Warbird Information Exchange

OK guys, this might be the all time dumb question but I'll ask anyway. We're in the middle of a Mig-15 rebuild and the Russian hardware was not or at least does not appear to be cad plated. Many of the bolts and especially the castle nuts are very brittle and would not hold up under loads. Here it comes. Is the metric hardware from lets' say a Spitfire made to the same standards and tolerances as what the Russians used?

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

Chris, don't know about Ruskies, but Spitfire hardware is Whitworth or British Standard. I'm not aware of anything metric.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Chris,

Mind if I ask a couple of questions regarding the future of this airframe, with an eye towards the hardware in question ? Since you seem to be having problems with the stuff on hand. I would ask, are you planning to fly this aircraft ? Or, are you planning a static restoration ? Either way, what you might want to do is seek the advice of a Aerospace Engineer. If the surrounding structure is alright, with no cracks or corrosion issues, then what you MAY be able to do is do a conversion of the hardware with known NAS, AN, or MS standard hardware.

For example, if the surrounding structure has enough clearance, and is free of damage such as cracks or corrosion, what you might be able to do is rework the fastener holse size to the next closest American Standard hardware size. Bearing in mind that in doing so, will require certain FAA documentation such as a 337 with supporting engineering to allow such a conversion.

Make use of reamers and core drills that are as close to original as possible to original, and seek advise in this from a Engineer that does this for a living. This person would have access to technical data to support the conversion, as well as provide that data for the Form 337 itself.

Now, I am saying all this with the idea that you have access to the current hardware that is used in the States from places such as Aircraft Spruce.

Just a suggestion....if you need some help I might be able to come up with some spec's regarding the hardware. But please bear in mind that with a recent cross country move, most of my stuff is in boxes. Always willing to help if I can.

Respectfully,

Paul

Call these guys they may be able to help,
www.yakmetric.com 781-245-2507, or
www.MSTCO.com or www.metricscrew-toolco.com

Scott....

I've thought about converting everthing to AN type hardware but like you say, I'd have to ream everything to specs according to Russian tolerances and do not have access to that info so I'm sticking with metric. Good point on the British standard hardware for the Spit Bill. I forgot about that. As far as flying the plane, we are missing some parts but do have leads to work with on aquiring what we need. We plan to take everything we have and restore it to airworthy condition and at that time, if the money is available, purchase those parts that would make it a flyer. As near as we can tell, this aircraft may have a combat history due to LARGE impact marks on the pilots armor plating and what looks like repairs on the fuselage that would have come from underneath the plane. Thanks for the leads.

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

Chris, a couple of questions....
Is this an actual Russian built machine, or Polish/Chinese?
How much longer on the B-25??????????????? I know, time and money... I would have lost a LOT of money, 'cause I was telling a couple guys in Midland "Maid in the Shade" would be flying at Airsho 06. OK, so there is next year. Alan

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Just call me Al.

Russian built, Chinese flown. It has Chinese placards on top of the Russian ones. B-25 should be doing Taxi tests next month according to Pete Loguda.

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