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allowed them to be posted for the enjoyment of visitors and the members of the 3506th and 3508th Flightline Reunion Organization This is how the Old Bird looked before the Three Amigo's got hold of it. See The Finished T-Bird at the bottom of the second page.  This page is dedicated to the restoration of this T-33 aircraft,by the 3 Amigos.....& Wifes... (Jim & Betty, Athel & Joan & Gil & Sue) For the 3506th and the 3508th Flight Line Maintenance Squadron , Greenville Air Force Base, Greenville, Mississippi. This page is under construction, and will be until completion. expect changes from time to time.....Until I get it right. and Wifes 
The Three Amigos 
On the left it's Break Time. On the right It's Doty posing for the Camera 
On the right, Here's Gil, doing his part, holding up this tank. The Name "The Three Amigos" was bestowed upon us by Frank(AP Director), at the last Reunion, because we 3 bugged him so much as a group. The Three Amigos have undertook an almost impossible task. Believe it or not, they have volunteered to refurbish that old derelict T-33 aircraft that's been sitting at the base Museum site for many (days)?. Thanks to the Airport Director, Frank Cooper, they have been allowed to move the Bird into a hanger for the restoration project. The Three Amigo's are trying to have the project finished for the 2005 Reunion. Now that's dedication to the memory of the Old Air Base. 
,Peggy,Ap,Manager,05.JPG)
On the right you will find, Bettie, Frank Cooper (AP Director), Peggy (AP Manager) all taking a well derserved break. At B & J's. Snack Bar & Cafeteria, Located inside the The Mid-Delta Regional Airport & Museum. Not sure if I have the pictures in the right order. I'm working on it though. T-Bird comming along. Worked on the Lt. flap Mon. Took all the rusted linkage loose so now we can secure the flap in the up position I also installed 4 missing wing attach bolts to the fuselage. I think 4 might be missing in the back as well. I will have to pull some panels or maybe crawl inside maybe be able to see the fixtures then. Screws are rusted and will have to be drilled out. Hope i can see the fixtures from inside the engine bay. 
 We made some more headway on the T-33 yesterday. Filling in big dents on the drop tanks and i fixed a broken corner on the right speedbrake. We are about ready to lift the canopy and paint in there to hide ahe stripped out cockpit. we are going to paint the canopy silver on the inside. going to be a trick getting in it. Jim is going to get Rod,Mike his sons to get the canopy up and I'll put a 2x4 in the cockpit to hold the canopy till we finish with it in there. Well I'm outta here. Note of intrest: ( I understand that Gil has manafactured the Sway Braces, and much of the Sheet Metal for this project. And finding volunteers to chip in on the project at no cost to the reunion.) It takes professional people like The Three Amigo's to create local instrest in the project that will inhance the image of the overall acceptance of the Idea of (Hopefully) including the Old Base more prominently into the History of Greenville. Now thats what it takes to get the job done.) Those guy's, Jim, Gil, and Doty, and wifes are working very hard on this project. 
The T-33 is coming along slow. Jim and I have been the only ones working on it lately. That's fine as about 2 is all that can stay busy at 1 time. We are filling in the Dents on the drop tanks with Bondo and a lot of sanding. We are almost finished with the Lt. tank. After we finish the right tank we are going to open the canopy and see what needs doing inside. We are thinking on painting it all silver inside canopy too to hide what's there. The back instrument panel is empty and hanging as i remember. The front seat is missing but in a junk pile if wanted. We haven't decided to put it in yet. Not much use with canopy painted. Well that's about it. I have both flaps up now and ailerons are secured and speed brake is almost finished. It had a broken corner that i put back together and now needs sanding. Will get after it tomorrow. Jim and I go out there every other day. 
We did some more on the tips and I made 2 panel patterns for underneath the Fus. Took the patterns to Tommy at Sheet metal business near Jim's to be made. Tommy, said he will try to have Tip tank Fairings and the panels ready Wed. 
