trucker17
May 7th, 2014, 15:00
Ok. As the title says. This is a FSX story.
Story by Amanda Teague.
B25 paint work by my dad, Craig Teague.(Trucker17)
THIS STORY IS PURE FICTION!!!!!!
9 1/2 years ago I was staying the night in George, South Africa after dropping off some cargo. On September 18 at about 0330 AM, a small plane went down in the mountainous region of the Spitskop Mountains.
The call went out for searchers to try and locate the downed aircraft. I had volunteered to help in the search. So at 0630, I fuel up, and climbed into my old Cessna C185 and took off, taking a heading of North by Northeast towards the mountain and the planes last recorded location.
After about 3 hours of flying, I spotted a flash of light in the distance, so I flew off to investigate what it was, hoping it would have been the downed C172.
The flash of light I saw was a downed aircraft, but not the little Cessna....It turned out to be a B25 Mitchell bomber, that had apparently went down during the war.
I flew in circles and took some pictures of the old Bomber and recorded its location, then continued with my search for the Cessna. At 1430 I headed back to the airport for fuel, and grab something to eat before heading back out to search for the missing plane.
I had my plane running and heading for the run way, when the call came in that the C172 had been found, and everyone aboard was safe, so I turned around and headed back to park my plane for the night.
That evening I had brought up to some of the locals at the airport about the old bomber, a couple of the pilots had told me they had seen the plane a few times on flights up that way. But no one knew anything about it. So that night I started to try and find out more about the bomber.
Upon returning to my home base, I told my mechanic about the old plane, since he had worked on these old birds in the 1950s and 1960s. Surprisingly he was very interested in the old plane, and together we started to see what we could find out about the old plane.
After a few weeks we were pretty sure we had found all the information on the Bomber I had found. It was 41-12682 of the 83rd BS, 12th BG, USAAF. As it turned out the plane had been on a bombing mission over Tobruk when it suffered heavy damage due to flak, and enemy fighters. The pilot and crew completed their mission and was limping the battered and damaged bomber back to base when it crashed landed just north of the Spitskop Mountains. the crew had survived the crash landing, and was picked up by the U.S. Army, and after some treatment for their wounds were returned to their base. And the bomber was abandoned by the Army Air Corp as a complete loss.
Now after years of being forgotten, the plane is found, and all the red tape to rescue the old plane started.
After 5 years of red tape, road blocks and the general run around from every department in Washington DC, I had finally gotten the OK to rescue the old plane. So after months of trying to set up a crew to retrieve the plane, and figure out the cost of everything the decision was made to just fix the plane where it is and fly it out.
So the tedious job of collecting everything to get the old bomber airborn again was started.
After 6 months of collecting parts and tools, we have everything we need to repair the plane in the field. 5, 53 foot overseas containers and we are on our way. after making sure all the containers make it aboard the ship, we head for the airport to catch our flight to George, South Africa.
And after just over 20 hours in the air we arrive in George, South Africa. After a good nights sleep and a good meal, plus picking up provisions to last us some time in the field, we purchased some 4X4s and headed for the crash site. After 2 1/2 days of driving we arrive at the site.
Almost 6 years and we finally get to see the plane in person.
Boy their is a lot of work here to do. We'll spend the rest of the day putting the camp together, and start clearing all the brush away from the plane tomorrow. ( Sorry about the picture not looking as described. Finding a color picture of a crashed B25 like that is not easy.)
Thursday June 17 2010.
0630. Coffee on, and collecting the tools so we can start cleaning away the brush from the plane. 0720. we tackle the port side of the plane, their is a lot of work to do, we have about half the port side cleared away, and its 1345 now.
1730. After a couple of run ins with some large scary looking snakes we finally cleared out the port side of the plane. I hope I have enough Aluminum sheets, I'm starting to wonder. After dinner me and the guys start working on tomorrows strategy.
Friday June 18, 2010.
Back up at 0630, making coffee, and going around waking everyone up. after making a game plan on who is starting where on the starboard side of the plane, and having coffee and breakfast, its time to go back to work. Its now 1425 in the afternoon, and the plane is clear of brush. The tractor should be here in the next couple of days, that will make the work a lot easier.
