1941 Historical Aircraft Group - Geneseo Happenings...

[AHancock51]

Hey all! Hope you're each enjoying the awesome fall foliage out there, it's one the the best times to go flying and see it all from above. Before I begin our report, I'd like to extended our warmest "Get Well" wishes to our very own HAG message board moderator, Tom K. It has been brought to our attention that he has been admitted to Rochester General Hospital. We wish for a speedy, pain-free recovery for 'ole "Major Tom." Our mb mod would not want us to halt everything because he's not here though, so here's the rundown of the latest HAG news!

Aircraft-

C-47A "Skytrain"- Shortly, the C-47 will be brought in to the hangar for it's winter maintenance regimen. This winter, one of the "to-dos" includes pulling the landing gear for routine inspection and re-packing. If you're the facebook-ing type, check out the new W7 fan page! [url]http://www.facebook.com/C47W7geneseo[/url]. "Like" our page, and you'll receive frequent updates as to airshow bookings, flight-ops, and a whole lot more!

GB-2 "Traveler"- Our faithful Beechcraft Staggerwing is edging ever closer to returning to the "wild blue." Today, Jon C. finished taping and doping the bottom of the restored wing. Tomorrow, he will do the same to the top. After this, it will be time for painting! We will be re-painting the whole GB-2 in it's Royal Naval Air Force markings. Check out the pictures below for details!

Antonov AN-2 "Colt"- Our Russian "bruiser" is awaiting a new engine, we hope to have her flying within a year. If you'd like to see this Russian behemoth fly once again, donate today.

ERCO YO-55 "Ercoupe"- Hugh F. has been working diligently to prep the YO-55 for some restoration. Today, the gang made much progress thanks to his prep work!

C-119 "Flying Boxcar"- The static restoration crew is making tons of progress, as usual! Be sure to check on this message board for their updates as well.

Buildings and Grounds-

Archives/Library- A few new volunteers and college interns have resumed the process of archiving our collections, cleaning, and organizing the library. Soon, we will have a complete computer database for our whole museum. Also, the dewey-decimal system will reign supreme over the library quite shortly.

Display Facility- Not too much has been done to the facility renovations as of late, rather energy has been focused on grant writing for said renovations! As winter progresses, more work will be done as we await funding to complete our new interactive display facility.

P-51B "Lucy Gal" Project- Stay tuned for some possible big-exciting news! That's all I'll say for now...

Pictures- Here's what you missed today in Geneseo!


A-26 "Invader" (L) and A-20 "Havoc" (R), lotsa power here!


Our B-23 "Dragon" awaits funding for restoration to airworthy.


GB-2 "Traveler" (Staggerwing) wing in restoration. The taping process nearly complete.


Here's the innards of the "Staggerwing" wing, note the amazing rib-stitching here.


Aaaand the taping is complete!


As I alluded to above, our GB-2 will be re-painted in it's RNAF color scheme. In WWII, our GB-2 served as a liaison and light-transport aircraft for Great Britain, flying out of Heston Airfield. Her British code was FT-478. A while back, we received a picture of FT-477, our GB-2's sister ship. So, the picture above is what our GB-2 will look like by next airshow!

Blue Skies and Tailwinds...

[b17engineer]

Back a few years ago when I was selling aircraft parts, I talked to some guys from South Africa about AN-2's. At the time, they told me that it was cheaper to buy another airplane than to rebuild an engine. Just sayin.................

[AHancock51]

Back a few years ago when I was selling aircraft parts, I talked to some guys from South Africa about AN-2's. At the time, they told me that it was cheaper to buy another airplane than to rebuild an engine. Just sayin.................

You might be surprised at the number of resources we've found, despite the rarity and cost. We have been working with some places down south which have engines available, not outrageous either.

[AHancock51]

Hey all you HAG fans! We hope you are each doing okay after the terror of Hurricane Sandy. Our best wishes and sympathies go out to all those affected. Our museum has not shown any signs of slowing down as we head into the winter months. A large crew of volunteers was on hand today, and here's what got done as a result!...

Aircraft-

C-47 "Skytrain"- The '47's winter maintenance regimen is in full swing! Today, the crew removed the landing lights which will soon be replaced. The engine cowlings have been removed and compression tests were run shortly thereafter. Also, we carted over the hydraulic jacks for the soon-to-occur gear swings and re-packing. All in all, the D-Day Vet "Skytrain" is looking good!

GB-2 "Traveler" (Staggerwing)- Jon C. finished trimming the excess tape and sanding as well on the restored wing. The next step is paint! We should have her back flying in her RNAF colours by next airshow! That's the goal.

C-119 "Phoenix"- The '119 static restoration crew are keeping themselves busy as well. They continue to re-cover the fabric control surfaces. Nice work all!

Buildings and Grounds-

Library/Arichives- In addition to the SUNY Geneseo interns, we had a gentleman come down and volunteer today to help organize our library and archives. Good on him, and welcome aboard!

Interactive Display Facility- The latest focus of attention and energy in the facility construction has been the flight simulator! Today, John W. and Lee B. were busy testing it out and calibrating the projector to provide the best view on the wall. See pics below for details!

