B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

[A26 Special K]

[A26 Special K]

[rdennard]

It's always sad to read about an old friend passing... or in this case, '671 being scrapped. She was indeed an old friend. It's good to know that some of her parts were transplanted to other "K"s so that they can live on.

I come to this page almost every day to see the progress ya'll are making to keep "Special Kay" alive. It's good to know that you guys are making her live on. Thanks to all of you for all your hard work.

[A26 Special K]

Bob: thanks for your dedication in checking on our progress and in keeping the faith with your old birds. There is a connection to these airplanes that a lot of folks don't understand. All of the Nimrods have some very fond things to say about the 26 even though it was the worst of times, it was the best of times. Stay tuned!! JR in Canada, eh!

[A26 Special K]

Larry and Stan the Man made a lot of headway today getting the instruments installed back in the panel. Ran into a glitch with the HSI though. Looks like we may have to send it off for repair. I suppose we should not be surprised when something simple goes to the complex side!! At least the flux valve problem was resolved. It was 180 degrees out because of the reversal of two wires when the shop built the wiring harness. Oops! Took awhile to figure out, but Larry birddogged it until he got the thing working. Well, a lot of other things happened today, but I just got back from Canada, eh, so will post some more pics tomorrow. Please check back. JR

[Obergrafeter]

Didn't know you knew how to speak Canadian!

[A26 Special K]

Didn't know you knew how to speak Canadian!

Oui, I do. It is all about motivation. Perhaps you did not know that Toronto and Montreal have nearly as many beautiful gals as DFW??? Have to know the language if you want to be polite to them and not sound like you are from TX. Merci, eh? Bon Jour, JR

[A26 Special K]

Guess what Larry found out yesterday. You see that little round button that is marked wing jettison?? Well, it is on the left battery hot bus, meaning it is live even with the battery master switch off. He bumped the switch on the backside with the handle of a socket wrench and got a big surprise. Nothing was jettisoned... except Larry out of the cockpit!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Ever wonder where the phrase "steam gauges" comes from?? Well, this is it!! JR

[A26 Special K]

JR sent this picture taken this afternoon. We had some visitors from France come see the airplane. They are here for training on helicopter avionics and love to play with warbirds back home. JR tells me they know some of the people restoring an A-26 there. Sorry I missed them, but I am recovering from double whammy jetlag. I felt a need to hold the couch down in case of a repeal of the law of gravity. The Sleepy JR

[A26 Special K]

While Larry was installing instruments in the panel, Stan was getting each one cleaned up and ready. It got rather warm yesterday and we all consumed a fair share of iced tea and water. Going to be a long hot summer here looks like. Send cooler air if you want to help us out. JR

[A26 Special K]

New mystery item of the week!! Whazzzit??

[NImrodA26]

......... He bumped the switch on the backside with the handle of a socket wrench and got a big surprise.
===========
Sounds like what happened over at NKP one day when a crew chief was working in the cockpit and somehow shorted out the "bomb bay jettison" switch and a whole load of M120 Frag Clusters dropped onto the ramp. That got his attention also!! Fortunately they dropped in the "safe" mode and nothing spectacular happened--thankfully!! EOD had it cleaned up in no time. But, it resulted in our having to disconnect the batteries upon shut down on the ramp. So the battery connectors got a good work out for the rest of the time I was there.

[A26 Special K]

Stress plate is reinstalled with new hardware on top of the wing outboard of the nacelle. JR's new vent lines on top shine like new silver dollars. Jim S and Mac got the ones on the inside of the nacelle in the same shape. Those holes with red circles are where the prairie dogs emerge when a snake enters another hole. Now wonder if anybody will read this and swear off drinking? Or perhaps the Duck Drivin Lady will start with her twenty questions? Did you ever notice that about her, Ober? Oh anyway, it is Summer guys, lighten up!!! The other JR, glad to be home in the Republic!

[Obergrafeter]

Just TWENTY questions???? Must be getting old!!!