Warbird Information Exchange

Since I visit Flying Heritage Collection weekly (at least) I thought I'd start a thread to show what's been going on over there. I'll post some maintenance pics, engine runs, test flights, etc.

To start things off, here are shots of their Grumman F6F-5N

Got to see this old gal spring to life for the first time today following a lengthy restoration. It's a Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat that served with the U.S. Navy during WWII. Its always so exciting seeing these old birds breathing their first breath of new life. This one marks my seventh one. This summer it will be added to an ever growing list of restored WWII aircraft flown each weekend between May and September.


VIDEO: http://youtu.be/a5hHSsJazyQ



IMG_6581-HDR(3) by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr


IMG_6443-HDR(3) by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr


IMG_6323-HDR(3)bw by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr


IMG_6302-HDR(3)c by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

As we all know by now, FHC is well on its way to completing a major project: the second hangar! This one is 26,000 sq. ft., which is about half the size of the original hangar. Currently several of the planes have to be in other hangars because there simply is not enough room. The I-16, Jenny, MiG-29, Sherman, and P-40 are no longer on display at this time.


IMG_6738 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr
This is how FHC looks as of Feb. 2nd.

Thursday I was very lucky with a bit of good timing and showed up just in time to see them cycling the landing gear and bomb bay doors on their B-25J Mitchell "Buster."

VIDEO:
http://youtu.be/us8W_Cblqx4

I also stuck around for some pictures and got this one of the Hellcat's R-2800


image by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

Had another bit of good luck on Fridahy when I showed up to discover they had the B-25, P-51, and A6M outside, uncowled, and with a start cart near by.

I caught this lucky photo of a backfire:

IMG_8896 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

I promise I'm not complaining, considering I still caught some flame, but you should have seen how it looked between frames! Covered the entire top half of the engine!

IMG_9035 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

Jason Muszala peeks out from the cockpit as the Mustang turns over and begins to fire up.

IMG_9238 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

External power disconnected, the Merlin runs like a champ.

IMG_9300 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

Unfortunately they didn't get to start up the Zero. Two warbirds in a day in Feb are good enough for me!

Enjoy and stay tuned for LOTS more on the way!

Great photos
Was it golfer Gary Player that said something like
"the more I practice the luckier I get"

_________________
Chris Mellor

ExCellent!!

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

Splendid stuff. Thanks for posting. Please keep them coming, Jason!

Michael

Thanks Jason! You've got a pretty good eye
I'd definitely agree that two warbirds in February is pretty good.
The only thing that I'm lookin' at two of, is feet of snow

thanks for keepin' us posted on happenings at FHC

Andy Scott

Well done Jason, if I could ask, what is the exif for these??

Thanks,

Lynn

No problem at all, Lynn!

All were taken at 200mm (had to shoot through a chain link fence)
The first two of the Mitchell were taken at ISO-400.
The first was 1/160 sec. F/10
The second was 1/20 sec. F/25

The two of the Mustang were taken at ISO-100
The first one was at 1/20 sec. F/13
The second one was at 1/10 sec. F/16

Neither aircraft rose very high above idle RPM

If you click on the photos I post, it will take you to the Flickr.com page, and you can see all the exif details there.


Thanks everyone, I'm glad you like the pics so far! Things are bound to start getting busy around here, and as soon as I've got some worth-while stuff to post about Historic Flight Foundation I'll start a post for them as well.

I was at FHC today and they have the F6F masked for markings, it's going to be a A/C from VF-12 or VBF-12 from the USS Randolph. 2 Ft high numbers in front of the star, white verticle with 3 blue stripes, and white control surfaces.

Oh wow, that's excellent!! Maybe I'll head over there tomorrow to catch them moving it to the paint hanger and get some photos. Thanks for the heads up!

Jason thanks for the update and pictures. They are welcome any time as they help me get through this Northern Ohio Winter!

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A&P/I.A., A.A.S./Aviation Maintenance technology
Warbird salvage/recovery
One day I'll get that P-40!

Got to go take a look at the Hellcat today and got some shots of it while Corey was placing the masks. The ailerons will be painted once in the shop.

This aircraft was chosen to represent a local ace from Kennewick, WA who served with VF-12. He did not have his own aircraft in the squadron, but did fly this one.


IMG_9532 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr


IMG_9486 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr


IMG_9455 by fight2flyphoto, on Flickr

Nice!!! ... so they will be going with this version with the evenly lined #32 ...



... over this version with the offset #32 ... still very nice indeed!



... why might one ask that the #'s are different? Could very well be two different Hellcats, one may have been lost and replaced with another Hellcat which would assume the #32 again. As for why the fellow who's aircraft is to be represented did not have his own F6F, it was usually standard practice to share several planes with other pilots in the group. Kind of the 'Navy way' back then. Not always the case, but usually the case. My dad flew several different VF-11 Hellcats as well. he didn't have his own mount, just what was ready to go at the time. Nice job FHC and I forgive you for not representing a VF-11 Hellcat

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“With bottomless pockets...anything is possible”