Hey guys, I thought that since Flying Giants has had so many great build threads on here, that maybe a full scale one might be in order. I have the honor and privilege of working on, and FLYING some pretty cool stuff, and I thought you might like to follow along as we restore a F-86 back to it's original glory (who am I kidding...it's gonna be way better than original!!).

A little background might be in order.

Up here in Montana, we just sort of do things our own way, despite what other's opinions are. Case in point. A very good friend of mine, a farmer, owns 6 fighter jets, all of them airworthy. They are: a CT-133 (Canuck version of the T-33), a Mark VI Sabre (Canuck version of the F-86), and 4 F-100F Super Sabres. Really. Currently we are flying the T-33 (I'm actually an authorized instructor on it) and are just finishing up our training in the F-86. The F-100's are next...just as soon as we each sell a kidney. At 1000 gals/hr of Jet-A, they are expensive toys!

Anyway, we are currently starting to refurbish the F-86, getting it ready for the airshow season. Here are some pics of it, the way it looks now:









And just for kicks, here are some pics of the T-bird (T-33) and the F-100's:





This one is me taking my dad for a ride on his birthday.



Big Sky Warbirds...

More to come...

"Up here in Montana, we just sort of do things our own way, despite what other's opinions are"

im moving to Montana...... yall have to much fun!! great projects to. good to see someones out there still working on the old fighters.
mike

Here's what we are doing. The paint is coming off the -86 as we speak, in fact, here some pics of it.



Right side wing and drop tank.



One happy stripper...



Left side wing and drop tank



Left wing tip. Notice the red? This plane was once slated to be used as a drone for target practice. I, for one, am glad she made it!



Top of the L. drop tank is almost done...I should have the whole thing finished tomorrow.



Left flap is done...the top is, anyway.



One of the gear doors...in a few weeks the whole ship will look like this.

Our plan right now is to get all the paint off and see what kind of condition the metal is in. If it's as good as all indications seem to be, the plane will be polished w/ a military scheme. It's gonna be...let's see, what's the FG term for it? Oh yeah...BAD ASS!!!

I want a flight!

I thought, while I'm sitting here, I might as well upload some T-33 pics.



Yours truly getting ready to take my checkride in the T-bird. That guy in back? A TRUE badass...Mr. Rick Millson, from Seattle WA. The youngest Blue Angel (then and since) ever, this is a guy that has truly Been There and Done That...and he has the T-shirt. Credentials? How's this...the FAA has given him blanket authorization to administer checkrides in ANY former military aircraft. That's saying something.



Yeah, they all have 'em, and yeah, they are all operational. I get a kick out of briefing fuel buyers, er...uh, passengers on how the ejection seat and the parachutes work. The look on their face is pretty priceless.



She's a little sick right now. Lost the fuselage fuel tank boost pump a couple of months ago...STILL waiting on parts to overhaul it!



The POS that gave out...and that we are having a heck of a time finding parts for. The American pump can be found in spades, but it's a single entry type. The Canuck version is a double entry pump, so that it can keep fuel going to the engine in a negative G maneuver.



Inside shot of the fuselage tank. A tank rat had to climb down in there to get the pump out.



The fun seat.



The almost-as-fun seat

Oh yeah, I promised some F-100 pics. Here you go:







The business end...where dollars turn into noise, and lots of it. All four of them have the F-102 2-stage afterburners on 'em, instead of the single stage -100 burner. More reliable.

I sooooo want a F-100 ride!

Holy smokes........

Originally Posted by sweetpea

I sooooo want a F-100 ride!

Bring your credit card(s)....

Awesome!

I'll let someone else pay for the ride.

I'd just like to add that airframe to those that I've flown in.

Dang! This is going to be sick! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Thats when sam was young and good looking.LOL LOL

wow!!!!! thanks for sharing with us
alan

WOW!! Great thread going here, Dangerboy!! I just moved up here to Helena, Montana 4 months ago from Northern Cali and love it! Maybe I'll have to take a little road trip to see your project in Bozeman (2 hour drive, I believe) if you don't mind!!

Dunny