B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

[A26 Special K]

Speakin' of tough duty, our Captain Steve actually volunteered for this pose. Can't imagine why?? Thanks to Lisa T for the secret shots!! Yes, we have spies everywhere!!

[A26 Special K]

PS, If anybody else has pics from the VFM Hangar Dance, feel free to post them here. Today the guys got all of the airplanes back in the hangar and retrieved most of our work benches, tools and parts, etc. Will start back to work next Friday and Saturday on the 26. Stop on by and see some of the new things we are doing!! Meacham Field, FTW, and stay tuned for more info on upcoming events. JR

[LadyO2Pilot]

Need a little help from the group. We have a "Towel Rack" type antenna on the belly of K that needs to be replaced, however, the Illustrated Parts Catalog does not depict it or show the part number. We are looking for this antenna, but it sure would be easier if we had the part number???? Bueller, Bueller, Anyone, Anyone?? Part number or where to find one?? Thanks, BTW be sure to drop by the VFM hangar tomorrow night (Sat) for the 1940's Big Band party. Our B25 will be the backdrop for the band. Come say hi and get a tour while you are at it. Cheers, JR

If it is indeed the FM Homing Antenna, it appears to be same size on the O-2 and the part number is............AS1922AARC. I will give you all the part nos. for the attaching parts........when I get my pony....LOL

I got you a quote for the antenna last year......but you didn't like the price

[A26 Special K]

Well, Duck Drivin Lady, you helped us out big time with that PN. Found a "towel rack" in Colorado !!! Mark at Regal Air helped us out with the antenna. A big thanks goes out to both of yall. This antenna mounts on the belly aft of the bomb bay and will be just perfect for hangin our "Gone Hog Huntin'" sign on. We also have big plans on cleaning up the sheet metal on the aft portion of the fuselage that was sorta messed up by the two gear collapse incidents back in the day. This took off the antenna as well. Back to original as we can make it!! JR

[A26 Special K]

What does this F-16 have to do with our Special Kay?? Look closely at the Crew Chief's name on the canopy. Yeah, Steve is one of our guys. Several of our very capable volunteers are AF trained including the real JR. He was an F-4 and T-29 Crew Chief back in the day. Many of our troops are highly experienced with both military and civilian work. We even have a couple of Navy guys. A big salute to all of our guys for their dedication to this project. They see our purpose. We will honor those VN vets and tell their story. They deserve it! Same as all of our other troops. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

Saw this sign recently and suddenly I realized it reminded me of the O2Lady. I am wondering if she has this over on her hangar across town??? If I were you, I would not venture into her parking place... either for the car or the broom. People have been known to disappear and wake up later with strange warts all over them. It is getting to be that time of year.... Halloween is coming!! Meanwhile back at Meacham, we will try to restore our work area in the hangar and get back to hammering on the airplane. JR, Ray and David A. all banged on it today and got a lot done on the sheet metal items. Will post pictures later this weekend. Come on by and help us shuffle our stuff out of storage from the hangar dance last weekend. Will treat you to lunch with the restoration team! Cheers, the other JR

[A26 Special K]

Well, the gang had a nice surprise today. Clay managed to fabricate a tail cone clear end cover. The original was cracked so Clay took on the chore of building an oven and the mold from the original.... sans crack.. to make this lovely replacement. We are very pleased to get this off our to-do list. There were several other good things that happened today, but OU and N. Dame game is getting close to kickoff time and My AGGIES are already playing Auburn. The siren call of the TV set is just too much to resist. More later... Go AGGIES!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Here's an idea.... how about putting a Garmin GTN 750 behind the heads for the radio stack in the middle of the panel? We could velcro the heads so they could be in place for show, but removed for flight??? Rand is doing some measurements to see if it could be made to work. We are reaching the point of needing some avionics talent if anybody is interested in helping. We would like to develop an integrated 750 with an intercom for the front cockpit and rear doghouse. Also need a Mode S transponder. This brings about the question of putting in an AC outlet in the cockpit for an IPad in order to get ADS-B and weather on the new Garmin rig. Unless somebody has a better suggestion to get us a moving map display, good nav/com, GPS etc.... If you are wondering, we like the 750 because of the minimum of knobs that stick out. It is all touchscreen for the most part. Be nice to have a 650 for a number two in the stack. But we need to find some donations or big discounts for all this. I would have to say it is the second most daunting task we are facing. An engine overhaul is No. 1. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

