> Status update - F-106 0010 - Tuesday
April 26 > > The McClellan F-106 Disassembly Team arrived back in
town this weekend after a sweet week in the > Tucson Sunshine taking
apart a future F-106 Delta Dart "star" for the McClellan Museum.
Smiles...suntans....sore muscles for some, stomaches for others, stitches in a
thumb for another...but the bird is now apart awaiting transport. >
> Trucking permits have delayed arrival of the fuselage until later next
week, estimate soonest as the afternoon of Wednesday May 4th but possibly as
late as Friday. Wings to arrive a week later by the same trucker, .
> > Never did it take ME so long to only fly 900 miles in a '106
but that was when the engine and afterburner would cruise you at 680 mph....with
a tailwind I once got an average of 844 mph without going supersonic between San
Antonio and Duluth! That 106 could cruise......! > > Our
staff guys, Jeff "Never Say Quit" Martinez and Bill "Clean-Jeans" Lee were
magnificent! They extended a day, enabled by the McComas airline
tickets. Those smiling ground pounders really kept at it. Knocking
out over 1000 nuts, rivets, and over 25 major bolts as the first wing dropped
off with a surprise package of 30 gallons of JP4. Sandy "Lil-Red-Deriveter"
Stultz is reinitiating the spirit of Rosey the Riveter by spending a couple of
long days on the inside rib area with blankets, pillow and a weird desert doll
thrown through a panel opening by the other desert support staff.....pictures to
follow. Incidently, the armament bay doors were opened with high pressure
air, to cheers of everyone, except Sandy and Bill who got a quick hydraulic
shower in the engine bay. > > Larry "Ring Rat"
Rengstorf, the guest teacher, leader, lecturer and designated "Lead-Mule" from
Santa Rosa, provided energetic motivation and kept everyone interested, however,
his HUGE IRON PRYBAR remained wedged under my Bronco seat like the famous Sword
in the Stone but I promise, we'll get it back to ya if we can lift it.
> > Lesson from Terry Shelton, the Restoration Yard Owner:
There are three types of Museum aircraft - 25 footers, 10 footers and 5
footers. 25 Footers you restore and put on a pole for people to look at
from a distance. 10 footers you let people get up a lot closer but don't get to
fully check out, and 5 footers where everyone gets to see up close the details
and content of the bird! Our bird is definitely a 5 Footer!
The cockpit is almost fully equipped. Only a few instruments are missing.
There is no major damage to exterior or structural assemblies. > >
The people at AMARC bent over backwards to provide us the what we had asked
for. Recognition to follow. > We were even able to follow through
with some items needed by our 106 buddies at KISawyer in Michigan who had a few
items on their want list (Their aircaft is still there also awaiting
transport).....Had a lot of fun painting new logos on it!!! Just
kidding! Recommended the Red Bull drink company help sponsor their
move....to no avail....so maybe a U.S. Based energy company ought to be
contacted to pick up the slack and help get them powered HOME TO KI! >
> Expect a small arrival get together to be announced as soon as we
confirm truck permits. With a larger focused celebration TBA. >
> RAMOS OIL has certainly been instrumental in assisting us with the 3000
Miles we are burning gas and diesel fuel at a time when prices are highest
ever. Gas in California along the Colorado was over 3.29 a gallon....was a
dollar cheaper in Arizona....perhaps an invasion of Arizona?! Thanks to
Dave Pinkney, Keith and Mr Ramos!! > Our truck should be arriving with BIG
30 foot signs that announce the WORLDS FASTEST FIGHTER...! > > Stay
tuned, > > Stultz, The former TAZ, RED BULL 11, ENEMY AIR
Zero One. > >