Work Progress Log
Keeping
this report up to date is a chore, so I am behind! I plan to add
material as time permits. The below details some of the work done
through the end of 2004. There has been a lot of activity.
Progress Report 28 October 2004
A critical event occurred yesterday, 27 October, when a 7 man Boeing
AOG Team surveyed the airplane for structural and airworthiness issues
that might stand between us and a successful ferry flight.
Most of the team,
which included AOG Planning, AOG Quality, and Service Engineering, had,
for example, participated in the 'second' restoration of the B-307
Stratoliner after its water landing in Elliott Bay. Areas of
already
known concern to us were examined, as well as areas they were
knowledgeable about. The entire fuselage crown was examined, as
was
the S-Duct, the keel beam, wheel wells, wing spars and skins, and main
landing gear support structure. A fuel tank entry was made and an
extensive examination of the RH inboard tank structure was made.
A written report will be prepared and
forwarded to me within about a
week. At a verbal de-brief after the survey, certain issues were
discussed along with some recommendations for additional
inspection.
They agreed to do some NDT testing and evaluation of certain key
components at no cost to the museum. But, the Bottom Line was: They
felt the airplane was in excellent condition, given its length of
storage (better than some in-service airplanes, was the comment
made,)
and saw no major structural or airworthiness obstacles to perfoming the
sought after ferry flight. They
helped us especially with advice
on some critical question areas we had - such as flap track integrity -
that will significantly speed our work.
Boeing AOG Survey Team with T.C.
Really getting into things!
A good-looking wing tank structure -- 42 years old!
Here's what it looked like 42 years ago.......
Progress Report August - September 2004
While Steve has been way-laid
by some home and medical problems, T.C. has gained valuable support
from Boeing, Goodrich, and a number of parts suppliers and vendors.
A number of needed components
(like hydraulic filters), have been located and obtained, along with
lengths of bulb seals, which he has been installing in Kreuger flap
leading edge areas.
Progress Report 28 Jul 2004
We got some good P.R.
today in an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. T.C. got
his mug in the paper in a nice color picture. You can find it
here:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/183849_ncenter28.html?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=0
Steve is on a temporary stand-down
due to a plumbing crisis in his house. We know what those are
like.
Another reminder as to why we're doing all this!
Progress Report 26 Jul 2004
All Jackscrews have now been
removed from FedEx (E371) as well as many of the transmissions.
Flap drive torque tubes are also being removed.
Removed torque tubes tagged and stored on E371.
Terry has obtained a good supply of donated metal-cal (foil) marker ID
tags for use on our removals, many of which had no ID markings.
They came from:
Jeff Dabbs
GM Nameplate
2040 15th AVE W
Seattle, WA 98119
Many thanks to Jeff and GM Nameplate!
Progress Report 8 Jul 2004
The four flap jackscrews have
been removed from the LH flaps.
Most flight and engine instruments have been removed from the forward
instrument panels.