Arnold is busy hooking up the rudder trim so now the rudder is 99% done. Ray is doing some sheet metal repairs to the dorsal fin. There are a couple of other dings up there that he will take care of in the next week or so. Ray is also taking our cockpit canopies to his shop to mount the new glass. We received a new cockpit windshield for the right side from AeroTraders this week thanks to Rand so he will be looking into getting that part of the project ready. There are some sheet metal things that have to be done for the frame first, but the trimming and hole drilling/alignment can go forward. Just about have all of the original instruments in hand now. Just have to take them to the shop for testing or overhaul. Rand is back on the cockpit restoration piece of this puzzle so we think it will pick up a faster pace. Can't wait to see what he comes up with. JR

[ALAN.L]

Finally got round to reading all of this thread and I would like to say that it has been very enjoyable and interesting to see the work being carried out.

If only you were a bit closer and I could take you up on your call to pop on down and lend a hand !

Looking forward to watching the progress on the aircraft!

Best regards, Alan

[CAPFlyer]

Here's an idea.... how about putting a Garmin GTN 750 behind the heads for the radio stack in the middle of the panel? We could velcro the heads so they could be in place for show, but removed for flight??? Rand is doing some measurements to see if it could be made to work. We are reaching the point of needing some avionics talent if anybody is interested in helping. We would like to develop an integrated 750 with an intercom for the front cockpit and rear doghouse. Also need a Mode S transponder. This brings about the question of putting in an AC outlet in the cockpit for an IPad in order to get ADS-B and weather on the new Garmin rig. Unless somebody has a better suggestion to get us a moving map display, good nav/com, GPS etc.... If you are wondering, we like the 750 because of the minimum of knobs that stick out. It is all touchscreen for the most part. Be nice to have a 650 for a number two in the stack. But we need to find some donations or big discounts for all this. I would have to say it is the second most daunting task we are facing. An engine overhaul is No. 1. Cheers, JR

That sounds like a pretty darned good plan there guys. I would say that your idea is one of those things that is a more than welcome departure from "historic accuracy" because it gives you the ability to fly so much more safely.

I would say instead of doing the iPad, invest in the GDL 88 for ADS-B In/Out as that will also give you the FIS-B Weather notices that will be more timely than Satellite or SiriusXM weather, which can be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Have the iPad there as a backup until ADS-B coverage expands more completely, but I would keep as much of it mounted permanently on the airplane as possible.

[A26 Special K]

Ray, one of our sheet metal wizards, is working on some of the dings in the ventral fin. He just about has one repair done and will start soon on a larger one just forward of the area being worked in the picture. Golly, how did it get to be November already? Well, one of the things that will happen on Saturday besides sheet metal repairs, is that we will be moving the A26 over to the south side of the hangar. We had occupied the NE corner, but feel that we will have a better situation being closer to our storage areas. We are planning to start our GGA Xmas Light Night Flights right after Thanksgiving in the DC-3. The guys are adding two more seats so there should be more room this year. Another improvement is that all flights will now originate from the Meacham Main Terminal. We have leased an office and have use of the conference room so you can relax in comfort while getting set for your flight. You can book a seat or get more information by calling Dana, our scheduler, at 817-659-9249. You can also check out our website at http://www.gga1.org

[muddyboots]

what, no duct tape?

[rdennard]

Randy,

I tried to send you an email, but the address I for you have is "dead".

A while back you posted a picture of an AO-1 (Attack 0-1)... the one with the empty napalm can hanging on the left wing . (I think it was an empty BLU-10) If you still have that picture, can you email it to me. (My email has not changed.)

Thanks,

Bob
Memories of Naked Fanny

[NImrodA26]

Bob,
Can't find your email address either. This is the pic you are referring to, right?
Where did you find my "dead" email address, I probably missed updating that.
rryman46@yahoo.com