Check the IBDA web
site for information about future events. We have some exciting
plans for the members and aircraft of the IBDA.
Restorations
The IBDA wants to give
special recognition to those engaged in restoration projects.
Please check back here periodically to see albums of new
projects.
My name is Jeff Salter, I’m Ed Morrow’s partner
in the Irish Bird Dog.
He has asked me to send you some pictures of the restoration
process. They were taken yesterday just before we removed the
tail feathers for stripping and repainting.
The first one is the aircraft pictured at Dax in France the day
I flew it back to Ireland .
Back in 1990
a number of A-37 and O-1 aircraft from Bien Hoa in Viet Nam,m
were brought into Australia. My aircraft, number 51-12134 an
O-1G model, was one of this group. I purchased it in January
1992, and transported it to Point Cook in Victoria for
restoration.
The first step was to completely strip the airframe of
everything removable, and determine what work was needed.
Surprisingly, for the aircraft to have been in open storage for
an estimated 25 years there was very little corrosion. However,
years of combat flying followed by more years of neglect had
left their mark.
One area requiring attention was the numerous bullet holes. Some
skins had so many holes that new skins were made and fitted (eg
the vertical fin), while others were repaired with patches. One
very interesting repair had been made to the firewall. A large
section had been inserted around the upper right hand engine
mount. Following the path of the round back showed a hole under
the floor in the pilot’s position. How it would have missed his
leg on the way through is a mystery.
Since getting the aircraft, work has progressed slowly, with
numerous side tracks to work on other people's projects.
However, as the photos show, the ‘Dog is back on its feet at
last. All structural repairs are finished, and the wiring and
radio installations are complete. Work is now in progress
preparing for stripping and painting. The color scheme will be
USAF grey with a blue rudder top as worn at Phan Rang in
1968-69. (Does anyone know if the of blue color was the same as
the insignia)?
Progress would not have reached this point without the
encouragement and support of members of the IBDA, predominately
Jim Mulvihill and Minard Thompson. Through these two aviators I
have met, and enjoyed the company of many of you, and look
forward to welcoming you if and when you come “Down-under”.
PS.The Google Earth co-ordinates for Point Cook are 144º44’
52.92” East, 37º56’15.32” South.
Lindsay McKee
Click Here For Files You Can Copy
Restoration by Charlie Race The Birddog flew today for the first
time (as near as I can tell from the logs) in 21 years. The
flight was relatively uneventful - (the pilot hadn't flown a
birddog for 27 years!) It truly is like riding a bicycle in that
you don't really forget how - (I wish that I could remember
other things as easily). My first landing was the best -- the
other four or five weren't all that great - but OK, I guess. I
didn't break anything. My reasons for wanting to get another
birddog were all reinforced when I felt all that power and the
wonderful balance and sensitivity. It all came rushing back!
Many thanks to the crew at Air Repair - they were super! Minard
Thompson was a fountain of knowledge, as usual - not to mention,
a great source of parts! Steve Noyes did a masterful job of
restoring my panel - it was first class!
When I did my first birddog - 31 years ago, none of these guys
existed. There was virtually no support for the birddog. You
were on your own back then, believe me! The IBDA and the support
of it's members have been nothing short of wonderful! -- Thanks
to all!
This is one of the original Ector “Super Mountianeers”.Mfgd in
1985,
Powered by a Lycoming 0540, 250hp. (One of the many STC’s I have
acquired!!). As usual it was pretty messed up when it rolled
into the shop here in Newbury at “Bird dogs are us”. It is
slated to be flying early in the summer of 06, (right after I
finish another bunch of repairs on a different dog. Customers
come first..lol).This is probably the most modified dog around!
Some mods are the LA-140 under wing “Baggage pod”, Tow hook for
gliders, a Tow Boom for towing banners, smoke system, 3 seat
tandem, removal of door for parachute jumping, Lyc 0540, 2300 lb
gross weight, cowl flaps, alternator, 65 gal fuel, gravity fuel
sys, STOL kit, and last but not least, a USCG Vhf radio and a
rear primary instrument panel install for Search and Rescue in
the USCG! Thanks to Jose’ Cano for finding the lower cowl assy,
which is in itself quite famous. Anyone who remembers ever
seeing that famous Ector photo of a dog flying with a long pole
under its belly, this is the cowl in that picture!! Complete
with the extra big lower cowl mounted oil cooler scoop for extra
good cooling. The nose bowl is a piper Comanche, along with the
engine baffle set. I held a coloring contest at my CG base, and
MK3 Pero won the “shark mouth” award, the rest of the scheme was
a cumulative effort, the tail feathers and wing tips are going
to be dark blue, the wings white with the CG stripe where the
Star and Bar would normally go, and RESCUE under the wing.
The instrument panel is custom with a “standard T” setup using
electric gyros, as are the switch control panels mounted in the
left hand wing root. And yes, I can do this to your dog also.
