C-45 Annual Inspection Status

Justin has all (3) new tires and tubes on the C-45. He also removed and replaced both sets of main wheel brakes. He and Don (DC-3 Mechanic at Flabob, and now full time on the C-45 with Justin to meet the Miramar date) had to fabicate some tools to R/R the wheels and brakes. They said the brakes calipers (3 pucks each wheel) had 2 of 3 puck/cylinders FROZEN and inoperative on the left wheel. Working fine now, but a lot of work to get there. No linkage for the RE gear door can be found so I might be flying without the RE inner gear door for a while. Repairs were made to the LE exhaust shrouding, and the LE engine driver fuel pump (leaking). New ELT battery. Probably need a new Gill battery for the left wing as it seems toast but the right wing battery is still good. Shooting for Wedensday pm pick up and flight to Gillespie and then on to Miramar for Media Rides and Static Display.

C-45 Annual Commences at Flabob

Justin got the C-45 into his hangar (sans wingtips) and started the annual inspection today.  He is changing all 3 tires / tubes, the intake gaskets on the left engine, and replacing the inboard linkage for the right engine, which never was rigged properly.  He is scheduled to be out of town for a few days for his C-130 Guard assignment and then back this weekend.  Shooting for a completion by NEXT Wednesday so we can take the C-45 to Miramar Airshow.

WWAM TG-2 on display in Indiana

Doing some research today is appears our TG-2 Glider was USAAF serial number 42-53018.  I put in a request to USAF Historical Center at Maxwell AFB to research the aircraft history card and send me a copy.  Hopefully we will know where it was based.   This specific glider Schweitzer Serial #53 set the National Cross Country / Distance record for a 2 place glider in 1951. Doug Fronius's (from Gillespie) dad was onboard at the time.

Everybody at Flabob Pitches In on L17A

Justin has everyone involved in the cleaning job.

L-17A Navion getting washed for Pick Up

Justin is nearly done. Just giving the L-17 a final wash job. Then install the carpeting, a few anti chafing grommets and she is done. Ready to be picked up. Probably Sunday am at Flabob. Swapping with C-45.

L-17 Navion Swap with C-45 This Weekend

Justin went through the fuel system on Tuesday, found some leaks and repaired those. On Wednesday he went through the brake system and rebuilt the leaking master cylinders, greatly improving braking! Today he has been fixing leaks in the hydraulic system and rebuilt the hrdraulic relief valve. Next he has obtained a new pulley and spring and is finishing the canopy release / opening hardware. I think that is it, and we can go get the Navion (finally after 9 months at Riverside) and will swap it with the C-45 to start its annual inspection, getting everything ready for the Miramar Airshow. Getting the maintenance done was more important than pushing it to get the L-17 ready for the Mather Air Capital Airshow which we were scheduled for (would have left Friday with Warren). So Sat / Sun we will swap planes in the hangar!

MCAS Miramar Airshow < 30 Days Away!

30 Day Countdown to the BIG ONE! San Diego and maybe Southern California's LARGEST Airshow is right around the corner and we are participating in a BIG WAY.


This year I we will be flying in the show Friday - Sunday in the Trainer Parade. Stearman PT-17s, T-6s (Lips and Jason Sommes), T-34 Mentors (John and Larry), T-28 Trojans (me and Julie Clark), along with Greg Colyer in the T-33 Shooting Star.



On Static Display we will be organized differently this year. Planes will be "grouped together" by theme.

• Our C-45 will be displayed on "Navy Centennial Heritage Row" as a Navy SNB, along with the T-28 Trojan, and possibly our new Schwietzer TG-2 displayed as a USMC LNS-1 Trainer Glider.


• Our Mig21 and L-29 will be formed up with the Red Star / Soviet Bloc group organized by Gary Bundini Bunn in a Red Star Corral.


• Our newly painted L-17A Navion, will be formed up with Larry's T-41B and our "Army" Trucks in an "Army" grouping.

So we will have "everything there". Need lots of volunteers to staff the Mig21 cockpit and alternate between the Red Star, US Army and US Navy display areas. A lot more area to cover this year.

Sign up with Jim O. Currently we have Bret / Judy Black, Mark Easton, so I still need a LOT more volunteers.

Oh and anyone that wants to fly over let me know. I have a back seater for the T-28 and L-29 flights over, but no one for the L-17A, C-45 or the return trips.