Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration and A/c History Thr
Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:42 pm
That's not a pm lol
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration and A/c History Thr
Sat Sep 28, 2013 6:40 pm
Well, its time for another update. I will post pictures later once i get home from work.
Yesterday, we took off both Ailerons. This was done for two reasons. The first being so we can strip behind the aileron and strip the wing without having to worry about the fabric and second, they need to be taken off anyways to be sanded down to be repainted. They will not be re-covered as they were done before we got the plane.
Paint stripping is coming along and is nearing completion. As of today, the only major paint that remains on the aircraft is on the right wing and engine nacelle. Last night and today, we finished stripping the left wing, though there is a few small patches on the top leading edge that has a little bit of paint on it as well as a small part of the left engine nacelle.
Once the right wing is finished, we will be applying once more over the entire aircraft to get any remaining paint or residue off. After that, the plane will have any surface corrosion treated and then the plane will be acid washed and primed with an etching primer. My goal is to have the plane completely prepped for Prime by the end of October.
We also will be testing the use of a soda blaster on the inside of the aircraft to strip the interior. We will be doing this either next weekend or the following weekend. Hopefully it will cut through the adhesive used to apply the interior when it was converted to a VC bird and strip the paint that is in there.
If this works, then the entire interior will be stripped and painted as well. We were planning on doing that at a later date, but certain parts have to be stripped prior to us being able to paint the exterior such as around the window frames.
The cowlings are almost completely done. One of our members has been hard at work getting all of the dents out of them. I wish I had before pictures of what they looked like prior to him starting because the work he has done is just plain amazing. I thought we were going to have to outright replace some of the panels due to the dents in them, but he was able to get all of them out. There will be no bondo used at all for them. Most have already been primed on the inside surface.
The first elevator is nearing completion for corrosion treatment. We did end up having to repair one rib. Once that is finished up, here within the next week, it will be primed and covering begun. The rudder had been stripped and will be inspected as well. It will need a lot of work done due to its current condition, which might necessitate an outright replacement of the rudder.
The left elevator remains on the aircraft for the time being, however it will be coming off soon and will be stripped of its fabric and paint as well.
All the left cabin windows have been removed. All new cabin windows as well as the two in the Nav room and the one over the bathroom will be cut and installed in the plane with new hardware once the plane has been painted.
Last Tuesday was our meeting with the FAA. It went very well. More or less, the maintenance program was approved, however it will not get the stamp of approval until right before we are ready to put it through the inspection process for the first time. Same the for the airworthiness certificate.
The tentative deadline we will have to meet to fly it at the beginning of the next years season is to have it ready to fly by the beginning of April. Our President, and one of the two C-123 pilots, is typed in the C47, however, he has not flown one in years. We already have some people possibly lined up to get him current in the plane. Once he is current, then the rest of us will start training in it and we will probably get four or so pilots PIC type rated in it. I'm planning on being one of those guys as long as my financials allow it.
Otherwise, it's coming along slowly but surely. Safety is first, but we need to and will have to pick the speed up on the work as it has to be flying next year.
Yesterday, we took off both Ailerons. This was done for two reasons. The first being so we can strip behind the aileron and strip the wing without having to worry about the fabric and second, they need to be taken off anyways to be sanded down to be repainted. They will not be re-covered as they were done before we got the plane.
Paint stripping is coming along and is nearing completion. As of today, the only major paint that remains on the aircraft is on the right wing and engine nacelle. Last night and today, we finished stripping the left wing, though there is a few small patches on the top leading edge that has a little bit of paint on it as well as a small part of the left engine nacelle.
Once the right wing is finished, we will be applying once more over the entire aircraft to get any remaining paint or residue off. After that, the plane will have any surface corrosion treated and then the plane will be acid washed and primed with an etching primer. My goal is to have the plane completely prepped for Prime by the end of October.
We also will be testing the use of a soda blaster on the inside of the aircraft to strip the interior. We will be doing this either next weekend or the following weekend. Hopefully it will cut through the adhesive used to apply the interior when it was converted to a VC bird and strip the paint that is in there.
If this works, then the entire interior will be stripped and painted as well. We were planning on doing that at a later date, but certain parts have to be stripped prior to us being able to paint the exterior such as around the window frames.
The cowlings are almost completely done. One of our members has been hard at work getting all of the dents out of them. I wish I had before pictures of what they looked like prior to him starting because the work he has done is just plain amazing. I thought we were going to have to outright replace some of the panels due to the dents in them, but he was able to get all of them out. There will be no bondo used at all for them. Most have already been primed on the inside surface.
The first elevator is nearing completion for corrosion treatment. We did end up having to repair one rib. Once that is finished up, here within the next week, it will be primed and covering begun. The rudder had been stripped and will be inspected as well. It will need a lot of work done due to its current condition, which might necessitate an outright replacement of the rudder.
