MAAM P-61 Black Widow

[TAdan]

I just received the Museum's news letter in my email a day or two ago. Here is the latest copied from the Jan 2013 MAAM newsletter - All credit to them!

P-61 ELEVATOR COMPLETED
Just prior to the Christmas holidays the elevator
for MAAM’s Northrop P-61 was completed
and removed from the mounting fixture where it
had been rebuilt. The elevator rebuild was fairly
complex and had to be kept in precise alignment
so that all of the hinge points would correctly
match the stabilizer hinges. The elevator has
three trim tabs - one servo type, automatically controlled
by the up/down angle of the elevator and
two trim tabs controlled by the pilots’ elevator trimsystem.
All three trim tabs were also completely
rebuilt.

The fabric covering has been ordered and
should be on site by the time you are reading this
in the newsletter.
The massive P-61 elevator awaits the start of the fabric
covering process.
The next step will be to modify the same fixture
used to rebuild the elevator so that it will
accept a wing for rebuild. The right wing has
already been pulled out of storage in preparation
for getting it ready to go into the fixture when it is
ready.
Otherwise, wiring of the fuselage and
engine nacelles forward of the firewall is ongoing.

[gary1954]

Awesome. ...simply AWESOME!!!!

[SaxMan]

I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Reading. I'm hoping to take a trip up there this spring. If I do, I'll make sure to take plenty of pics!

[gary1954]

I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Reading. I'm hoping to take a trip up there this spring. If I do, I'll make sure to take plenty of pics!

let m know if you need a shovel to dig yourself outta the snow headed your way

[DH82EH]

This is easily the most anticipated restoration, in the history of aircraft restorations. This has been a looooong road! What a bunch of troopers.
I've worn out a few P-61 T-shirts so I guess its time to order another one

Widows rock!

Andy Scott

[SaxMan]

I'm about 2 1/2 hours away from Reading. I'm hoping to take a trip up there this spring. If I do, I'll make sure to take plenty of pics!

let m know if you need a shovel to dig yourself outta the snow headed your way

Appreciate it. Luckily, I'm 2 1/2 hours in the opposite direction from where the snow is supposed to hit. If we get 1 to 2 inches out of the storm, that will likely be a lot.

[hbtcoveralls]

This is easily the most anticipated restoration, in the history of aircraft restorations. This has been a looooong road! What a bunch of troopers.
I've worn out a few P-61 T-shirts so I guess its time to order another one

Widows rock!

Andy Scott

I agree I can't wait. I was a member of the MAAM for a while and I remember when it first arrived at Reading. The work that has been done is just phenomenal and pictures don't do it justice. What is most amazing is that this isn't a "gold card" restoration vanity project for a multi-milionare, but is the result of the hard work of talented volunteers. For example, I have a friend who visited the museum with me and was talking to one of the Black Widow guys. My friend mentioned that he's a pattern maker for foundry castings. That's a pretty rare occupation these days. The Widow guys gave him a set of plans and asked if he could make a pattern for what it turns out is the Pitot tube base. A tricky casting to make. So my friend made the pattern and they were so pleased that they put the pattern on display. I donated the armaments manuals from my collection and it's not unusual that somebody drops off P-61 stuff. I sure hope she flys before the last of the WWII P-61 guys passes.
Tom Bowers

[maxum96]

I've worn out a few P-61 T-shirts so I guess its time to order another one

Good idea. So I went and just ordered a P-61 T-shirt and coffee mug from their website.