[ARC5] APS-3 radar manual/components needed please

[Taigh Ramey]

Hello Ken,

Yes, the PV-2D was a rare bird as only 35 were made. You are correct 8 50's
in the nose. The front mounts are still there. Too bad replica 50's are so
expensive as I need a small arsenal of them.

This one does have P&W R-2800 engines that put out 2000 HP each. The engines
were replaced just before it flew to California in 1994 and are Ford built
engines that are 25 serial numbers apart. Back then they rarely overhauled
these engines as it was cheaper to take a "new" engine out of the can and
see if it would work. These two engines now have less than 20 hours on them
since Ford built them in 1945 and they run great. So far the oil analysis is
backing that up too. Time will tell.

The engines are identical (R-2800-13) and they both turn in the same
direction. That video frame rate can make the props stop and turn backwards
sometimes.

Yes, I was flying the Harpoon. Since I didn't have a type rating in the
Harpoon, which is required for all aircraft over 12,500 pounds gross weight,
I asked the FAA for, and I received, a letter of authorization allowing be
to fly the aircraft and for subsequent training for my type rating check
ride. They did this based on my collateral experience in other aircraft. I
was honored that they did this.

I am not sure who the lady in the other seat was as Ricky was flying as
copilot. He needs a hair cut so maybe it was Rick that you were referring
to.

Thanks for the kind words Ken,

Taigh

Taigh Ramey
Proprietor, Vintage Aircraft
7432 C.E. Dixon Street
Stockton, California 95206
(209) 982-0273 Shop
(209) 982 4832 Fax
www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP 'EM FLYING...FOR HISTORY'


-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth G. Gordon [mailto:kgordon2006 at frontier.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 6:19 PM
To: Taigh Ramey
Subject: Re: [ARC5] APS-3 radar manual/components needed please

Taigh:

All I can say, is "Yeehaaawwww" That is simply gorgeous.

I did a bit of research on the PV-2D and see that it is a much later 
version of the Vega Ventura and was originally armed with 8  50s 
and rockets.

Does that one have R-2800s or the small Wright engines?

Also, it is somewhat difficult to make out from the videos, but do 
the engines turn in opposite directions? In one video it looked like 
they turned in, but on others it looked like they both turned the 
same direction.

Also, were you flying the Harpoon? And who was the Lady with 
the pilot?

Neat, neat videos. Thanks a bunch!

Ken Gordon W7EKB

P.S. Back in 1978, I was to a small airshow in Topeka, KS.  One 
of the aircraft there was a B-24 that had recently been bought 
from the Indian Air Force.

I talked with some of the crew and they were trying to find 
someone to help keep some electronic tube-based control for the 
superchargers working. They told me that just about every time 
they used the airplane, one of those would fail. I offered to help 
them figure out the problem, but then my personal life took a hit 
and I couldn't follow through.

Also, there was a beautiful P38 there too. It may have  been 
"White Lightning", but am not sure. When it was warming up on 
the ground, I was amazed that you couldn't hear a sound from the 
engines due to the turbo-chargers.

There was also a P-51 there. They all took turns flying, the P-51 
in formation with the B-24.

I was also amazed at how small the B-24 was.

There was a P-47 there also, but it didn't fly.

Later.

Ken W7EKB