CAF Red Tail update

[John Beyl]

Here is a section of a status report I filed earlier this week regarding the Red Tail. Again, please avoid and speculation on what you read and definitely kill any false rumors you hear.

On Monday June 14th we removed the QEC from the A/C, righted the fuselage and placed it in the transport stand. We began around 4pm and were finished with the job by 11 that evening encountering only minor difficulties.

Tuesday morning with the FAA on hand we disassembled the engine. Here is what we found: The top nut on the upper vertical shaft which holds the crown gear in place backed off (Loosened up) and allowed the gear to travel up the spline on the shaft. Once the gear had risen far enough, the rollers in the cageless roller bearing that supports and centers the upper half of the upper vertical shaft escaped their land creating a large amount of "for and aft" play in the shaft. Once that happened the crown gear came completely out of mesh with the two driven gears that transfer power vertical cam drives and the cams fell out of time with the crank. The engine obviously stopped making power at that point.

How the nut backed off is still the subject of debate and conjecture. We were able to come up with a number of realistic scenarios that could have taken place that would have evolved into the failure that precipitated. At this point the FAA and NTSB have confiscated for analysis a large number of the parts associated with this assembly to see if they have anything further to tell us. Quite bluntly we may never know exactly what the root cause of failure was and in my opinion I feel it is best not to speculate since it garners no solid answers and only creates rumors that may be damaging.

We are committed to restoring "By Request" to fly again in a very timely manor and many of us including the original rebuilder are very optimistic about how much we have left to work with...A testament to Don's piloting abilities. With enough help from the warbird community and the support of the general public, we will make it happen soon! My personal goal is Mustang Round-up '06 in Nevada. Think we can do it? Stay tuned for more info on how you can help put this piece of our history back where it belongs....in the air at a show in your town!

You are constantly in my thoughts Don......"Red Tails Forever".

John

[mrhenniger]

This is very informative John. Thanks.

I wish everyone involved the very best in returning "By Request" to the sky.

Mike

[AIRIC]

John and the whole Red Tail gang,

Thanks for the update and best of luck.

Eric

Nicly writen Johnny. Where there is a will there is a way.

Keep'em Flying,
Super Dave