Douglas A-26B Invader - Part 1 - Project Visit - January 2023
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- Опубликовано: 19 апр 2023
- OK, Gang, here’s Part 1 of 4 of my recent trip out to Chino, California, to check on the progress of the Douglas A-26B Invader!
I realize there might be a few sound and lighting issues somebody will love to point out to me, but realize these are one-take, unscripted, in-the-moment, you’re tagging along with Kermit videos, so please accept them for what they are. Or, please, find some other perceived far-from-it billionaire currently floating on mortgage payments trying to fulfill a dream to help inspire people self-discover their own potential that does this for free!
This one has a lot of fun stuff added, so I’m not sure how the next three will turn out, which we haven’t even started. Enjoy!
Kermit Weeks
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And then you mention John Crocker, another vivid Madera memory. In '84 I rode with Tiger Destefani in his (pre-Strega) stock P-51 "Mangia Pane". We did a mock air race during the airshow with Dreadnought and John Crocker's modified Mustang "Sumthin Else". And of course Mike O'Leary was always the photographer during every magazine photo I was in; I have photos of him taking those photos! Pretty sure he was in the tail of the Pacific Princess when he took that 25th Anniversary Issue cover photo of the P-40. Thanks again for bringing back a lot of great memories.
As a former Air Force Academy Cadet ( Santiago de Chile , 1971 - 74 ) , we just fell in Love with this Beast !
They were painted Black , like the ones in the Korean War .
Most of them with " solid " noses ...
Thank You once again, Kermit for a very entertaining video. Back in the late 60's early 70's I lived in Monrovia, about 30 miles NW of Chino. Me and my buddy Tony thought nothing of riding our bikes down to Chino. There were no gates or security then. There was a row of Warbirds waiting restoration just south of the buildings where they filmed the 12 O Clock High TV Series. There was a fenced area with 3-4 B-25's they used in the Movie Catch 22 and I remember a Delta Dart and other Military Jets. I remember a Hanger toward the East End where Mr. Penhal had an F-86 and a T-33. Everybody was very friendly back then and thought nothing of a couple of Teenagers walking around and checking things out. I remember the Miss America P-51 Mustang was in one of the Hangers and we watched them working on a Rolls Royce Merlin valve train one time. I miss those days of freedom and adventure. Especially for a teenager back in that time. Thanks for all you do to keep the memories alive, Kermit.
Thanks for sharing.
Getting into the weeds on a A26. Love it. When it comes to warbirds there is never enough info that is too much. Thank's Kerm.
Thanks for another great video.
It was interesting and enjoyable.
Thanks for the tour of the A-26. Most interesting.
I greatly enjoyed it. Most interesting. Thanks so much Kermit.
Anxious to see you flying it.
Wonderful.
Thanks again.
Retired Air Force veteran.
You landed at KCMA Camarillo, Took my kids 30yrs ago to the Ocean ALOT in Ventura. Looks like you were giving the beach goers quite a show at Ventura. Appreciate you came back a minute ago 9-22 23 4:30 5700 ele 243mph about 2000 ft right over my roof. About broke the door this time as I had about 10 seconds from the time I heard you. Headed back to Chino KCNO. Those twin Radials are like a couple HELLCATS racing by. I see squadrons of WW2 fighters fly over at least once a month. Thanks again for the show.
Any A-26 content is an automatic like from me ✔️
Kermit has got the best job in the world. Hands down.
Tucker is really a great authority on this plane! Would make a great copilot for Kermit's first flight..
He answered EVERY question kermit tossed at him... Really impressive...
Agreed!
Nice A-26! The dessicant should be BLUE. It turns pink when it's spent. If that dessicant is Drierite, it's toast. If, on the other hand, it's silica gel, it can be regenerated. It can be regenerated by heating at 105 degrees C for a couple hours. Put it in a Pyrex tray and heat it in an oven. We didn't have microwaves when I learned about this stuff. Fox Alpha on the Morse!
Cool about the princess wife. In the A-6 Intruder of Life, I am the pilot and my wife is the Bomb/Nav. She punches in the coordinates and I make it go there, hot, low and fast.
