P40 Wing.
It has been a long while since we have had a complete P40 wing sitting in the hangar, you forget how large they are. Here is the joined wings for P40E S#41-13570 and now the landing gear fit and plumbing are taking place.
The other two P40 projects also continue to make progress.With the leading edges being worked on for the other E model and a start being made on the fuselage for NZ3147.
And as the One Design wing rolls out of the newly refurbished paint booth it is replaced with an RV7.
Sorry about that.
We have had a few issues with the website that we are having fixed no so apologies to those that have been unable to access photos, the fix is in hand.
While the rest of the Hangar has been busy building and fixing Warbirds Jason has been busy putting some paint on a DR 107 One Design aerobatic machine for David Wilkinson. Black stripes on today and out the door next week.
A shed full of P40’s.
Now that the P39 has gone we have spread the P40 projects around the hangar. Four in total in various states, three E models and one N. Also a flurry of activity on the Hornet front but that is for another day.
Old friend.
It is always nice when old friends come back to visit. Engine run today so the peace around Ardmore will be shattered, nice to remind the neighbours they live by an Airfield. Also departing tomorrow is the F27 on it’s way to Aussie which means we get our taxiway back.
Visiting from Wellington.
Done and Dusted.
The Pioneer Aero crew of Steve, Marty and Craig have now finished the assembly of and ground run the P39. For them that means they can look forward to heading back this way and a slight drop in temperature. Thanks go to them for a fine job done but also to their families who have been here at home without them, thanks to you all.
All that remains is for the FAA legal side of things to be completed and the aircraft will fly unfortunately the team will be home here by the time that happens.
Further Assembly shots.
For those of you following the assembly of the P39 at MAM here are some more assembly photos taken by Marty yesterday. As you can see it is starting to resemble a flying aircraft now.
P39 going together.
The re-assembly team have been hard at work over the weekend, taking a couple of minutes off here and there to watch the Airshow. As of Monday evening U.S. time, the tail group is on and rigged, both wings are on and both the flaps and the gear are moving up and down. Well done to the crew on the ground there Steve, Martin and Craig.
P39 Arrives at MAM
Well finally on Friday Virginia time the container with the P39 in it arrived unscathed at the Military Aviation Museum Virginia Beach. So now the working on Catalina’s, B25’s and Feisler Storches comes to an end and the real work starts.
Fiesler Storch at MAM.
Another day waiting for the P39 to turn up and yet another type of aircraft to help out with. Steve, Marty and Craig helping out the crew from the Military Aviation Museum assemble a Fiesler Storch for the upcoming Airshow. Still having a little too much fun it looks like from here.
The wait continues.
As the waiting continues the team from Pioneer Aero have kept themselves busy assisting the MAM engineers. Having the weekend off they used it to best advantage and made the pilgrimage to Kitthawk, would have been rude not to.