Tomorrow we'll put the hoists together and see if we can get the plane on its wheels. And start taking her apart.
Saturday June 19, 2010.
My mechanic got an early start on building the hoist, I woke up to fresh coffee and him making pancakes. That's was nice, especially since I am the cook here for everyone. Thanks dad for letting me experiment on you with my cooking. After breakfast I'm going to start clearing all the brush off the plane, out of the engines, and of the nose. and take inventory of the damage that has to be fixed.
I'm glad I have my mechanic here with me, this plane is going to require a lot of new skin, The plane is split in 2 so we wont be able to put her on her wheels yet.
so me and the crew are cleaning out the inside of the plane, Good thing is that the damage is not as bad as it looks, so far.
Tomorrow me and my mechanic are heading back to George to meet the ship for our containers. The rest of the guys will be clearing an area for the containers to be dropped at.
Wednesday June 23, 2010.
The container ship arrived last night. So with luck it wont take long for them to pass through Customs.
Monday June 28, 2010.
The containers are cleared for travel. I pulled my Bell 206 out, and loaded up some of the materials into it, so I can take them in it, and we stuffed the rest of the container into the remaining 4 containers......
After having to pay a dirty customs officer everything is on its way, good thing 3 of the containers got by him without having to pay him off.
as for the Bell 206, The laugh is on him, I flew it out.
Tomorrow morning we head back to the crash site, my mechanic will be escorting the trucks, while I fly back.
June 29, 2010.
0630. I do a pre trip inspection on the helo, and was airborn by 0800. (After getting breakfast, and fueling up.) 2200 and I'm finally back at the crash site. And I'm dragging. Kitchen is cleaned up so I'll just make a couple of sandwiches and hit the cot. The trucks should roll in the a day or so.
June 30, 2010.
I slept in a little this morning, I was surprised that the helo was all tied off, and looking around, that whole area looks real good, the plane is moved, and looks like its ready to be striped.
July 3, 2010.
The trucks are just pulling in. 4 containers of parts and supplies. Now time to re inventory everything to make sure nothing broke in transit.
1 day of inventory and its time to start on the plane.
July 5, 2010
The inventory is finished, nothing broke, everything here. While inventory was being done, some of the crew started to remove the bent, broken and badly worn aluminum skins. My mechanic and me, started to remove the engine nacelles. I'll have to see if I can save enough aluminum to replace the 4 missing sections as well as the 8 damaged sections.
Then we started on removing the propellers and hubs. Then the removal of the nacelle frames. With these removed we have access to both engines all the way around. I started removing everything I could, hopefully their will be some usable parts. End of the day, and the engines are as dismantled as I could bet them, tomorrow we'll start removing the blocks.
July 6, 2010.
This morning we removed the engines. This afternoon I started to clean up the cockpit, and nose section. Tomorrow I will start on the Tail section. My mechanic had a lot of old projectiles from the old engine cases.
July 7, 2010.
Today we start removing the old gauges from the cockpit. my mechanic and the guys moved the rear section of the fuselage into place with the front section. We started to remove the bad aluminum skin from the torn away areas and from the badly damaged sections.
Tomorrow we will get them all patched up, then start on the wings and rudders.
July 8, 2010.
Up at 0530. Coffee smells good this morning. Work continues on the Mitchell, this afternoon we had a visit from the local magistrate. Just checking on us, and ran our Passports, we'll be losing 3 of our assistants, as their Passports will become invalid within the next couple of days. The tractors finished up the work around the area today.
Tomorrow I will fly them back to the airport so they can return home.
July 9,2010.
This morning I fueled up the helo to take the guys back to the airport. My mechanic told me they would push on to complete the work on the plane. I touched down at the airport at about 2345. Got the guys a room for the night. Tomorrow I head back to the crash site.
July 10, 2010.
Left at 0700 for the site. Arrived back at 2047 PM. Looks like the guys have been busy.
July 11, 2010.
