Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:48 am
Mike, good luck with the oil by-pass valves if you all had to remove them as I wrestled with one at Hondo one Saturday........ 
Lynn
Lynn
Last edited by Lynn Allen on Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:34 pm
Try as we might, we just couldn't defeat Murphy and his laws. The Rose won't be ready in time to make Sun N Fun after all. I'll try to get the Maintenance Officer's letter posted tomorrow, telling all about it.
Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:57 pm
Best play it safe. If she's not ready, she's NOT ready! Not like you can run up to the Mitchell store and buy new parts. I was thinking of trying to get over to Sun-N-Fun to see her go. Oh well, next time.
Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:30 am
This was sent to all members of the Yellow Rose Squadron. As OPS Officer, I concurred with Ray's suggestion and sent out notices that the trip to SNF was scrubbed. I'm not even booking any appearances until the plane is back in the air and has 5 - 10 hours on the new engine. This should ensure that there is no pressure what-so-ever on the maintenance team to push and rush and maybe miss something.
There is a mention of a part aft of the bomb bay that was found to have severe intergranular corrosion. It wasn't on the original gig list, but was found as we went over the Rose with an even "finer toothed comb". I'm going to get some better information on this from Ray after the Rose is in the air again and his schedule slows down a bit, and I'll post it. I think it's something all B-25 operators will need to check out, unless they want to look like a B-2 for a few seconds!
Here's Ray's E-mail:
Subj: Yellow Rose Sun 'N Fun Status
Well, here is the email I've been trying so hard not to have to send....
There was no progress made on the wing today and there remains a couple of days work to do. I haven't heard from Henry, the structures guy volunteering his time to help us, and whether he can work Saturday or not, the wing probably won't be ready until Tuesday. Gary can probably bring the wing out to us Wednesday. While we can hang the wing in an hour or so, installing and torquing the 300 or so bolts will take a couple of days. It took two days to get them all out. Only four people can be involved in the bolt-up process as the only access inside the wing is through the oil cooler opening.
Once the wing is on, the oil coolers have to go on. This is a painful
process, too, and only two can work this step. All of the control cables then have to be rigged and tested for correct tension. This affects the entire control lock system, which also must be checked. With everything (all oil, fuel, electrical, etc.) hooked up and the oil cooler cover plate in place, the aircraft can be jacked up for the retract test for the "B" inspection.
A critical structural bracket was found to have very severe intergranular
corrosion and is being replaced. The new part won't be ready until
mid-week, most likely, and since this part is involved in attaching the rear fuselage at the bomb bay, we shouldn't run the engines without it due to the stress on the rudders. Once that part is in place and the wing is completely done, we can set up and pre-oil BOTH engines. We will have at least three people with written instructions cross checking each step of the pre-oil process to ensure that it is done right this time. Only then can we start the engines.
There is also the issue of the maintenance and pilot and co-pilot PPE
flights to consider. I would want to give the plane a pretty good looking over after each flight for any problems, and that would eat up more time.
With all that said, I just don't see at this time how we can safely have
the aircraft ready to take off for Florida Thursday morning. Even if the
wing was in the hangar right now, ready to hang, we would have to work long hours every day to be ready in time, if it is possible at all. None of this allows for any obstacles that Professor Murphy would throw in our way, and we all know how busy he has been with us lately. I don't want to see us fall vitcim to the same "airshowitis" that cost the Yellow Rose Squadron, and the Devil Dog, so dearly last year.
I was scheduled to be on the crew for the Sun 'N Fun trip, and am hugely disappointed that the Rose won't be there. But in the best interest of the
CAF, the Yellow Rose, all who will fly on her, and all whom she will fly
over, I must, as Maintenance Officer, recommend that we cancel plans to attend Sun 'N Fun 2009.
I sincerely apologize to the entire Squadron for missing yet another show. I'm looking forward to having the Rose back in the air very soon and having a very productive rest-of-the-season and, with some good, regular maintenance, many more great years.
Thanks,
Ray Clausen
Maintenance Officer
Yellow Rose Squadron
There is a mention of a part aft of the bomb bay that was found to have severe intergranular corrosion. It wasn't on the original gig list, but was found as we went over the Rose with an even "finer toothed comb". I'm going to get some better information on this from Ray after the Rose is in the air again and his schedule slows down a bit, and I'll post it. I think it's something all B-25 operators will need to check out, unless they want to look like a B-2 for a few seconds!
Here's Ray's E-mail:
Subj: Yellow Rose Sun 'N Fun Status
Well, here is the email I've been trying so hard not to have to send....
There was no progress made on the wing today and there remains a couple of days work to do. I haven't heard from Henry, the structures guy volunteering his time to help us, and whether he can work Saturday or not, the wing probably won't be ready until Tuesday. Gary can probably bring the wing out to us Wednesday. While we can hang the wing in an hour or so, installing and torquing the 300 or so bolts will take a couple of days. It took two days to get them all out. Only four people can be involved in the bolt-up process as the only access inside the wing is through the oil cooler opening.
Once the wing is on, the oil coolers have to go on. This is a painful
process, too, and only two can work this step. All of the control cables then have to be rigged and tested for correct tension. This affects the entire control lock system, which also must be checked. With everything (all oil, fuel, electrical, etc.) hooked up and the oil cooler cover plate in place, the aircraft can be jacked up for the retract test for the "B" inspection.
