TFC P-39 First Flight Alert!

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:08 am

Man, I'm really jazzed to see one of the PNG machines in the air after so long. I've been looking at all those picked over carcasses for decades! Hopefully the emergence of this plane on the scene will put the fire under a few more butts and get a couple more of the PNG planes on the road to recovery.

The Airacobra is truly an awsome little plane IMO. It may not be the fastest, but in the realm of existing WWII-era fighters it's uniqueness really sets it apart. Sitting on the flight line with all of it's cowls removed, it'll draw my attention quicker than a Mustang any day!

Looks like TFC pulled out the stops and had all of the proper goodies fitted in the nose. First rate gents!

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Rob Mears wrote:

Looks like TFC pulled out the stops and had all of the proper goodies fitted in the nose. First rate gents!

The goodies include solid machined brass cannon shells for weight and balance purposes and a Reno Air Race style radiator spray bar evaporative cooling system. One of the machine gun ammo containers is actually a reservoir for water. Cooling is quite a problem on the ground since the radiator intakes are so small.

And TFC paid the bills... Fighter Rebuilders did the restoration!

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Fri Jun 18, 2004 3:11 pm

Thank to all involved! It is so great to see something so rare come back to life.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Along with some of the leftover parts.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:16 pm

Col. Rohr wrote:

Hey Guys,

She is'nt the only airworthy 39 here in the States did we all forget the CAF bird, also The Air Zoo's should be joining them in the air soon.

The Air Zoo's P-39 hasn't flown since 1986 or 1987 and isn't likely to ever fly again now that it has been moved into the new museum attraction. In order to house it in the new museum all flammables had to be removed and the systems purged. Not a quick thing to undo to make it flyable again, nor is their much of a desire on the part of the Air Zoo to fly it (or anything else at this point).

Guest · **Posted:** Mon Jun 21, 2004 10:27 pm

Col. Rohr wrote:

A'm I being mislead that The Air Zoo is'nt going to be putting their stuff back into the air.

The story in Air Classic about the 39 rebuild indicated that it would be return to airworthy and that some other aircraft are going to be put back into the air.

You will most likely see the Trimotor (after its spar repairs) and the 'Cats fly again within a few years. Don't hold your breath for anything that moved to the new museum, such as the P-40 (permanently retired and hanging in the entrance), P-39 or P-47. Obviously any flying will depend on the financial stability of the new attraction.

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:45 am

Planes of Fame site has posted a few "parting shots".

http://www.planesoffame.org/Photos.htm

Chad Veich · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:27 pm

Quote:

You will most likely see the Trimotor (after its spar repairs) and the 'Cats fly again within a few years. Don't hold your breath for anything that moved to the new museum, such as the P-40 (permanently retired and hanging in the entrance), P-39 or P-47. Obviously any flying will depend on the financial stability of the new attraction.

Were the Kalamazoo P-47 pics in the newest Air Classics (including the cover shot) taken previously or is the Jug up and flying again?

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:03 pm

Chad Veich wrote:

Quote:

You will most likely see the Trimotor (after its spar repairs) and the 'Cats fly again within a few years. Don't hold your breath for anything that moved to the new museum, such as the P-40 (permanently retired and hanging in the entrance), P-39 or P-47. Obviously any flying will depend on the financial stability of the new attraction.

Were the Kalamazoo P-47 pics in the newest Air Classics (including the cover shot) taken previously or is the Jug up and flying again?

Yes..at least prior to 2001 when they grounded their fleet.

setter · **Posted:** Tue Jun 22, 2004 8:15 pm

Hi all

I think you may all have forgotten that there is a little industry established here in Australia at a place called Wangaratta in Victoria which is rebuilding to FLY 3 or 4 P39s as well as 4 or 5 P40s and 3 Bostons - Regular poster mick Grinter can fill you in on these but it will significantly increase the population of airworthy rare breeds. Mick is a worker at the facility and a fantastic place it is to be sure with one P40 already flying.

Kindest regards
john Parker

mrhenniger · **Posted:** Wed Jun 23, 2004 6:27 am

setter wrote:

I think you may all have forgotten that there is a little industry established here in Australia at a place called Wangaratta in Victoria which is rebuilding to FLY 3 or 4 P39s as well as 4 or 5 P40s and 3 Bostons - Regular poster mick Grinter can fill you in on these but it will significantly increase the population of airworthy rare breeds. Mick is a worker at the facility and a fantastic place it is to be sure with one P40 already flying.

Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes we drift into a North American and UK focus only, it is nice to have someone to enlighten us again.

Mike

Warbird Information Exchange

TFC P-39 First Flight Alert!

Who is online