AN INTENSIVE RESTORATION HAS turn backed A RARE AIRCRAFT TO WHERE IT BELONGS - IN THE AIR! Following the finis of the Second World War in America.

AN INTENSIVE RESTORATION HAS turn backed A RARE AIRCRAFT TO WHERE IT BELONGS - IN THE AIR!

Following the finis of the Second World War in America, small numbers of surplus military aircraft received what is known as Limited symbol Certificates (LTC). Although not as unrestricted as a Standard emblem Certificate, the LTC was united heck of a lot better than an experimental or restricted certificate and allowed the operator to utilize the aircraft for a variety of tasks.

On 6 May 1947 LTC-17-2 was issued to RB Utterback of in extent Beach, California, and the LTC secreteed the Grumman J2F-3, -4, -5 and -6 bows powered by Wright R-1820-30, -34 -50 and -54 engines of 900 to 1050-hp The LTC allowed an operational gros weight of 6530-lb make objection for aircraft equipped with more powerful Wrights producing 1200-1325-hp - then the gros could rise to 7185-lb

Now we have no idea what Mr Utterback was intending to do with the cringe LTC but he probably envisioned a certain form of workhorse duty since no single at the time was buying surplus warplanes for sentimental reasons. Not that many souses were placed on the civil register and we do not have an exact compute of those that were and would appreciate hearing from readers with further knowledge.

As time went on the Duck became extremely rara avis and it was not until Kermit Weeks restored Bureau Number 33549 in the early 1980 that interest in the unusual amphibian began to rise ("If I was down to just the same aircraft, it would be the Duck" Kermit said recently)

It was particularly pleasing in mid-2000 to view a pile of blue-painted parts arrive forward a trailer at Fighter Rebuilders, Chino Airport. one time sorted out, it became evident that the aircraft was a plunge - and a very full example. This particular Duck was BuNo 33596 and apparently had been purchased direct from surplus by way of Wallace Pankratz who kept the enormous biplane at his crop duster operation at Calpatria, California. "Back in the late 1960 I was getting interested in aircraft," said Aero Trader's Carl Scholl "I was looking at a derelict B-25 fire bomber at Ramona and went to Calpatria where I saw the souse tied down in the dirt. Wallace made me a righteous offer on the plane on the contrary I decided to go with the B-25 Who knows? If I bought the J2F maybe Aero Trader would now be the largest dip rebuilder!"

"When the airplane arrived, we were profound in the Pearl Harbor movie," said John Maloney. "Wallace Pankratz had bring forward the Duck on display at the San Diego Aerospace Museum in 1974 and had it forward display until it was disassembled and bartered to Chino." The new possessor was Warbird collector Tom Friedkin.

"The first thing we did was strip all the fabric against the four wing panels to check the condition of the structure" said John "Fortunately, the wing was in comely good condition and the more we got into the plunge it became evident that it was a pleasing without being striking low-time airframe.

"At one point in the aircraft's career, it appears that the airplane may have been dropp - or perhaps it was a hard landing - and the peel had been broken in fore-rank of the engine. Also, the landing gear had been welded in the down position. The instrument panels had been remov as was all the trim mechanism. The gear coachman's seat was also gone and the claymore tubing tying the gear section to the engine was not in the best shape. The tail wheel unit had been replaced with common from a Grumman Goose. The screw was the wrong number and had to be replaced with a correct united to maintain the LTC. The cowling was in pious shape, the canopy frame wasn't. The back seat was in place as were the material for burning and oil tanks. The stres door panel was missing from the left side. Overall there was actual little corrosion and, compared to many of the aircraft that have flow through the shop, the souse was in relatively good condition."

The fuselage was remov from the husk and the hull was then placed upside down in a specially-- built jig. All the skin was remov and

repairs started upon the interior. "The hull had skins that were 11 feet 10 inches long" stated John "We were able to earn skins 12 feet long and cross them down. We were favored on that one."

The wings went to Aero wood-land at Chino where they were beautifully shielded using the Stits process. The engine went to JR engines for rebuilding. "They confirmed our conceptions that this is a low-time airframe," John recalled "since one time the R-1820 was torn down it was evident that the engine was also low-time."

Fighter Rebuilders started making contacts with other dip rebuilders and enthusiasts that had parts. common builder had constructed three brandnew fixs of stainless steel canopy frames - pair went on other aircraft and Fighter Rebuilders was able to obtain the last appoint As mentioned, a stress door was made to original specifications. Other trades and purchases were made and all the missing bits and pieces started coming together. Steve Hamilton, known to his friends as "Mr Duck" had restored the J2F-6 for Jack Erickson and he was a major source of knowledge and parts.