The left elevator remains on the aircraft for the time being, however it will be coming off soon and will be stripped of its fabric and paint as well.
All the left cabin windows have been removed. All new cabin windows as well as the two in the Nav room and the one over the bathroom will be cut and installed in the plane with new hardware once the plane has been painted.
Last Tuesday was our meeting with the FAA. It went very well. More or less, the maintenance program was approved, however it will not get the stamp of approval until right before we are ready to put it through the inspection process for the first time. Same the for the airworthiness certificate.
The tentative deadline we will have to meet to fly it at the beginning of the next years season is to have it ready to fly by the beginning of April. Our President, and one of the two C-123 pilots, is typed in the C47, however, he has not flown one in years. We already have some people possibly lined up to get him current in the plane. Once he is current, then the rest of us will start training in it and we will probably get four or so pilots PIC type rated in it. I'm planning on being one of those guys as long as my financials allow it.
Otherwise, it's coming along slowly but surely. Safety is first, but we need to and will have to pick the speed up on the work as it has to be flying next year.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, Official Restoration and A/c History Thr
Sun Sep 29, 2013 1:36 pm
Finally some pics...
The Tail minus Rudder and Right Elevator
The Rudder
After Being Washed
The Tail minus Rudder and Right Elevator
The Rudder
After Being Washed
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Wed Oct 09, 2013 10:08 pm
Thanks to Lightninglover (AKA Ken), we now have a Rebecca Antenna for our aircraft as well as a Load Adjuster and Frequency Meter. We are still looking for one more Rebecca Antenna though.
A small update
Last week, we were unable to strip on the aircraft due to a stuck jack. Because of the work that was being done on the gear, the plane always had jacks underneath it with slight pressure on them just in case. Well the jack decided it was no longer going to raise or lower so we had to fix the jack before anything could be done. In the meantime, they completed the work on the gear. If you are wondering what that work was, they rebuilt/sealed the main retraction/extension cylinder on the Right Main as it had a pretty good leak.
Because of the gear being completed, "Luck of the Irish" is now approximately 3 inches off the ground for the first time in almost a year. Gear swings will commence shortly, though I'm not exactly sure when. My guess is either this Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
So, once the Gear has been completely finished up, stripping will continue as well as beginning the stripping of the interior.
Cosmetic work has already started in the cockpit with floor panels being removed, stripped and repainted. The Co-Pilot's seat has also been removed and will have the same done as well with the Pilot's seat following.
The flaps have been dropped and will be removed from the aircraft for stripping and repainting as well.
A small update
Last week, we were unable to strip on the aircraft due to a stuck jack. Because of the work that was being done on the gear, the plane always had jacks underneath it with slight pressure on them just in case. Well the jack decided it was no longer going to raise or lower so we had to fix the jack before anything could be done. In the meantime, they completed the work on the gear. If you are wondering what that work was, they rebuilt/sealed the main retraction/extension cylinder on the Right Main as it had a pretty good leak.
Because of the gear being completed, "Luck of the Irish" is now approximately 3 inches off the ground for the first time in almost a year. Gear swings will commence shortly, though I'm not exactly sure when. My guess is either this Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
So, once the Gear has been completely finished up, stripping will continue as well as beginning the stripping of the interior.
Cosmetic work has already started in the cockpit with floor panels being removed, stripped and repainted. The Co-Pilot's seat has also been removed and will have the same done as well with the Pilot's seat following.
The flaps have been dropped and will be removed from the aircraft for stripping and repainting as well.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:14 am
Since my last update, a lot has gone on with me. I normally do all of my posting on my ipad and then use my computer for the photos. However, for some reason, I never posted the update and then I proceeded to lose my ipad. It has now been just under two weeks since I have had my ipad. On top of that, I picked up a second job and finished my training last night, so finally I have some free time, which I used to catch up on everything here and to do an update...
So now for the update: The landing gear was swung both the Thursday and Friday after my last post. Not everyone was there on Thursday, myself included, so we did it over again on Friday. I was there Friday, so everything is based off that day's tests. The gear checked out great. We started off by raising it and letting it stay up for over an hour. We did this to check to see if the gear would drop any over time. The Gear on the C-47 is not mechanically locked up, but instead by hydraulic pressure. When we checked back, the gear had not dropped at all.
We then started doing Free drops with it to check to make sure it would indeed fall. The first time, the left gear just about locked into place on its own, but the right took a little push from the people on the ground. We did this test a few more times and by the end, both of them were either locked or just barely unlocked with just the action of the freefall. Most C47/DC-3's have a hand pump that is used to pump the gear down that last little bit to the locked position after the freefall, however, our aircraft was modified with an electric pump to replace the hand pump. Now, we think the gear will fall and lock on its own once an air force or a small G load is applied, but we have not confirmed this yet.
