TEXAS RAIDERS

[SPANNERmkV]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeACb-Wf ... annel_page

Kind of rough-handheld video... but it is of TEXAS RAIDERS moving under her own power for the first time since 2002.

I may try and incorporate some more video into it if the shots form the ramp are made available.

[SPANNERmkV]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcq4SUETpTA

Version 2 of the TAXI Test with footage from outside the plane.

I hope it is worth the watch!

SPANNER

[SPANNERmkV]

Two Saturdays ago we got the Left Wing Extension on and we hope to hang the Right one this Saturday.

If we keep this up we are going to need a wide angle lens...
But THAT'S OK!

[jmkendal]

You guys rock!!!

You and your crew deserve all the kudos I can think of!!

Joe

[SPANNERmkV]

Hang the Expense...
Here are the pics of the chin turret.
I figured what the hey? Let EVERYBODY see them!


Spot welded nut plates

The problem is this is NOT the only problem area on the skin


Good over all of the deskinned chin turret.

[Lucky 13]

Hey: Spanner do you need a jig for that chin thing

[SPANNERmkV]

With due respect to the work that goes on in this site, Here is an AERO VINTAGE scoop.

(Maybe some will consider this merely a teaser but be that as it may... Anyone who has ever worked on a restoration project knows how exciting it is to write the following.)

The exact date has NOT been set, no names are in ink, but we know for certain who half of the minimal crew is going to be for the fast taxi test and the first flight. Until they agree the Flight Crew cannot be named.

There are people in charge of seeing this thing safely done and their word is the final word.

SPANNER

[aerovin2]

Spanner, thanks for the update and thinking of us over here. It will be exciting to see it back in the air, but better to know the airplane was done right.

[TAdan]

This just in... There are a few posts over on WIX claiming that Texas Raiders just made her first post-resto flight.

[SPANNERmkV]

Oct. 14, 1943- Black Thursday for the USAAF - The second Schweinfurt Raid.

Oct. 14, 2009 - First Flight in seven years for TEXAS RAIDERS-
Commemorative Air Force- Gulf Coast Wing.

Kind of busy here, but I thought you might like to know!

Thanks EVERYBODY who helped over the years.

SPANNER

[bluethunder28]

Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great job guys! A long time sitting but well worth the wait to have her back in the air where she belongs.

9-29-01

[Second Air Force]

First flight photo here: http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index. ... #msg236514

Congratulations to Don and all the GCW maintainers.

Scott

[SPANNERmkV]

From the bombardier's seat.
Apologies for the roughness, but I think B17 Lovers will like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUmofDiWZLY

SPANNER

[SPANNERmkV]

In the course od trying to make TEXAS RAIDERS more presentable we started painting the tail feathers red. We had a debate, but I insisted that we go no shinier than a satin sheen on the red. Next up we need to paint the black triangle and then all the white numbers and the big 381st L. But here is where we are at as of Feb. 20th, 2010.

[SPANNERmkV]

TEXAS RAIDERS will be at Ellington Field in Houston,Texas this Sat. May 8, 2010

The event is Aeros and Autos
TR will be selling 30 minute long rides and also tours of the aircraft.

We just finished our first Air Show at Temple, Texas and TR is running well.
She seems to run better the more we fly her.