Loaded on the Truck

Successfully loaded on the truck.  We have to wait an additional 30 days for a special permit now pursuant to Caltrans requirements (California Department of Transportation).  Our permit does not include going under one of their highway bridges on our approved route.

 

We'll be back in mid December and continue, except now have decided to keep the plane on the west coast until spring, based on mid west winter weather moving in for good.

 

I will fly it up to Stockton California to Taigh Ramey's base, where resides his Bomber Camp and Museum.  There is a silver lining - it will be much simpler to refine a well-outlined maintenance program and get the 2018 ANNUAL done there, along with getting the plane properly certified (FSDO), and fix any squawks. Taigh is an expert on these type of war birds.  I will fly it home in early spring.

 

Here are some images of the airplane being lifted and secured on the truck.

 

 

 

 

 

Left to right: Steve, Taigh, Ron

X-rays completed - Cleared US Customs

Some great news - 30 minutes ago received the call that our TBM Avenger has cleared US Customs.  The ship apparently passed the x-rays.

 

We are now awaiting word on when the truck and crane can be scheduled to bring the TBM from the shipping dock to Long Beach Airport.  Hopefully it will be scheduled for Monday. 

 

Then, next and final steps will include servicing, setting up avionics, filling of oil and fuel, testing / run-ups.  If all goes smooth, we should be wheels-up for Wisconsin middle to end of next week.

 

 

US Customs still Ruminating

US Customs is still trying to figure out how many more tests they can apply to the TBM.  So earlier this week on Tuesday morning we hired a Chicago attorney who specializes in trade law.  Now, all of a sudden, we are coincidentally getting more information and faster movement.

 

Mid day yesterday some seemingly good news came in (through our attorney Paul Anderson) that there was some type of big exam to happen, which was to commence at 1800.  They had earlier in the day requested overall airplane dimensions. We then heard back through Paul that they shared that the airplane would not fit through their "drive thru" x-ray machine.  So we can now only speculate that last night's exam was for x-ray, and must have been with portable x-ray scanning equipment.

 

In the meantime, we have finalized our art for the TBM.  In keeping with the Wolf Gang squadron who flew from the USS Bunker Hill, we have carefully replicated the squadron's patch.  We need to give shout out for Spark, a division of PBD, inc., which is led by Karyn Wanaski.  And special thanks to Charlotte Gotfredson, of Spark, who rendered all the artwork.  And also thanks to Jill Wicklund from Cushing & Company for the fabulous production.

VT-84 "Wolf Gang" Squadron who were assigned to the USS Bunker Hill, CV-17