The resurrection of C-60A-5-LO cn 2322 sn 42-55907

[texguy77]

Glad to see another old Lodestar get back in the air. As far as Navigational Lodestars, they were used in Hondo for that purpose as I am in Texas and have been there with ours. However, it was short lived as C-47's could train 3, while Lockheed's only 2 at a time. We have a patch in the roof where the navigation dome once was. Ours however was not known to be in a Navigational school. Records indicate she was a multi engine trainer in Florida. Perhaps Lockheed patched it as it was not needed. I do not know for sure. Your plane from your pictures has seen several Lear Star mods. The nose and flap mods are most obvious. The pitot tube install is curious too. I wish you the best of luck, and hopefully we can fly together soon. I have some parts I might be able to spare...feel free to contact me....

[Taigh Ramey]

I would love to talk to you about your project. We are in the 'learn everything we can' mode while trying to bring her back to life. Parts are needed too so we should talk.

I have been slow in posting any updates for the old gal but here goes:

December 2015 was our first work day which was basically trying to reclaim her from nature and figure out just what we have to work with.

Here is Ricky doing double duty lubricating the squeaky wasps and dzus fasteners





Here are Robin and Sydney opening up the cowling and finding the mostly sleeping wasps and other creatures

















Ricky is all smiles but check out the lichen and moss growing all over. More nature to overcome. I see a pressure washer in the future



Check out the blanked off window just aft of the cockpit. I think this was done at the factory because the radio racks were mounted over the windows in the radio compartment





How can any work get done when some idiot keeps saying SMILE!





Parts of the hydraulic system. Reservoir above, filter with the handle on top and spherical accumulator on the bottom. Lots to clean and service





Should be keep back from the moss and lichen!





Jerry giving advice and lending a hand. You can see the baggage compartments opened up for inspection and to gain access to the airframe and system components





Robin in the nose servicing adding hydraulic fluid and charging the accumulator while Ricky's son looks on



Day one was pretty good. We removed many pounds of bird and wasp nests. Brought some systems back to life.

https://youtu.be/zV6tWyILDwg

We are just starting to get an idea of all that she will need to bring her home.

Thanks to all of the volunteers for their awesome help. More to come

[Taigh Ramey]

Day two was at the end of January where we flew up in a Twin Beech that we are also bringing back to life. Wringing out the Beech to shake things loose and give her exercise while breathing life back in to the Lodestar.

Here is Sydney taking her turn at the controls. She is learning to fly and appears to be having fun doing so



The motley crew. Just four of us this day. Syd, Robin, Ricky and I





More opening, inspecting and saying 'wow look at this!!'





Ricky is checking out the engine and its lack of carburetor. Lots of crustiness to remove



Robin is doing surgery on a boost pump on the entry step of the Beech while Syd offers moral support



The original carbs were removed and sent off to who knows where. The donor had acquired a replacement set of carbs but they are different enough that they will not work so a proper set was found. Now we are taking stock of what we have and what we will need to get them installed to see what shape the engines are in.





Just behind the firewall you will find the engine and prop control cables and their pulleys. Where is that pressure washer? She is one dirty girl



Up on what is left of the glare shield covering are wasps that have been baking in the sun for so long that they are now albinos



Lovely strainer screen and its crud. did I mention that she will need some cleaning? The strainer did its job by catching the water. When it sits it starts causing problems. Time for a new screen, some time in the bead blaster and a new drain valve.





Another good day with lots of progress. We keep finding new and interesting squawks as we go but that is par for the course with old aircraft especially when they sit for long periods of time.

A labor of love but it is the best feeling in the world to bring them back to life

[Fouga23]

Lovely!

[K5DH]

Another neato project from Taigh and the gang!

Taigh, who owns the Lodestar, and what's the ultimate plan for her? Just curious.

[Taigh Ramey]

The Lodestar was donated to our museum, the Stockton Field Aviation Museum, so we are resurrecting her to fly her home where we will get her all fixed up.

She has been sitting for a while now.

Last Saturday was a beautiful day for the gang to put in day three on the Lodestar. We flew up again in the Twin Beech with Sydney, Ricky, Robin, Matt and Caleb and myself.



Mostly it was a day of cleaning and debugging. The amount of Lichen growing on the old gal is something. Thanks to Jimmy for coming to the rescue by loaning us his steam cleaner that cleaned the green stuff off right quick.



Tyler came by and brought over his pressure washer so both Robin and Tyler took to the cleaning job and it made quite the difference













The other project going on at the time was the carburetor for the right engine. Here is Caleb setting up the fittings and getting it ready to install. The fuel system was being flushed out and cleaned so we could be sure the carb would be getting clean fuel.





This is an indication of what happened toward the end of the day. What see you?



Another great day where we accomplished quite a lot. Well done guys and gal!

Last edited by Taigh Ramey on Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[tulsaboy]

Neat, and well done! Thanks for the updates. Looking for the next ones!!!
kevin

[StangStung]

This is the kind of thread that makes WIX great. Outstanding!

[Taigh Ramey]

A question for you all. some of the photos appear to be turned 90 degrees when viewed on my ipad while they appear normal on other browsers.

Are all the photos right side up for you or are some 90 out?

[4RG.I.'S]

Taigh,
The photos all work fine for me, awesome project!

[Taigh Ramey]

Good to hear, thanks!

[cco23i]

MAN this is SWEET!

[RobC]

Using iPad, two of the pictures are 90 degrees off, including the panel picture.

With 85 psi oil pressure and 20" MP, I reckon the #2 engine was smokin pretty good?

[RV8er]

MAN this is SWEET!

Exactly! Great stuff, gotta love another Lockheed resurrection thread.

But, one gripe; we need interior pics please! The one of Ricky in the cockpit merely hinted at the awesomeness of the plush corporate interior installed... looks like it'll be a big job to rip that stuff out and rebuild the bulkheads for the cockpit and radio compartment. Our Houston based CAF C-60 (you flew with us at Topeka) has a pretty accurate interior, at least according to the Army C-60 manual; let me know if you need any detailed interior pics of ours if it might help with this project.

Texguy77; hi Jim!

John B

[cco23i]

RV8er could you post some of the interior shots of you alls C-60? I guess Taigh this means a ROADTRIP just before camp