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

[johnrfuentes]

I am told it is now the 11th for the fuselage move!

[Stony Jim]

As of 12/4/12, We are loading the fuselage on 12/11 and sending it off to Hagerstown. On 12/12, we are going to unload it and start reassembling and preping it for start up. Wings and tail are to follow after Christmas when they will be needed.

Hope the weather is nice on Tuesday and Wednesday- PLEASE

[BillB24]

Loaded the restored fuselage on the trailer today (12/11/2012) for its road trip back to Hagerstown for final assembly and flight test. Our host will be Tracey Potter at Hagerstown Aircraft Services.

[Warbird Kid]

What a difference compared to a mere three years ago!



Congrats to everyone involved so far!

[muddyboots]

Beautiful work! How much longer before flight test? Is there even a wild guess?

[Taylor Stevenson]

Great Work! Another amazing story of CAF members saving a warbird. Can't wait to see her fly! I'd love to see photos of the original radios when they are mounted in the aircraft... too cool!

[K5DH]

Great Work! Another amazing story of CAF members saving a warbird. Can't wait to see her fly! I'd love to see photos of the original radios when they are mounted in the aircraft... too cool!

+1 on all of that!

[BillB24]

[StangStung]

There is a sight to behold!

[C VEICH]

Is that paint/skin damage around the insignia and tailwheel?

[Chappie]

She looks great. I hope the photo coverage continues while she's in Hagerstown. As it turns out it not as far as I thought from my home. If I go across the bay its 171 miles. If I go up and over the bay through Newark its 220 miles, but given that most of the latter route is 65mph limit Interstates it takes only 15 minutes longer!


Chappie

[BillB24]

The paint lifted off some places when the stick-on stencil for the stars & bars was peeled off. Since the primer lifted off too, obviously we had some inadequate metal prep in some areas. It will get touched up and blended before delivery to NCS.

[SaxMan]

First workday in Hagerstown to attach the tail surfaces:

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

DSC_0006 by onyxsax, on Flickr

But, inside it's so delightful

DSC_0008 by onyxsax, on Flickr

So, with no place for the TBM to go...

DSC_0010 by onyxsax, on Flickr

To work we go, work we go, work we go...

DSC_0015 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Installing a rubber gasket on the vertical stabilizer:

DSC_0017 by onyxsax, on Flickr

The fabled "data plate". Apparently data plates seem to have mystical powers.

DSC_0021 by onyxsax, on Flickr

BillB24 working on the details once the right stabilizer is attached:

DSC_0022 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Close up of the attach points for the vertical stabilizer. My "niche" skill of being able to access hard-to-reach areas came in handy with getting the bolts on.

DSC_0023 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Left stabilizer goes on, with Bill on the ladder, Cliff directing, "the other Dave" observing and Colom using his head.

DSC_0028 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Who'd have thunk that this Cheerios box from Food Lion would end up on a TBM? Interesting use of the cereal box to cover up the machine gun hole from the radioman's position.

DSC_0032 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Attaching the elevator to the left horizontal stab. The right one is still in PA, but will be brought over shortly.

DSC_0042 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Even after 8 months of helping to work on this bird, the Avenger's size still amazes me. I'm 5' 6", and as you can see, the landing gear is taller than I am.

DSC_0046 by onyxsax, on Flickr


The wings are still in PA, but will hopefully be brought to Hagerstown in the next couple of weeks (weather permitting, of course!). Once the wings are put on, we can start prepping the bird for flight testing.