PV-2 Comes Back to Life!
From the Beginning
We recently took on the challenge of resurrecting an old air tanker that had been sitting since 1994. The land she was sitting on was sold and if this old warbird/air tanker wasn't moved soon she would be cut up and scrapped. I went to take a look at the Harpoon and as ugly as she was she still looked beautiful to me, and to the guys that work for me here at Vintage Aircraft.
Here is what we saw when we flew in to check out this old tanker:
She had sunk into the ground so far that she was resting on her belly tank. Amazingly enough the tires held air and rolled her out of the rut she was in. As you can see she was buried deeper than her axels. The ground squirrels had undermined the wheels and this helped the old gal sink further into her depression.
Thanks to a remote location at the Johnson Ranch she was pretty much unmolested by humans for the last 16 years. She even had her original WWII Navy 8 day clock still in the updated instrument panel. The clock is usually the first thing to disappear. Even though she was essentially untouched by humans, she was a home to a variety of other creatures. The oil coolers were a high rise condo to countless leaf rollers. Leaf rollers are a flying insect that used parts of leaves to build their nests in small openings. The opening of choice here was the small tubes that make up the oil coolers.
There was also a family of ground squirrels living in the right wing. It took a while to get them all out and we are still removing what they left behind. The environment where the harpoon called home was mostly warm and dry so even though there was surface rust on the steel fasteners there was little corrosion.
We flew up in the Twin Beech to work on the Harpoon which was about 84 miles, as the Beech flies, each way. The Twin Beech was great for this job as a sky truck hauling all of us and our tools, parts, fuel and oil. We made about a dozen trips in the Beech and only one in the van/trailer hauling the big wing jacks for the gear swing. Another reason the Twin Beech is a great, versatile aircraft that's pretty darn handy and useful to have around.
Day one was spent on opening up the engines and checking to see what kind of condition they were in. The oil screens were clean except for a little carbon. So far so good. the left fuel system was in decent shape and the boost pump came alive and pumped the new fuel into the left carb to start the soaking of the diaphragms and seals. Later that day we were able to start the left engine. She didn't fight us much at all. Here is a YouTube video of that first engine start. Check out Ricky as he seems to be startled by the engine firing up! Too funny.
We needed a boost pump for the right fuel tank as water in the tank had rusted the pump beyond repair. We replaced that pump and were able to run the right engine on day two. So far so good. Take a look at the bare aluminum fuel tubing and the hoses and clamps that were also inside the fuel tank. They are in excellent condition as was most of the rest of the aircraft.
Both engines ran okay but the right didn't like going much above 1600 RPM. Both of the carbs were overhauled just before the Harpoon was flown to California in 1994 so overhauling the carbs was likely going to be mandatory and the corrosion found in the right carb screen made the decision pretty easy. Off to Aero Accessories they went. The fresh overhauled carbs sure looked pretty especially next to the crusty looking engines.
New wheels, brakes, tires and tubes were found and built up. They also looked awesome and worked even better. There were a few weeping seals on various hydraulic components but for the most part the system was tight and help pressure. The flaps worked flawlessly and silently which is a great contrast to our PV-1 Super Ventura project.
With the new carbs, wheels and brakes it was time to drive her around and that was a lot of fun. She sure kicked up some dust. One of our runs was done with the leading edges between the fuselage and engines removed. While scooting down the runway at a good clip all of the crap that was kicked up by the props went wight in the open leading edges which ported right under the pilot and copilots seat. While pulling 42 inches down the runway I was smiling from ear to ear and spitting dirt and crud out of my mouth at the same time. Time to get the shop vac out once again!
The power runs were great although we found a lot of carbon in the right oil screen. We dumped the oil and installed an oil filter to catch any more carbon that might be swimming around which worked as the screen was clean the next time we checked it.
After prepping the rest of the airframe it was about time to fly the beast. I had been working with our local FSDO (FAA Flight Standards District Office) about getting a Letter of Authorization (LOA) so I could fly the PV-2 myself. Since it is over 12,500 pounds gross weight (33,000 actually) it requires a type rating which I don't have. There is a regulation in the FAR's that allows for an LOA in lieu of a type rating for ferry, maintenance and flight training for those who can demonstrate collateral experience that would allow for the safe operation of the aircraft. I have a type rating in a B-25 only with limited time in the DC-3, B-17, B-24 and some PV-2D time 20+ years ago in my friend Doug Lacy's Harpoon. I think the 3500 hours in the Twin Beech is what helped the most. After the Beech the Harpoon feels like a heavy, slower responding version of about the same aircraft. I am looking forward to getting to know the Haproon a lot better.
My local FSDO tossed my request around for two weeks and then decided that I should talk to Sacramento FSDO as the aircraft was in their district. The SAC folks were very nice and were familiar with our shop and work and were very helpful and issued the LOA and a ferry permit. With the paperwork all in order it was time to get her back in the air.
Here is a few shots showing the dirt runway and the trees down each side especially the right.
The hill up ahead and the fact that there are a lot of houses just off the end of the runway necessitated a pretty good right turn just after the last tree on the right. Here we are on the take off roll. Jim Dunn took this shot and the other air to air and air to ground shots except for the ones Roger Cain took with his credit line on the image.
Thanks guys for the cool photos, as usual. Here is the right turn after the end of the runway. You can see the smoke from the left engine which cleared up shortly after takeoff. Enjoy some awesome photos taken by Roger and Jim from the Beech on the way to Stockton, CA.
Here is a link to a YouTube Video of the first flight of 062 since 1994. I had some cameras mounted on the airframe which gave some interesting views. The video is a two part, long winded video but has some good shots, and here is part two.
I am so proud of my crew at Vintage Aircraft. They are wonderful and this is just the latest example of what they can do. I think there isn't anything they can't do once we commit to it. Well done guys! I also want to thank Cliff Everts and Marty Hall for their generosity and help in saving this great old Harpoon.
To see the next chapter in her adventure where we start restoring her to her old WWII configuration, click here.