February 6
Open Cockpit Day for the Aerospace Museum of California was fabulous! I showed off the T-33 by inviting kids and adults to stand on the wing root and view the cockpit. This is what I told them:
The T-33 was the first military jet trainer. This particular model was built in 1953. If you take a look at the P-80 Shooting Star, you will notice that the T-33 is basically a stretched P-80. The fuselage was stretched to accomodate a tandem-riding flight instructor in the rear. In case of an emergency, the pilots could eject from the aircraft if necessary. (Then I'd point to the air-intake on the empennage) This is the air intake. The jet engine required air for it to function properly. When the engine sucked in air, this hinged panel would open allowing the air in. (Then I'd point at the fuel tanks) These are external wing tip fuel tanks. They hold 230 gallons of fuel. That may seem a lot, but it didn't last long.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Opening the canopy of the T-33
Working with Gene has been fun. Today, after three weeks of tinkering with the T-33's panels and exterior mechanisms, and studying the T.O. (which is like a military term for user's manual), Gene and I put all the pieces together.
He used a flat head screw driver in the hexagon hole and turned it with an allen wrench (thanks to a square post on the screwdriver) while I watched the actuator inside the cockpit and the canopy opening lever move to the forward position, which the T.O. said was the "canopy unlocked" position. Once it was determined that the canopy was unlocked, Gene straddled himself in front of the windscreen facing aft and together we used flat head screwdrivers, first to lift the canopy 1/4 inch, and then we stuffed a second flat head screwdriver into the gap and continued likewise until we could hold it open with the wooden chock blocks of our airplane. As this process occurred, we watched the hinge of the canopy carefully, making sure nothing was being forced or damaged.
I became the town crier, and went from volunteer to volunteer and staff, to share the exciting news. This canopy hadn't been opened since 1983! Soon Bill drove a forklift over. He weaved a strap through the gap we created thus far, and attached it to the prongs on the fork lift. Then he lifted the canopy by raising the forklift prongs even further. I took pictures while Gene and Bill looked at different things inside the cockpit. The seat cushion was taken out to save the material it was made of so it could be reproduced.
He used a flat head screw driver in the hexagon hole and turned it with an allen wrench (thanks to a square post on the screwdriver) while I watched the actuator inside the cockpit and the canopy opening lever move to the forward position, which the T.O. said was the "canopy unlocked" position. Once it was determined that the canopy was unlocked, Gene straddled himself in front of the windscreen facing aft and together we used flat head screwdrivers, first to lift the canopy 1/4 inch, and then we stuffed a second flat head screwdriver into the gap and continued likewise until we could hold it open with the wooden chock blocks of our airplane. As this process occurred, we watched the hinge of the canopy carefully, making sure nothing was being forced or damaged.
I became the town crier, and went from volunteer to volunteer and staff, to share the exciting news. This canopy hadn't been opened since 1983! Soon Bill drove a forklift over. He weaved a strap through the gap we created thus far, and attached it to the prongs on the fork lift. Then he lifted the canopy by raising the forklift prongs even further. I took pictures while Gene and Bill looked at different things inside the cockpit. The seat cushion was taken out to save the material it was made of so it could be reproduced.
Monday, February 1, 2010
January 2010 Recap
So, I signed a four month lease on my apartment on January 11th, and began moving in that week. That, and my DAL, MDW, HOU, PHX, TPA and ECP trips through May, put my SWA Spirit Tour planning on hold, as well as my pursuit of an Employee role with Southwest Airlines. My friend, Wendy (name changed) helped a lot in getting my bunk bed, futon, book cases, dressers and ebay packages from Elk Grove to the McClellan Field area in North Highlands.
I started volunteering at the Aerospace Museum of California as well. It's fun hanging out with older men and hearing their A-1, B-17, C-53, and F-106 stories! I was assigned to be assistant crew chief with Gene on the T-33. My "boss" Dick, is a great troop leader! He likes to pick on me... :-)
Well, on Wednesday night, the 27th, after a walk to Rite Aid and Taco Bell, Wendy called me and told me our friend "Nancy" was in danger down in Bakersfield. She wanted to know if I would ride down there with her to get her and bring her back. I didn't have to think about it for even 10 seconds. With no job, I was free to take part in this road trip. In a half hour, I donned my Warrior Spirit wear and Wendy picked me up at my apartment. We were on our way!
While on the road for the four hour drive after dark, we learned that Nancy had foud a safe place to go for the night, so we stopped at Mcdonald's in Livingston, and I used Google Maps to go hotel hunting. After a passing on Best Western for $97 and Holiday Inn Express for $127, we settled on Day's Inn for $69. :-) Situated just south of downtown Fresno, it was across the street from In-N-Out Burger.
At 11:30pm, I left Wendy at the room and spent an hour soda sipping and people watching at In-N-Out. I saw my first gauged ear lobes since leaving Florida in May of 2008. Never saw a single one in Maryland or DC.
When I returned to the hotel room, I slept for two hours and couldn't sleep any more. I tweeted for a few hours and received a great job lead from my friend, Benet. We were back on the road at 9am. The part of the road trip during daylight hours was much better. I enjoyed seeing contrails in the SoCal sky.
Upon arriving at Nancy's sister's house, we helped her pack things into boxes. While some of my ideas were considered, others were disregarded and it bruised my pride. We worked hard and staged it all in the garage and then took a lunch break.
