Before it was Rare Bear

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

Maybe this is what I get for never having been on Facebook...

Be strong grashopper, you can resist the force of the farce....

[wingman]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

What? I've never heard of and don't understand those two either. There are clearly whole worlds out there that I just don't comprehend -- I think I'll just crawl back into my Photoshop and clarity filters and curves tools and color wheels and such easy stuff that I can understand.

Maybe this is what I get for never having been on Facebook...

Neal

[Air Boss]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

I had to Google "May Pang" to even begin to understand the reference. Does that mean I have to give up my membership in the Baby Boomer Trivia association?

Neal

I'm right there with ya', Neal. Had no idea. But then...I was far too heavily involved with wrapping my head around "Battle of Evermore" and "In the Court of King Crimson."

[wingman]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

I had to Google "May Pang" to even begin to understand the reference. Does that mean I have to give up my membership in the Baby Boomer Trivia association?

Neal

[BellCobraIV]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

" forces in the universe decided I needed to do things I didn't want to do "

I really dislike those particular forces. I've encountered them a lot the last few years. It only gets worse as you get older.


" John -- what was the timeline of all this? When did Lyle move the kit into the hangar? When was the fuselage more or less complete? When did Putnam get his hands on the engine and when was it actually hung on the airplane? "

I'm still interested in this -- I've never seen such a timeline and I've always been blown away by how quickly this all came together -- broken(literally) stripped shell and trashed run out engine core to on the course at Reno.

Did that first engine come to Lyle with any accessories and such? What did you do for carb, supercharger, fuel pumps and so on. The magnitude of what was done in that year is just amazing.

When did you first meet Mel Gregoire?

Neal

Neal,
Okay I am going to have to try to create that timeline, it will take me a little bit, I may have to make a couple of calls. So in the meantime I'm going to go back to the last couple of pictures I have not commented on yet and fill in that part of the story.

Brad,
It was May Pang's voice saying "John" and then in the second bridge saying "nhoJ" in #9 Dream. Good on ya for that eerie experience.

[Big_Jim]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

and there wasn't any May Pang involved.

That's funny, right there....as while I was reading your comment "#9 Dream" was playing on the radio in the background.

[wingman]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

" forces in the universe decided I needed to do things I didn't want to do "

I really dislike those particular forces. I've encountered them a lot the last few years. It only gets worse as you get older.


" John -- what was the timeline of all this? When did Lyle move the kit into the hangar? When was the fuselage more or less complete? When did Putnam get his hands on the engine and when was it actually hung on the airplane? "

I'm still interested in this -- I've never seen such a timeline and I've always been blown away by how quickly this all came together -- broken(literally) stripped shell and trashed run out engine core to on the course at Reno.

Did that first engine come to Lyle with any accessories and such? What did you do for carb, supercharger, fuel pumps and so on. The magnitude of what was done in that year is just amazing.

When did you first meet Mel Gregoire?

Neal

[BellCobraIV]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

So which weekend was that, John? I just wanted to bring this thing up front again -- there are things I'm curious about

This thread has been fun.

Neal,
It was like the lost weekend, I was dealing with multiple people that I couldn't say "no" to. I had to get introspection into what was actually going on with all of it. In the end I am learning to say "not now" because that is slightly different than no.

I came here and started to go over past history, because it was fun. Then forces in the universe decided I needed to do things I didn't want to do, so this personal enjoyment was the fuse. Once again I could put it on hold. I'm finally learning to say "not now." Eventually I will graduate to prioritizing my projects and being able to do magic for others. So back to our story. It was "The Long Weekend in the sense of getting my head more together and cleaning up loose ends, I didn't have any moving out or arguing with my lovely wife in that aspect. Anyway the weekend is over, and there wasn't any May Pang involved.

[wingman]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

So which weekend was that, John? I just wanted to bring this thing up front again -- there are things I'm curious about

This thread has been fun.

[BellCobraIV]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

I haven't disappeared, I've just been buried in a couple of projects at home. I should get some time to answer some questions this weekend.

[wingman]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

No -- I think that first engine was quite stock. They ran decently in 1969, though with systems problems. They ran better, with all systems working in 1970 -- til they blew up the engine due to bad advice on fuel mixing. They then built up their first "hybrid" 3350 for Cape May in 1971. Apparently that was an ex-airline motor with supercharger and other modifications done largely by Bill Coulter and Mel Gregoire at AC&T. I think that was the first motor with the "slow" nose case. BCIV obviously knows far more about this than I -- I hope we'll get there in the future...

Neal

[Reever]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

Did the engine in the photos have the slow nose case?

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

WOW. Classic 3350 photos. Thanks for sharing.

[Fence Sence]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

Man, apparently Pete had an eye. That second image is gorgeous. So this is the first motor? Well, the first 3350 to be mounted to this airframe? Had there been another 3350 on a Bearcat at that point? A scrapheap motor on a scrapheap airframe. Talk about humble beginnings to basically the most beloved air racer of all time. Especially to Reno-ites. It sure was nice to be able to drive out and peek through window and see The Bear. I miss it.

[wingman]

Re: Before it was Rare Bear

In the meanwhile I'll post another Pete Behenna photo or two. So back in 1969 Lyle had an airplane shell, a remarkable crew coalescing, and parts coming in from around the country. He still needed an engine. According to Dell Rourk, Lyle went to see George Byard at Aircraft Cylinder and Turbine in Sun Valley, Ca.

AC&T had an old R3350 in the open out back of the shop -- it was scheduled for salvage and had been sitting back there in the weather with no plugs or stacks and rainwater in the cylinders. George donated the engine to Lyle's project. George Putman cleaned out the sticks, birdsnests, and other crap and with some help from the mechanics at AC&T managed to rebuild the motor.

John -- what was the timeline of all this? When did Lyle move the kit into the hangar? When was the fuselage more or less complete? When did Putnam get his hands on the engine and when was it actually hung on the airplane?

Neal