November 19, 2024
The aircraft fuselage assembly being relocated from the museum outside storage area.
November 19, 2024
The aircraft fuselage assembly parked on the hard surface adjacent to the restoration hangar.
November 19, 2024
Restoration of the aircraft’s, two, external fuel tanks has begun
November 26, 2024
Steam cleaning of the aircraft fuselage assembly to remove 10+ years of weather exposure.
November 26, 2024
Steam cleaning of the aircraft fuselage assembly to remove 10+ years of weather exposure.
November 26, 2024
Aircraft fuselage surface area before steam cleaning.
November 26, 2024
Aircraft fuselage surface area before and after steam cleaning.
December 10, 2024
One of the aircraft’s munitions pylon had suffered major corrosion damage because an animal infestation. This required the replacement of a removeable panel. Volunteer Bob Clark is shown making preparations to install replacement floating nut plates.
December 10, 2024
Preparation of the aircraft’s horizontal stabilizer top and bottom surfaces was completed. Volunteers Al Chwalek (left) and Ed McGuiness (right) are shown working the left side stabilizer.
December 14, 2024
When the project began, the right-side main landing gear doors were missing and presumed lost. However, when a panel was removed from the aft left side of the aircraft fuselage assembly, the missing doors were found. This eliminated the need to fabricate replacement doors!
December 19, 2024
Compartment panels have been removed from the forward area of the fuselage assembly right side. This will permit inspection of internal equipment and surface preparation of the panel’s exterior surface. External surfaces coated with grey paint will be prepped by the use of 60-grit sandpaper to remove the top layer of oxidized paint.
January 25, 2025
Team members Tom Palshaw and Bob Clark have completed the fabrication of a replacement external panel for one of the aircraft’s munitions pylon. Work performed included: replacement of all internal floating nut plates, fabrication of a plexiglass pattern and fabrication of the final aluminum material panel. All attachment bolt holes were counter sunk to permit the heads of the attachment bolts to sit flush to the panel surface.
January 25, 2025
Team member Brian Janik has taken on the task to fabricate a “scab” patch that will be used to cover a through hole in the outer skin of the left side nose landing gear door. The patch, made of aluminum, will be attached by rivets, whose head surfaces will be flush to the surface of the patch. The patch perimeter edges will be sanded smooth to the adjacent surface of the door.
February 11, 2025
Team member Chris Sell has completed the task of designing a fixture that will permit removal and installation of the aircraft’s munition pylons. There is one pylon that needs to be removed and eventually, six pylons will be reinstalled.
The fixture will be fabricated using ¾ inch plywood. The design incorporates slots to support the use of a fork lift and will feature handles to make moving the fixture easy.
February 11, 2025
Team member Chris Sell installing protective carpet to the holding slot of the pylon fixture.
February 20, 2025
The contour of the engine inlet leading edge had sustained a major dent. After investigating repair schemes, the scheme to manufacture a replacement section of matching contour was chosen.
A fiberglass pattern of the contour was fabricated. The pattern was then installed in a concrete mold.
February 20, 2025
With mold and fiberglass pattern joined, the replacement aluminum panel was then hammered to the contour of the pattern.
February 27, 2025
Fabrication of an aluminum doubler has been completed. Kleco holding tools are used to hold the doubler in place before it is riveted to the aircraft. With the doubler temporarily in place, the replacement patch can now be sized to match the opening being covered. The replacement patch will be riveted to doubler after the doubler is riveted.