P-51B "Lucy Gal" Project- I'm waiting on an important delivery from Croatia pretty soon. Stay tuned for more!

Veterans Day Open-House- Don't forget! Monday, Nov 12th from 10-4, our museum will be open for tours FREE OF CHARGE to any US Military Vets of Actives and their families! Refreshments will be served as well. Tell all your Veteran/Military friends about it as well, we want all the Vets we can get.

Hangar Tales Newsletter- Our museum is considering making the switch to e-newsletters. Rather than receiving a copy in the mail, you would receive it via e-mail. If you do not have access to a pc, we would still be able to ship you a paper copy. Also, the e-newsletter would remain exclusive to members, it would be released to them first, then published on our website after xxx amount of time. What do you all think? Seems like the Collings Foundation, Air and Space Museum, et al. have done it successfully.

2013 Airshow- We are already seeking funding and sponsors for the 2013 "Greatest Show on Turf." If anyone has, or knows of someone who has, professional fundraising experience, please contact the museum @ 243-2100.

Pictures- Here's what you missed today in Geneseo!


The C-119 elevator receiving a skin-graft.


Setting up the flight sim in our display facility. Soon to be completed!


Should be awesome once complete.


All hands on deck with "Whiskey Seven."


Co-Pilot side's light will stay, still good!


Pilot's side landing light to be replaced.


Here's the lens cover for the '47's landing light. No "headlight restorer" needed here!


C-47 compression check time.


'47 spark plugs in perspective.


More compression-checking.


A VERY successful beginning to winter maintenance!


The Staggerwing-wing ready for paint!

Blue Skies and Tailwinds...

[AHancock51]

Thanks for the pictures and updates Austin, looks like lots of good work being done at 1941 HAG. The A-26 and A-20 look great....anymore pics of these two? Wishing to see this A-20 with air under her wings someday soon...

I'd be glad to take some for the next update! The A-20 has not been worked on in a while by the MARC, I am not 100% sure what their plan is with it.

[Wildchild]

"important delivery from Croatia"

Now what parts from a P-51B could come from Croatia...

P-51 in a barn?

[AHancock51]

"important delivery from Croatia"

Now what parts from a P-51B could come from Croatia...

P-51 in a barn?

Hehe, I'll never tell! At least not yet, anyways.

Thanks! Of course it's very evident that there's a lot of good work being done on the buildings, C-47, Staggerwing and other aircraft by some talented people. Not everyone that can stitch a wing together for the Staggerwing...

Why thank you! We sure do our best and have fun with it all.

[AHancock51]

Hey HAG friends! Hope you're each doing okay in the snow-heavy winter thus far. It has been business as usual around the museum, with plenty of progress being made on many fronts. Here's the rundown of the latest HAG news...

Aircraft-

C-47 "Skytrain"- The maintenance regime continues at full-force! The landing gear are out, have been stripped, and are in the process of being re-painted. The primer went on today, in fact! (See pics for details.) Many other things are happening on the '47 as well, including planning for an exciting endeavor in the near future.

C-119 "Flying Boxcar"- The static restoration crew continues to make progress. They have taken their work inside and are in the process of re-covering the control surfaces. Here's a link to their latest news update >>>http://1941hagforums.mykingairb200.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2424<<<

Buildings and Grounds-

Library and Archives- Located within the admin building, our library and artifact collections are in the process of being archived! Thanks to the SUNY Geneseo interns, we will have an organized system to store and reference our collection from. Piece by piece, we are getting there.

Interactive Display Facility- With the arrival of winter, work has come to a temporary stop on the new facility. However, work will pick up once again once spring comes! We can't wait to see how much more progress is made.

P-51B "Lucy Gal" Project- I am awaiting a cd of pictures from Croatia, which will show the wreckage of a P-51B model recently discovered. I will have to verify the serial #'s and see if it is a match.

2013 Geneseo Airshow- It's that time of year again! This Wednesday (the 9th) @7:00pm, the first 2013 airshow meeting will take place. If you are on the committee, be sure to attend. Time to get excited!

Pictures- Here's what you missed today in Geneseo!


Stripping the paint off of the landing gear components.


More stripping! Lee hard at work on the sand-blaster.


Here's our D-Day Hero on her stands, flying! lol


The gang took advantage of the vacated wheel-wells to do some cleaning. Nicely done!


Soo clean, you could eat off it!


Harvard awaiting restoration.


C-47 landing gear components receiving primer today.







Blue Skies and Tailwinds!

[Pat Carry]

Thanks for the update. Nice photos.

[Steve Nelson]

Looks like the C-47 maintenance team is really "strutting" their stuff!

Thank you..I'm here all week!

SN

[AHancock51]

Thanks for the update. Nice photos.

Anytime!! Thanks.

[AHancock51]

Looks like the C-47 maintenance team is really "strutting" their stuff!

Thank you..I'm here all week!

SN

Harharhar,

[cooper9411]

Looks like the C-47 maintenance team is really "strutting" their stuff!

Thank you..I'm here all week!

SN

Don't quit your day job!!! Just funning with you!