link
https://pacaeropress.websitetoolbox.com/post/at10-wichita-historical-study-5730549?highlight=10&pid=1275322570

[JohnB]

Great news!!!
If that is the cockpit most recently seen at the Abilene, TX BBQ restaurant, I originally discovered it behind a closed auto repair shop circa 1999.
I took photos at that time and sent some to FlyPast magazine which didn't print them (probably because it wasn't a SpitfirE or Mustang). I might still have the photos.

At that time, I'm not sure the NMUSAF had theirs completed.

I did track down someone with knowledge of its history. I was told a local farmer bought one surplus (whether it was for useable parts as often seen in Canada, Britain and Australia where mechanical parts and wheels seemed to be scarce...or as a plaything I don't know) and was towed on its belly behind a tractor so the kids could play pilot.

[Taylor Stevenson]

Question for those in the know:
Kudos to Air Corps, but honestly, I don't know how they're going to accomplish that, short of a completely new, essentially, a replica of an AT-10 built off of blueprints.

In absolutely no way will this aircraft be a "replica"

[JohnB]

We're back to the "replica" argument.

-They have what our UK friends would call "substantial remains" or an AT-10. They will make new parts to complete the job. Presumably, they'll stick with the original design and not re-engineer the aircraft (to use off the shelf parts or make it easier to build).

Thus, it won't be any more a "replica" than many (or most) Spitfires and Mustangs out there...to say nothing of rare classic civil types.

Perhaps OD/NG didn't intend it as such, but the term "replica" is seen by many as very pejorative.

[Stoney]

Thanks for the info, I knew Brooks and Sam had been working getting parts on this for several years.

[gregv]

thanks for the link, great website on an impressive facility.

Good to see the A6M2 getting back in shape!

greg v.

[Cvairwerks]

Great to see another "Wooden Wonder" in works.

[OD/NG]

We're back to the "replica" argument.

-They have what our UK friends would call "substantial remains" or an AT-10. They will make new parts to complete the job. Presumably, they'll stick with the original design and not re-engineer the aircraft (to use off the shelf parts or make it easier to build).

Thus, it won't be any more a "replica" than many (or most) Spitfires and Mustangs out there...to say nothing of rare classic civil types.

Perhaps OD/NG didn't intend it as such, but the term "replica" is seen by many as very pejorative.

No, I didn't mean anything negative by asking the question. I agree that this won't be any more of a "replica" than most other modern warbird restorations. I was just asking the question based on the seemingly little amount of original material to start with, that's all. Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not my intention!

Thanks for all the supporting info from everyone!