I love thee extra details about these planes. I never knew A26s had 37mm and or 75mm cannons installed. I never knew about the air disrupters either. Those are the little things you’ll never see at an airshow or museum and know they’re there.
Man,Aero Trader did a magnificent job restoring her. Looks like a new plane,especially inside!
As alwas, Thanks Regards...., Norway
My father and I worked as aircraft engineers for a company called ConAir out of Abbotsford BC in the mid 70's, they were primarily a water bombing company with a few DC 6 for heavy transport. The fleet for water bombing were several A 26's, TBF Avengers, two DC 3 and a DC 4... We would service the A 26 and go out with a pilot of a check out flight, such impressive aircraft, incredibly quick. The Avengers were just the opposite.. my father's best mate was a pilot in one that had a engine failure 200 feet off the deck and took outa large section of a raspberry field... They were retired shortly after.
The A 26 were eventually replaced by Gruman Trackers.
I was out at Chino several times around 1978, and hung out there, I think it was "Planes of Fame" or something had a hangar there. There was a ME 262, a few mustangs, a B 17, and I believe a Kawasaki Ki-100 getting restored.. There were others but I cant remember all of them... But the F4U that were in that television series, three of them were parked out there, the guy said the aerial footage was shot in and around Chino...
Place has certainly changed heaps since then..!
God bless all who work and pay to preserve these gems. My grandad flew in a lanc. AG, tail. 170 sq. Very knowledgeable young man too.
Thank you very much. The same to you.
Today is September 22 2023 and you just flew your B26 over my house..San Bernadino, Los Angeles county line in Pinon Hills Ca. about 11:30 pst at 8300 ft ele and 249mph. EVERYTHING flys over this path. I heard you coming for 2 minutes and ran outside. Said to myself, its not a B25 twin tail, its GOTTA be a B-26. Went to flight aware and there was no 10 minute delay. My dad was on Tinian Island. Navigator on B-29's. I bought one of the last 2 B-29 models, signed by Paul Tibbets with documentation and a picture of him signing it. You are an inspiration to us Pilots and WW2 enthusiats. Thanks so much Kermit from Keith
N39401
Awesome plane - loved the views behind the pilot's seat showing all the pipes & tubes. These aircraft were built to kill.
Awesome thanks for the look around.....Waiting on the next part 2 video.....Thanks again Kermit....
Shoe🇺🇸
I remember 25 - 30 years ago, Scandinavian Historic Flight found a bad crack in their A-26's main spar - right after we had seen it perform in Roskilde.
No small surprises in this one, I hope!
This is the one I’ve been waiting for…. Since childhood my all time favorite…?outside the B-17. I was 13 and watched one run up at tge PDX flight line… those radials Se the hook and pulled me in.
Thank you Mr. Weeks, for all you do keeping this history alive.
Beautiful restoration, the skin is absolutely pristine and dent free. Great job Aero Trader ! 😊
A friend of mine in high school, his dad was air crew on A-26's in Korea. He talked about hitting locomotives with the guns at night. He said they would just glow from being hit by so many rounds.
When I heard "Bruce" I knew immediately it had to be Bruce Guberman! He was the pilot of the Seneca camera plane during the Madera 1986 photo sortie when I was riding with Fred Sebby in Tiger's P-40. That ended up on the January '87 cover of Air Classics; we were in formation with the cover subject Skyraider, lingering in the background behind its prop. After the photos were taken Bruce decided to have fun with Fred and got on the P-40's six. Next thing, we're dancing all over the sky with me hanging onto my Minolta for dear life as Fred jinked around to get on the Seneca's tail and yell "TAKATAKATAKATAKA!" machine gun noises on the radio. I still have the photos as well as cassette audio of that flight.
Though I am not exactly that much into multi-engined aircraft, this is an excellent project for sure. She is looking absolutely gorgeous, a wonderful airplane Nicely done by Aero Trader. Can‘t wait for the other 3 parts.
Beautiful aircraft.
"cow pastures" ahhhh the rural ambiance money cant buy!
