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

[Travisd80elcam]

Thanks for the update. Glad to see it is making a smooth progression to being completed.

Travis

[Chappie]

You lucky dogs.......we got zero snow in Sussex County!

Nice to se she's coming together again.


Chappie

[PbyCat-Guy]

Looking great guys. Can't believe this is where it's at, still remember seeing it in bare metal and trying to clean grease in the cockpit and taking out the rudder pedals.

[Pat Carry]

A great job! Keep up the good work and thanks for the pics.

[JohnCFord]

Lovely!! This is going to be awesome! Can't wait.

~J~

[JLoveless]

Looks great! Can't wait to see it arrive at CJR!

[JLoveless]

Looks great! Can't wait to see it arrive at CJR!

[SaxMan]

The wings were re-attached today. We're getting closer to getting her back in the air. Pics will be posted tomorrow!

[T-6G Pilot]

Here's a couple from today. Thanks for all the help! TBM Fawn Grove Crew, NCS folks and Tracey Potter. What a wonderful group of people we have. I'm sure some of the crew will post more pics soon.







Mike Hogan
NCS MX Officer
Future TBM Pilot!!!!!

[JOHN MILLER]

[avenger2504]

Cant be long now, probably a mountain of paperwork to get through! Looks cold up there with all that snow (he says admiring the 22C weather outside. )

[PbyCat-Guy]

When is the first flight expected? I'd like to make it up there if I can

[SaxMan]

More pics from yesterday:

Wings still on the trailer:

DSC_0010 by onyxsax, on Flickr

The crew contemplating the 22 degree weather and flurries before pulling the plane and wings out:

DSC_0024 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Out come the wings:

DSC_0034 by onyxsax, on Flickr

...and now the rest of the plane:

DSC_0048 by onyxsax, on Flickr

So, all we have to do is get the wings from the trailer on the left, onto the rest of the airplane on the right. Easy, right?

DSC_0055 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Part 2

Lifting the wing with the crane:

DSC_0069 by onyxsax, on Flickr

This was definitely a team effort!

DSC_0072 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Team effort, part 2:

DSC_0093 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Almost there!

DSC_0099 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Putting in the hinge pins:

DSC_0104 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Part 3

Right wing on, folding it back and securing it:

DSC_0115 by onyxsax, on Flickr

One wing on, one to go!

DSC_0119 by onyxsax, on Flickr

We had to do some juggling to get the trailer and the plane in the proper position, so the TBM gets pushed back into the hangar temporarily.

DSC_0130 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Waiting to be pulled back out again:

DSC_0132 by onyxsax, on Flickr