PROGRESS AT LONE STAR

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Restorations moving forward

Lots of action is going on with the three main restorations for the Lone Star Flight Museum reports Ralph Royce. Grumman F8F-2 BuNo 1217761 was receiving its final paint touches at Space City Aircraft Finishes in Spring, Texas, as this issue went to press. Painting was again delayed due to a need to re-do gun port fairings along with some antenna work. The museum selected the paint scheme of Butch Voris, the first leader of the Navy's Blue Angels.

Consolidated PB4Y-2 BuNo 59819/N3739G has had the installation rings for the top turrets completed and the attach points are well underway. Royce McKinney is leading the work in this area along with the interior sheet metal work and the antenna blister manufacture/installation. Great strides in the aft galley area, crew stations and aircraft flooring have been made. Engine nacelles and fairings are looking much better thanks to the Privateer volunteer gang.

Hurricane Mk. UB CCF-96 is at QG Aviation in Fort Collins, Colorado, and primary aircraft structures are now in final assembly and installation. Final wiring and avionics installation is in progress. The doghouse is finished and the fabric work is underway. Many bits and pieces are being created and installed. This multi-year restoration continues and is starting to look like an aircraft.

Copyright Challenge Publications Inc. Mar 2005
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