Warbird Information Exchange

Hi gang (Dave H in particular),

I found some older pictures of the Vintage Wings of Canada P-40 while it was still in New Zealand. It looked like a standard P-40 with no back seat modification; as in it had those metal coverings just inside of the rear windows.

I assume that those pieces are removable, and I'm curious to know how the pieces are put in and removed. Is it a big deal to put them in, or is it fairly easy?

I like how "perfectly stock" it looks with them in, and how great it is to be able to pull them out and provide a really nice seat for a happy passenger. Very clever concept, and I'm very interested to see how it all works.

Below are pictures of what I'm talking about:


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Curtiss- ... 1532533/L/



Peace,

David M

I'm not sure how Vintage Wings does it, but on the one the Fighter Factory has, the panels slide into clips that hold them in place and the headrest panel is held in with a pair of spring latches. It makes for a very easy, no tools, conversion. On the P40 that I've been doing a two seat conversion on, we can easily bolt the panels and the headrest back into place for a single seat look. When we get a little more time we'll make it a "no tools" swap.

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Rod Schneider
Ball Ground, Ga

Hey Rod,

that's really cool to know. I had always wondered about the "hidden back-seat" idea on P-40's, but the VWoC P-40 was the first I've ever noticed it on. It certainly is a great idea.

Peace,

David M

Davey,

Yes, it's as-described. The side-panels slot into place, then the armour-plate fits in and is held by a slide-bolt. All very simple and no-tools.

That's one of the things that helped us win "Best Fighter" at Oshkosh in 2009.

Normally we just leave these panels off, because we often share the flight with someone.

Our 2-seat/dual control conversion is an actual STC, approved by the New Zealand CAA. The fuselage is strengthened to make sure changing from gas tank to pax seat has not weakened the structure. And it includes a "roll bar".

Come visit!

Dave

I wish I could get out your way to meet you in person and to see all the beautiful planes at VWoC that you get to fly! Oh, and also check out your ol' Fairchild.

Maybe you could convince the bosses at VWoC to let you bring the P-40 out to Abbotsford next summer? We out here on the West Coast really appreciate you bringing planes out here like the F-86 and the Corsair. Maybe you could pass on a big thank you.

Thanks also for filling me in about the back seat covers. Very interesting stuff, and no doubt it a big reason she won at Oshkosh.

Peace,

David

Doesn't the Jackey C at the AAM in Long Island have a back seat? But the decking is installed currently due to insurance being too high for riders?

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
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