BX25D. Mod #1 and continued.

[varmint]

Paul, my dad was an aircraft mechanic when he was younger, and worked for a semi-not for profit university airline, and they got lots of surplus DC-3 and C-47s from the government, would tear them apart and rebuild them for charter use or sell them. I grew up hanging around the airport shops, mostly metal fab and machine, where my dad would take me on weekends for his projects. Knew them well in the late 50s and 60s. In the 70's, they got into DC-9s, and my dad became director of maintenance. Still love the sound of those old radial engines. Had a neat experience with a surplus P-51 Mustang in the late 50's, but that's another story.

 

[4shorts]

That is awesome......

Now you just need to get out there and use it. The stock bucket looks pristine.

I dont think mine has looked like that since the day the deaker dropped it off. One scoop into the dirt.....

Thanks. The bucket looks like that because it is new

Paul, my dad was an aircraft mechanic when he was younger, and worked for a semi-not for profit university airline, and they got lots of surplus DC-3 and C-47s from the government, would tear them apart and rebuild them for charter use or sell them. I grew up hanging around the airport shops, mostly metal fab and machine, where my dad would take me on weekends for his projects. Knew them well in the late 50s and 60s. In the 70's, they got into DC-9s, and my dad became director of maintenance. Still love the sound of those old radial engines. Had a neat experience with a surplus P-51 Mustang in the late 50's, but that's another story.

Oh man I'm sooooo envious. That must have been so cool. Its a wonder you didn't take up flying! I have 128 hours on a Cessna 185 Skywaggon. I wanted to do my private license but that's the one thing wifey isn't really supportive of. Thank you so much for sharing that my friend. I really enjoyed reading it :thumbsup:

 

[3v0]

With 4shorts permission I would really like to hear the P51 story

 

[4shorts]

With 4shorts permission I would really like to hear the P51 story

Oh man. I wanted to ask but figured he might not want to tell it. I owe you :thumbsup:

 

[varmint]

Well guys, my little brother does fly- he has two aerobatic biplanes, a helicopter and a Lancair turboprop, and thousands of hours. But, he's getting older, and not flying so much now.
As for the P-51, I may have told this story some time ago, but here goes: in the 1950's, before executive jets were available, some hot shots had converted P-51's with two seats for getting to important meetings in a hurry. One bitter cold, clear winter night (I grew up in North Central Indiana, and there were still real winters back then) my dad, who was on standby that night to fuel any transient aircraft that might show up at the airport (which closed at 5 or so when all the staffers went home) asked me if I wanted to go with him to the airport. Since I was enjoying my homework so much, I jumped at the invite. We got there, got the fuel truck started and warmed up, and drove over to the runway area to wait. A surplus P-51 came winging in, and I was blown away- this being maybe 1957 or so, and me being around 12. Still had the military markings, but no machine guns. I was trusted with pouring a gallon of oil into it, and the pilot gave me a $5 bill (a lot of money!!). Even though it was maybe 5 degrees (F, not C), and my dad suggested we stay out next to the runway to watch the guy take off. As I said, it was a super clear night- totally deserted airport other than the three of us. After roaring takeoff away from us, he did some sort of tricky low flip-turn, and then flew back right over us, full power, lights on, maybe 20 feet above us. A wing wiggle, and he disappeared off into the crystal night sky. There was no FAA anywhere around back then to spoil the show. I will never forget the experience.
The Mustang was going off to Oklahoma to be turned into an executive transport, a stupid waste, I thought.

 

[3v0]

Thanks varmit. Love old airplanes and stories. In Colorado Springs and they always had old planes in the air for the air force academy graduation. On some special occasion, may have been the 50th of pearl harbor, they had enough P-51 flying in formation to get the sort of special drone. My neighbor was a WWII vet and mostly blind, but he said P51s as soon has he heard the sound. Rather a special moment.

 

[ultrarunner]

Several of my friends are WWII fighter pilots and the man I bought my house from is a WWII fighter ace and he flew Grumman Hellcats off carriers...

I still get male 12 years later from around the world addressed to him... all related to his being a fighter ace...

His commanding officer said he was the best wartime commander he had ever served with and after the war his commanding officers were saying just the opposite... the skills needed to be a top fighter pilot credited with saving the ship didn't transfer well to a desk job at Pearl Harbor later in his career.

He was just a farm boy running old CAT tractors for logging operations before WWII... amazing stories and glad we became friends... see him on Public Television on several ocasions...

 

[4shorts]

Man. Just love these old stories. Yes even more interesting than tractors in my opinion thanks for posting guys.
Got my C-47's assembled and set up. They are ready to fly :thumbsup:

 

[3v0]

Have you looked at the cardstock models over at fiddlers green? A bit crude compared to other methods but they do have some interesting stuff. Like the Gigant for example. Some of them can be built to fly.

 

[3v0]

Have you looked at the cardstock models over at fiddlers green? A bit crude compared to other methods but they do have some interesting stuff. Like the Gigant for example. Some of them can be built to fly.