Quick test video from footage shot on the move between Camarillo and Long Beach. Enjoy…no music, just the Merlin.

Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwwrL0cNQyk&feature=youtu.be

When I joined Collings in 2003 the A-36 was in the jig as 4 longerons and had a twisted horizontal…it was a monumental ground up restoration. The photo below was from 2005 after 2 years of steady work. There were no parts firewall forward, or from the tail production break aft.

As far as the Bee is concerned it has always been around despite a lack of documentation, I read the same book as a kid. There are many airframes that exist without “our” knowledge…or “expert” knowledge.

I’m not sure about its early history but it was owned by Sid Smith in the 60’s and 70’s. It was purchased, along with a P-51C by John Paul during the late 70’s (somewhere in that time frame) from Jack Hardwick. The Collings Foundation aquired the airframe in the 80’s without a wing or cowlings. The restoration has been ongoing for around 10 years. It’s serial #42-83738, the wing was built up at Teeters shop and the rest was built up by American Aero in New Smyrna Beach. The airframe was fitted with a D model belly scoop at some point…in all it was a monumental project.

Jim

I’ve been doing the “bomber camp” for 4 years. When the bombs leave the airplane there is no change in altitude and no change in trim. However…when they fire the .50’s in the waiste gun positions the airplane “kicks” against the recoil…not to mention the noise is awesome, I can’t imagine all 10 guns lighting off together. The gopro attached to the bomb fin survived impact but the SD card was corrupted. We have to have the info extracted. The GoPro cameras have opened a new world of photography for us…stay tuned for the video…including raw engine sounds versus crappy music.

jim

ps…our flight engineer was sitting on the flight deck side of the bombay with his foot on the keel…he was safely inside the aircraft.