CAF P-63F News

[airnutz]

I was wondering about a Camp Gary connection, but thought of them more in the construction trades training. Driver Ed. makes sense tho.

[SPANNERmkV]

Oh TAXI...

Can I get a Taxi (report that is)

[Ray Clausen]

I have had it confirmed that there was some sort of driving course out there, but it must have been for golf carts or something. The turn radius is mighty tight for anything much larger than that. probably would have made you sick if you tried it with any speed...

[Obergrafeter]

Maybe it was Camp Gary......forklifts and other construction equipment? The drivers ed course was on the other side of the airport now that I got out of my senior moment.

[Django]

The P-63 looks great. Can't wait to see her take to the skies!

[Alan Brooks]

Ray... Still waiting on the word of the successful first flight!

Thought I'ed bump the thread back to the top!

alan

[Ray Clausen]

You beat me to it, Alan!

We got a shock Monday morning when we came in to begin work. There was a large pool of fuel on the hangar floor under the P-63. It has been sitting for a few weeks full of oil, coolant, hydraulic fluid, and fuel and it has not leaked one drop. It just took a couple of seconds to home in on the fuel selector valve as the source. The original valve had mysteriously disappeared with a number of other critical parts up in Oklahoma and we had to search long and hard to find a replacement. We had to drain the 72 gallons from each fuel tank and pulled the valve. The shaft seal had some grit under it and that, combined with age and cold, apparently caused the leak. We've thoroughly cleaned it inside and out and hope to have it back on the plane tomorrow (Friday). Pilot Mike Collier wanted to do some taxi tests this past Wednesday but that was out. However, we now plan do do both low speed and high speed tests Saturday, provided the valve doesn't leak anymore. The tests will prove out the brakes and the handling at various speeds and the operation of the oil and coolant temperature control door in both the manual and automatic settings. I'll want to give the entire plane a good once over after all those test runs, then if Mike is happy with everything, I hope he will designate a day for that first flight!

[love2gofly]

Lookin good!

I'd like to mention though, please please please don't fuel using a plastic bucket/gas can and a plastic funnel. Fuel running through plastic builds up static electricity. I've seen the aftermath. It isn't pretty.

I'd hate to see one of you folks get hurt!

[cooper9411]

Lookin good!

I'd like to mention though, please please please don't fuel using a plastic bucket/gas can and a plastic funnel. Fuel running through plastic builds up static electricity. I've seen the aftermath. It isn't pretty.

I'd hate to see one of you folks get hurt!

I agree 100%, and best of luck.Can't wait to hear how the tests went

[Ray Clausen]

Thanks guys! We're on to the static electricity thing, though. We rarely use buckets and are very careful when we have to. The photo I posted was taken during the calibration of the new fuel quantity system we installed in the P-63. Per the calibration instructions, we had to press a button on the gauge (that is Randy Smith in the cockpit doin' the pressin'), then pour two gallons in the tank, wait about 30 seconds, press the button again, record the gauge reading, then do it all again. Each tank holds 72 gallons, so it took us a while.

When I came to work here, they used a fuel pump they called Ol' Sparky. It was a 24 volt fuel pump with two 6 foot hoses attached. To power it, they hooked it up to our 24 volt battery charger. If anyone moved suddenly or bumped the cables, there would be a big shower of sparks within a couple of feet of the fueling operation, hence the name. The first change I made upon becoming MO was to retire O'l Sparky and replace it with a pneumatic pump with 50 feet of actual fuel hose on each end. This lets us fuel the Yellow Rose or any other plane with the pump on the ground well clear of the aircraft. Its a compact little unit, complete with a retractable spool of grounding wire. It is infinitely safer than Ol' Sparky.

I found and fixed the fuel selector valve problem yesterday and will get the plane put back together tomorrow (Thursday). I've informed Mike Collier, chief sponsor and pilot, that he can have it Friday for taxi and operational tests that we had hoped to run last weekend. Then, hopefully soon, that first flight...

[Ray Clausen]

SHE FLIES AGAIN!!!

The CAF P-63F took to the air again today at about 1303 CST!! She performed beautifully and pilot and chief sponsor Mike Collier was very pleased. Mike took the plane for several rounds of the San Marcos airport wrapping up with a low pass. There were a couple of minor squawks, electrical types, that we'll jump on Monday so that flight testing can continue. I got lots of photos and will post them when I get home this evening.

Thanks!

[Dan K]

SHE FLIES AGAIN!!!

Huzzah!

[Chappie]

Outstanding! Congratulations.



Chappie

[Ray Clausen]

Still pumped about today's flight. I'm SOOOO proud of the Cobra Den crew and the work we've done!! Here are a few pictures...

Below, she leaves the ground for the first time in 6 years!



Next, climbing out...


A beautiful sight!



Now, a fast, low pass...



And pull up!



Coming in for a landing.



And the taxi in.



Pilot Mike Collier reported that the engine power and performance FAR exceeded that of the old klunker engine. He said that he and the other pilots will have to change the takeoff power and flight control settings they have used in previous years. Now, we'll go over the plane with the proverbial fine toothed comb while addressing the squawks he reported. The plane has to log 10 solid hours before it can be taken more than 25 miles from San Marcos. With the airshow season almost on us, Mike will be flying a lot in the coming days! Come see us!

Thanks!

Last edited by Ray Clausen on Sat Dec 20, 2014 11:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[steve dickey]

Great to see! I helped take her apart in Ok city, glad she's back in her element Is she running a little "fat" for a Allison?
(Scott, now we need a "thumbs up" emoticon!!!)

Last edited by steve dickey on Sun Feb 26, 2012 11:43 am, edited 1 time in total.