Saw this explosion at the Beechcraft plant in Wichita, Kansas and thought of Fred.
https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/2756799001
I believe Fred works for Spirit Aero.
Randy - RPM
Ok, thanks Randy....
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 27, 2019, 11:45:27 AM
Saw this explosion at the Beechcraft plant in Wichita, Kansas and thought of Fred.
https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/2756799001
Thank you for your concerns. I am all good. The Beechcrsft plant is about 7 miles from the house. Randy is correct, I work at Spirit AeroSystems Inc. We have other things going on..... we build the 737 Max fuselages for Boeing. :shok: :sorry: I have been working my butt off since returning from the RPM Rally. I think that I have had 3 weekends off in 3 months. Looking at taking off for the weekend of the 11th.
Fred
Is Kansas heavy with aviation industry Fred? Did that start with WWII production in Wichita?
Joe
Quote from: Tuned forks on December 27, 2019, 07:43:03 PM
Is Kansas heavy with aviation industry Fred? Did that start with WWII production in Wichita?
Joe
Aviation in Wichita actually started here in the 1920's. The facility that I work in still has buildings that were used to build Stearman airplanes. The building that I actually work in was used to build B-29's during WWII and later B-52's. Currently there are about 40,000-45,000 people in Wichita that are employed in the Aircraft industry, out of a population of 400,000.
Here is a very informative article about the history of Aviation in Wichita.
https://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/commerceresults.php?id=131 (https://www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/commerceresults.php?id=131)
In the photos.... 737 Fuselages in Plant 2. Half of the 1000+ B-29's and Every B-52 were assembled in this building.
Auto Riveters
Jumping a 737 Fuselage
787 41 section... It is 100% Carbon Fiber
The Yellow Bridge cranes that can be seen in the ceiling of the building are what I maintain.
Fred
B-29 and B-52 production lines in Wichita
Fred
Quote from: aviationfred on December 27, 2019, 11:30:25 PM
Here is a very informative article about the history of Aviation in Wichita.
Fred
Thanks Fred, that's a really good read, I had no idea how significant the area was in terms of aviation building and over such a long time. I love all things aviation, especially history.
I have a friend with an airworthy Stearman, it most likely came from there.
Noel
Thank you Fred. That's an aviation history heavy area. Now if only you could find a few spare B-29 parts laying about.... :biggrin: You could sneak a Wright R-3350 out in your lunchbox right?
Joe
There are only 2 B-29's that are flyable and one is home based here in Wichita. DOC was found in the Mojave Desert on a Military bombing range. It was loaded up and shipped to Wichita. It took 17 years and hundreds of volunteer aircraft mechanics and avionics techs to restore the plane to flyable status.
Photos of Doc inside it's dedicated hanger.
Fred