We also tested the gear horn system. Every position it should have sounded in, it did. Though we did find one source saying DC-3's had the horn sound with 50% flaps extended and no gear extended. We tried this set up, but it did not sound. Does anyone have a C-47 that has the horn connected with the flaps or was it strictly a DC-3 feature and if so, where is the switch?
So the Gear has been given the green light and is ready to go. However, we might do a little bit of work to one of the struts on the right main as there seems to be a slight leak somewhere in that strut system. We also will be putting Brand new tires on the entire aircraft.
Paint stripping is almost done. That same Friday, we applied stripper to the top of the right wing and we came in the next day to finish it. We were able to strip the upper half of the wing, meaning the only large portion of paint left on the aircraft is the underside of the right wing. The flaps still need to be removed as well and they will be stripped and painted separately and put back onto the aircraft.
And for some photos
Stripper Applied
The Next Day
And Afterwards
So now for the update: The landing gear was swung both the Thursday and Friday after my last post. Not everyone was there on Thursday, myself included, so we did it over again on Friday. I was there Friday, so everything is based off that day's tests. The gear checked out great. We started off by raising it and letting it stay up for over an hour. We did this to check to see if the gear would drop any over time. The Gear on the C-47 is not mechanically locked up, but instead by hydraulic pressure. When we checked back, the gear had not dropped at all.
We then started doing Free drops with it to check to make sure it would indeed fall. The first time, the left gear just about locked into place on its own, but the right took a little push from the people on the ground. We did this test a few more times and by the end, both of them were either locked or just barely unlocked with just the action of the freefall. Most C47/DC-3's have a hand pump that is used to pump the gear down that last little bit to the locked position after the freefall, however, our aircraft was modified with an electric pump to replace the hand pump. Now, we think the gear will fall and lock on its own once an air force or a small G load is applied, but we have not confirmed this yet.
We also tested the gear horn system. Every position it should have sounded in, it did. Though we did find one source saying DC-3's had the horn sound with 50% flaps extended and no gear extended. We tried this set up, but it did not sound. Does anyone have a C-47 that has the horn connected with the flaps or was it strictly a DC-3 feature and if so, where is the switch?
So the Gear has been given the green light and is ready to go. However, we might do a little bit of work to one of the struts on the right main as there seems to be a slight leak somewhere in that strut system. We also will be putting Brand new tires on the entire aircraft.
Paint stripping is almost done. That same Friday, we applied stripper to the top of the right wing and we came in the next day to finish it. We were able to strip the upper half of the wing, meaning the only large portion of paint left on the aircraft is the underside of the right wing. The flaps still need to be removed as well and they will be stripped and painted separately and put back onto the aircraft.
And for some photos
Stripper Applied
The Next Day
And Afterwards
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:43 am
If you still need a Rebecca antenna, keep an eye on ebay as they tend to pop up there from time to time.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Sat Oct 26, 2013 11:54 am
will do, thanks for the heads uppeter wrote:If you still need a Rebecca antenna, keep an eye on ebay as they tend to pop up there from time to time.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Thu Oct 31, 2013 12:13 pm
Looking good!
We reconnected the gear horn on W7 last winter and ended up tracing out all of the associated wiring. There is nothing in the standard installation connected to the flaps.
We reconnected the gear horn on W7 last winter and ended up tracing out all of the associated wiring. There is nothing in the standard installation connected to the flaps.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Thu Oct 31, 2013 3:34 pm
This is a little late for this particular work but for others stripping airplanes with paint stripper, it is best to take aluminum tape (1/4" or 1/2") and cover every skin or fairing seam to make sure stripper does not get into that seam. Then you must manually sand that area when doing the detail work before priming.
Paint stripper can work its way in between the skin seams and cause terrible in corrosion down the road.
Paint stripper can work its way in between the skin seams and cause terrible in corrosion down the road.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Thu Oct 31, 2013 10:51 pm
lbarber wrote:Looking good!
We reconnected the gear horn on W7 last winter and ended up tracing out all of the associated wiring. There is nothing in the standard installation connected to the flaps.
Thanks for the heads up Lee. We could not find anything in the maintenance manuals on a flap horn, but just was not sure.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:13 pm
As I previewed previously, I designed a shirt to do for a fund raiser for the aircraft. The design is frozen however, there could be very slight changes done to it for printing reasons... But otherwise this is what it will look like.
Here is a higher quality version of what the plane will look like printed on the back.
