Warbird Information Exchange

Just a quick update. The carb COULD be ready as early as Monday. The overhaul should go fairly easy since this one was flying on the old engine. Once it is back and installed, engine runs will be made to make sure it holds up. Then we aren't going to wait for a Saturday for the first flight. The Rose will make her maintenance flight as soon as she is ready. I know a lot of our members were wanting to be there for the return to flight, but once she is ready we have a lot of crew qualification and new copilot checking out to do. This is going to help get some local hours on the engine as well, before getting too far from home.

Still crossing everything but controls!

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Mike

The paint work has begun! Sunday we got the gray areas under the tail painted...yes, it's "flat" paint! We are going to continue the paint work, working around the maintenance and flight schedules. I haven't heard, yet, if the carb is back from the shop. Stay tuned!

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Mike

The latest from our Maintenance Offier, Ray Clausen:

Hi Everybody,

Just a quick update...

We are hoping for news that the carburetor will be ready as early as
possible this week. The "Dallas carb" failed a second time with exactly the same symptoms after the same high power test as it did the first time and we have no confidence in it, so we have another being overhauled ASAP.
We'll get it on as fast as we can when it is ready and if it works like it used to, will be making that first flight as soon as possible.

On a brighter note, the plane is ready (other than the carb issue). She
got some fresh paint over the last couple of days and we'll be putting in the escape hatches Monday.

I invited the FAA rep out (yeah, some kind of brain cramp on my part) to see her and they took me up on it. As a result, the Rose was inspected for airworthiness by the FAA last week and we are good to go!

Think positive and hope that the carb is ready Monday or early Tuesday!

Thanks!

Ray

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Mike

Knowing the SA FSDO, that's really saying something! That plane must be in great shape now! Looking forward to seeing it airborne.
On a side note, I was at the Windcrest anniversary parade, with a borrowed camera so I could get some "better" shots. Took a few of the flyover, but it turned out that the last user had not put the memory card back in . Anyway, I did get a few ground shots... Not sure where to put the thread yet, still debating.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Ryan, I can relate! My youngest son's mother was based at Holloman AFB. She arranged for me to get an up close and personal look at the F-117, including up in the cockpit. We were able to take some photos out in front of the plane...only certain angles you were allowed to shoot from up close....with us standing next to one in it's hangar. I took lots of great shots, and had an airman take some of us in front of the plane. I didn't forget the data card, as this was before digital, but I sure was not happy when I rewound the film and unloaded the camera, only to find an empty chamber when I opened the camera!

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Mike

Watch this space later this evening. I understand Ray Clausen is going to post an update on the Rose that you will find interesting...as if they all haven't been!

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Mike

Sorry I didn't get something out Friday like I told Mike I would.

Once we got the carb back on the Rose, we started her up and she idled fine. We let her run for a while and then took her out for another high power test run. While we had a good run, the carb failed again with exactly the same symptoms after the same test. Having earlier found that that carb had been put back together with at least one incorrect part, I had no faith in the parts used internally and I took a spare to Aero Accessories in San Antonio for overhaul. That took a little over a week (It was held up a bit because some clowns had a B-29 carb being done ahead of us! ). I got it back Thursday afternoon and worked late getting it and the doghouse back on.

Friday morning we fired her up. I had to adjust idle and mixture just a bit and soon she was idling well. After she warmed up completely, we taxied out for the dreaded high power test. We got a good, strong run and with fingers, toes, and eyes crossed, brought her back to idle. She kept running! One more test run and she was still running fine. We made another little linkage adjustment and took her out one more time. Still running great! That was it! She was ready to fly!!

It was at this point that I called Mike and informed him of our success and told him I'd post the news here (Friday night). At this time, we do not know what the nature of the problem is inside what we now call the Dallas Carb. We will be taking it to Aero Accessories and will have it overhauled by them. Hopefully then they can explain it and we will get the info out to everyone.

Saturday, the 26th, we were having the Texas state Harley Owners Group (HOG) Rally at the hangar. The Yellow Rose of Texas was their theme this year. I had a crew push the Rose out for a bath so she'd look her best for the group photos in the afternoon. Not long after they started, I was called over to the plane. One of the guys found about a 6 inch tear in the fabric on the left aileron. AAAAUUUGGGHHHH!!!!

It was fine during a wing walk a couple of weeks ago. As we've approached first flight, I've been working with my mechs to search the aircraft from wingtip to wingtip and nose to tail, inside and out, for tools, FOD, and loose screws/bolts/rivets and anything else out of the ordinary. We have no idea how it happened right now. It will be a fairly simple fix and I'll get on it sometime tomorrow. I just can't describe the frustration, though. I know many of you have been through this or worse, but I'm kind of new at it.

Right now I'm looking at trying for a flight on Wednesday, weather permitting. I've requested that an independent pilot, Al Maxwell, who isn't a member of either the Yellow Rose Squadron or The CenTex Wing be PIC for that first maintenance flight. I trust Al will give me an honest evaluation of the performance of the Rose and if he says she is good to go, I'll turn her over to Mike and the pilots to get some flight time on her in preparation for a trip to Midland in a couple of weeks!

I'll get an update posted in a day or so. Thanks for all the encouragement and support!

Ray

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Ray Clausen
Maintenance Officer
Centex Wing of the CAF

Thanks for the updates Ray, as frustrating as they are for us out here in WIXLAND, the torment they are causing the gang there must be just mind-blowing. Do you have a little padded room you go into and just yell, or have a speedbag in the back you go punch the snot out of when this "stuff" pops up!? Sounds so close it is tantalizing! Alas, she will fly when she is ready!!!! Keep up the good work.

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Aviation Illustration Website
http://shepartstudio.com/illustration/

I'm at the hangar right now, doing prep work on the OD areas on the tail of the Rose. I looked at the damage on the aileron. The tear runs along an aluminum former, and there are two small scratches at 90 degrees to the tear.

I then looked up at the roof of the old wooden hangar. Right above the damage, I saw a piece of wood missing from the decking. It looks like it would be just big enough to do the damage, hitting next to that former would make it tear the fabric like tearing a piece of paper with a straight edge.

Like Ray said, it should be an easy fix, and it's on a tan area too, which we are going to be repainting anyway!

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Mike

By the way, anyone have any ideas on how we can PCS airman Murphy to another base? He's wearing out his welcome here, what with Murphy's Law and all!!!!!!!!!!

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Mike

Yeah, Washington DC......

Lynn

Film was probably in there when you took the pics....

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Those who possess real knowledge are rare.

Those who can set that knowledge into motion in the physical world are rarer still.

The few who possess real knowledge and can set it into motion of their own hands are the rarest of all.

You know, I never thought of that!!! An Air Force person did have possession of my camera for a few minutes when they took the photos of me in front of the plane! The plot thickens!

Quick Rose update, Ray told me that the fabric repair to the left aileron has been done, dope applied, and today the silver goes on. So....if the weather is good enough, which it is SUPPOSED to be (and nothing else comes up), the Rose should have her maintenance flight tomorrow (20 SEP)!

We'll be flying her as much as we can over the next few days, getting hours on the new engine and crew trained, then Thursday, October 8th, we plan to depart for MAF and Airsho '09. We are planning on departing HYI (San Marcos) about 1000 and arriving MAF just before noon. Hope to be at Clear Springs for lunch! (LOVE those onion rings!)

We will be selling rides on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning. Maybe after the show on Sunday, if needed.

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Mike

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S.

Get her up! But be safe....Tomorrow Sept 20? that some kind of San Marcos time warp? I know it's a different time zone...didn't know it was that different!

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Aviation Illustration Website
http://shepartstudio.com/illustration/