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I rarely post about our A26 progress because VERY VERY FEW Corvette folks are interested in old planes. But for those who are interested (the rest of you can pass), this video was our first flight (after 21yrs of restoration----------it still needs paint) on Sun, Nov 1, 2020.
This was on the Chevelle forum, scroll down to the 8th comment by Alan. It is an excellent amateur video.
I had planned to stay on the ground so that I could take videos of takeoff and landing, but I was requested to be on board as flight engineer/crew chief.
That was beautiful, thank you so much for posting!
My uncle (mom’s brother) was a B17 pilot, shot down and killed over Germany in 1944. His entire crew got out while he held the controls until the end, crashing in a field. He was 6’6” and weighed all of 180lbs. If you have ever been in the cockpit of a B17, you know how difficult it would be for a tall man with a parachute to get out. He trained at Randolph in San Antonio and I had the opportunity to visit there and the base in northern England where he was based. Took my mom with me about 15 years ago. Here is a picture of he and his crew about a month before he died and his grave marker in Belgium.
Congratulations! How hugely satisfying to cap a 21-year restoration by actually being onboard as crew chief! Makes Corvette restoration seem easy and cheap! I assume nobody wanted to restomod it!
Congratulations to you and your team Tom. From a fellow warbird flight engineer, Bravo Zulu! Thanks for sharing the link to the video, it is a beautiful vision.
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Nice to read all your effort ended in success. Those big radials sound like a bad azz hot rod. I got to ride in Silver Overcast (B17) and hearing those radials start up is something I can't forget.
Huge, amazing accomplishment! So many systems to get right. Love it. Keep posting for us aircraft lovers. Many here... as we’ve expressed often. Thx Tom. Honors the greatest generation.
I’m an old plane lover to - currently in a book on the Army’s two leading P38 aces in the Pacific in WWII - Dick Bong and Tom McGuire. Congratulations on that milestone. I would imagine that first wheels- up flight is a tense moment but a cause for celebration when all done.
A truly amazing accomplishment. 20 years of dedication. The results speak for themselves. Keep the post coming on this beautiful bird. I was a Load Master C130, USAF 1968-1974.
That was beautiful, thank you so much for posting!
My uncle (mom’s brother) was a B17 pilot, shot down and killed over Germany in 1944. His entire crew got out while he held the controls until the end, crashing in a field. He was 6’6” and weighed all of 180lbs. If you have ever been in the cockpit of a B17, you know how difficult it would be for a tall man with a parachute to get out. He trained at Randolph in San Antonio and I had the opportunity to visit there and the base in northern England where he was based. Took my mom with me about 15 years ago. Here is a picture of he and his crew about a month before he died and his grave marker in Belgium.
That’s a little similar to our family’s story of my mothers brother crashing in England on his first mission in a B24. Apparently they iced up in fog while circling over the airfield while forming the group up and went down in a body of water. Somehow the pilot survived but that was all and he refused to ever talk to anyone about the accident. Fast forward to around 2000 and due to low water the remains of the B24 reappeared and the small English community held a public memorial celebration with fly overs, military representatives, media, etc. My mother was the only American surviving relative who could attend the ceremony but it was a very moving one and she was the center of attention. Her brother was buried in England but was moved later to the US.
Awesome to see one of those old girls in the air again, and the sound of those radials, yeah.
Radio operator in Navy P2V's a life time ago where I got my love for radials. Then in the middle of my aviation career I was the Chief Pilot at Evergreen Airlines. I luckily got involved with the museum, became the Chief Pilot of the flyable planes. Flew the B-17, TBM, Corsair, P-51, T-28 and the AT-6.
And BTW Tom.....I have no idea how you got butt hurt here 4-5 years ago regarding A26 indifference.. but as a radial engined aircraft owner/operator and aircraft LOVER (especially warbirds) for at least 5 years I've seen nothing but overwhelming support, admiration, and enthusiasm for all you're doing and have done for that aircraft. Good Grief.... the current crop of guys here LOVE your A26 posts. Let it go and bring it on! Thanks so much for preserving this remarkable piece of our nation's history. Just amazing dedication. Thank you from one of your admiring fans here!
And BTW Tom.....I have no idea how you got butt hurt here 4-5 years ago regarding A26 indifference.. but as a radial engined aircraft owner/operator and aircraft LOVER (especially warbirds) for at least 5 years I've seen nothing but overwhelming support, admiration, and enthusiasm for all you're doing and have done for that aircraft. Good Grief.... the current crop of guys here LOVE your A26 posts. Let it go and bring it on! Thanks so much for preserving this remarkable piece of our nation's history. Just amazing dedication. Thank you from one of your admiring fans here!
There are MANY of us that love the old warbirds and look forward to seeing the progress reports on the A26, especially this one on it's first flight. All my posts on the National Museum of WW II Aviation with photos and videos of the planes there, I thought received a great response from forum members.
Congrats! Very cool. I spent a bunch of time in the mid 80's in an A26-B Hughes Missile Systems had converted to a captive carry test bed for Maverick missile development. Our pilot at the time, Chuck Graffey, WW II trained, was so smooth. Loved that plane.
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Our A26 first flight