Loved watching the progress videos over the year….definitely be an award winner at Oshkosh
Worked on these as water bombers, about 40 years back. Nice to see a few were preserved.
Very nice to see her on the ramp. Love the Nose Art and the originality. Thanks for the update, Mr. Kermit............🙃Can't hardly wait to see her in Oshkosh
Aero Trader have done a fantastic job!!! She is looking great!!
what a fantastic amount of knowledge Mr. Yamada has! so cool for Kermit and he to keep this beauty back in the air!
That Tucker Yamada is a veritable walking encyclopedia of A 26 knowledge! EXTREMELY impressive! The A 26 itself is absolutely beautiful! Everyone involved with this project should feel justly proud of themselves, it is a wonderful restoration.
So much to know sitting in the pilots seat! They are doing a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing
Amazing footage - keep er flying!
What a wonderful restoration! I am also really amazed at how complex the cockpit controls are. Bravo to pilots and restorers alike!
I used to visit this aircraft back in the early '70s when it sat derelict at the Van Nuys Airport. This is when it was in its original finery. It was named "Whistler's Mother". It sat in a small field about 100 yards or so from where Challenge Publications kept its B-25 "Executive Sweet". Thankfully I took a couple of photos of it at the time which I still have.
Amazing insight into this piece of kinetic art and wartime history.
AWESOME! been waiting on this update for a while! great video! Thanks Kermit!
I grew up in rural Buena Park, California and it was next to the Valley View Dairy. The smell of cow manure was normal to me. My later trips to Chino Airport spanned from the 1050’s to the 2000’s. I loved watching the old WWII fighters and B-25 Mitchels be worked on and flown in a pungent aroma. Ah, memories!
Beautiful beautiful aircraft!!!!!
Beautiful plane! I love your videos and how informative they are. Looking forward to part 2.
There was an A-26 at KIPT if fire season back in the early 1990s. I was asked to have a look at the avionics but we didn't have an avionics shop. I twisted myself up in the nose and could not do anything for the guy. He said they have to work so the plane is available for a mission, or they didn't get paid for the day to sit and wait for a call.
This is Astonishing. I never thought I would see this plane operational. Congratulations to Kermit and the entire team at Aero Trader. This is an example of true love of airplanes, wonderful perseverance and technical skill.
1966...Hickam AFB Hawaii. Temp duty working on C-124 aircraft. Got to see one of these headed for Vietnam. The " business" located in the nose was impressive. Watched the engine start up and taxi and saw it lift off for Southeast Asia.
Thank you Kermit for another great video.
My Grandfather PFC Gabriel E. Maldonado (was a SGT but punched his LT) was in the 640th BS. He was the Gunner. Shot down over France and returned to friendlys. If it were not for those French people I would not be here now.
Douglas CEO - “ So General, how many fifty cals do you want on your new A-26 ? “
AAF General - “ How many you got ? “
shes looking absolutely beautiful! so immaculate! i think its so cool you using your wife for the nose art. what could be more romantic than painting your wifes picture on your bomber!!!
26:17 That was funny in fact both of those things Kermit just said is all I recall from morse training all those years ago. … …. .. _ haha
Kermit’s thinking “I keep sending checks and this is the workmanship I get!” Lol. Sorry man. Overall it’s great, looking forward to seeing it fly!
Wow Kermit! That is 1 sweet ship! I noticed it is original single stick controls! Had the chance 2 fly A26C back in the early 90’s! I was smitten! Was original single stick! ❤ My favorite bird of all WWII aircraft! I don’t even wanna imagine what it cost 2 get her in her present state! But in my opinion, it was $ well spent! My favorite ship of ur entire collection! ❤️👍
Certainly one great looking bird! Wish it would have been bare metal, but I understand how it would have been difficult with the dents and dings. I look forward to seeing more pictures of it flying. Also, any idea where you will put it at FOF? Seems that your hangers are getting mighty full!
It's a mammoth and very complex task and a tribute to the restoration team . And where the aerodynamic fillets meet the various joins from wing, tailplane , rudders etc , give the aircraft such elegance .
