Douglas A-26B Invader - Part 2 - Project Visit - January 2023
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- OK, Gang, here’s Part 2 of 4 of my recent trip to Chino, California, to check on the Douglas A-26B Invader. At this point, it had only done the one short test flight where the canopies both opened soon after takeoff.
I had not sat in this airplane in over 30 years, so bear with me as I try to re-figure everything out with Tucker and do an engine run-up!
Kermit Weeks
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Thank you as always Mr. Weeks for bringing us along with you, and thank you Tucker for the awesome explanations!
Kermit you are one of the coolest guys in internet. When other channels are fixing copart cars you are rebuilding warbirs.
Too cool. Thanks for keeping this great aviation history alive.
Kermit’s so laid back and cool about all this and Tucker really knows his stuff too. Great video.
I've seen several of your videos sir; they are tremendous. You are an incredible pilot Mr. Weeks. Thanks for sharing this absolute gem with us.
i've always been fascinated by the complexity of these old engines and your video's have answered many of my questions. Dad had a Stearman when I was a kid but never got the chance to pick his mind. Thank you, Mr. Weeks.
The A-26 is such a good looking bird. Now I want to go home and watch Always again! That young man sitting next to you is impressive with all the knowledge he holds about that aircraft and it's systems. Thanks for sharing!
Always is my favourite movie! A-26´s and Holly Hunter!
Wow!!! She is sounding great!!! Well done to all involved in getting her back in the air!! Love the nose art Kermit!
I have no idea about other multi- engined WWII aircraft, but ist seems to be quite a workload for single pilot operation. Great video, perfectly showing how much needs to be done manually before you actually get ready to go. 👍
Really impressed with Tucker, Kermit you have some reading to do! Great vlog, loving the journey.
That is just an awsome tutorial right there! Thanks for taking us along!
Hope to be able to use the directions one day, when msfs2020 brings out an A-26... as i'm not willing to risk the real one :) Great Video, keep 'm coming!
Learning how to start an A-26 is way way freakin cool. Thanks for showing us this series of videos.
Thank you, it's been 30 years since I did that but it was in a much less challenging aircraft an O2B, what a rewarding feeling it must be for you. Sitting in my chair at home I could almost feel the movement and smell the fumes, thanks for that.
Great Video Mr. Kermit! Thanks for taking us along......:-)
Radial engines are amazing. They always seem to be running on the ragged edge of performance versus safety. The sound they emit is pure joy. The difference with our modern car engines with their EFI and computer controls continue to amaze. They remind me of the 'golden age of steam power' in that they are from a different era. They were definitely the peak of engineering and mechanical technologies of their time. Thanks Kermit for preserving this. If you ever want to play in a level D simulator, talk to me.
Honestly, the part of this that makes me happiest is seeing a younger generation like Tucker with the knowledge and skills and the passion to rebuild these classic warbirds and keep them flying.
Tucker sure knows the A-26! Very interesting video, Kermit. Thanks for posting!
Thanks once again Kermit.....
Shoe🇺🇸
Imagine if you had to go through all these steps to drive your car.
Wot with the wife and kids
The Bro from Aero Trader is a walking mine of knowledge, so interesting.
WOW, A very complex airplane and a busy cockpit for a single pilot.
The external access to the cockpit was obviously designed for young men.
Nice to hear that A-26 roar to life!
I had no idea that's how one got into an A-26.
@@silentotto5099 That's one way to get into the cockpit. The other way is up through the forward part of the bomb bay. The plexiglass nosed A-26C also had a hatch in the floor of the nose, providing a third way into the cockpit.
@@stansdds Was the top hatch intended as more of an escape hatch in case of emergency?
@@silentotto5099 No, I think it was intended to be an entrance, but it is definitely the exit if there was an emergency.
@@stansdds I see. Thanks.
U da man Kermit! Thanks for sharing this and all your videos. Priceless
It's a bitch getting old ! LOL !!!! Beautiful machine !!
Mr Weeks - thank you for taking us along on tis adventure!!!!It's so much fun discovering the outright complexity of these war machines with you. I never knew there was such a simple 75 step process to starting the engines on a bomber!!!!!! How did they have any mental resources left to actually fight?????
Thats one beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing Mr. Weeks. Your toys are WAY cooler the mine.
