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

[avenger2504]

Wow that hangar makes the TBM look small! Good luck with the flight test!

[Chappie]

Awesome news Bill. Can't wait to see her fly! Hopefully we'll see each other again soon!

Chappie

[rwdfresno]

My apologies if it has been posted elsewhere on the site, but I'd love to know what is new with this bird.

thanks,
Ryan

[SaxMan]

Work has resumed on the TBM in Hagerstown for the final details to get it ready for flight. A significant portion of the delay was waiting for FAA approval of the maintenance program. Because of the TBM's size (over 12,000 pounds), it is considered a "large" airplane, which requires a much more substantial amount of paperwork than a smaller plane.

[Matt Gunsch]

I have a approved maint program I wrote for a TBM if you need something to start with.

[SaxMan]

I was up at the workday today in Hagerstown. We're inching ever closer to getting this bird in the air!

DSC_0024 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Frank Darney and I working on removing a wing panel. It's not too often that you work alongside someone 88 years old. Frank is amazing!

DSC_0031 by onyxsax, on Flickr

C-82 in the foreground. This ought to give you an idea of the sheer scale of the building where the TBM is being stored for now:

DSC_0034 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Rear quarter shot of the Avenger:

DSC_0056 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Shot taken from the mezzanine. C-82 is in the background:

DSC_0067 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

On this particular visit, I brought along my 78 year old father. My father, who is a passionate historian, (which he passed along to me) and has been to numerous aviation museums, never had the experience to be "up close and personal" with an actual flying (or at least working to be flown) warbird. World War II was the dominant event in his childhood and planes like the Avenger were the stuff that legends were made from. When we first drove into the building and swung around the C-82 to bring the TBM into to view, he told me that it sent a chill down his spine. It brought back memories of his childhood.

Dad has never been much of a mechanic or tinkerer, but even he got into the act helping out. He also related some of his Army stories to the others (which is probably better than relating embarrassing childhood stories about me, lol). When we got back in the car, he told me "You're doing a good thing. To be able to preserve this (plane) for the children to be able to see and to show them that many men went to war in planes like this and many must have lost their lives in planes like this. It's a very worthy cause". Yes, I think he pretty much nailed it.

[PbyCat-Guy]

It's awesome to see it come along. as soon as the date is known for the first flight please post. I used to love driving 3 hours to help those guys out, even if it meant helping to eat the box of donuts. Great job guys, can't wait to see this in the air.

[SaxMan]

It's awesome to see it come along. as soon as the date is known for the first flight please post. I used to love driving 3 hours to help those guys out, even if it meant helping to eat the box of donuts. Great job guys, can't wait to see this in the air.

Funny but true! Some days, the most progress made is with the donut box. However, as you know, the visit can be as much social as it is work. On some of my more memorable visits, I may not even touch the plane. Sometimes, just sitting back and listening is every bit as rewarding as turning wrenches.

[BillB24]

Hoping some of you TBM restorers can help us. The small triangular doors at the wingfold juncture, which close when the wings are extended, are operated by a cable that runs from the end of the door, through a pulley, and attaches to the outer wing. Associated with that cable is a spring that puts tension on the center of the cable. The spring is listed in the parts book as G102-8, which I assume is a Grumman number. We need to know the specs for this spring (length, diameter, strength, etc).

When operated as a firebomber in Canada, the wings were permenantly extended, and the triangular doors bolted shut.


Thanks,
Bill

[Charlie Cartledge]

I can measure my original spring but not sure if I can get tension. Charlie

[BillB24]

Charlie,

Any information you can provide would be most welcome, including a photo of where the spring attaches.

Thanks,
Bill

[Chappie]

Bill,

Looking forward to seeing this one fly! Our 'other' NCS story is all but wrapped up.

Chappie

[BillB24]

Actuator cables, pulleys, and tension springs have been installed to provide closure of the triangular doors at the wingfold.

Location of the spring that puts tension on the cable during wingfold.


TR adds safety wire to the actuator cable turnbuckle.


Left side door in closed position.

[Chappie]

Great to see some updates Bill. Step by step, inch by inch.....a little closer to flight.


Chappie