A critical structural bracket was found to have very severe intergranular
corrosion and is being replaced. The new part won't be ready until
mid-week, most likely, and since this part is involved in attaching the rear fuselage at the bomb bay, we shouldn't run the engines without it due to the stress on the rudders. Once that part is in place and the wing is completely done, we can set up and pre-oil BOTH engines. We will have at least three people with written instructions cross checking each step of the pre-oil process to ensure that it is done right this time. Only then can we start the engines.
There is also the issue of the maintenance and pilot and co-pilot PPE
flights to consider. I would want to give the plane a pretty good looking over after each flight for any problems, and that would eat up more time.
With all that said, I just don't see at this time how we can safely have
the aircraft ready to take off for Florida Thursday morning. Even if the
wing was in the hangar right now, ready to hang, we would have to work long hours every day to be ready in time, if it is possible at all. None of this allows for any obstacles that Professor Murphy would throw in our way, and we all know how busy he has been with us lately. I don't want to see us fall vitcim to the same "airshowitis" that cost the Yellow Rose Squadron, and the Devil Dog, so dearly last year.
I was scheduled to be on the crew for the Sun 'N Fun trip, and am hugely disappointed that the Rose won't be there. But in the best interest of the
CAF, the Yellow Rose, all who will fly on her, and all whom she will fly
over, I must, as Maintenance Officer, recommend that we cancel plans to attend Sun 'N Fun 2009.
I sincerely apologize to the entire Squadron for missing yet another show. I'm looking forward to having the Rose back in the air very soon and having a very productive rest-of-the-season and, with some good, regular maintenance, many more great years.
Thanks,
Ray Clausen
Maintenance Officer
Yellow Rose Squadron
Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:42 am
I can only imagine what a tough call that was to make.
But I would rather have that call made then some of the others!
She will fly when she is good and ready. Hope to see you guys in the air soon.
Flyingsailor
But I would rather have that call made then some of the others!
She will fly when she is good and ready. Hope to see you guys in the air soon.
Flyingsailor
Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:06 am
Once again...."Atta-boy" to all who are making the correct decisions now (and taking the initiative to inspect the airplane even closer than I did).
Good job to all.
Gary
Good job to all.
Gary
Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:34 am
Good call guys! Hope ya'll can keep the old girl flying for years to come.
Ryan
Ryan
Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:27 pm
After a little more delay than we thought we would see, the left wing should arrive at the CenTex Wing hangar tomorrow. My understanding is that the plane should be ready to attach when it gets there. Not sure when that will be, but maybe this weekend? I'll post more news as work progresses. I've told the Maintenance Officer that there is no need to push now. After all the pressure of trying to get her together in time for the Doolittle reunion and Sun N Fun, I'm not going to try to schedule anything until the Rose is up in the air and has 5 -10 hours on the new engine.
Mike Renck
Operations Officer
Yellow Rose Squadron
Commemorative Air Force
Mike Renck
Operations Officer
Yellow Rose Squadron
Commemorative Air Force
Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:52 pm
Ray and Mike...
We are pulling for you down here in Houston.
It sounds EXACTLY like what we are going through down here with TR.
Including finding stuff that Gary missed!
Keep doing it right, don't rush and if you need outside help...track it down and get it. PM me if you need B25 consults... (I've got this friend see...and he knows B25s like nobody's bidness...)
All the Best...SPANNER
Gulf Coast Wing
We are pulling for you down here in Houston.
It sounds EXACTLY like what we are going through down here with TR.
Including finding stuff that Gary missed!
Keep doing it right, don't rush and if you need outside help...track it down and get it. PM me if you need B25 consults... (I've got this friend see...and he knows B25s like nobody's bidness...)
All the Best...SPANNER
Gulf Coast Wing
Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:10 pm
SPANNERmkV wrote:Ray and Mike...
Including finding stuff that Gary missed!
It is not so much as missed, as only having a certain amount of time to look over a large plane. That is why I rely on the eyes of the mechaincs. A inspector might have a day on a plane, where as the mechanics might have a week or more. The more eyes the better, and once you have a mechanic up to speed on what is accepable and what is not, you might find it very hard to find anything to write up.
Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:22 pm
Thank you Matt.
Gary
Gary
Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:08 pm
It's kind of like an old car, you really don't know all you have to do until you've pulled it half apart and then go to put it back together! The more work you do...the more work you find! 
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:42 pm
Gary did more good for TR in the two short visits he made to look her over than I can thank him for.
Let the record so state!
And the entire fleet of CAF B-25s is better off for having him peek, poke and sometimes ground them.
We miss you Gary... Straight up!
Don Price- Wing Leader
CAF-GCW
Let the record so state!
And the entire fleet of CAF B-25s is better off for having him peek, poke and sometimes ground them.
We miss you Gary... Straight up!
Don Price- Wing Leader
CAF-GCW
Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:56 pm
a example of getting the mechanics trained is the area washers that both Gary and I asked Spanner to install on the rod ends on TR.
Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:51 pm
Mike, do you all this have the bomb that goes on the Yellow Rose sign to collect money with? That bomb was always placed out front for collections...
Lynn
Lynn