The Florida Wing of the Commemorative
Air Force is making slow but steady progress on the
restoration of our TBM Avenger project. We are
fortunate to have a number of Continental Airlines
mechanics who are volunteering their time effort and
energy. These gentlemen are quite familiar with
fabricating parts and making sheet metal repairs and
we are fortunate to have them join us. Our work
days are Wednesday and Saturday and while we are
attracting a number of members and volunteers we
always have need for additional people and encourage
those who are interested in seeing our WWII TBM
Grumman Avenger fly again to join us and work on the
project.
All of our ground equipment is now in working order
and includes a heavy tug, a forklift truck and a
Jeep. With those jobs completed we can concentrate
on aircraft servicing and restoration.
One of our members donated his L-17A Navion to our
unit and when we place all three aircraft in the
hangar it is so full that we don't have room to work
on the TBM. Our only solution was to park one L-17
on the ramp. We are fortunate to have just secured
a temporary hangar for it and we plan to expand our
present hangar to double its size later this year.
Continental Airlines mechanic and Colonel Alex Gardner
and Nick Leone working on the TBM wing.
Continental Airlines mechanic and Colonel David Leone,
our lead project manager works with Colonel Tony Tuosto
discuss the proper manner to install a newly fabricated
wing piece.
Colonel Ken Brownell works with Nick Leone on the TBM wing
while Colonel Lou Figliuolo works in the tail
wheel well.
Colonel Frank Purcell contemplates the
installation of a new starter for the wing Jeep.
Colonel Alex
Gardner and Nick Leone do a little stretching to
get at some difficult parts of the TBM wing.