Price: $13.50 each plus shipping
Sizes: small- XL
Colors: Dark Blue, Dark Green, Medium Grey, Yellow
***Colors are not set completely yet, still waiting to hear back from the company. I'm offering 4 different colors of shirts currently but have not seen samples of the shirts yet, so what is black in the preview, may be a different color on the blue and green
I am also enquiring with the printing company about larger sizes, but my guess is they may be a little extra.
I have not yet looked at shipping prices yet, though I don't expect them to be too much. Either way, before any money changes hands, you will know the exact price. I may also set something up online so they can be paid for with a credit card.***
If anyone here is interested in one or more, please let me know as I'm trying to gather up a list of people who want them so I know how many to order. I don't want to order too many, but also don't want to order too few. You can pm me or reply here.
Here is a higher quality version of what the plane will look like printed on the back.
Price: $13.50 each plus shipping
Sizes: small- XL
Colors: Dark Blue, Dark Green, Medium Grey, Yellow
***Colors are not set completely yet, still waiting to hear back from the company. I'm offering 4 different colors of shirts currently but have not seen samples of the shirts yet, so what is black in the preview, may be a different color on the blue and green
I am also enquiring with the printing company about larger sizes, but my guess is they may be a little extra.
I have not yet looked at shipping prices yet, though I don't expect them to be too much. Either way, before any money changes hands, you will know the exact price. I may also set something up online so they can be paid for with a credit card.***
If anyone here is interested in one or more, please let me know as I'm trying to gather up a list of people who want them so I know how many to order. I don't want to order too many, but also don't want to order too few. You can pm me or reply here.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:30 pm
flightsimer wrote:As I previewed previously, I designed a shirt to do for a fund raiser for the aircraft. The design is frozen however, there could be very slight changes done to it for printing reasons... But otherwise this is what it will look like.
Here is a higher quality version of what the plane will look like printed on the back.
Price: $13.50 each plus shipping
Sizes: small- XL
Colors: Dark Blue, Dark Green, Medium Grey, Yellow
***Colors are not set completely yet, still waiting to hear back from the company. I'm offering 4 different colors of shirts currently but have not seen samples of the shirts yet, so what is black in the preview, may be a different color on the blue and green
I am also enquiring with the printing company about larger sizes, but my guess is they may be a little extra.
I have not yet looked at shipping prices yet, though I don't expect them to be too much. Either way, before any money changes hands, you will know the exact price. I may also set something up online so they can be paid for with a credit card.***
If anyone here is interested in one or more, please let me know as I'm trying to gather up a list of people who want them so I know how many to order. I don't want to order too many, but also don't want to order too few. You can pm me or reply here.
'sizes S-XL' everyone forgets the fat kid might want one
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Tue Nov 26, 2013 10:52 pm
The Inspector wrote:flightsimer wrote:As I previewed previously, I designed a shirt to do for a fund raiser for the aircraft. The design is frozen however, there could be very slight changes done to it for printing reasons... But otherwise this is what it will look like.
Here is a higher quality version of what the plane will look like printed on the back.
Price: $13.50 each plus shipping
Sizes: small- XL
Colors: Dark Blue, Dark Green, Medium Grey, Yellow
***Colors are not set completely yet, still waiting to hear back from the company. I'm offering 4 different colors of shirts currently but have not seen samples of the shirts yet, so what is black in the preview, may be a different color on the blue and green
I am also enquiring with the printing company about larger sizes, but my guess is they may be a little extra.
I have not yet looked at shipping prices yet, though I don't expect them to be too much. Either way, before any money changes hands, you will know the exact price. I may also set something up online so they can be paid for with a credit card.***
If anyone here is interested in one or more, please let me know as I'm trying to gather up a list of people who want them so I know how many to order. I don't want to order too many, but also don't want to order too few. You can pm me or reply here.
'sizes S-XL' everyone forgets the fat kid might want one
Yeah, I was surprised when he sent me that. Haven't heard back yet about the larger sizes.
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Thu Nov 28, 2013 1:56 pm
From my visit on 11/20/13. I had a very enjoyable conversation with the gentleman reattaching the fairing on the horizontal stabilizer (right hand side in this picture)
Re: C-47 #43-48716, "Luck Of the Irish" Restoration Thread
Fri Nov 29, 2013 9:43 pm
That looks like Paul, who single handily saved over 200 POWs during the Korean War in a single night after killing 4 guards with his hands. He is a very interesting man, who has many amazing stories.
To the left are some of the guys working on the C-123's ailerons. As you can see we are tight on space at the moment. We are waiting on final approval to construct four hangar to move all the smaller aircraft and other stuff being stored in the hangar there. It's been a long drawn out process that has been going on for over a year now...
To the left are some of the guys working on the C-123's ailerons. As you can see we are tight on space at the moment. We are waiting on final approval to construct four hangar to move all the smaller aircraft and other stuff being stored in the hangar there. It's been a long drawn out process that has been going on for over a year now...