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Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:46 am
by Fabrizio
Gearhead, that's what makes it even more sad.
Forgetting the plane itself was a real gem and time capsule, those guys did work in the hardest conditions one can imagine, and had to watch their "baby" and their months of work burn in front of them.
If I remember well, they had attached a fuel tank for the auxiliary generator engine with some improvised fittings that failed when taxiing the plane, spilled fuel on the engine and set fire to everything.
1 small mistake that ruined all the heroic efforts, that's really sad.
When I first saw the movie, the ending really knocked me down.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:58 am
by gearhead
Yep, the "put put" did them in.
APU.jpg
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And 50 year old dry and flammable insulation!
Darryl had a good plan to fly it out, "tihs", happens.
The end story was a disaster too, seems the permit was still in the original salvage guys name, so he became responsible for the limited cleanup (pushed into a pile) effort.
The engines and 1 or 2 props are sill relatively fresh, harder to find these parts now!
As an aside, "FIFI" has modified 3350 engines, similar to the A-1 Skyraider and C-119 Boxcar engines, no turbos and carbs vs. fuel injection, much more reliable.

Here is the "CAT" before the breakup.
thASA0DQN0.jpg
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Ed S :)

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:07 pm
by Tapper02
I had never heard of the Kee Bird…sad ending to a valiant attempt. Would have been cool to see it take off.

-Tom

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:38 am
by vtdeucedriver
Scoutpilot wrote:I apologize for the flippant remark. I obviously don't know all that much about the Kee Bird.
Don't apologize.................sad state of affairs all the way around. Ive been an aircraft mechanic for 20+ year and have been in an aviation family all my life....im 43. There is a reason why you don't see Darell in the warbird community anymore and this is the reason. Little $ and little time were against this project from the start. If Paul Allen were funding it, she would have flown out probably just fine but there were many short cuts on this project right from the start. There is much footage that "DID NOT" end up on the Nova documentary on this recovery. I know this because a good family friend INVESTED in this recovery by loaning a propeller to this cause. Because of his investment, he was sent updates during the recovery and I got to see it. So when people mention about whats left, I would not touch it as there would be a legal battle as far as that thing is away from civilization. Our family friend still has the paperwork on the salvage rights to his prop and where it was installed. I am sure he would like it back if he could get it.


Now on another note "scoutpilot"...........................I know your story, your an outcast!! :D A good friend is also one 71-72 (doorgunner, OH-6)

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:47 am
by Scoutpilot
I thank you for that. I did not know all of the Outcasts personally. Given the nature of our task, I think you can appreciate why.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 5:54 am
by vtdeucedriver
gearhead wrote:Did the owner know they were going to have it in the water for a long period?
Did the owner keep up the maintenance on the bilge pump system? Leaker?

Production company's are notorious for destroying and damaging rented items.

Often the owners are left holding the bag, cash bag that is empty.
I would have made sure that there was monies in escrow and I would be there during all use.

Ed S :)
OK on to the PBY Story. Don't blame the salvage team. I have it on good information that they had all the information on how to lift a PBY from the water as they had a copy of the navy manuals showing how. Its my understanding that the mooring / lifting attach points broke. Now its unknown yet if how much sand had migrated into the hull at this time but there is also thought that corrosion on the attach points could have also been a factor.
Now first hand knowledge as my father flew Co pilot on a PBY-5A in South Fla on many occasions. There is a reason WHY only 1 to possibly 2 EVER touch water of the 30+ that still exist today. The wartime accident record for water landings was almost as high as combat losses. Hense why if you even think about water landings, your insurance rate premiums would go through the roof!!!! Now we are talking about aircraft that are 70 years old and seals dry out. Consolidated had a material much like welting on wood boats between the planks that sat between the skins. This deteriorates. The seals and nose gear doors have to be in good shape and properly rigged. Its been an often occurance that a hard water landing on the bow causes the doors to collapse in and once that happens, the seals in the nose will fail and the airplane will take on water quickly. I have a feeling this was the starting result on this incident. The aircraft my father flew had a similar incident in the 70's and it too was forced up on a beach to save it. Repairs were made and flown back out. So I have a feeling that the pending movie contract and the quick maintenance "AKA restoration" to get the airplane back in an airworthy state was a bit short. It might have flown but to be seaworthy, maybe not so much. On one of the warbird forums that I belong too, the airplane stopped for fuel on its trip from Washington to fla for the movie shoot and the #2 engine was leaking oil BAD!!! Sure radials leak oil, ruined many shirt working on them but the report was this was a bit excessive so again, time, $ and bad decision left this airplane with a short future.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:02 am
by Scoutpilot
In many instances involving aircraft, that is sadly the case. I lost a job because I took an airplane out of service twice in two months due to critical maintenance issues.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:58 am
by TopKick
The CAT is restorable if there are funds to do it! However, restorable back to flying condition is questionable, but museum status could be achieved. 8)

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 4:00 am
by Tapper02
Anyone have an update on this? Curious if it the airframe was still salvageable or not, and if the cause of the failure during the recovery operation was determined.

-Tom

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 5:56 pm
by clintm20
Darryl Greenamyer accomplished much in aviation and it's a shame people only remember him for the Kee Bird. Let's not forget he donated a six time Reno Unlimited Champion Bearcat to the NASM.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:59 pm
by Niblet
Reno?? I dont give a tinkers darn about "Reno" the man destroyed a WWII B-29,,,,,
he could donate 100 "Reno champions" to anyone and it would still not compensate

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 5:18 am
by clintm20
The Kee Bird certainly does get people fired up that is for sure. Here is Mr. Greenamyer's bio if anyone is interested.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darryl_Greenamyer

As for the B-29 destruction stuff happens in high performance aviation, I don't get upset about it. If I did that I'd have to get upset about the HUNDREDS of other warbirds destroyed by owners flying them into the ground since the late 60's.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 1:24 pm
by arushing
The Kee Bird documentary and its horrible conclusion was horrendous. I couldn't watch past the initial fire - it made me sick to my stomach.

Re: PBY destroyed

Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:25 pm
by clintm20
The Kee Bird documentary and its horrible conclusion was horrendous. I couldn't watch past the initial fire - it made me sick to my stomach.
Yes this is why the Kee Bird strikes such an emotional cord with so many, it's warbirding failure documented in living color and pretty much everyone has seen it by now. I can think of some other warbird screwups I'm glad no one did a documentary on.