Texas Airplane Factory - Herb Tischler & Ki-43 Jigs

[Heatreatnbeat]

Hey thanks,

I will look forward to receiving that, after I participate enough to PM.

I'm quite sure I could build another one of those with my eyes closed. The one major problem is the landing gear trunnion was machined from a huge solid piece. All of it but where the strut went thru on the end was then turned down to the size of a human forearm. We welded the sleeves on the end of the trunnions to hold the struts. The second gear collapse occurred because the Machinist decided to cut that weld rather than the bushing that was in the way of a better fit. Do all of those replicas have that problem ? , probably

[43-2195]

Dave,
There are more, just not in the public domain. Our mutual good friend who fronted the Boroko court should know that.

Keith

[gtisch]

Hello everyone,

I am very familiar with Texas Airplane Factory.

1.) As for the status of the jigs, they belonged to Mr. Champlin.
2.) Herbert Tischler is still alive. He is 87 years old now.
3.) There is an huge amount of speculation going on.

Example : Somebody in these postings accused TAF of not delivering the "6th" Me262 fuselage.
Being familiar with the contract between TAF and CFI, I can assure everyone, that what was delivered was per the contractual agreement signed by CFI and TAF.

George Tischler

[Rocketeer]

Thank you sir for putting rumors to rest.

We look forward to seeing more of your insight on this forum.

[43-2195]

George, Thank you for posting. Is it true what heatbeatntreat says that you only had limited original drawings/documentation and that what you did have had little or no numbers or writing on it? I am told that there is quite a lot of original material still available in the Japanese archives. I thought you must have gotten access to it.
Were the 1 & 2 rib jigs used to mount the cockpit/fuselage section cut down as Heattreatnbeat alludes to, or handed off to The Champlin Collection? I am trying to identify which NAA Aerofoil shape the 1 & 2 ribs were equivalent to. But have had no success.
I guess if they were passed to Champlin, they would now be in Paul Allen's Collection in Seattle.

Thank you George, Herb, yourself and the team did an outstanding job, and never really got enough credit from the warbird community. The Ki-43 is a very rare and important aircraft, it is a pity your small production run could not have been expanded.

[marine air]

Hopefully, like COnnie Edwards collection, somedeay the Oscars will leave storage and someone will take them on to complete to airworthy status. The Oscar looks like it would be a joy to fly aerobatics. Long slender fuselage, generous wingspan, large effective rudder, light airframe. A skilled aerobatic pilot could do an amazing display.