Warbird Information Exchange

During my visit today of the Tillamook Air Museum, I noticed what appeared to be fluid leaks from the F-14. The plaque said it was last flown in 1997 and was on loan from the Navy. Are the aircraft the navy owned demilled the same as aircraft release to civilian hands? Any reason there would be some type of fluid in the aircraft? Here are a couple pics:




Sean

...light the fires and get it the heck out of there and into some safe haven (canada?) where it won't be scrapped.

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P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

My guess, a big one at that, is that maybe the reason why it still has fluid is that maybe it acts like embalmbing fluid in people; dissenfectand and presever. Maybe not the dissenfectant. If it didn't have fluids, the hoses might get dried out and cracked, and that could lead to other problems. Just a wild guess. I should not drink and type!

Its like an old harley ,you dont run them they will leak a little.

What's so unusual about a leaking F-14.
Heck, they leaked like crazy when in service!
Jerry

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I think they will have some new people in soon to look at the F-14.

Don't they put some type of fluid/gel in the systems, just in case of an event or emergency where they need the systems to work again?

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She is just marking her territory. Alot like a radial engined plane does.

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Eric Rogers

The hoses have probably deteriorated enough over time to start seeping fluid. "They" probably were unable to remove every drop of fluid from the aircraft before it was put on display.

Go to any aviation or automobile museum and chances are you will see drip pans on the floor under the planes and cars. It's darn near impossible to remove all fluids from these machines, and most have some sort of oil run through the engine as a preserving mechanism. It's bound to leak out, especially if the vehicle is moved around for a special event or something similar.

One of the regular duties here at the EAA AirVenture Museum is changing out the kitty litter in the drip pans at least once a month.

Zack

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Yep, coming out of the fuel vent (plyon ahead of the Tail hook) and gang drain on the left engine. These drip forever, more venting during warm wx. Even completely empty condensation will form in the tanks and water will eventually start dripping out of the vent. Welcome to Tomcat maint, buy plenty of kitty litter.

Maybe I missed it on antother thread but do you have any more pics of Tillamook? I'm going up there in late July

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

Not sure when these photo's were taken, but I see the left tail boom of A P-38 in the first photo.[/b]

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Regards

Eric Rogers

Pics were taken on June 12/08. I just got home to Calgary tonight. I took approx 4000pics during the trip. I will be posting more pics as soon as I start to sort through the. Any specific requests? I took pics at Tillamook, McMinnville, Museum of flight & Resto center, FHC, Boeing future of flight, Victoria BC Museum, Langley BC Museum.


Thanks for the info about the F-14. Are the Navy Museum aircraft demilled like all the others released?

Aircraft loaned out by the service museums are usually rendered incapable of flight by the removal of equipment and systems necessary for flying. Most often that means the engines and some cockpit equipment. All of them will have classified equipment like radios and radars removed. Also anything considered hazardous waste gets removed. In some cases certain structural items will be cut, usually but not always engine mounts.

It really varies from airplane to airplane and over time. Some are almost intact and others are little more than shells. In my experience Navy planes are usually in better shape than Air Force ones.

James