Douglas
A-26 Preservation Progress Report – July 2008

Prepared by: Carl Sgamboti, A-26 Preservation Crew Chief

Fuselage

Cockpit

The cockpit area was the in the worst condition of all the
aircraft. The cockpit was completely stripped of important parts while it was
at Sikorsky Airport
in Bridgeport, CT. Work in this area started about one year ago. The
effort is currently focused on the mid and rear sections of the cockpit area.
All components, cabling and plumbing were removed from the rear area. All parts
were cleaned, wire-brushed, corrosion-inhibited, painted and re-installed.

Rear cockpit area before starting work

Rear area after removing components, plumbing and cables

Current state of preservation in rear cockpit area

Bill
Stevens cleaning up a pile of tubing and parts

Rear Fuselage

The rear fuselage, aft of the gunner compartment, was
removed. The inside was relatively clean.

The rear control surfaces (rudder and elevators) are
controlled through a control assembly. The assembly was removed from the
aircraft and completely broken down. All parts were cleaned, lubricated and the
unit was re-assembled. The external surfaces were painted with
corrosion-inhibiting paint. Two small Plexiglass windows located on either side
of the rear fuselage were broken. The windows were held in place with screw
into nut plates which were corroded and they had to be drilled out. The nut
plates were replaced and two new Plexiglass windows were re-installed. The
external sheet metal was wet-sanded to remove excessive oxides and then
polished. Next, the inside will be tackled where all the control cables pass to
the rudder and elevator control assembly. The inside will be power-washed and
spray painted with corrosion-inhibiting paint. The formation light will need to
be replaced on the bottom of the rear fuselage. As with everything else, the
screws are corroded in place and will need to be drilled out and new nut plates
installed.

The vertical stabilizer was removed and the internal areas
cleaned of birds’ nests and debris left by small animals.

Birds’ nests
and Tom Palshaw and Carl Sgamboti
assisting with the vertical tail removal

A corroded rib was found on the base of the tail, probably
the result of all the animal debris that fell on it. A template was made to
replicate the holes and strengthening ridges for the rib. The rib was
fabricated and re-riveted in place. Two of the hinge supports for the rudder
were extensively corroded. They were fabricated using a third hinge support
that was in good condition as a template. The pitot tube located on the top of
the vertical stabilizer was missing. A pitot tube was located and installed. A
hole on the top of the vertical stabilizer that held modern radio equipment was
covered with sheet metal. All the external surfaces of the vertical stabilizer
were wet-sanded to remove excessive oxides and then polished with weather
protecting waxes. The internal areas will be corrosion protected with AC-50
before re-assembly.

The horizontal stabilizers were removed and the internal
areas cleaned of birds’ nests and debris left by small animals. No
significant corrosion was found. All the external surfaces of the horizontal
stabilizers were wet-sanded to remove excessive oxides and then polished with
weather protecting waxes. The internal areas will be corrosion protected with
AC-50 before re-assembly.

Nose Wheel Well

Work was initiated in the nose wheel well. The rear bulkhead
area where the hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the bomb bay spoilers
was cleaned of animal debris and surfaces were wet-sanded, corrosion inhibited
and painted black. Hydraulic tubing was removed, wire brushed and re-installed.
Work continues in the wheel well.

Rear bulkhead of nose wheel well area before removing components

Gun Turret

We have two upper GE Turret assemblies with ammo cans. Both
units are in very bad condition. We are using both units to try to re-assemble
one good one. The units are heavily corroded and some of the ammo cans are
corroded out. The best turret was used as the starting point and it was
completely torn down. All the bearings and rollers were cleaned, lubricated and
re-installed. All the existing cabling was refurbished and re-installed. All
parts were cleaned, corrosion-inhibited and re-installed. Work is current
centered on the ammo cans.

Instrument Panel

The pilot’s instrument panel and the main electrical
panel are in the process of being restored. We have all the instruments and
switches. The instruments were cleaned up and cosmetically repaired where
needed. We are purchasing or fabricating parts that are missing.

Mark 33 Sighting Station

The periscope sighting station was in fairly good condition
but still needed some work. The sighting station was restored. A mounting stand
was fabricated and the sighting station will be put on floor display in the
military hanger.

Ed Patapas with the holding fixture for restoring the
Mark 33 Sighting Station

Bomb Bay

Two of the bomb racks were disassembled and all parts were
cleaned, corrosion-inhibited and the racks were re-assembled. Four more racks
need work.

The bomb bay doors hydraulic actuating system on the forward
bulkhead was removed and all parts cleaned, corrosion-inhibited, painted where
appropriate and re-installed at this time.

Partial preservation
on forward bomb bay door hydraulic system

Completed forward bomb bay hydraulic system

Wing Fillets

The wing fillets provide streamlining between the wing and
fuselage. When we got the aircraft, they were loosely attached in some areas
but most areas were not attached. All the nut plates were corroded and had to
be drilled out. New nut plates were installed. The fillets will be put in
storage until the aircraft is ready for display.

Right Engine Nacelle

New longerons were fabricated for the outboard side of the
right engine nacelle. They were installed and a new stress panel was fabricated
and riveted in place. Some of the inboard longerons were also corroded, so they
were removed and new longerons installed. The stress panel was re-riveted. All
exposed metal, including the fuel tank well, were painted with
corrosion-inhibiting paint. The fuel tank, which was removed in order to do the
sheet metal work, was dropped back into the fuel tank well in the nacelle in
July and the connections will be made in the coming weeks.