We are down to 3 guys and myself now, even being short handed their was a lot of work done here yesterday. New gear doors are made just need t be hung and wired. Hatch doors are finished and their is a lot of new skin in place. I'm up and moving at 0700, I get my first look at the work that was done yesterday. The fuselage is in one piece now, and the wings are set up to be repaired, the rudders are leaning against the fuselage, waiting to be done. The fuselage is on stands so I can see how bad the belly is. A little bent up but looks ok. Bombay doors need new skin.
The guys are inside the fuselage working, removing the window frames, so I'm getting all the glass out and ready. I wish they would let me do more, every time I try, they tell me its a job I cant do....One day I'll show them, that just because I'm a girl I can still do it. But I'll keep watching and learn from them. Mike lets me help do some things, and he tries to teach me some of his technics. All in all I am having fun here. and it is awesome seeing this plane come back. I keep looking at the engines and cant wait to hear them running.
I asked mike why we don't try starting them yet ? At least bench test them. But he says it would not be safe for us or the engines if we started them without the props on them, and the props have to be built in an order as to keep them balanced correctly. ( Something I didn't think about.)
The main wings from the Fuselage to the outer edge of the Nacelles are about ready to go back on. With luck the plane will be on its wheels in a day or so.
July 14, 2010.
Well 3 days went by since I wrote in the log on the progress of the bomber.
Yesterday was a monumental day for us. The plane is has 1/2 the main wings on, and the tires, wheels and landing gear is on and the plane is sitting on them. We are keeping everything that came off the plane, and putting them into the empty container to be shipped back home.
July 17, 2010.
We took a couple of days off to just rest up, everyone was starting to feel the pressure of the work being done.
This Morning we started running all the cables in the plane. And running all the new wiring in the plane. Surprisingly the bombsite is still here. Found it under the seat in the nose of the plane.
By evening 1/2 the plane had been rewired. Tomorrow will finish it off, then we can start putting the referbished guages in. Our bench mechanic did an amazing job on them, the almost look new.
July 18, 2010.
the rest of the wiring went in and we started putting in the guages.
July 19, 2010.
We started putting the propellers together and checking the balance on them.
The engines were hoisted onto the mounts.
Tomorrow well get them wired up and the lines hooked up.
July 20, 2010.
The morning came to early for me this morning. Get coffee and see what all is being done today. the engines are being wired and lines connected, and the props are being put on.
I'm going to start putting all the lights on it. Atleast i can wire them up.
I just looked and here comes the power unit, out of one of the containers.
Looks like well be starting the engines soon, ( Or at least trying to.) .
July 21, 2010.
Well neither engine would fire yesterday, so they will be working on that today.
I filled all the hdrolics yesterday, so today I'll bleed the system and give everything a run to make sure their are no leaks. The guys are hoisting the plane into the air to test the landing gear. I already tested everything else and they work fine.
I had to tighten down the bombay doors, the screws were loose on them. They seal up nice and tight now. I shot some WD40 on the entey doors, the ladders were sticking.
The port engine fired up, were still having trouble with the starboard engine starting.
The plane is back on its tires, all the hydrolics are bled and working fine.
July 22, 2010.
Today we will be working on the starboard (Right) engine to get it running.
Trucks should be arriving to get the empty containers out of here. We have 2 containers well be keeping till the end, one with new parts in it, and one with the old parts.
1347 in th afternoon. Crossing my fingers. there going to try and start the engine. Nine blade count and try kicking it over. ( NOTHING). Back to checking connections.
After some testing, their is no fuel getting to the carbs.
Problem found, the fuel line is pinched, Good thing i ordered more then enough connectors, since their is no more new fuel line. We'll have to patch it untill we can get a new one.
Ok this is not good. another leak in the line, about 3 feet fron the engine.
A check of our map shows a town with an airport about 75 miles from here. My mechanic is going to take the truck and see if he can find some fuel line. We need about 8 feet to fix the one we have.
July 23, 2010.
Mike arrived late last night with the fuel line. I'll give him a couple extra hours to sleep.
I have all the lights wired and working, a couple of the guage lights dont work, but i think we can work around that.
Mike is awake and a little upset that we didnt wake him earlier. Oh well.
12 noon, Mike is putting the line on, with luck that is all we need to fire the starboard engine.
