Warbirds of North America

September Newsletter

Volume 4

Special Day September 22, 2007   Open Hanger Work Day October 6, 2007 Directions to Marengo Warbirds of North America   Tel: (847) 287-9099 FAX: (847) 741-6426 Email: tom.butts@warbirdsna.org

Restoration Update

It has been quite a long time since we have had an opportunity to publish a newsletter. My job, along with some other technical issues, has kept me from this very important communication. However, we have accomplished a lot to keep the project on course.

The plane received FAA registration in the spring. This was a difficult process to complete as it required me to submit documentation on the ownership of the airplane starting from the military release date in 1982 through to Leading Edge Flight Services. Although there were only four owners, I needed to find the original bill of sale between the military and a company called Smith and Smith. Then I needed the bill of sale between them and the man from whom I bought the plane. It took a year and a half for me to complete this process. The important thing to remember is that even though the plane can mechanically fly, it cannot fly without being registered with the FAA.

In January we received a small grant from Wolf Aviation. The proposal focused on how the restoration promoted general aviation in the local community.  Ultimately, Warbirds plans to include a tribute to military personnel who flew and maintained the T-28.  We are developing educational programs related to aircraft history, wartime activities and the how an airplane flies.  We anticipate audiences such as Scouts, Young Eagles and guests at flight shows like the EAA fly-in. Our next milestone is to submit grant proposals to the government that will cover a larger percent of the restoration budget.

We have made great strides related to the physical aspects of the restoration. Since some time last year, my father’s health has improved to the point where he has spent between 30 – 40 hours per week working on the plane. I go home on the weekends, take big pieces off the plane.  He takes the big pieces and makes many little ones from it. He then strips the paint, finds the part number in the manual and prints a string tag. He has assembled many boxes of parts that need to be prepped and primed. I recently acquired a media blasting cabinet (sand blaster) and he spends most of his time removing paint and corrosion form the parts. He is a huge help and is the only one that can consistently keep the project moving forward.

The horizontal stabilizers needed to be repaired, but the FAA required some modifications. I had planned to do this on my own, but realized that the modifications were critical to safety.  Plus, there were some special tools and fixtures required to do the job correctly. I decided to find a resource that has experience in this restoration and send the stabilizers to them. Luckily, I found a person in the Minneapolis area who came highly recommended. I contacted Pete Pemrick and we made plans to swap a completely restored set of stabilizers for my set. We drove to Minneapolis in early July and now have a new set.

To complete the tail feathers, Mike Carzoli is nearing the completion of the elevators. We needed a new set of trailing edges for the plane and found a source in Canada. These edges are new aluminum extrusions that are a perfect replacement for the old corroded ones.

The wing restoration is progressing. Mike Kellner has cut all new skins for the outer panels. As the old skins were removed, we discovered a large amount of inner granular corrosion on the spar caps. This is what keeps the wing rigid and prevents it from folding in half during high G maneuvers. Based on the amount of corrosion, I decided to get new material and make new caps. Mike has completed the machining and is in process of installing the top. Once the top is complete, the skins will be temporarily installed and the bottom will be removed to install new bottom caps. Mike has also made some ribs and stiffeners to repair a hole in the wing. Mike is rebuilding a B-17 bomber and is making great progress on his project. I will try to get some recent pictures and make them available at the website.

We have been in the process of locating different types of paint stripper. Distributors have given us gallon size samples of five different strippers.  The two manufactures are Custom Chemicals in Illinois and El Dorado in Texas. The samples from El Dorado were shipped to us and Rose Ellen flew the plane to Custom Chemical to get the other samples. I tested each sample on some heavily painted areas of the fuselage and all samples worked very well. They not only removed the paint but the primer as well. I am deciding if we will strip both the inside and outside or just the outside and have the inside soda blasted. Soda Blasting is a process where they use baking soda and apply it thru a medium pressure air compressor. This is safe for aluminum and will not cause temper to change.

Over the past several weeks, I have been working on the engine cowl pieces. There are six segments and I have two completely disassembled and have the paint stripped on both sides I have two others nearly disassembled and will be stripping them next weekend. I want to get this accomplished before it gets too cold for the stripper to work.

Open Hanger & Work Day Scheduled for October 6th

We gladly welcome and appreciate all of the help from our friends and family who have been a great help!  We hope to see all of you (and maybe a few more) during our next open hanger.  We’ll have the hanger open from 10 until 4 on October 6.  However, visitors are welcome on most Saturdays when the hanger is open. Please call or email before you make the trip.

This is a list of what we hope to accomplish during this work day:

Remove the Empennage and prepare the fuselage for mounting on the rotisserie.

Remove hydraulic lines and carefully store in custom boxes

Remove hydraulic cylinders for the nose gear

Remove cockpit heater and all duct work

Begin disassembly of the empennage

Construct a room in the back part of the hanger for winter work

We’ll also be at the hanger THIS Saturday (9/22) afternoon.  We’ll be there from 1:00 to 6:00. I need to get a jump on stripping the last four cowl pieces plus two other items before it gets too cold. We will have two teams: one to disassemble the cowling and the other to strip the paint. I have plenty of equipment for everyone that shows up. Bring old clothes that can get dirty.

This building has NO Toilet facilities! There is a restaurant in a nearby town (10 minute drive) but please come prepared for these conditions.  We will provide a snack and drinks.

This is a working hanger on a private grass airstrip.  All visitors are asked to exercise proper caution on the airport property.

David A. Burdine and Steven M. Hildebrand

The flying community recently lost two pilots and Rose Ellen and I lost two friends. Steven and David were taken from us in an aircraft accident this past Labor Day.  David, father of two, was an outstanding flight instructor at Blue Skies. I had the privilege of flying with him on several occasions during my instrument training  I have no doubt that his meticulous training will save countless pilots from making careless mistakes.  Steve, father of three, earned his pilot’s license in 2002.  With many hours of experience, he had a deep passion for aviation. Steve owned a Yakovlev 52, a “Yak,” which is a Soviet primary trainer aircraft similar to my T-28. Steve and David spent many hours in the Yak doing acrobatics.

Dave was an impressive pilot who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, went to Navy Flight School, finished first in his class and selected the F14 as his plane to fly. After receiving specialized training in Soviet tactics, he was designated a Navy Adversary Instructor Pilot teaching military pilots how to engage and shoot down MiGs like the one he restored and flew in air shows. He was selected to go to Topgun and was also a Spin Instructor teaching other F14 pilots how to recover control of their jet in a spin. He was one of few pilots who had intentionally done a LOMCEVAK (the tumbling end over end that little biplanes do) in a jet. His last Navy assignment was as Commanding Officer of the Advanced Flight Training Squadron in Meridian, Mississippi.  David’s years of service earned for him a beautiful Naval funeral with a missing man flying formation, a 21 gun salute, taps, and a flag folding ceremony.

Steve, a carpenter and master woodworker, lovingly built a home for his family.  He was well known for his great sense of humor.  In fact, his nieces affectionately called him Uncle Buck, after the character in the movie of the same name.

Both Dave and Steve will be greatly missed.