T-34 Status
Updated: June 27, 2010
T-34
Sites:
more about this effort, please contact
me at stilwell@q.com <mailto:stilwell@q.com> or call me during
the day on Monday through Thursday before 2:30 PM @
480-832-3770. Memo to Members #76 To All Members of the T-34 Association: Our objectives are: To keep T-34s flying safely, at or near their
certificated limits, with a minimum of inspections or modifications. To return the T-34 to its historic position as the most desirable and
widely sought-after warbird in the world. ALEC Progress As you know from my previous communications, all the ALEC Test Plan
reports have been filed with their accompanying 8110-3 recommendations
from the appropriate DERs. All of that information has been reviewed and
appears to be acceptable to the FAA. The following is a description of what we are dealing with now. Have you ever been in a negotiation and about to close the
deal--whether it is buying a business, car, house, etc.--when the other
party comes back with, "Oh, by the way, there's just one more
thing...." The FAA hasn't used exactly that phrase, but that has been the process
the last few weeks with ALEC. There always seems to be another question to
be answered. The process of dealing with those questions has been incredibly
frustrating and time consuming--especially for George Braly who has had to
deal with each question. Almost all the questions are ones that have been
asked and answered before. Here and there, a slightly new twist has shown
up to an old question. We have to acknowledge that part of the problem with driving to
conclusion on the project is that it has taken a long calendar time to
finish it. Naturally, the cast of characters in the FAA has changed
somewhat. Each new participant raises his or her questions, and many of
those have been dealt with in previous years. Those FAA people who have
been involved all along have also forgotten some of what has been
discussed and agreed to previously. About the time we think that all the possible questions have been
answered, another one pops up. The FAA acknowledges that there are no
major issues. There are just some questions they want to clarify. They are
a very cautious bunch. George is headed to Ft. Worth next week, with the ALEC structure, to
meet with the FAA people there and answer what we hope are the final
questions before the issuance of the STC and AMOC. However, none of us working on this on a daily basis will be surprised
if we hear... "Oh, by the way....." Please be assured that everyone involved on the T-34 team is driving
this project to conclusion as fast as we can. We are close. We will keep
you posted. Getting on a List The clock is running on the Time Extension AMOC. It is only valid until
June 15, 2011. Regardless of which AMOC you choose, the fleet needs to be
efficient in getting the airplanes that still need modification into and
out of the available shops. Once ALEC is approved, we need to fill up the shops and move airplanes
through them as expeditiously as possible. Most of the shops have already
started "waiting lists" and will begin scheduling specific installations
as soon as the AMOC is approved. To ensure you are not at the tail end of
the installation process, you probably want to be on a waiting list
now. Conclusion You can post your comments for all members of the Association who
belong to the Chat list to see at Chat@T-34.com < Contact information for individual board members is listed on this
page: You can email the entire board at one time at bod@T-34.com
< If you want to reach me directly, you can email me at Mentor441@aol.com
< Let's Keep'em Flying! Dan Thomas For the Board C 2010 T-34 Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Do not reprint in
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