OK. Fingers crossed again. Nine blades and she coughed alot of smoke, and a little coaxing and she is running.
Now to fine tune both engines, and get them ready for the long flight back to the states.
July 24, 2010.
Today we will spend most the day running the engines and checking for leaks, and making sure everything is ready to go.
We are short 4 nacelle covers, so well just have to search for some once we get home, or make some new ones. So we spaced them between the 2 engines.
Everyone is making ready to get out of here. The 2 last containers are being set for transport, the container with the parts in it is closed up and ready to go, the other container will carry the vehicles and camp equipment.
2 more days of checking the bomber before we take off.
July 26, 2010.
Mike and the guys are taking the helo, bake to George and catching a flight from their back to the states. I'm staying behind to make sure the containers get loaded on the trucks, and then i'll pack up my tent and equipment and load them into the bomber, and move it out of here.
July 28, 2010.
The trucks arrived at 1400, to get the containers. so now they are on their way. I'll stay the night here and head out in the morning.
July 29, 2010.
I discovered a little problem. I have no runway to get out of here. I have an idea to get airborn.
Their is a paved road about 600 yards from here. I checked and their is no power lines in the way, so if i can get n it early enough i should be able to get in the air while theirs no traffic on it.
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae83/mandygirlts/2014-5-7_15-53-21-791copy_zpsa3e8207f.jpg (http://s960.photobucket.com/user/mandygirlts/media/2014-5-7_15-53-21-791copy_zpsa3e8207f.jpg.html)
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae83/mandygirlts/2014-5-7_15-53-10-238copy_zps1dcd965d.jpg (http://s960.photobucket.com/user/mandygirlts/media/2014-5-7_15-53-10-238copy_zps1dcd965d.jpg.html)
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae83/mandygirlts/2014-5-7_15-53-46-686copy_zps25dc5c16.jpg (http://s960.photobucket.com/user/mandygirlts/media/2014-5-7_15-53-46-686copy_zps25dc5c16.jpg.html)
I set a GPS into the cockpit, and set a course for Chino, California.
The tanks are full and i am ready to get in the air.
SCREENSHOTS of the flight home to come, so keep checking back.
Story by Amanda Teague.
B25 paint work by my dad, Craig Teague.(Trucker17)
THIS STORY IS PURE FICTION!!!!!!
9 1/2 years ago I was staying the night in George, South Africa after dropping off some cargo. On September 18 at about 0330 AM, a small plane went down in the mountainous region of the Spitskop Mountains.
The call went out for searchers to try and locate the downed aircraft. I had volunteered to help in the search. So at 0630, I fuel up, and climbed into my old Cessna C185 and took off, taking a heading of North by Northeast towards the mountain and the planes last recorded location.
After about 3 hours of flying, I spotted a flash of light in the distance, so I flew off to investigate what it was, hoping it would have been the downed C172.
The flash of light I saw was a downed aircraft, but not the little Cessna....It turned out to be a B25 Mitchell bomber, that had apparently went down during the war.
I flew in circles and took some pictures of the old Bomber and recorded its location, then continued with my search for the Cessna. At 1430 I headed back to the airport for fuel, and grab something to eat before heading back out to search for the missing plane.
I had my plane running and heading for the run way, when the call came in that the C172 had been found, and everyone aboard was safe, so I turned around and headed back to park my plane for the night.
That evening I had brought up to some of the locals at the airport about the old bomber, a couple of the pilots had told me they had seen the plane a few times on flights up that way. But no one knew anything about it. So that night I started to try and find out more about the bomber.
Upon returning to my home base, I told my mechanic about the old plane, since he had worked on these old birds in the 1950s and 1960s. Surprisingly he was very interested in the old plane, and together we started to see what we could find out about the old plane.
After a few weeks we were pretty sure we had found all the information on the Bomber I had found. It was 41-12682 of the 83rd BS, 12th BG, USAAF. As it turned out the plane had been on a bombing mission over Tobruk when it suffered heavy damage due to flak, and enemy fighters. The pilot and crew completed their mission and was limping the battered and damaged bomber back to base when it crashed landed just north of the Spitskop Mountains. the crew had survived the crash landing, and was picked up by the U.S. Army, and after some treatment for their wounds were returned to their base. And the bomber was abandoned by the Army Air Corp as a complete loss.