 We have pulled the aft section together to the Fuselage. for a tight fit. It wasn't tightened all the way for some reason. I didn't have any 3/4s stock to put in the Aft Section bolts to try them. So bought 6 "C" clamps and pulled it together that way. I'll send you a pic of it together like it should be. There was about a 1/2 " seperation. We are still filling in large Dents in the Tanks, and attaching Lt wing Fillet to Fus. top. We have 2 panels made for underneath. Put them on Monday. We tightened up Horizontal Stabilizer tips with new rivets. I started taking Lt gear doors apart. I'm going to take the Lt. inboard Door off so I can jack the wheel up. I'm going to try to Weigh it. I have a small scale hope to fit under the strut. I'm courious on how much the bird weighs. I'm going to build Cribs later to support the bird and want an Idea how strong to make them. I've got a sample i'll have you look at. I'm going to make them adjustable (4). 2 for the wings and 2 for the Fuselage. We may have to take the Landing gear out to make way for the mounting Fixture. Frank would like the Gear up. So we have our work in front of us yet. We will paint it first tho. The cribs will interfere with the paint work so will suspend it after paint, hopefully. We will crane transport to the site when ready. This wheels up will be a fete. All is rusted and probably have to cut some stuff. The outboard main gear door release pins are rusted to the on position. Ive soaked them good in WD-40 and heated with a propane torch and so far won't move. I'm going to try to get the inboard door loose next. If I can get it off I'll leave the outboard door alone. I think I can work around it. That is about it for now. Take Care 03/07/2005 I'm in the thought process of taking out the main gears. The attach plate is 3/4"x24"x48" and I think the verticals attach to the Strut trunion or the wing Fuselage attach points. Having trouble getting how the plate is fastened to the acft. At any rate looks like the gear is going to have to come out because of space constraints. I have to get the inboard gear doors off so I can get a floor jack under the gear to lift it. I want to weigh it first to see how strong to build the crib. The pic of the horse I sent you is strong enough I think. I'm going to use it as a sample with modifications. We (Jim) and I got the Drop Tank panels and rubber seals installed. I will start on a panel pattern for an underneath panel that is missing to have made. We also finished the Drop Tank safety pin panels that were missing and now are installed. we put a coat of paint on the fiberglass covers(2) on the nose. Had to repair the bottom cover. 05-28-05 We got word we are getting our spot back in the big paint hanger. So Jim and I will tow it back Wed. if nothing changes. we have about a month of work and we will be ready to paint it. 05-31-05 We are going to try to move the bird Tomorrow. 06-08-05 
 
We are going to take the mount out of the scrap wing and put it in our T-33. I'm guessing by the looks of it, it is in the neighbor hood of 300+ pounds. All the steel braces are 3/4" sheet as the plate is too. I've got a xmission jack that may lift it. Being the T-33 is so high off the floor I'm thinking some type of pallet will have to be built tall enough so the jack doesn't run out of extension by the time it is up so we can bolt it in place. Frank wanting the wheels up is going to be a trick. I'm going to write to Keesler AFB again to see if they know how or what was used to lift that heavy thing in place. 6/25/05 
 How the Old Bird looked at 2004 Reunion Moving the Old Bird into the hanger for painting. It looks better already. 
 All the holes and dent's filled, all that is left is the paint before the final and most important part......Mounting the New Bird on................ other wing crib yesterday. Going to start on the nose today I hope. Hot work outside but have some shade to work. We got all the panels made and installed now. The inside of the canopy is painted and closed now ready for paint. The taking out of the landing gear is going to be a challenge. Three ribs are going to have to be cut out to except the landing gear mount. We still have to get the mount out of the other wing yet. Tommy Morris metal works is real busy too, so having a little trouble getting him to do the needed welding. I'll send you a flick of the mount when we get it out. 
We plugged the intakes,derumblizers and the tailpipe. The painters have looked at it and are going to start Tuesday. Should be ready for all the lettering and insignias by Fri. We got the mount cut loose today. It's still in the old wing tho. We will get a fork lift to it Tues. to carry it to the hanger where the T-33 is. I stripped out the main wheel wells. All is left is the low pressure fuel filter. I will cut out the center rib and the filter will be out. The next rib has to be cut too, to make way for the mount about 500 #s worth.ha I'll send you a pic of the mount when we get it out. The Old T-Bird is almost Ready for the Mount and take it's rightful place in the Greenville Air Force Base History. |