And So it Begins......T-41B Restoration

[L-4Pilot]

Freshly overhauled prop, and new governor came this week along with the overhauled fuel system and new fuel pump. Our governor was so old and in such bad shape it was not worth overhauling.

The prop shop in Birmingham did a nice job for us and painted the tips back to original Army yellow/orange per spec. They drove the prop down to us rather than ship it.

[L-4Pilot]

The Cessna O-2A and T-41B seats are the same as are the seat cushions. The cushions carry the same part numbers.

Here is the trial fitting of the O-2A cushions we obtained with the correct part numbers on the T-41B seat frame that has been partially cleaned, the frame will be sprayed with chromate green epoxy primer before final attachment of cushions. The seat and cushions in the T-41B are designed for parachute wear with no thick back cushion only a slide on canvas cover for the back frame.

[L-4Pilot]

New old Stock FM antennas remounted in their original factory locations. It is interesting to note that the FM whip had been mounted in two different locations, you can see the patch footprint on the far left where it had been installed at one time. The original factory location was center line and it went on to the original antenna doubler still in place.

The whip is 54 inches tall and is new old stock same as the towel bar homing antenna.

[L-4Pilot]

April 1970 parachute to use when the T-41B is on display. The chute is in very nice condition and correct model # and time period as our aircraft was in the Army from 1968 thru 1974.

[JohnB]

One wonders if anyone (military or civilian) has ever parachuted out of a 172?

[L-4Pilot]

One wonders if anyone (military or civilian) has ever parachuted out of a 172?

That would be interesting to know. One thing is for sure it would be easy in the T-41B when you release the door pins on either side. The L-19 has two guys going out the same door.

[flightsimer]

One wonders if anyone (military or civilian) has ever parachuted out of a 172?

I'm sure there has been some that has been used for skydiving. My friends Cessna 120 even has an stc to take the door off for skydiving.

[Pogmusic]

I have jumped the following single engined Cessna's
150 (My own with someone else flying it)
152
170, 172, 177
180,185
190
206
208

[L-4Pilot]

We managed to get all of the cherry rivets out and remove the old windshield this week. Glare shield was cleaned and repainted before installation of new glass.

[K5DH]

I'm going to (once again) show my ignorance... what's the purpose of the four eye bolts on top of the wing above the cab?

Interesting restoration. Thanks for sharing it, and keep the pics coming!

[lmritger]

I'm enjoying this as well... it's great to see such attention to detail and retrofitting of milspec equipment on a plane many don't realize is an actual "warbird". Thanks for the updates, and keep up the great work!

Lynn

[shepsair]

Dean,

They could be the lifting points?

regards

Mark

Another restoration to watch

[Cherrybomber13]

I thought they were for the roof top cargo net to tie down like on a minivan...

[Invader26]

My Bird Dog has same lifting bolts..

This looks like it will be a first class restoration by the way

[L-4Pilot]

Engine hung and prop installed today along with the new fuel pump. New Lord mounts installed