Nancy recommended Don Perico's. Couldn't find it on foursquare. I had the enchilada plate with rice and beans, no sour cream. Around 2 or 3pm, when the man with the trailer still hadn't shown, Wendy took off back to Sacramento. I had learned that Nancy wasn't going to drive her van to Sacramento, and then to Billings and may leave it for sister, I asked if she'd be willing to sell it to me after a successful test drive to Sacramento. An agreement was made and soon, Simon and his trailer arrived. I suggested to Simon that we could use the plywood on the floor as temporary walls on the short sides of the trailer. Soon, since I had packed boxes and knew what was in them, I was directing the loading of the trailer and Simon was supporting me, happy to just play supervisor. My Servant's Heart was on fire! I felt that my SWA gear may have given me a little extra credibility as a leader (chalk it up to active imagination.) In under two hours, I had the trailer loaded with the help of Shawn and Tim. Nancy and I hopped in her-soon-to-be-mine minivan and began the drive to Sacramento. We arrived at Wendy's house at 9pm and I went straight to bed. That was January 28.
In the morning, Nancy gave me a ride back to my apartment. Upon returning, I went immediately to the Aerospace Museum of California to check in with Dick. Gene, the T-33 Crew Chief was there and he invited me to join him in cleaning up the T-33 for Open Cockpit Day, Feb 6. I eagerly accepted the invitation! Using alittle bit of team work, we figured out how to open the gun bay on both sides and after half an hour of moving dust around, we determined that it would be better to pressure wash the entire plane.
One by one we used a tool to open the various panels on the T-33. We were looking for a means to open the windscreen over the cockpit. First we found fuel tank opening behind the cockpit while I stood on the wing. Then we found an indetermined space just aft of that. While standing on the wing, we discovered what appeared to be an opening for engine maintainence, or cooling. It opened simply with a little bit of pressure on the flap like door. On the other side of the airplane, (the starboard side), we found a panel for oil, a manual cockpit opening device, and an emergency one that consisted of a ripcord-like wire, that most certainly was a one time tool. Someone suggested that the ability to open the cockpit was taken away when the plane landed here and was decommissioned. That's quite a disappointing conclusion. What an unexpected exciting opportunity I had to get acquainted with the T-33!
I started volunteering at the Aerospace Museum of California as well. It's fun hanging out with older men and hearing their A-1, B-17, C-53, and F-106 stories! I was assigned to be assistant crew chief with Gene on the T-33. My "boss" Dick, is a great troop leader! He likes to pick on me... :-)
Well, on Wednesday night, the 27th, after a walk to Rite Aid and Taco Bell, Wendy called me and told me our friend "Nancy" was in danger down in Bakersfield. She wanted to know if I would ride down there with her to get her and bring her back. I didn't have to think about it for even 10 seconds. With no job, I was free to take part in this road trip. In a half hour, I donned my Warrior Spirit wear and Wendy picked me up at my apartment. We were on our way!
While on the road for the four hour drive after dark, we learned that Nancy had foud a safe place to go for the night, so we stopped at Mcdonald's in Livingston, and I used Google Maps to go hotel hunting. After a passing on Best Western for $97 and Holiday Inn Express for $127, we settled on Day's Inn for $69. :-) Situated just south of downtown Fresno, it was across the street from In-N-Out Burger.
At 11:30pm, I left Wendy at the room and spent an hour soda sipping and people watching at In-N-Out. I saw my first gauged ear lobes since leaving Florida in May of 2008. Never saw a single one in Maryland or DC.
When I returned to the hotel room, I slept for two hours and couldn't sleep any more. I tweeted for a few hours and received a great job lead from my friend, Benet. We were back on the road at 9am. The part of the road trip during daylight hours was much better. I enjoyed seeing contrails in the SoCal sky.
Upon arriving at Nancy's sister's house, we helped her pack things into boxes. While some of my ideas were considered, others were disregarded and it bruised my pride. We worked hard and staged it all in the garage and then took a lunch break.
Nancy recommended Don Perico's. Couldn't find it on foursquare. I had the enchilada plate with rice and beans, no sour cream. Around 2 or 3pm, when the man with the trailer still hadn't shown, Wendy took off back to Sacramento. I had learned that Nancy wasn't going to drive her van to Sacramento, and then to Billings and may leave it for sister, I asked if she'd be willing to sell it to me after a successful test drive to Sacramento. An agreement was made and soon, Simon and his trailer arrived. I suggested to Simon that we could use the plywood on the floor as temporary walls on the short sides of the trailer. Soon, since I had packed boxes and knew what was in them, I was directing the loading of the trailer and Simon was supporting me, happy to just play supervisor. My Servant's Heart was on fire! I felt that my SWA gear may have given me a little extra credibility as a leader (chalk it up to active imagination.) In under two hours, I had the trailer loaded with the help of Shawn and Tim. Nancy and I hopped in her-soon-to-be-mine minivan and began the drive to Sacramento. We arrived at Wendy's house at 9pm and I went straight to bed. That was January 28.
In the morning, Nancy gave me a ride back to my apartment. Upon returning, I went immediately to the Aerospace Museum of California to check in with Dick. Gene, the T-33 Crew Chief was there and he invited me to join him in cleaning up the T-33 for Open Cockpit Day, Feb 6. I eagerly accepted the invitation! Using alittle bit of team work, we figured out how to open the gun bay on both sides and after half an hour of moving dust around, we determined that it would be better to pressure wash the entire plane.
One by one we used a tool to open the various panels on the T-33. We were looking for a means to open the windscreen over the cockpit. First we found fuel tank opening behind the cockpit while I stood on the wing. Then we found an indetermined space just aft of that. While standing on the wing, we discovered what appeared to be an opening for engine maintainence, or cooling. It opened simply with a little bit of pressure on the flap like door. On the other side of the airplane, (the starboard side), we found a panel for oil, a manual cockpit opening device, and an emergency one that consisted of a ripcord-like wire, that most certainly was a one time tool. Someone suggested that the ability to open the cockpit was taken away when the plane landed here and was decommissioned. That's quite a disappointing conclusion. What an unexpected exciting opportunity I had to get acquainted with the T-33!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
