CAF Centex Wing P-39 News

[bluehawk15]

Correction: The P-39 didn't run off the end of the runway, it landed short. Damage was cause by the approach light towers. The approach to that runway is over land which is 30-40 feet lower than the runway. The pilot said he was nose-high in his normal landing attitude, and taking elevation clues out out the side of the window, which had him believing he was higher above the runway than he actually was.

The good news is the leading edge is finally all fit and fits great! The permanent riveting on process has begun. You see other panels opened on the Airacobra because the annual condition inspection is being done in anticipation of her returning to flight in the very near future!

[AmericanSoldier15u]

Correction: The P-39 didn't run off the end of the runway, it landed short. Damage was cause by the approach light towers. The approach to that runway is over land which is 30-40 feet lower than the runway. The pilot said he was nose-high in his normal landing attitude, and taking elevation clues out out the side of the window, which had him believing he was higher above the runway than he actually was.

The good news is the leading edge is finally all fit and fits great! The permanent riveting on process has begun. You see other panels opened on the Airacobra because the annual condition inspection is being done in anticipation of her returning to flight in the very near future!

thanks for the correction. i was sure Ray had told me it went off the end of the runway. either way, no one was injured, the aircraft is being fixed, is well on its way to flying again.

excited for the day that both Cobras go up together!

any updates in a date the P-63 may try and go up for first flight?

[Ray Clausen]

Hi everybody!

The CAF P-63 is very nearly ready for it's return to flight and the chief sponsor has asked that I split this thread and give the P-63 it's own forum. I'm not sure if I can selectively pull the P-63 articles from this thread to start the new one, but it will get worked out somehow. I have much of the first post written and will get some more pictures.

To AmericanSoldier15u, sorry for any confusion about the P-39 damage. Several years ago, the plane ran off the runway in Fredricksburg into a barbed wire fence, then later that day a storm blew in the hangar doors and severely damaged the plane. I probably gave you both stories. The current damage is from the frangible approach lights at the Tyler airport.

MarineAir asked some good questions and I've been swamped with 5 annuals ongoing and haven't answered. SO, let's see... We hope the P-63 will at least equal the reliability of the P-39. I took over the P-39 maintenance in late 2006 and each year she flew more hours that the previous year and she didn't miss a scheduled appearance until the incident in Tyler. We're proud of that record and plan to better it in the future. The P-63 improved on all of the shortcomings of the P-39 so our expectations are high. Our engine is a fresh overhaul done by one of the best in the Allison business, Joe Yancey. We've tested it and taxied the plane and the engine sounds fantastic! This plane is painted just like it was the day it came out of the factory. We actually have photos of it in the door at the Bell factory. The sponsors plan to have it repainted in a year or so in exactly the same, original paint scheme. It was painted in Russian colors when it was donated to the CAF.

The P-63 is 99.5% completed and we will be calibrating a new fuel quantity system beginning Friday morning. I'll detail all that in the opener of the new thread, complete with photos.

The P-39 is finally going back together. Her priority slipped a bit for a while, but she's about to be the only warbird in the hangar getting maintenance, so work should pick up fast. Her annual is complete except for the retract, the tail repair is almost done, the left gear door repair is done, and some minor fixes remain under the left wing, other than finishing up on the leading edge. We are having some headaches with the riveting. There just isn't much room to get inside the wing to buck the rivets. I'm 6' 7", 265 lbs and I have big hands. Fortunately I supervise some volunteers with smaller hands so we'll get the job done. We started out on the wingtip, and there is more room as we move inboard. I'm optimistic that we'll have her up in the air sooner rather than later. I can't wait to see both Cobras make a fast, low pass in formation!

As I split these forums, I'll post fresh photos. Thanks for your interest and your patience!

[bluehawk15]

One change will be made to the paint job. Mike C. told me yesterday that they are very aware that the paint shop, the last time the P-63 was painted, made the Star & Bar too big on the side of the plane. He said that when it is repainted, the markings will be the correct size!

[SPANNERmkV]

Bring 'em both to Wings Over Houston!!!

If you are short of P-39 pilots I'll fly the sucker!

SPANNER the ambitious

[Ray Clausen]

That's correct bluehawk, as I said, it will be painted exactly as it came out of the factory.

And SPANNERmkV, our P-39 was initially issued an invite but we were bumped in favor of Rod Lewis' p-39. Word we got is that he offered a deal on several of his planes appearing if his P-39 was included. Sucks for us...

Thanks!

[airnutz]

Bummer, a chance to see 2 P-39's together slips away.

[eagle21]

That's correct bluehawk, as I said, it will be painted exactly as it came out of the factory.

And SPANNERmkV, our P-39 was initially issued an invite but we were bumped in favor of Rod Lewis' p-39. Word we got is that he offered a deal on several of his planes appearing if his P-39 was included. Sucks for us...

Thanks!

Brimg them both up to Warbirds on Parade on Saturday September 3rd, we will be more than happy to have you. I will even offer to buy your pilots the fancy barbecue sandwich lunch.

See you there in orange,

JMC

[AmericanSoldier15u]

Or bring em to Georgetown to their fly-in! Wait....is that the same weekend as Lancaster's show?

[Ray Clausen]

Don't despair airnutz! Just Wait! I have no doubt that we will see several Cobras in the air in the future. Rod is also hunting a P-63, and what Rod wants, Rod gets. So, before long, the San Antonio area could have two P-39s flying with two P-63's! We hope to be able to work out many opportunities for our Cobras to get together with Rod's.

Let me and my maintenance team finish these birds and we'll be chomping at the bit to show them off every chance we get.

Rumor has it that once they finish the YP-59 out in Chino, that the theme of an upcoming Chino Airshow will be "The Planes of Larry Bell". That'll be a fun one!

[Obergrafeter]

Didn't know Rod got a 39, which one did he get? Hard to keep up with all his stuff!

[Speedy]

Didn't know Rod got a 39, which one did he get? Hard to keep up with all his stuff!

Rod bought The Fighter Collection's P-39 last year.

[AmericanSoldier15u]

What's the outlook on when the YP-59 should be done?

[Mike]

What's the outlook on when the YP-59 should be done?

'Hoping to have it for next year's airshow'. That's what they've been telling me since I started visiting Chino in 2005.

It'll be ready when it's ready, and it will be worth the wait.

[Lynn Allen]

Didn't know Rod got a 39, which one did he get? Hard to keep up with all his stuff!

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