New TBM Restoration - Wings Are Back On. First Flight Soon!

[SaxMan]

Yes she looks awesome and will be a fine example of the breed. I presume "Tiny" is setting up the prop blade angle with the wood and the clamps?

Yes. You are correct. They were trying to get the prop out of full pitch to flat pitch by turning two at a time, but were unable to do so. Apparently they needed to put the oil in the propeller's gearing (I know nothing about propellers and was only an observer, so if my explanation doesn't make sense, maybe one of the other guys can chime in).

[C VEICH]

This has been a really great thread and I can't wait to see the finished Turkey take wing!

[Matt Gunsch]

Yes she looks awesome and will be a fine example of the breed. I presume "Tiny" is setting up the prop blade angle with the wood and the clamps?

Yes. You are correct. They were trying to get the prop out of full pitch to flat pitch by turning two at a time, but were unable to do so. Apparently they needed to put the oil in the propeller's gearing (I know nothing about propellers and was only an observer, so if my explanation doesn't make sense, maybe one of the other guys can chime in).

until the dome is installed, the blades are not connected to each other and can be turned one at a time, and you can't put oil into the prop until the dome is installed, then the oil comes from the engine.

The blades are just stiff in the hub, if he had a real blade paddle, it would be easier.

[BillB24]

Today (11/13/12) we took the first steps to prepare the TBM for its road trip to an airport (Hagerstown is the current plan). Disconnected all cables and hoses that transit the right wingfold, removed the main landing gear doors, and disconnected the elevators from the actuator. The right wing, the elevators, and the horizontal stabilizers should come off Friday. Lead weights are being shaped for installation in the rear fuselage behind the tailwheel well, in preparation for weight & balance checks.



Restored pilot's seat and Hooker harness installed.



The finished cockpit, minus the GPS display.

[Chappie]

Hagerstown?! darn, that's farther away from me. I was hoping it would be Martin State. At any rate I'm glad to see she is moving on to the next step. What is the ballpark date for moving her?


Chappie

[SaxMan]

Hagerstown is an appropriate place to bring this story full circle, after all, she sat outside there for five years with an uncertain future. Now, she'll return to Hagerstown ready to take to the air again and eventually head to her new home in Culpepper.

[SaxMan]

Scenes from today's visit (11/23/12). In some ways, it looks like we're going backwards as the plane is being readied for its trip to Hagerstown in mid-December, but work and progress do continue:

Morning bull session:

DSC_0006 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Rudder attached:

DSC_0007 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Wings and tail feathers have been removed to prepare the plane for shipment:

DSC_0008 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Radio gear gets wheeled in:

DSC_0011 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

More radio gear...I'm no expert on this

DSC_0012 by onyxsax, on Flickr

...and more radio gear:

DSC_0014 by onyxsax, on Flickr

One of my assignments for the day was to mount this inspection panel in the radio compartment. I seem to have found my niche in working on those hard to reach places in the plane. Sometimes being small has its advantages!

DSC_0020 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Jack (on the left) with the radio gear.

DSC_0022 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Frank working on the cowl flaps:

DSC_0023 by onyxsax, on Flickr

My other assignment was to install this inspection panel in the tail wheel well. I literally had to wedge myself up into the tail wheel well sideways to get in there.

DSC_0024 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Radio receiver:

DSC_0026 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Front of the TBM:

DSC_0030 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[Chappie]

There's a post on ShopBuilt that says the wings and tail have been removed for shipment to Hagerstown. Does this mean the whole aircraft is moving on 12/12 or just the wings and tail?


Chappie

[SaxMan]

Actually, it's the opposite. The fuselage is slated to be moved on 12/12. The wings and tail will follow shortly thereafter on a specially modified trailer built to carry the wings.

[Warbird Kid]

Where will it be based once at Hagerstown?

[SaxMan]

Hagerstown is just an intermediate stop. The plane is to be reassembled and flight tested in Hagerstown Airport before heading to its permanent home in Culpeper, Virginia with the CAF's National Capital Squadron.

[Chappie]

Actually, it's the opposite. The fuselage is slated to be moved on 12/12. The wings and tail will follow shortly thereafter on a specially modified trailer built to carry the wings.

Ok, I hope you'll be there to capture the whole thing on film. I can't imagine what its going to take to get that bird up that steep ass driveway!


Chappie

[SaxMan]

I won't be there on the 12th, but I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures taken. The driveway isn't that steep, although there is a nasty little lip right when you get on the road. They did get the MAAM TBM up the driveway previously.

I probably won't be "joining the party" again until the latter part of the month.