Wow!!! Listening to the run up... those engines purr like an Evinrude!!!😂😅
Fantastic video much like all the rest. Thanks for doing these videos. The climb into the cockpit looked interesting. I climbed into a fire bomber in Spain last here and getting into the PT-6 powered Air Tractor looks similar in difficulty. Well done Mr. Weeks! Thanks again for sharing these videos with us.
Wow, electric motors for everything!
I didn't realize the A-26 had so much "high tech" just to get the engines started!
Thanks Kermit for sharing another of your treasures. Engines run amazingly clean. Kudos to all who prepared her so beautifully--and to Tucker for 'conducting.'
You know how movies portray fighters as ready to scramble at a moment's notice when the enemy is coming in to strafe/bomb the airfield? Unless this bird has an emergency procedure that bypasses the usual warmups, looks like the first move is to head for the bunker! Also, what do you suppose that warmup session cost in terms of fuel; bet it is impressive.
Amazing sound of those engines its a wonderful airvraft I look forward you flying that plane
At 67 years old myself I think I"ll stick to my old van that normally starts after turning its key or a pair of boots and hiking stick. I am sure once you become familiar with the machine it takes on being easy peasy, but I am happy to be too old to want to learn new tricks.
That's a lot of switchology. My dad was a gunner in the B-26 in Korea.
Tucker sure knows his stuff. Would love to hear him explain on more aircraft 🤙
Thanks for another great video. It was interesting and enjoyable.
Most interesting watching getting the engines going and getting used to the dials and everything. Lot to take in and get used to. When those canopy’s came open I bet that was an eye opener-wow.
I found it interesting the sequence of all of the operation. Lot to remember. But like anything you quickly adapt to it. Those engines sound wonderful!!! Know you are anxious to take it to the air. Most interesting. Tomorrow’s run Thur should even be better as getting familiar with things.
Love this aircraft.
Nice nice machine Kermit.
The young fellow helping you is really sharp on this aircraft and it’s operation. He is right on top of it. Fine flyer and maintenance wise.
Thanks Kermit for taking us along. I found this extremely interesting.
Take care and be safe.
Thanks for everything.
Retired Air Force veteran.
If I was an older guy learning to fly and manage this aircraft, I’d ask Tucker to accompany me. He clearly knows what’s what.
I can't imagine getting loaded into this thing at night and flying into a war. What a time.
I'm only 66, but when I grow up I wanna be Kermit Weeks.
Kermit. Thanks for posting this. Letting us watch as you learn a new type shows confidence and humility. Much appreciated.
Such a bad ass aircraft...fearsome and cool at the same time...
Pretty d**n cool. You have fun-filled days man!
There is just something about the sound of a round engine at start up!
Beautiful! Cant wait for the flight videos!
70+ ,you are mr aviation ,thanks for your dedication .
What a beautiful aircraft. Thanks for the video.
De-fan-ate-ly a Kermit Weeks Present.
First things first...the restoration is stunning.
Video like this one, laying out the systems and procedures is an invaluable resource for developers like myself. I've modeled the B, C and K Invaders for flight simulation, and getting the details correct to the functioning systems is an absolute must for training level simulations. Much appreciated, and congratulations on a beautiful build.
Would love a video pointing out the particular behaviors, things like stall characteristics and, particular to this airplane, landing behaviors related to fowler flaps. I've set my models up to fly onto the runway...no real flair to speak of. I think that's correct, but I've never actually had my butt in the seat.
I especially enjoyed this installment ---- I'm not rated to fly *anything* 😂, but to me a big part of the fun is the sheer complexity of an aircraft, what it takes to even start them up, so it's way-fun to go through the procedure with a couple of experts! Kermit: "Well, I'm used to flying open-cockpit aircraft ..." LOL! (see Part 1)
Thanks Kermit !!
All the "26" designations are confusing. So this airplane was more like a fighter with one pilot, and the right seat is . . . gunner/WSO ? BEAUTIFUL video. Thank you !
I'm always impressed by the level of systems engineering, even for an 80 year old design. In some ways I feel it's even more impressive given the lack of digital components commonplace today - most everything was mechanical, obviously. And kudos to Tucker - that young gentleman has a wonderful knowledge of the aircraft!👍
I applaud being able to get up into it. I would have been on the ground looking up!
Tucker & dad ,??
Amazing ,
Knowledge is passed both ways .
