Texas Raiders

[Pat Carry]

Does anyone have an update on Texas Raiders?

[warbirdguy]

The last I heard was they were trying to get her flying by the end of this year or early next year. That info is probably wrong since that is from back in July of last year. I just checked out the website and it looks like they have the wings attached to the fuselage. For more info go to www.gulfcoastwing.org

[Elroy13]

I was down at Hobby Airport last weekend...She looks in really bad shape. I wasnt able to get close to her. The outer wings are off. She's up on jacks, all four engines are off. The tail feathers are off and there is a cover over the cockpit. I could also see that the chin guns were also removed. I felt really bad seeing her in that condition! The paint is really faded bad, also. From what I hear...they are continuing to work on her...

[Alan Brooks]

Hey Trey! Yepper, the inner wing panels are on..... That is a major accomplishment! Talk about perserverance! This group got hit with issue after another on the wing spar AD, then the problem led to the attachment terminal ends.... alot of shoulda, coulda issues, but the old girl IS coming back together...... From its time in the open weather, the tail feathers are having their corrosion items repaired (properly), and should be reattached soon. I spoke with Barbara Johnston the other day and they are still targeting mid-late summer to be back in the air.... (fingers triple crossed). Barbara is a very, very sweet lady who, with her husband had been involved with TR since the 80's, I guess. She was down (not out) herself, as she has been battling a severe rare illness. She told me, "I can lay down and die, or get up and go...... I'm going! God still has me here for a purpose. This airplane is going to fly!" Amen Love! Yes, TR looks very rough externally, but internally she will be much, much better.... She is also due to be re-wired during this hiatus. A strip and paint is also in the works..... I will try and get some pics that we can post..... Alan
A picture with the wing panels re-attached is on their web page...
http://www.gulfcoastwing.org/

[phil65]

Nobody likes down time but she looks good to me and sounds like she's in good hands.

[Steve S]

Glad to hear it is coming along, but it sure does sound like an ambitious deadline for the amount of work you are describing. Hope all works out.

[Alan Brooks]

The Gulf Coast Wing just added a group of pics to the website, no written info, but there 14-15 pics posted....... not a great many detail views, but the inner panels are on and the plane is coming back together.... More later...... Alan
http://www.gulfcoastwing.org/

[warbirdguy]

Although they are quite some time from being accomplished it is great to see how the plane is coming along. To me it looks like they might get her flying by summer 2007. Then again, I have no experience in this area.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Hi All,

performing any heavy duty maintanance on a bird the size of a B-17, especially on a volunteer basis, with limited funding and volunteer help, is gonna take a huge amount of time. It is a very good sign that they have come as long as they have. But, when she's done, she'll be with us for many years to come....of course ALOT depends on what our "wonderful" oil companies do and the price of AVGAS does.

Best of Luck to Texas Raiders and her crew !!

Paul