CAF aircraft

[eric_stevens]

I was kind of curious as to how a few of there aircraft restorations are going as the websites have not been updated for awhile.

1. PBY's in Minnesota
2. TBM in Maryland
3. P-63 & T-6 in Georgia
4. TBM in Florida or Midland
5. P-47 in Texas

Thank you

[Warbirdnerd]

Fairly current photos and news on the Minnesota PBY's can be found here...
http://www.cafduluth.org/

[dj51d]

Any idea what the plans are for the PBYs? Return the red one to WWII configuration, and the blue one to as it was before the storm to take advantage of it's standard certificate?

[Warbirdnerd]

Any idea what the plans are for the PBYs? Return the red one to WWII configuration, and the blue one to as it was before the storm to take advantage of it's standard certificate?

The last I heard was they are planning on combining the blue fuselage with the red one's wing. The blue wing was heavily damaged in the windstorm and the red fuselage has some corrosion issues. Long term, everything will be swapped back...
All subject to change of course...

[pbeegle1]

Thanks for asking about our LT-6 and P-63, but don’t forget about our little L-16.

LT-6:
She is being wired while the wings are being painted. She is pretty much complete and HOPEFULLY will fly in the next few months.

P-63:
Still making parts and working on trying to replace the entire rudder bar assembly. These parts are not easy to find. We have taken most of the help and asked them to move over to the LT-6 so we can get it flying.

L-16:
This is a total rebuild, new everything except for steel cage. Lanny, one of our volunteers is a master wood worker so he is making it happen. This will be one of the premier aircraft when she is complete, in about a year.


If anybody is in the neighborhood stop on by. Jake or one of the volunteers will show you around. We also have a growing display of engines on hand including a Ranger, 1710 Allison, 2800, Diesel radial, Merlin Mark II, and a new engine for our P-51 Red Nose.

Philip

[Obergrafeter]

OK so what is a LT-6? A Mosquito? Just wondering.

Also what is the latest on the Fi-156 rebuild?

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Any idea what the plans are for the PBYs? Return the red one to WWII configuration, and the blue one to as it was before the storm to take advantage of it's standard certificate?

The last I heard was they are planning on combining the blue fuselage with the red one's wing. The blue wing was heavily damaged in the windstorm and the red fuselage has some corrosion issues. Long term, everything will be swapped back...
All subject to change of course...

Hi all,

I knew a guy from my times at the local hometown airline, that was a long term member of the CAF there. He was basically in charge of rebuilding the wing that was so heavily damaged when the aircraft was flipped on it's back during high winds. He told me that the wing was technically rebuildable, but that it would be a very long term item. But, at the time, he never mentioned that there was a potential swap of wings in the work between the two PBY's.

Now, don't get me wrong, but I am or rather feel fairly certain that swapping such a major component such as an entire wing assembly, is not gonna be a cake-walk. For the most part, major assembly's of any aircraft are pretty much made for and set-up for THAT particular aircraft. Which is why I make the statement about wing swapping.

Just my two cents,

Paul

[Alan Brooks]

The LT-6 was another designation for the T-6 as a spotter a/c in Korea. This is an earlier restoration pic of the LT-6. Warning, large picture.



The P-63 is shown below. The P-63 shot is about 2 years old....


The P-47N should have had both wings test fitted and the a/c sitting on the gear to finish out the belly skins.. Doug Jeanes had posted these photos on the board a few months ago... follow this thread for the photos posted...... this baby will knock your socks off.....
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hlight=p47

[Alan Brooks]

The P-51C Redtails update can be seen here as John Beyl has been updating as they go..... last update was for Jan 10..... photos and links can be seen here...... In February, speaking with Doug Rozendahl, they were working on the wing ribs, fuselage was getting close.... Alan Brooks
http://www.redtail.org/rebuilding.html

[Lynn Allen]

Alan, is this the P-63 that was painted in the French markings along time ago, dark green, red spinner with the white diamond?

TIA,

Lynn

[Warbirdnerd]

Any idea what the plans are for the PBYs? Return the red one to WWII configuration, and the blue one to as it was before the storm to take advantage of it's standard certificate?

The last I heard was they are planning on combining the blue fuselage with the red one's wing. The blue wing was heavily damaged in the windstorm and the red fuselage has some corrosion issues. Long term, everything will be swapped back...
All subject to change of course...

I've been brought up to date on the Minnesota PBY's.
Swapping out wings was deemed "undoable" so now the plan is to return the red one (324FA) to the air as quickly as possible, and make improvements after it is back on the air show circuit.
Anyone wanting to donate time, parts or $$$ to the project please contact the Minnesota Wing...

[Alan Brooks]

Hey Lynn, how's the world of corporate flying? Yep, this is N-191H, the
P-63 that was in French markings....Alan

[Paul Krumrei]

I heard the last time I was down at the CAF in St. Paul, is that they could not find the middle section of the wings for the Blue PBY.

That is the last I heard of it anyways.