Warm up for Compression Check

The process is well underway. Taking things apart for the annual and certification process.  Today we did the engine cylinder compression checks.  Everything was in tolerance. Here is the video from inside the cockpit. My third time ever starting this bird, so don’t laugh too hard - VERY slow and methodical. 

Progress for today & Taigh Ramey’s amazing Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon, a WW2 anti-submarine patrol torpedo / bomber

It’s been fun working and hanging out here at Vintage Aircraft at Stockton Airport.  Here below are a few pictures from today. Taigh and Ricky consulting under the engine, one can see the true scale of this ship.  Below that you can see the massive void where the rear gunner ball turret was removed for service. Last, the mast antenna that we will reintroduce and reinstall to this Avenger, an original basic element.

Here below is a 2 part video inside Taigh Ramey’s amazing Lockheed PV-2D Harpoon, a WW2 anti-submarine patrol torpedo / bomber. This particular ship is absolutely loaded inside with original radios and equipment, an exquisite virtual flying museum.

B-17 Ball Turret in action

Here is that ball turret in action at Taigh’s Ramey’s Bomber Camp.

Servicing the Ball Turret with .50 Caliber Machine Gun

Here are some pictures and videos from Taigh Ramey’s Vintage Aircraft shop in Stockton California.

Close up of the inside of the rear gunner turret after removal from the airplane. Note the .50 caliber machine gun on the upper left.  On the right, I am holding a replacement gunner firing control box which has the pistol grip and gun trigger.  This grip is attached to a multi axis post which directs the entire ball turret to quickly rotate according to the control grip inputs.

The 3rd image here shows the magnitude of the armor plate that protected the gunner from incoming enemy fire. It is over 1” thick solid steel. The same on the side walls.

Stockton CA for the Winter

This Wednesday December 20th I took our TBM up for the first time.  I stayed over the confines of Long Beach Airport's airspace at 2000 MSL for safety reasons.  Several laps in a right turn along with some very sharp turns.  It's definitely a two arm on the stick machine.  Landed nicely.  Here below are a couple of videos from that flight.

Next day, Thursday, I flew the ship up to Stockton CA.  Used the LA transition portal above LAX airport (the "LOS ANGELES SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA").  That was a handy shortcut.  Simply intercept the 132 radial of the Santa Monica Airport's VOR - maintain 4500 MSL (north) while squawking 1201 and broadcasting position reports air to air on 128.55.  It was a snap.  I crossed over the mountains at 11500 MSL at Castaic Lake and from there on it's just one huge wide flat valley.  Landing at Stockton went great.

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Here below is the only surviving picture of the first Avenger squadron leader aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) who fought and was killed in action in 1944.  His name was USN Lieutenant Commander Frank M. Whitaker.  He named his 1st division airgroup call sign "Hobo One" and the other two groups were named "Boxcar" and "Caboose" respectively. Their home aboard ship was called "Hobotown". "Roundhouse" was the call for pilots to rendezvous. "Chow down" was the signal to prepare to attack and "Dinner is ready" signaled the target is sighted.

LCDR Frank M. Whitaker in his "Hobo" Avenger

According to Tom Blackburn, skipper of VF-17, LCDR Whitaker "begged, borrowed, or stole several airborne radars, which he used to develop foul-weather and night-attack techniques that eventually won fleet-wide acceptance in early 1944"." 

Sadly, Frank was killed in a midair collision with his wingman on 2 February 1944 during the one of the many famous Pacific War engagements; the battle of the Marshall Islands at the atoll of Eniwetok.  Aboard Frank's Avenger and also killed was the famous United Press journalist Raymond Lewis Clapper. 

Raymond Clapper, UP Journalist (1892 - 1944)

We have honored USN Lieutenant Commander Frank Whitaker and his squadron on our TBM Avenger with his Hobo artwork, along with our overall airplane scheme - which honors all of those who flew off the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill.

Landing Gear Check - Thumbs Up

 

Arrival Long Beach Airport

Escorted by the California Highway Patrol, our TBM has successfully arrived at Long Beach Airport without incident.  The delivery caravan rolled out of the dock area at 11pm last night. 

Today the crane arrives and will lift the ship off the trailer.  In the process we will do a landing gear check.  Then start servicing the plane for departure to Stockton California, planned for late this month.

Here are some pictures taken from the trip enroute and at arrival.

 

TBM Truck/Trailer Moving from the Docks to Long Beach Airport

The truck is now setup outside the dock in the public space and the move is to happen tonight.

 

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

 

Trick or Treat?

Lot's to catch up on here in the last 4 days. Let's start with the Halloween special:

 

We have been waiting now all week for the TBM to clear US Customs.  So we went to the docks to spy on things today and saw that new concrete barriers have appeared on all sides of the plane.  We inquired and were informed that the plane is now quarantined.  So it is evident that our TBM is going to be sitting there for a while longer now.

 

So we are all leaving for our respective homes.  Taigh (our specialist, consultant) and Steve (our mechanic), are headed to Milwaukee with another client who owns a Beech 18, then back to Stockton, CA.  I am flying back to Chicago mid day tomorrow.  When the TBM does clear customs, hopefully next week, we will all return and resume the process.
 

Trapped and quarantined - October 26th

View from above in the Beech 18 (picture taken 2 days ago before the barriers were added).

 

 

In the meantime, some highlights touring around the last couple
of days waiting for US Customs.

The Lyon Air Museum at John Wayne Airport:



Jim "Eshie" Eshelman, Served heroically in WW2, B-17 tail gunner over France and Germany,
Purple Heart, Air metal & French Metal of Honor recipient.

Inside the famous C-47.  Note the seat tubs for paratroopers.  Also note the detail parts of the paratrooper's uniform,
looks like it is very authentic.

 

San Diego - at the aircraft carrier USS Midway CV-41:



USS Midway CV-41 in San Diego, CA

 

 

The famous Douglas SBD Dauntless (my favorite plane all time)

The Swiss cheese dive brakes

SBD - close up of pilot

 

SBD nose

 

Grumman TBM-E Avenger N337VT Arrives in Long Beach California

 

This morning our Grumman TBM Avenger arrived safely in Long Beach California.  Everything went as smooth as silk.  Now we have to sit tight through tomorrow and hope things go as smoothly with US Customs.  If things do go as planned, will be bring the TBM to the Long Beach Airport on Tuesday morning under a California Highway Patrol police escort, which for now is scheduled at 7AM.

First view inside cargo hold

Covering the brakes for the tow

Outside - ready for US Customs