2023 Summer Air Academy News
February 14, 2023
Renovation Activities ~ As of 2/24/23
February 24, 2023
From Ken Ramsay:
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- The Eagle project fire ring continues to be built. Or maybe a medieval castle?
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- The F-105 is nearing primer time.
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- Jodie received a tail rotor hub and installed it on the H-19. Sorry about the fuzzy photo.
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- Skin removal on the Cutlass’s left outboard wing is very messy. Thin corroded aluminum in conjunction with delaminating balsa wood (yes balsa wood).
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- Top aluminum layer peeled up showing some of the balsa wood layer.
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- A piece of the balsa wood layer. The reddish stuff is the glue that has hardened and disintegrated.
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- Outer layers (aluminum, balsa wood) removed next comes the inner layer of aluminum.
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- Inner layer removed and we have a critter nest, a large nest.
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- All cleaned out and ready for new skin. Notice the logo in the lower left area.
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- Vought METALITE. This aluminum/balsa wood laminate was first used on the F6U Pirate. Only 20 were built and it never saw operational service. Metalite was then used on the Cutlass, but as we can see, didn’t hold up too well. Of course 60 years outside didn’t help.
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- We are now working on the leading edge panels, even more mess.
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- Jerry continues to restore the leading edge of the wing slat.