Now after years of being forgotten, the plane is found, and all the red tape to rescue the old plane started.
After 5 years of red tape, road blocks and the general run around from every department in Washington DC, I had finally gotten the OK to rescue the old plane. So after months of trying to set up a crew to retrieve the plane, and figure out the cost of everything the decision was made to just fix the plane where it is and fly it out.
So the tedious job of collecting everything to get the old bomber airborn again was started.
After 6 months of collecting parts and tools, we have everything we need to repair the plane in the field. 5, 53 foot overseas containers and we are on our way. after making sure all the containers make it aboard the ship, we head for the airport to catch our flight to George, South Africa.
And after just over 20 hours in the air we arrive in George, South Africa. After a good nights sleep and a good meal, plus picking up provisions to last us some time in the field, we purchased some 4X4s and headed for the crash site. After 2 1/2 days of driving we arrive at the site.
Almost 6 years and we finally get to see the plane in person.
Boy their is a lot of work here to do. We'll spend the rest of the day putting the camp together, and start clearing all the brush away from the plane tomorrow. ( Sorry about the picture not looking as described. Finding a color picture of a crashed B25 like that is not easy.)
Thursday June 17 2010.
0630. Coffee on, and collecting the tools so we can start cleaning away the brush from the plane. 0720. we tackle the port side of the plane, their is a lot of work to do, we have about half the port side cleared away, and its 1345 now.
1730. After a couple of run ins with some large scary looking snakes we finally cleared out the port side of the plane. I hope I have enough Aluminum sheets, I'm starting to wonder. After dinner me and the guys start working on tomorrows strategy.
Friday June 18, 2010.
Back up at 0630, making coffee, and going around waking everyone up. after making a game plan on who is starting where on the starboard side of the plane, and having coffee and breakfast, its time to go back to work. Its now 1425 in the afternoon, and the plane is clear of brush. The tractor should be here in the next couple of days, that will make the work a lot easier.
Tomorrow we'll put the hoists together and see if we can get the plane on its wheels. And start taking her apart.
Saturday June 19, 2010.
My mechanic got an early start on building the hoist, I woke up to fresh coffee and him making pancakes. That's was nice, especially since I am the cook here for everyone. Thanks dad for letting me experiment on you with my cooking. After breakfast I'm going to start clearing all the brush off the plane, out of the engines, and of the nose. and take inventory of the damage that has to be fixed.
I'm glad I have my mechanic here with me, this plane is going to require a lot of new skin, The plane is split in 2 so we wont be able to put her on her wheels yet.
so me and the crew are cleaning out the inside of the plane, Good thing is that the damage is not as bad as it looks, so far.
Tomorrow me and my mechanic are heading back to George to meet the ship for our containers. The rest of the guys will be clearing an area for the containers to be dropped at.
Wednesday June 23, 2010.
The container ship arrived last night. So with luck it wont take long for them to pass through Customs.
Monday June 28, 2010.
The containers are cleared for travel. I pulled my Bell 206 out, and loaded up some of the materials into it, so I can take them in it, and we stuffed the rest of the container into the remaining 4 containers......
After having to pay a dirty customs officer everything is on its way, good thing 3 of the containers got by him without having to pay him off.
as for the Bell 206, The laugh is on him, I flew it out.
Tomorrow morning we head back to the crash site, my mechanic will be escorting the trucks, while I fly back.
June 29, 2010.
0630. I do a pre trip inspection on the helo, and was airborn by 0800. (After getting breakfast, and fueling up.) 2200 and I'm finally back at the crash site. And I'm dragging. Kitchen is cleaned up so I'll just make a couple of sandwiches and hit the cot. The trucks should roll in the a day or so.
June 30, 2010.
I slept in a little this morning, I was surprised that the helo was all tied off, and looking around, that whole area looks real good, the plane is moved, and looks like its ready to be striped.
July 3, 2010.
The trucks are just pulling in. 4 containers of parts and supplies. Now time to re inventory everything to make sure nothing broke in transit.
