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OK Folks, it appears we are getting updates from the HAG Group on the Website Message Board and the CAF here on WIX. I will be posting the HAG Group updates when they are received on the MB. To catch you up, here are the first two:
Draggin the Dragon
Posted by Stirlin Harris on 3/15/2009, 8:43 am
Update #1
5 of us have made the trip here to Midland: Austin Wadsworth, our fearless leader; Sgt. Bob Biron, our "enforcer," Glenn Gunner, our technical leader (and I.A.), Jeff Piper, "College Boy," and myself, "Boats."
Our plane looks pretty good. It's not until you get in the cockpit that the real difference from our C-47 becomes apparent. The engines are right up there along side with the props out in front...
We arrived Friday, early evening. Went to the plane first thing yesterday AM and soon got through the gates to her. While some started scrounging for ladders, Jeff and I started pulling engine cowlings. The prop domes came off easily- dry,no oil in them at all. I doubt we'll be able to feather the props before we pull them.
Then some of us started pulling the fairings from around the tail section, while others started getting all the "stuff," "stored" inside the plane out.
After lunch, we got a tour of FiFi from two CAF volunteers who are working on her- they were pulling an oil cooler, working towards the installation of the hybrid engines that are going to be installed on her. Cockpit is huge- like everything else and what I found most interesting is the flight engineer's position: He sits back to the co-pilot with a full array of all engine gauges, throttle and prop controls in front of him- so a green pilot can rely on him to provide the power as he/she takes off.
The CAF volunteers, Mark & Bob, have offered to help us today and we are MOST grateful! Yesterday they inflated the main wheels with nitrogen and we'll have to get a fork lift to lift the tail to get at the valve stem for the tail wheel- then they'll haul in their beautiful, big hangar for us.
Will try and give daily updates at end of day.
Stirlin Harris
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Draggin the Dragon #2
Posted by Stirlin Harris on 3/15/2009, 7:57 pm
Today was a good day. Dave Miller, Crew Chief on the CAF's gorgeous B-29, FiFi, returned from being out of town. Besides being a great help to us, he is posting pixs on WIX of our progress.
Even though it is flat as heck out here and you can see for miles, we're at 3,000 ft. altitude and the CAF guys kindly advised us to stay hydrated as in the dry air and altitude one can get in trouble pretty quickly. From 40's yesterday it was sunny, clear blue skies and 70's today.
Dave Miller drove the fork lift out to our plane and picked up her tail to where we could get to the valve stem. We held our breath as the rear tire doesn't look great, while the mains do and they held pressure overnight. The rear wheel took the charge and held. We hooked her up to the fork lift and Dave towed her to where we could pressure wash her down. Austin decided, instead, to use a shop vac to clean out the crap in the bottom of the fuselage. Of greatest concern was the rat scat from which one could contract what they call Junta Virus and that's a trip to Emergency...
First thing this AM we went to 'Wally World' and bought dust masks, lots of water, paper towels and sharpies to mark things as we took them off the plane. While Austin toughed out the vacumming, Jeff and I finished removing the fairings from the main wing. A quick trip to get a subway and we then towed the plane into the hangar, after they took out their C-47 which looks even more pristine than our own.
Then we pulled the pulled the props. They came off quite easily because they weren't put back that 'hard' after the reconstruction from moving the plane to Midland. Second prop was a bit of a challenge as the engine is frozen and we couldn't spin a blade to the bottom. Austin and Jeff rigged a sling to keep it upright as we pulled it off the plane using their forklift.
Then we pulled the ring cowls. Then Austin and Jeff rigged slings and chains to pull the #1 engine. While using the forklift as a "jack" to hold up the plane in case the gear were to collapse while someone was in the wheel well or under the engine while undoing the mounting bolts, Dave ran their crane to hold the engine while the mounting bolts were pulled. She came off with a little persuasion and we set the engine just outside the hangar. That was about 6:30 PM and we'll start tomorrow morning on #2.
Dave Miller is posting pictures of our progress on WIX. We can't say enough about the CAF guys here. Mark Russell came back to help. Texans in general seem to be a very friendly bunch: We walked into an auto parts store thsi AM and the guy behind the counter said looks like we got some shop lifters here... We had fun talking with him. Others picked up on our conversation and said our plane was on the news. We thought that was pretty cool until we figured out it was the CAF's P-82, Twin Mustang, that the USAF is taking from them- even though they have the paper to show it's theirs! We quickly pointed out that that wasn't 'our' plane and that we had paid for ours and weren't the bad guys!
More tomorrow.
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