Hey Kermit as an avid visitor to Fantasy of Flight, love your video.
North American touted Pilot Load Alleviation in the P-51, NOT the case here. Sheesh!
This country produced some very mature 21 year olds to fly this back in ‘44.
I remember back in the good old mid 90s taking a 'Vader up with a pair of gunners and dumping about 2/3 of the nose gun ammo and the bombs to lighten it up then ripping into the furballs wrecking fighters left and right while playing the Air Warrior online flight sim. Such a fun game, such a fun time.
Ahhah... Aces High a26 is a beast!! Love that thing..dam fast
Man the good day's, AH was great until changed everything.
@@CoppaShotta I think it was the A20 that they had.
@@ericwilson8144 they had the a20 havoc as well.. Invader was definitely there.
ForeFlight is the best, paired with an Appereo ADS-B receiver it provides more info than you will ever need!
I love these videos
I ❤ only Allah and my rich family.
Wow the "widowmaker" great video. Hard to learn but great when mastered.
What an awesome warbird. And I love the nose art. Really cool Kermit can wait to see the completely finished product.
You turned around about Fresno and I was looking forward to see you again but now you are almost to KSBA and looks like you will go over the LA Basin. Well, thanks for the flyby that I got to enjoy
Thanks for sharing 👍
I’m looking forward to you taking her home Sir Kermit. Don’t forget your Kermi cam.
thanks so much, Kermit. these are the best videos for warbird enthusiasts i've seen!
Ahhhh that Chino smell 😵💫
I've been waiting for this video once I saw the Connie
Great restoration Kermit , she is a babe..
That plane has got to be a handful even for you.
Saw it in person yesterday, fantastic restoration.
Better hurry if you're gonna race at Reno, this is the last year!
Great story. No apologies needed. Wow!
Desiccant has trunk pink from drawing moisture.
Wow this is never ending. The aircraft restoration industry is strange. These planes are never 100% complete. On a 30 year resto project. Things that where restored at the beggining of the project need touched up or redone towards the end of the project. I love these projects that kermit does and ive been to his place in Florida. .ot to be morbid but i wonder who gakes kver these projects when kermits gone. He has planes all over the world that wont be finished in my lifetime.
Cool!!!
It would be good to see one of these planes in it's Korea as-flyed trim. I think as people's knowledge of that conflict increases, so will their appreciation.
Get a haircut Kermit, the times have changed, silver short back and sides = awesome.
Still respect your talent and knowledge.
❤
This one nearly got canceled from production because it was so hot new pilots were getting killed trying to learn how to fly it. Once it was mastered it had a great record and the users loved it. I believe it had a fantastic record by the end of hostilities.
Hey, Kermit,
Back in the mid-90s there was an A-26 that flew into the Cuyahoga County Airport in Ohio for an airshow and it sat there for years... something to do with a bad engine or something. The yellow on the rudder and fuselage codes look like the ones that I remember. Is this the same airplane??
Damn! It looks SO cramped...can a 6 feet person fit comfortable?
EDIT 32:09 AHA!...mayhaps you can fit & crawl...but :-D
last time I rode in a A-26 was with Mark C at Courtesy Air raft back in the very early 1990's and we developed a very bad hydraulic leak over the 4th of July parade in Rockford, IL.
My favorite ww2 twin...beast!!
Really?
Yes, the best performing twin engine from ww2
@@CoppaShotta BUT! I like the A-20 more (if 'murican) 😞
There's desiccant canisters in the double-canopy of the MiG-15 too. I assume to keep condensation out of the air gap. (Does anyone know why they thought they needed an air gap? Modern jets have solid canopy "glass".)
Kermit, I assume you have read the new bio of Pappy Gun. I knew about 8 gun conversions somewhat. I don't think I knew, or at least not much about Papy Gun. I THOUGHT I knew just about everything worth knowing about the Philippines theater of WW2. I was fooling myself. I know this after reading the Papy Gun bio "Indestructible"
A real eye opener for me. I may be wrong Kermit, but I can't imagine that you have not read "Indestructible"
I'm writing this mainly hoping a few of your fans are not aware oh the Papy Gun bio "Indestructible" will pick it up and get re educated.