1 day of inventory and its time to start on the plane.
July 5, 2010
The inventory is finished, nothing broke, everything here. While inventory was being done, some of the crew started to remove the bent, broken and badly worn aluminum skins. My mechanic and me, started to remove the engine nacelles. I'll have to see if I can save enough aluminum to replace the 4 missing sections as well as the 8 damaged sections.
Then we started on removing the propellers and hubs. Then the removal of the nacelle frames. With these removed we have access to both engines all the way around. I started removing everything I could, hopefully their will be some usable parts. End of the day, and the engines are as dismantled as I could bet them, tomorrow we'll start removing the blocks.
July 6, 2010.
This morning we removed the engines. This afternoon I started to clean up the cockpit, and nose section. Tomorrow I will start on the Tail section. My mechanic had a lot of old projectiles from the old engine cases.
July 7, 2010.
Today we start removing the old gauges from the cockpit. my mechanic and the guys moved the rear section of the fuselage into place with the front section. We started to remove the bad aluminum skin from the torn away areas and from the badly damaged sections.
Tomorrow we will get them all patched up, then start on the wings and rudders.
July 8, 2010.
Up at 0530. Coffee smells good this morning. Work continues on the Mitchell, this afternoon we had a visit from the local magistrate. Just checking on us, and ran our Passports, we'll be losing 3 of our assistants, as their Passports will become invalid within the next couple of days. The tractors finished up the work around the area today.
Tomorrow I will fly them back to the airport so they can return home.
July 9,2010.
This morning I fueled up the helo to take the guys back to the airport. My mechanic told me they would push on to complete the work on the plane. I touched down at the airport at about 2345. Got the guys a room for the night. Tomorrow I head back to the crash site.
July 10, 2010.
Left at 0700 for the site. Arrived back at 2047 PM. Looks like the guys have been busy.
July 11, 2010.
We are down to 3 guys and myself now, even being short handed their was a lot of work done here yesterday. New gear doors are made just need t be hung and wired. Hatch doors are finished and their is a lot of new skin in place. I'm up and moving at 0700, I get my first look at the work that was done yesterday. The fuselage is in one piece now, and the wings are set up to be repaired, the rudders are leaning against the fuselage, waiting to be done. The fuselage is on stands so I can see how bad the belly is. A little bent up but looks ok. Bombay doors need new skin.
The guys are inside the fuselage working, removing the window frames, so I'm getting all the glass out and ready. I wish they would let me do more, every time I try, they tell me its a job I cant do....One day I'll show them, that just because I'm a girl I can still do it. But I'll keep watching and learn from them. Mike lets me help do some things, and he tries to teach me some of his technics. All in all I am having fun here. and it is awesome seeing this plane come back. I keep looking at the engines and cant wait to hear them running.
I asked mike why we don't try starting them yet ? At least bench test them. But he says it would not be safe for us or the engines if we started them without the props on them, and the props have to be built in an order as to keep them balanced correctly. ( Something I didn't think about.)
The main wings from the Fuselage to the outer edge of the Nacelles are about ready to go back on. With luck the plane will be on its wheels in a day or so.
July 14, 2010.
Well 3 days went by since I wrote in the log on the progress of the bomber.
Yesterday was a monumental day for us. The plane is has 1/2 the main wings on, and the tires, wheels and landing gear is on and the plane is sitting on them. We are keeping everything that came off the plane, and putting them into the empty container to be shipped back home.
July 17, 2010.
We took a couple of days off to just rest up, everyone was starting to feel the pressure of the work being done.
This Morning we started running all the cables in the plane. And running all the new wiring in the plane. Surprisingly the bombsite is still here. Found it under the seat in the nose of the plane.
By evening 1/2 the plane had been rewired. Tomorrow will finish it off, then we can start putting the referbished guages in. Our bench mechanic did an amazing job on them, the almost look new.
July 18, 2010.
the rest of the wiring went in and we started putting in the guages.
July 19, 2010.
We started putting the propellers together and checking the balance on them.
The engines were hoisted onto the mounts.
Tomorrow well get them wired up and the lines hooked up.
July 20, 2010.
