This morning (like any other Sat), on the way to work on the A26 I stopped by Dr. Hisey's hanger to see what was going on (the Skyraider was rolled out, so something was going on).
If you remember this picture from several weeks ago of a T28 that they are building, they are making progress.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1541.jpg

The main parts are now out of the cradles and are beginning to come together.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1699.jpg

This is what a finished T28 looks like (this one is opened up for some inspections).
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1540.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1542.jpg

Also, while I was over there, I discoverd there was another P51 (Mad Max) in the hanger keeping Miss America company. :D
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1700.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1701.jpg

Mis America has been highly modified for racing. One of the modifications is clipped wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers.
Here is a comparrison of clipped wings and stock wings.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1702.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1703.jpg

Those are beautiful planes. I especially like the P-51 Mad Max.

Beautiful planes, and the "deck" is shinny. What was the problem with the A-26? I was a mechanic in the Navy. Worked on the A-7, P-3 and the F/A-18.

Steve,
Nothing actually "wrong" with the A-26.
I'm part of a group that is doing a TOTAL restoration of a Commemorative (formerly Confederate) Air Force A-26. It's been undergoing restoration for 12yrs. If, and that's a BIG IF, we can maintain our schedule, we plan to do our first test flight in late 2009.

Tom,

Great pics as usual. Any news on the engines for the A-26?


Brian

Nice pictures and airplanes. Thanks for posting.

Beautiful work there Tom, nice looking hangar too.

Tom,

Great pics as usual. Any news on the engines for the A-26?


Brian

Brian,
The first engine is 100% disassembled, ALLLLLLLLLLL parts are cleaned, organized and ready for assembly. Since it is going to be awhile before we are ready to hang engines (at least 1yr), our engines are not a rush priority for the overhaul facility. Which is actually OK with us, because if we had the engines back, that would mean we would have to store and protect them. Also, someone (seems like Yellow Rose of Texas) with a B-25 lost an engine and was desperate to get an engine built. So the overhaul facility is working on an engine for that B-25. I've got to get over there and take some more engine pictures.
Furthermore, by not having to pay for the overhaul yet, this allows our money to sit in the bank and draw more interest. :thumbsup:

The Mad Max P-51 was just painted at my towns airport in january (http://www2.skyharbour.com/)
http://www2.skyharbour.com/photos/warbirds/images/357/425x283.aspx
Whenever warbirds leave they always do a good show:thumbsup:
Right now theve got a big Grumman float plane made in 1955, not sure on the exact model but its a big pig of a thing and a harvad or T-6 its all stripped down so im not sure.

The Mad Max P-51 was just painted at my towns airport in january (http://www2.skyharbour.com/)


That is quite a paint booth. :cool:

http://www2.skyharbour.com/sitefiles/1000/booth1.jpg
Above is our cross-draft paint booth that can accommodate a Gulfstream III, CRJ 100/200, Dash 8 100/200 just to name a few.

That is quite a paint booth. :cool:

http://www2.skyharbour.com/sitefiles/1000/booth1.jpg
Above is our cross-draft paint booth that can accommodate a Gulfstream III, CRJ 100/200, Dash 8 100/200 just to name a few.

They have two main hangars for painting, one is a new one to fit in DC-3`s (just left last week) among other things, the other large one and most of the smaller buildings are orginal WW2. In the future they plan to build a third hangar i guess.

Does your airport do any warbirds?

They have two main hangars for painting, one is a new one to fit in DC-3`s (just left last week) among other things, the other large one and most of the smaller buildings are orginal WW2. In the future they plan to build a third hangar i guess.

Does your airport do any warbirds?

That picture and caption was from the Skyharbor web page. My brush with war birds is that my son is working for a gentleman that is on is third P-51 restoration. If I were 100 miles closer I would be right in there with them. :yes:

The Mad Max P-51 was just painted at my towns airport in january (http://www2.skyharbour.com/)
http://www2.skyharbour.com/photos/warbirds/images/357/425x283.aspx



Tom,
I did notice that Mad Max appeared to have VERY fresh paint.
I DID NOT get to talk to the guys in Dr. Hisey's hanger because they were quite busy getting something lined up on that T-28. I spoke to just one of the guys (the guy standing on the box next to the wing) and he did not reply (he's the friendliest guy in the world), so that was my signal to completely leave them alone. Obviously, they were quite involved at that time. So we just watched for a while, then went over to our hanger to work on the A26.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1699.jpg

By the way, look at the difference in the size of the prop blades of Miss America (for racing) and the blades of Mad Max.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Airplanes/100_1700.jpg

Tom,

Thanks for the update, keep the pictures coming.

Brian