Tell why was
this aircraft was selected for recovery
TWO MAJOR REASONS FOR RECOVERY:
A) THE LUTES AIRCRAFT PROVIDED A STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER
AN INTACT P47 FORWARD FUSELAGE SECTION THAT HAD ALL THE COCKPIT
FURNITURE AND ELECTRICAL/HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS INTACT. A TIME CAPSULE.
SO TO SPEAK.
REBUILDING A P47 RAZORBACK TO
CORRECT MANUFACTURERS AND MILITARY CONFIGURATION IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
ITS A VERY BIG JIG SAW PUZZLE AND THIS SHOULD GIVE US MOST OF THE
MISSING PIECES. WE WILL
NOW BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE RESTORATION OF OUR TWO THUNDERBOLTS
TO "DEAD STOCK" CONFIGURATION
UTILISING THE AIRCRAFT AS THE THREE DIMENSIONAL BLUE PRINT.
SEVERAL COMPONENTS, FOR EXAMPLE,
THE HYDRAULIC AND OIL TANKS ARE COMPLICATED PIECES THAT CANNOT
BE BUILT FROM AVAILABLE PLANS AND MANUALS. MY ENGINEERING STAFF
HAD REQUESTED ACTUAL SAMPLES BE SUPPLIED PRIOR TO MANUFACTURING
NEW UNITS. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO DISMANTLE
THE AIRCRAFT FOR DIRECT PARTS USAGE. IT WILL BE LEFT INTACT AND
USED AS A PATTERNS/REFERENCE SOURCE
PLEASE NOTE; THIS INFORMATION
IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. MANUALS AND DRAWINGS
DONT GIVE EVERYTHING REQUIRED AND MOST OF THE SURVIVORS HAVE BEEN
SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERED OR MODIFIED POST WAR.
B) THE ADDITTIONAL CONCERN WAS
THAT THE WRECK WAS IN DANGER OF SLIDING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN. I FIRST
BECAME AWARE OF THE WRECK IN 1992 AND WAS STUNNED BY THE PHOTOS
SHOWN TO ME BY RICHARD
LEAHY AT HIS HOUSE IN 1996.
RICHARD HAD ADVISED AT THE TIME
THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD DISAPEARED IN A LANDSLIDE AND THIS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY
CONFIRMED IN THE PRESS. IN 2003 A FRIEND OF MINE WAS TRAVELLING
THROUGH THE AREA IN A HELICOPTER.
USING RICHARDS GPS COORDINATES
HE DECIDED TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE SALVAGED FROM THE PERCIEVED
MESS FOR OUR RESTORATION IN SYDNEY. IMAGINE OUR SUPRISE WHEN IT
WAS FOUND TO BE STILL INTACT. I WONT DWELL ON THE REASONS WHY RICHARD
PROMOTED THE LANDSLIDE STORY.
FOLLOWING OUR FIRST LANDING AT
THE SITE, IT BECAME QUICKLY APPARENT THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN DANGER
OF HEADING DOWN THE 70 DEGREE PLUS SLOPE FOR A DISTANCE OF SOME
2000 FEET.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS
THERE WAS NO SUPPORT UNDER THE FUSELAGE, THE ONLY CONTACT POINTS
WITH THE EARTH BEING UNDER THE ENGINE AND THE RH WING STUB. THE
WRECK VISIBLY MOVED WHEN I CLIMBED UP THE PORT SIDE TO TAKE PHOTOS
OF THE COCKPIT. COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ASSOCIATED
WITH A LAE BASED BUSINESS AND A MAJOR U.S. RESTORATION SHOP HAD
MADE IT KNOWN THAT THEY WERE GOING UP THERE TO BRING IT OUT IN
PIECES AS THE PARTS WERE WANTED. |