CAF Centex Wing P-39 News

[51fixer]

What is the round donut thingy on the bottom right side of the engine photo?

Coolant pump

[Ray Clausen]

Quite right, 51fixer, thats the coolant pump. Thanks for fielding that one.

I was going back through the photos of the engine teardown earlier in this thread and realized that I'd had a HUGE brain fart during all of the raving I've done over the new -135 engine. I was at Joe Yancey's facility to observe the engine teardown to see just how nasty it was inside the engine. Also in attendance was Randy Walberg. Randy is a very experienced A&P, IA with Air Professionals in Pearland, Texas. He inspects and certifies Joe's engines and he was instrumental in the building and certification of the new -135 engine for the P-63. We had an absolute blast at the Chino Airshow, but those stories are best kept offline...

Randy has been associated with the P-63F for many years and probably knows it better than anyone, from a mechanical standpoint. I've been expecting him to drop in and check our work but I understand he's been extremely busy bouncing around the country doing IA stuff. I know Midland will want his approval of our work before we are allowed to get some air under the landing gear. As we're getting close to that day, we're looking forward to his visit to the Cobra Den.

I'm sure Randy didn't lose any sleep over being ommitted in my rantings, but I needed to him some credit and I feel better now.

Uh oh, Collier is reaching for the whip! I'd better get back to work!

[mustangdriver]

Mike something went rong with the message you tried to send me. What is the address again to send my money for the shirts?

[bluehawk15]

Cobra Den T-shirts are $20 each, plus $5 each shipping (it's hard to get two of anything over a Medium in the small flat rate boxes). A restocking order has been placed, so it might take a couple of weeks.

Make checks or money orders out to "CenTex Wing, CAF" and send them to:

CenTex Wing, CAF
Cobra Den T-shirts
1841 Airport Dr
San Marcos, TX 78666

[mustangdriver]

Thanks Mike!

[NathanT24]

Been busy with school any news on shirts coming in?? Just curious!!!!

[OZFURYFAN]

Hi Ray & crew,do you guys think you will get an engine run in before christmas,would love to see some recent pics of the '63 and also the wing repairs on the P-39.Best regards,Pete

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Hey Ray,

Don't suppose that you would have any of those t-SHIRTS LEFT LAYING AROUNG IN 2xxl WOULD YOU. tHE PRICE PLUCS A DONATION WOULD BE A NICE WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR DON'T YOU THINK ??


Paul.....sorry....caps lock stuck on me

[NathanT24]

Was wondering myself, got a 3x on order still waiting for.

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Bump.....still in hope of a 2XXL Tee shirt....though the thought of a 2 XXL LONG sleeve one is begining to form thought clouds

Paul

[b17engineer]

Any new news from the Cobra Den? Enquiring minds need to know.

RICK

[Ray Clausen]

Finally, a Cobra update!

The P-39 is going back together. All of the fabricated parts have been installed and the drilling has begun. We had to carefully plan the location of the leading edge skin joints after getting everything fastened in place. With the Yellow Rose returning to flying status in the VERY near future, I will be able to turn all of my attention to the two Cobra projects.

The P-63 is really coming down to the wire. The right side fuel tank is permanently installed and all of the wiring and plumbing is attached. The left side tank is in the wing and the fuel boost pump will go in Saturday and the last of the hookups should be completed then. The liquidometers will be tested to make sure that they and the fuel gauges work and that will be closed up. We found a new fuel selector valve which should be here early next week. The original valve went AWOL along with the two fuel boost pumps in Oklahoma. Last Saturday, we finished some cockpit systems tests and decided it was time to see if the starter worked. We pulled the outer plugs and shot some Marvel oil in the cylinders and then turned it over by hand a few times. Then, an anxious Mike Collier climbed in the cockpit and hit the switch. That huge 4-blade prop began to spin and the oil pressure came up and everything looked good. We had loaded coolant and oil before hand and were looking for leaks before, during, and after the starter test. No leaks so far. Once the selector valve is installed, we'll begin leak checking on the fuel system and can install the ailerons. I need to check the rudder rigging, too. Won't be long after that before we make noise with that freshly overhauled V-12. We're getting really anxious...

I'll get some photos of both projects posted next week. We plan to start the Yellow Rose's new engine (and the other one) tomorrow and should be flying her soon.

Thanks!

[Ray Clausen]

A HUGE MILESTONE - THE P-63 RUNS AGAIN!!

It was a really good day at the Cobra Den in San Marcos today as we started the P-63 King Cobra for the first time in about 5 years. The plane ran for several minutes before we shut her down due to high coolant temperature. It turned out that there was a large air bubble in the system and we have resolved that issue. As discussed earlier in this thread, the plane now has a correctly built -135 Allison engine done by Joe Yancey. It fired right up and ran as smoothly and cleanly as we could have hoped for.

With one small puff of smoke, she fired up!




A beautiful sight, running smooth and strong!



We still have some work to do before she flies. The ailerons must be installed, the rudder must be rigged (new cables), a bit of sheet metal work, and numerous small issues will be wrapped up. However, it shouldn't be too long before we are watching the return to flight of the CAF P-63!

[mike furline]

Looks like a good time for an authentic paint job.