PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life

[peter]

Wow what a beast of an internal tank! Great update Taigh, she's well on her way to win Grand Champion!!

[Warbird Kid]

With bloodshed comes great results! Im learning that more and more with working on my Jeep!

[cooper9411]

Taigh thanks for the updates. Keep 'em coming.

[Kyleb]

Wow what a beast of an internal tank!

They should have emptied it first.

Seriously, managing something awkward and heavy like that in a confined space ain't fun.

[Redtracer]

Hey guys and gals, just a heads up. I'm going to be posting our progress of our flight to Oshkosh from the time we leave Stockton until we arrive and back. hope my wireless works. I would not be able to post any photos but will give a detailed description. Would it be easier to follow along here or on a new thread for just the flights over and back? What would you guys prefer?

[wingman1]

Hey guys and gals, just a heads up. I'm going to be posting our progress of our flight to Oshkosh from the time we leave Stockton until we arrive and back. hope my wireless works. I would not be able to post any photos but will give a detailed description. Would it be easier to follow along here or on a new thread for just the flights over and back? What would you guys prefer?

both would work, if you DO make a new thread post a link here so we can subscribe.

[Redtracer]

I will be reporting from the Navigators station in flight. Location, Heading, air speed, and the like. Kind of like a WWII version of flightaware 1945.

[Chappie]

Taigh,

Man 'O Man! yo are going over the top on this and I love it! Where is your current weight as compared to a wartime PV-2?


Chappie

[Taigh Ramey]

We are at 18,751 basic empty weight before our recent additions and with a gross weight of 33,000 we have a useful load of 14,249 pounds.

From what I can tell the PV-2's out of the factory in all of their fighting trim had a basic empty weight of around 23,000 pounds giving them a 10,000 pound useful load.

We still have weight to add on in the form of 8 fifty cal guns in the nose along with their accessories like ammo boxes, feed chutes, chargers etc, more radio/radar gear, flare gear, drift sights and lots more. Just like what the ghosts told 'ol Mrs Winchester...keep building. Someday it may be done but I doubt it. There will always be something to do, fix, make, make better, do over and on and on but thats the fun of it.

Hopefully we can get enough gear in place and get her out to as many shows as we can so the few PV-2 vets that are out there can show their family where they used to work.

[planemech2]

Is this one of Connie Hirth's planes? Great to see her back in the air. Great job guys.

[Taigh Ramey]

Heck yes it was one of her and John's Harpoons. Her name is still on Tanker 101 in several places



Well we didn't make our 5:30 departure this morning as we are operating on Warbird time. Drops are full and not leaking as is the fuselage fuel tank. Rockets and other goodies as well as tons of airframe work has been accomplished. Packing tools, run, wash, top off oil and fuel and off we go...

Back to work!

[N3Njeff]

Have a safe trip.

[JohnTerrell]

Safe travels to you and your crew, Taigh! It has been awesome following your progress on this aircraft, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she looks with all of the latest work that has been accomplished.

[Redtracer]

Hey guys, we arrived in Oshkosh this morning. For those of you Wixers attending come buy and see us. To get a VIP tour of the Harpoon use the code word "Redtracer" so we know who you are. Can't post a picture yet as all I brought was my Ipad so someone needs to get some pictures up soon. Come by and see us we'll be here till Friday around noon.

[Peter, CPA]

Ken and Taigh, you guys had told me you were going straight thru on Sunday. Hope there weren't any mechanical issues, and that you guys were just too lazy to get going so early. LOL!