Kermit . Flying this baby is the easy part . Getting it up in the air is something else !!! Mermory recall isn't what it once was and as we are very closely aged it can be very frustrating ! And we just refuse to admit it ! .......and so we should ! That was such an education . Thanks Kermit .
Being a WW2 history buff of both ground and air combat it never ceases to amaze me how these systems operate. When you consider the operators of these aircraft during the war were maned by 20 21 year olds who once airborne were attacking the enemy and risking life and limb on every single mission. You cannot help but be in awe of these men who flew these planes and maintained them. When you turn the clock forward 75 to 80 years you might think twice about giving the keys to the family car to people that age now. Wow. Thanks guys great video.
Thank you again for taking us with. So much detail, no wasted space at all, strictly business with this one. I can’t wait ‘til part three. BTW, your B-17 home movies were terrific.
Kermit I remember when your plane was disassembled and stored at Van Nuys Airport when Challenge still had it
so, this is like a daily driver ? - all kidding aside - awesome to see the inner workings of such an iconic WW2 warbird - good one! (Note how the roatating props are perhaps some ~8" from the tarmac!)
It reminds me of the last time I crawled up a water tower ladder. Or Clint Eastwood did his own Mtn climbing in Eiger Sanction. Build him a ladder and he will climb. Just pretend that a flight of Zeros are doing a fly over, that will get ya going.
Kermit needed a more efficient way of transporting his frequent cash withdrawals from the bank, the springs on his pickup were giving out!
This is what my dad flew in Korea. Last flight ended in a silk approach... at just above treetop level.
Love the level of detail and notation.
Livin the dream. Awesome.
Fantastic video not easy to control something that big compared to a P-51D Mustang . I hope to see it fly someday .
Love the sound of those piston pounders! It's great seeing the love that Tucker has for your aircraft, Kermit!
God bless you patience! That’s a whole lotta lotta! Naked in Jamaica
Now I see why they were 20 something pilots, had to remember a 100 different things before you can take off. Then another 100 things after. LOL ....
I could play with the enigizer bumper switches all day 😅🤘🤠👍
What a wild comparison. Sitting here watching the ISS spacewalk on the TV while watching you working on getting airborne.
That’s a seriously complex machine for a single pilot to manage.
Would really neat to have a flyable A20, single pilot twin the daddy of this bird
Rather more complicated than a Piper Apache. The ideal A26 driver is clearly a rock-climber with 3 arms. :-)*
Engines look like they're in great shape. Not leaking any oil. But I'm surprised you guys could hear each other -- must have been crazy loud!
So cool.... I bet you are itchin' to fly it! In the movies, they just jump in, start it up, takeoff, but as we see there is so much more to the process. I'll be watching for part 3.
Very interesting. I thought maybe you guys are gonna take it up for a spin !!
How good is Mr Helper!...Sorry...Mate you are good!
Oh for having electric motor power. Turn on motor, go.
You wouldn't want to "scramble" from a cold start 🙂
Awesome video. Thanks Mr. Weeks for sharing. In WWII this plane must have been flown by 19 to 25 year old kids. OMG so many complex systems. No wonder its called the Widowmaker!
Boy, I really wanted to see her go. She’s almost ready, sooo close.
Wow Great video thanks for sharing.
Badazz..way to climb in that beast and not use the ladies ladder
Very cool....lots to do to run these old radials. Jet pilots today would be stumped. Prop,fuel mixture, manifold pressure,cowl flaps, oil coolers, carb doors,mags......😮
great info, my father was a recon photographer with the 452nd lt bmb group during the Korean war, had several very close calls with planes shot to crap around him..
Just like the B 25, a nose dragger!!
Great video of a beautiful aircraft. Amazingly quiet considering you're sitting between two big radials.
Later A-26 had a pop out ladder on the right side that made climbing up easier.
What a mission just getting into the beast 😮🤘🤠
What an airplane! It will take a while to get familiar with the start up process and get where you know where everything is. I can only imagine the fun you will have flying that magnificent airplane. Thank you!
Those are some huge props turning very close to you...
You just cant get footage this cool 🤠🤘
Man o man, I love this stuff so much😊
Very cool!!
Amazing. You’re a very fortunate man to being able to do all this. Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
It's a good thing that there's checklists.😆
Time to write up a checklist for this beauty.
That is so cool. Very interesting learning procedure for the A-26.
can this aircraft be flown by one pilot alone?
Outstanding video, really like the run up instructions.