New TBM Restoration - Wings Are Back On. First Flight Soon!

[johnrfuentes]

Hi Chappie,

BillB24 would have a better answer than I would regarding the wings.

The floods in Pa. have caused a work stoppage and they have not yet had good

weather to get the paint done. The "practice bombs" were picked up today by another

member of the project and he is going to strip them and paint them OD green. The plan

is for him to put the yellow band on the nose and any other markings he may find for them on the

web. The accessories have been sent to Texas. Next week the weather should cool down enough

that they could paint if the road to the facility is back open.

[BillB24]

Current plan is to paint the inboard end of the wings (the wingfold area) as they sit in their cradles, with first primer then the blue final finish. Then hang the wings on the plane to paint top and bottom in their folded position. It will be a very tight squeeze to get the airplane in the building with the wings on, especially with the Bobcat wing still in there.

We had good painting weather today, 13 Sept., and got a first coat of blue on 75% of the fuselage.

[johnrfuentes]

Pictures Courtesy of James West

[Chappie]

Terrific photos John and Jim. Ya'll have really made some rapid progress in the last couple of months. You'd probably be alot farther along if it were not for blizzards, monsoon rains, hurricanes, earthquakes, heatwaves, and hoards of loucsts!


Chappie

[Chappie]

BTW- My wife and I just started a movie last night called "Wing and a Prayer". We've only seen the first 15 minutes but there is some great footage of TBFs coming aboard a carrier. Harry Morgan is one of the crew members!


Chappie

[Alan Brooks]

John...... Just absolutely great progress...... Can't wait to see her in person down here in yee-haw country..... (Texas!)
Thanks to all of the restoration crew....... Tell Norm hello for me.......
alan brooks

[johnrfuentes]

Picture courtesy of James West

[johnrfuentes]

Pictures courtesy of James West



Turret final installation completed, turret dome yet to be installed.




Primer Prep prior to final paint coat.
Final paint will be applied when the wings are installed over the next several weeks.

Accessories have been completed by Aero Accessories and will be added to the engine to
allow for a "QEC" type operation when they are ready for it to be installed.

[johnrfuentes]

TBM-3E Military Aviation Museum (Fighter Factory) flown by JohnGlen Fuentes

Picture by Rich Kolasa

Photo ship pilot Nathan Harnagel in his SNJ-5--October 2011 Culpeper Virginia

G.I.B.--John Kirkland, Turret--Ray Rees, Stinger Gunner--Brian Cotter

Last edited by johnrfuentes on Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I love the Grey scheme on that TBM!

[johnrfuentes]

Right wing installed!




Pictures courtesy of James West



Time for some more paint!

[johnrfuentes]

Pictures Courtesy of James West


Engine Delivered!!!!

[Alan Brooks]

John!

Great work and I know she will be looking good on the flight line next year! Now to get the Florida Wing TBM up and running.......Their goal (by the way) is to run the engine before the end of the year.......... Lots of work to do, but that is the target! Then to get all four CAF TBM's in the air together (at the same location)! OK, I can still dream!

alan brooks

[Chappie]

John!

Then to get all four CAF TBM's in the air together (at the same location)! OK, I can still dream!

alan brooks

Ok. Ok. I'll take one for the team and volunteer to be the photographer for that flight.

Chappie

[BillB24]

Recent accomplishments include mounting the overhauled engine, completing the turret installation, completing the ventral gun position, installation of the battery shelf, and the Pilot's Distribution Panel (the main switch & breaker box on the cockpit right side) and all associated electrical wiring. The restored canopy is nearing completion.