Cessna UC-78 Restoration

[Warbird Kid]

Haven't had an update since October. Any word?

[SaxMan]

Unfortunately, I haven't been up there since then. Progress was slowed considerably by the weather this winter. I think they only had two workdays in January & February 2014. One of the guys at the hangar posts on this forum with updates:

http://www.shopbuiltforum.com/phpbb3/vi ... f=1&t=1655

[SaxMan]

Finally made it back up to Fawn Grove for a very long overdue visit. Good progress has been made on the plane.

Fuselage:
DSC_0019 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Engine is now mounted on the wing:
DSC_0022 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Jim West, Tiny and Bill DeHaven working on the cap:
DSC_0025 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Test fit of the pilot's seat. Yes, you literally are sitting on the wing!
DSC_0028 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Overhead view of the shop:
DSC_0032 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Even though Jack now needs a walker or a wheelchair to get around, that isn't stopping him one bit!
DSC_0035 by onyxsax, on Flickr

A rather humorous page from the AAF's Cessna Bobcat flight manual:
DSC_0039a by onyxsax, on Flickr

Instrument panel is coming along:
DSC_0046 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Circuit breaker box:
DSC_0053 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Frank Darney working on the motor:
DSC_0060 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[SaxMan]

Bill DeHaven fabricating a piece for the cockpit.
DSC_0062 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Gene Ambrose working with his digital camera:
DSC_0067 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Jack conferring with Tiny while Jack's wife Ruby looks on.
DSC_0068 by onyxsax, on Flickr

[TAdan]

Thanks for the update, looks like they are making very good progress.

How does the team feel about their Avenger taking to the air?

I love the one Jack restored at the MAAM it is a beauty.

[Fouga23]

Awesome update

[SaxMan]

They are thrilled that the CAF Avenger is flying. What is also making them double happy is that the MAAM Avenger is flying regularly again. I imagine at some point there is going to be an A2A photo shoot with both planes.

I agree, MAAM's "White 4" is one of the most beautiful TBMs out there...but I'm definitely a bit biased!

[L-4Pilot]

Outstanding work, I love to watch the progress on this old bird.

[SpaceRanger1]

I'm working on a book in which I am attempting to record the history of every Cessna T-50 built. Here is what I have on this airplane from the Individual Aircraft Record Card and the FAA:

S/n 5043
USAAF 43-4523.
One of 574 aircraft built to Spec. 225, Contract W535ac28713 Suppl. #2, 30-7-1942.
Ordered as C-78, re-designated UC-78.

From IARC:
Date Received: 5 Aug 1943
To Sacramento Air Depot (by air) 9 Aug 1943.
At Love Field 10 Aug 1943
At McClellan Field 12 Aug 1943
At Ft. Mason 17 Aug 1943
At (illegible) 25 Aug 1943

Then follows two lines which I have been unable to interpret:

UCiP CON INV R C78 M 5 43 7523 43045 8 245 ("43045" is obviously a date, and "8 245" could be a station code, but it does not appear in any list I have.)

UCIP DIV ACR R C78 L 05 43 7523 1 645 101046

The FAA file is very slim. It reports the aircraft was acquired by Chicago Vocational High School in the early 1950s and used as a vocational training aid; there is no previous civil history recorded. Sold to Robert M. Heuer, Park Ridge, IL, 4 Apr 1988. Reg’d. N51639 10 Aug 1988. Sold to Phyllis A. Anderson, New Berlin, IL, 5 Nov 2002. Sold to Michael J. Kosko Jr., Woodstock, MD, 20 Nov 2004. Current; undergoing restoration.

There are no airworthiness documents in the FAA file, no doubt due to its history as a training aid.

Any additional information on this history of this airplane, particularly with interpreting the Individual Aircraft Record Card, would be greatly appreciated.

[SaxMan]

UCIP seems to be some kind of code when an airplane is taken off the books.

The plane was civilianized by Cessna after the war. It's possible that it never found a purchaser after being civilianized and was turned over to the Chicago Vocational School. According to Jack, the airframe has relatively few hours on it.

There also may be parts from 43-7555 in this plane, as the instrument panel had a tag "37555" on it. The "cap" for the cockpit, for instance was not original to this particular plane. (or maybe this was the plane's N number when it was civilianized?)

Michael J. Kosko, Jr. = Jack Kosko. I find this a lot with members of our greatest generation, where they are named after their fathers, but more commonly use their middle names socially.

[Zac Yates]

SaxMan, I've just "binge read" this thread - what a great record of the project, and of those taking part! Thanks so much for sharing this insight into the workshop! I look forward to seeing more progress as and when

[JohnB]

Every time I see these photos showing the stripped aircraft I wonder how in the world Cessna ever made them in quantity!

Hats off to the restorers...great work.

[SaxMan]

Every time I see these photos showing the stripped aircraft I wonder how in the world Cessna ever made them in quantity!

Hats off to the restorers...great work.

I can tell you if you look at the plane up close, you'd be doubly amazed. It's remarkable when you see the craftsmanship, particularly in the woodwork, that these planes were produced in the kinds of quantities that they were. While you could tell the TBM was designed and built to be a weapon of war, the Bobcat was an adaptation of a civilian design where form very much was considered alongside function rather than following it.

[SaxMan]

Latest pics from my visit on 6/13/14:

One of the newer volunteers, Barry, working on the instrument panel lights. Barry is a Vietnam Vet, having worked mostly on cargo planes, but also worked with the FAC planes:
DSC_0003 by onyxsax, on Flickr

"The Other Dave" and Barry working on the instrument panel:
DSC_0004 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Work continues on hooking up the Jacobs engine:
DSC_0005 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Dick and Barry working on the instrument panel wiring:
DSC_0007 by onyxsax, on Flickr

Frank working on the rudder pedals:
DSC_0013 by onyxsax, on Flickr