Warbird Information Exchange

Group,
I just got Warbird Digest 13 today and was thrilled to check out the short feature by Gary Austin on the PBY-5A N68756 rescue by him and Mark Pilkington.
Titled "WIX Saves a Cat," credit is given where credit is due. It also makes mention of "the uproar" that was taking place among warbird enthusiasts over its imminent scrapping. I had a direct hand in this uproar since I was the one who first forwarded the (incorrect) msg. from Mike Tromm of the CAF to PBY@yahoo.com.
A while after that, Mark and Gary entered the picture and I was blown away in surprise and after that my incorrect fwd. msg. found its way here. It was at that time that I joined up, frantically trying to kill off the big wrong-o I'd posted.

This issue also had a feature on a Skyraider owned by Lone Star member Rick Sharpe.

Doug Ratchford."Canso42"

Well, I think everyone that loves ol' Warbirds would like to thank you for starting the "uproar." I'm just glad we were able to help save one. Now, since you're obviously the guy that started this mess, how about coming out here and getting rid of some of the wasp and yellow jacket nests that are in the ol' PBY.

Gary

yer let see him do that....

And they are HUGE too!

Never underestimate the tenacity of a Texas dirt dobber.
It's a bit of a drive but I'd like to see your side of things up close and oily. And I'm a dead shot with Raid Wasp spray. Keep in touch.

Doug.

Gary
I practiced my marksmanship with a Raid can today.
Doug.

Well, come on down. We'll put you to work on yellow jacket and wasp irradication.

Gary

WD-40 works great on them, but Air Force Cleaning Solution, avgas is the best.

Lynn

CRC's Electro Motive Cleaner............is the BEST! will drop them in mid flight!!!! go out in the am and get the whole nest when there all there. Use the straw for those extra Long range shots! then no messy residue that actual wasp killer leaves.

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Hi,

I just found this thread. Please tell me more about this situation. Back in the 80's I probably spent 500 hours working on this PBY and flying in her.

RICK

Well, here's the first thread that covered it...

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... y+scrapped

Here's another...

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... y+scrapped

And another...

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... y+scrapped


Hope that helps.

Gary

I have seen some misinformation here about what transpired to keep "Sea Bitch" first in Harlingen and then in Brownsville. Back in 1986 the plane was flown down for Airsho'. On Thursday, Hank Sillamen was waiting to takeoff on his PIC checkride when someone reported smoke coming from the left engine. This engine had been installed recently and had been donated with a "0" time overhaul. With less than 50 hours total since "overhaul" the main bearing for hte aft maaster rod came apart, pulling one of the pistons out of the bottom of the cylinder and then trying to stuff it back in. You can imagine the damage.

Over the course of 2 trips back down to Harlingen, we exchanged the engine for the one we had previously removed. This engine had been put back together by our engine shop and we thought we could at least get it home. The plane was ready to go, but none of the pilots were now current. In the process of trying to get pilots current, the engine failed again. At this point we were out of money and the decision was made to leave it there.

A couple of years later we again went down to Harlingen and performed a thorough airframe inspection to see if it was still feasible to make the plane airworthy. What we found at the time was not good and the wing staff decided to return the assignment to HQ. The next yearwas the start of the move out of Harlingen and the resulting move of the airframe to Brownsville. We now have the rest of the story with Gary and his rescue efforts.

This aircraft was the beginning of my real interest in working on warbirds and I will always have a special place in my heart for her. During the time I had the privlige of working on her and flying in her, I spent many a Friday morning after work (I worked midnight shift) washing her, preflighting her and fueling her while waiting for the flight crew to show up and fly her to a show.

Thanks Gary for saving a piece of my life.

RICK

Rick, I have a bunch of pics of her here.

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I hate to see the condition the plane has come too, but at least Gary might be able to save her.

RICK

Rick,
Remember, a warbird that is a derelict is STILL HERE and not part of your lawn chair and six-pack.

Canso42