The morning came to early for me this morning. Get coffee and see what all is being done today. the engines are being wired and lines connected, and the props are being put on.
I'm going to start putting all the lights on it. Atleast i can wire them up.
I just looked and here comes the power unit, out of one of the containers.
Looks like well be starting the engines soon, ( Or at least trying to.) .
July 21, 2010.
Well neither engine would fire yesterday, so they will be working on that today.
I filled all the hdrolics yesterday, so today I'll bleed the system and give everything a run to make sure their are no leaks. The guys are hoisting the plane into the air to test the landing gear. I already tested everything else and they work fine.
I had to tighten down the bombay doors, the screws were loose on them. They seal up nice and tight now. I shot some WD40 on the entey doors, the ladders were sticking.
The port engine fired up, were still having trouble with the starboard engine starting.
The plane is back on its tires, all the hydrolics are bled and working fine.
July 22, 2010.
Today we will be working on the starboard (Right) engine to get it running.
Trucks should be arriving to get the empty containers out of here. We have 2 containers well be keeping till the end, one with new parts in it, and one with the old parts.
1347 in th afternoon. Crossing my fingers. there going to try and start the engine. Nine blade count and try kicking it over. ( NOTHING). Back to checking connections.
After some testing, their is no fuel getting to the carbs.
Problem found, the fuel line is pinched, Good thing i ordered more then enough connectors, since their is no more new fuel line. We'll have to patch it untill we can get a new one.
Ok this is not good. another leak in the line, about 3 feet fron the engine.
A check of our map shows a town with an airport about 75 miles from here. My mechanic is going to take the truck and see if he can find some fuel line. We need about 8 feet to fix the one we have.
July 23, 2010.
Mike arrived late last night with the fuel line. I'll give him a couple extra hours to sleep.
I have all the lights wired and working, a couple of the guage lights dont work, but i think we can work around that.
Mike is awake and a little upset that we didnt wake him earlier. Oh well.
12 noon, Mike is putting the line on, with luck that is all we need to fire the starboard engine.
OK. Fingers crossed again. Nine blades and she coughed alot of smoke, and a little coaxing and she is running.
Now to fine tune both engines, and get them ready for the long flight back to the states.
July 24, 2010.
Today we will spend most the day running the engines and checking for leaks, and making sure everything is ready to go.
We are short 4 nacelle covers, so well just have to search for some once we get home, or make some new ones. So we spaced them between the 2 engines.
Everyone is making ready to get out of here. The 2 last containers are being set for transport, the container with the parts in it is closed up and ready to go, the other container will carry the vehicles and camp equipment.
2 more days of checking the bomber before we take off.
July 26, 2010.
Mike and the guys are taking the helo, bake to George and catching a flight from their back to the states. I'm staying behind to make sure the containers get loaded on the trucks, and then i'll pack up my tent and equipment and load them into the bomber, and move it out of here.
July 28, 2010.
The trucks arrived at 1400, to get the containers. so now they are on their way. I'll stay the night here and head out in the morning.
July 29, 2010.
I discovered a little problem. I have no runway to get out of here. I have an idea to get airborn.
Their is a paved road about 600 yards from here. I checked and their is no power lines in the way, so if i can get n it early enough i should be able to get in the air while theirs no traffic on it.
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae83/mandygirlts/2014-5-7_15-53-21-791copy_zpsa3e8207f.jpg (http://s960.photobucket.com/user/mandygirlts/media/2014-5-7_15-53-21-791copy_zpsa3e8207f.jpg.html)
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae83/mandygirlts/2014-5-7_15-53-10-238copy_zps1dcd965d.jpg (http://s960.photobucket.com/user/mandygirlts/media/2014-5-7_15-53-10-238copy_zps1dcd965d.jpg.html)
http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae83/mandygirlts/2014-5-7_15-53-46-686copy_zps25dc5c16.jpg (http://s960.photobucket.com/user/mandygirlts/media/2014-5-7_15-53-46-686copy_zps25dc5c16.jpg.html)
I set a GPS into the cockpit, and set a course for Chino, California.
The tanks are full and i am ready to get in the air.
SCREENSHOTS of the flight home to come, so keep checking back.