Warbird Information Exchange

News from the "Cobra Den":

I intended to take some photos yesterday (Sunday the 13th of DEC 09), but my memory stick was full of photos I can't delete. I promise to have some posted soon. Here's a quick update though. Ray Clausen and team have begun the repair work. It seems the corrosion "problem" is no where near as severe as reported. Of course some work had already been done at Ezell's.

One very small, and easy to repair, area was due to dissimilar metals. I was told there was a steel screw going into the aluminum, and that caused a very small and easy to repair place. It's already done!

The duct work had already been taken care of by Ezell. It's all pretty and clean with new yellow primer on it. The longest lead time item, in Ray's thoughts, will be the canvas "bellows" that connect the pieces of duct work together. I'm going to get him the phone number of a local guy who might be able to do the work. He did a wonderful job on the new interior for the U-11, and has done many other projects around San Marcos.

The plan for the near future is to get the wings down off the stands, onto the ground, then raise the gear just enough to get the gear doors off. The gear struts are going to be overhauled, and all flex lines replaced for starters. The crew is also working on cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, so they can better inspect the airframe (as Gary always preached you should do). Then they will reprime/paint the interior.

The "To Do" list is being made, even as work is progressing. I'd venture a guess that, bar any unforseen things coming to light, there's a good chance the P-63F could make Airsho '10!

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Mike

Went to the Cobra Den today, with a NEW memory stick! Shot some photos of the -63F and other planes. I hope to get them posted tomorrow. In fact, might start a thread called the "Cobra Den", where we can update all the goings on with the dozen or so planes in the hangar.

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Mike

Bluehawk - The special thread you described would be great. I hope you do this.

I don't know if the CAF would want to do it, but having the 39 and 63 in the same OD paint would really look sharp; maybe they could perform as a team at airshows.

There is a growing movement within the wing to bring the P-39 into line with the photos Jack Cook posted of the actual paint and markings of the first (and only?) ace to get his first five solely in the P-39. That would mean taking the spinner and tail flash and doing away with the red and making it over all O.D., and putting a black triangle behind the skull and crossbones. Then there's the issue of getting the national markings properly positioned. I think they measured where to put them, then put them on the wrong side of the mark.

The P-63F is going to be based out of the San Marcos CAF hangar, so I'm sure we will see both in action together quite a bit! As Operations Officer, I will be trying my best to get them booked together. At least we should see the B-25 Yellow Rose with adequate fighter cover now!

Photos of the P-63F, as it is in the Cobra Den right now,and as work progresses, will be posted on the RetroAviation Maintenance Hangar thread. You can't miss it!

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Mike

Just a tease of what's being posted on the RetroAviation Maintenance Hangar thread:

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Mike

Check out the RetroAviation Maintenance Hangar for a new photo and short update on the P-63F work!

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Mike

Would love to see the P-39 in correct olive drab color. Not to be the critic, can't wait till its done and it sounds like so far you are working hard to making this P-39 authentic. I like the idea of the P-63 in olive drab too!

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

I'd venture to say that a $50K donation would just about guarantee this.

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.

I'd love to see the P-63 painted in pinball colors! Do you think I could get that for $40,000 DZ?

$50,000 for paint? you got to be kidding me!

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

Have you ever painted an airplane? This ain't a '67 Belair sitting in the driveway.

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.

Hey, we watched Gary do it on some ol' clunker B-24 a while back, and he made it look so cheap and easy.....

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Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas

PIC, Ford 6600 pulling Rhino batwing up and down the runway

Pinball ?? No!No!No!

The P63F is already painted in its own authentic colors ! All it needs is the red X on its nose. Besides if you want to see a fake pinball you could always go to Dayton ! Or you could go to Lackland and see the only surviving RP63G out on the parade ground,...

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

I'm sure that anyone who wanted to sponsor a new paint job, to include paint removal, repair of anything found once the paint was off (which I believe has already been done), and repainting, would find us a receptive group! There is a small group of us who are trying to bring the paint scheme closer to what it should be, like painting the red spinner (a nod to her Russian marked days) and tail flash (to balance with the red spinner) olive drab, and getting a black triangle behind the skull and crossbones as Jack showed was original.

What's this about the olive drab not being correct? I didn't know there was more than one O.D. color. Information please!

If anyone knows what the stenciling should be, and where it should go, adding that would be easy. We have a couple of stencil cutting machines at the hangar.

I'd like to see the P-39 painted like she was when she was based at Harlingen on active duty, or (if different) as she was when she was abandoned in New Mexico. Of course that would mean removing the leading edge guns and putting pods under the wings, which is what the "Q" model had. But that would add drag, which is one thing I understand the WWII pilots complained about. If we were to add drag, I'd rather it be a centerline drop tank that would extend her range. Anyone know where we could find a 75 gallon tank, or better still want to donate one?

We will see if we can talk the P-63 group into putting the "X" one the nose. No promises other than we will mention it. I didn't know it was red. Any reason for that marking?

Work has started, slowly, on the King Cobra in the Cobra Den. It's moving slow due to the annual inspection time for the other dozen or so aircraft based in the hangar. The inspections are coming along at a good pace, thanks to the skilled, and ever growing, Cobra Den Maintenance Team. If you get the chance, stop by the San Marcos Municipal Airport (KHYI) on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. Those are the regularly scheduled workdays.

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Mike

At the Cobra Den today, Cobra Den Maintenance Team Member Mark The Cable Guy was busy working on some of the King Cobra cables. I took some photos of the empty engine bay, one of which you can see the hangar floor when looking from the top. I'll try to get them posted tomorrow, one here, the rest on the RetroAviation Maintenance Hangar thread.

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Mike