I did.
Awesome plane.
Is there any backup/safety for walking through the bomb bay, or do you just hope the hydraulic pressure doesn't drop while you're doing it?
Isn’t there a part 61 recurrence ride required to exercise the type rating? Every 12 months?
Convair VC-131D
Thats a neat complexaircraft
Planes of fame museum anyone?🤔
Jman
What is there not to like about 18 50 Cals?
Alot if you're an armorer.
@@dalecomer5951 funny
Is that the Louisiana Air National Guard A-26???
This is one of the neatest planes ,I'd give my wisdom teethes to ride in this.
Hi Kermit, did you ever here of a man named Ernie Buehl?
He was a friend of the family and taught my uncle Newt Williams how to fly in the 1920s
Ernest H. Buehl, was a German-born aviator and aviation figure.
He opened three airports, opened new flying routes, worked as a mechanic, operated a flying school and trained hundreds of pilots, including C. Alfred Anderson, who became the lead trainer of the Tuskegee Airmen. Buehl had older brothers who influenced his early interest in aviation, including Fritz, who was also interested in aviation. Rapporteur and Bayerische Motoren Werke
Early in his career, Buehl worked at Bayerische Motoren Werke as an aviation mechanic.
He left employment at Bayerische Motoren Werke in 1920, when he immigrated to the United States.
While at Bayerische Motoren Werke, Buehl was employed in manufacturing aircraft engines. While there, Buehl was a mechanic responsible for preparing Franz Zeno Diemer"s Bayerische Motoren Werke IV engine for his unofficial world record flight into the stratosphere on June 17, 1919.
Buehl came to the United States in 1920, to work with John M. Larsen, who was marketing the Bayerische Motoren Werke-powered Junkers F13:
1920, as co-pilot to Bert Acosta, opened the first transcontinental airmail route
1921, opened air routes to Canadian oil fields
1922, prepared aircraft for Roald Amundsen, for an attempt to fly over the North Pole
Buehl began to work for Brock & Weymouth, doing aerial map survey work, in 1923. During the period he worked for them, in 1926 he obtained his first official pilot’s license that was signed by Orville Wright.
Also, he had time to develop his own side business: Flying Dutchman Air Service and flying school, in 1927. As “,” Buehl worked to promote general aviation:
1928, opened his first airport, at Somerton
1930, began to work with C. Alfred Anderson, to help Anderson prepare for the Air Transport license. In 1932 he forcefully interceded when the flight inspector stated he would not examine Anderson
during World World War II, Buehl trained Navy cadets at Franklin & Marshall College, leading a team of 23 instructors plus he trained the Tuskegee airmen.
1949, opened his second airport, at Eddington, in 1949
1960, opened his third airport, at Langhorne
Buehl died on 25 May 1990.
Why were these designed to enter the cockpit through the top?
I've wondered about this too. Douglas did the same thing with more modern aircraft such as the F3D Skyknight and the A-3 Skywarrior. For a big carrier based aircraft like the A-3, with a potentially wet and pitching deck, this seems like it would be easy to slip and fall from the top of the fuselage to the deck.
Tucker looks a little over it
Have you ever seen a fokker t5 by chance?
Just visited Fof F, 1 hangar about $10 and it was disappointing, sorry to say, hopefully act III will be great.
I enjoyed it on my visit.... Maybe back to New York for YOU>>>> Buh by
I rest my case. The aviation enthusiast will never pay my light bill!
Thats an amazing work done. But i will never understand why almost everyone paints fake schrmes in ww2 aircraft. I couldnt believe if both me and my aircraft survived ww2 and a guy 80 yeats later decides to paint a different aircraft scheme because it looks cooler or simply to honour his wife (with all the respect for her). I think that keeping the original paint that the aircraft used during their service should be a prioroty if not a law that makes any aircraft painted with fake schemes unable to be considered "historical"
Dude.. wtf is up with the creeper hair ?
Can you make mustache grooming videos for young men?