Post war conversions, water bombers, executive conversions, bring it! (2 Viewers)

[skyking1]

The P39 thread was getting derailed but all the chatter about B-26 and A=26 reminded me of the On Mark Marksman, a high performance conversion based on the A-26. They always interested me.
I read about them elsewhere, but the wiki entry serves as a good starting point.
On Mark Marksman - Wikipedia

On Mark engineering made several and sold some to the CIA for low level deliveries in the VietNam war. The ultimate models replaced the spar carry through with a steel ring spar.
The early Marketeers were not pressurized and you had to duck under the spar to get aft.
The last models were pressurized, had that ring spar as shown on this web page for a recent restoration.
Rare Douglas A-26B Invader "Rum and Coke"
Here is that beauty at Bern landing and departing.

View: https://youtu.be/d_OVJP7PD2A?si=U01I6f08a1XyOm2b



View: https://youtu.be/ATT-EhmyGck?si=RdCHHHEdA3FQI0te

The A-26 was the central aircraft in the movie "Always" which I really enjoyed.

There is a late model B-26K On Mark at the National Museum
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/V...le/196070/douglas-b-26k-a-26-counter-invader/

Any converted planes are welcome in the thread.

 

[smutny]

Locally here in the Seattle area we have "Sexy Sue". It's an executive conversion and still retains the converted nose, most have gone back to one of the original Invader styles. The ring spars have caused some issues over time, Sue's has been broken twice I believe. Since they're spirited aircraft to fly, often higher G's are experienced and not the best for the ring spars.

Pic from this news article.

 

[smutny]

I can't find if it's been mentioned here before, but one of my favorite executive conversions was the FM-2 that has additional seating in the fuselage. That would be a fun runabout to have.

Rare 1945 Grumman FM-2 Wildcat for Sale by Platinum Fighter Sales

 

[GTX]

Lockheed Venturas:

Converted into Howard 350s/500s:

 

[GTX]

Consolidated PBY Catalinas:

into Landseaires:

 

[smutny]

Lockheed Venturas:

One of the other CAF B-17 crew chiefs was telling stories a couple weeks ago about converting Venturas to fish haulers in Alaska in the 1960's. Reinforced floors, engine upgrades, cowling changes and some interesting test flights.

 

[GTX]

Lockheed Venturas:

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Converted into Howard 350s/500s:

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More info:

https://www.pilotspost.co.za/PsPpyarn546

 

[GTX]

Douglas B-23 Dragon:

And post war:

 

[GTX]

Martin B-26 Marauder:

Post war corporate aircraft:

 

[MIflyer]

This is a friend of mine, a US Army pilot at the USAF Test Pilot School, proudly standing in front of the B-26 they modified with programmable flight controls in order to simulate anything from the Wright Flyer to the Space Shuttle. A friend of mine, a flight test engineering student at the school, was killed along with two others when a wing came off the airplane due to a manufacturing defect in the spar dating from 1944.

 

[GTX]

Civilian B-17s:

U.S. Civil B-17s: Part One (1946-1948) - Aero Vintage Books

As most in the B-17 world now know, the EAA's B-17 (44-85740, N5017N) has been disassembled at Punta Gorda, Florida, and is being trucked back to Oshkosh to have required repairs made. If you are not aware, check out this news release from EAA. By the way, the B-17 fuselage was last reported...

www.aerovintage.com

U.S. Civil B-17s: Part Two (1949-1955) - Aero Vintage Books

Part two of our look at how and when B-17s made it to the U.S. civil register. This post covers the period from 1949-1955.

www.aerovintage.com

 

[special ed]

Martin B-26 Marauder:

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Post war corporate aircraft:

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Note on 5546N the very faded Confederate Air Force from late 60s early 70s.

 

[cammerjeff]

My Favorate B-23 Conversion

And a few Privateers

 

[skyking1]

When I was flying out of Tacoma Narrows (TIW) off and on, they were refurbing a Catalina in the hangar where I rented Mooney 201's. I don't remember the FBO name but it was in the hangar now operated by Narrows aviation. I always stopped in to check the progress. It had a cool raft and other amenities.
I flew out of Renton several years, "sexy sue" I had no idea. Perhaps after my time there.
The howards I was familiar with but this is the first I have seen of the B-23 conversions. Cool Stuff!

There was a couple of WWII pilots who purchased a P-38 and kept it at my home field for a while. That was probably the biggest handful at the then-3300 ft strip.
We had a DC-3 based there for a while.

 

[Sabrejet]

Probably my favourite conversion is Martin JM-1 BuAer No. 75187, which was extensively converted by AiResearch Aviation Service Co. of Los Angeles International Airport in 1952/53 for owner the Continental Can Company, Inc of Morristown NJ. Key features of the conversion included full cabin seating for up to eleven passengers and panoramic windows. Engines were upgraded to P&W R2800-CB-16 standard with PV-1 collector rings and cowlings, driving Hamilton Standard 43E60 hubs and 6895A-8 blades.

The aircraft made its first flight in this configuration sometime after 28 August 1953 and was then used by the Continental Can Co until it crashed near Marion, Ohio on 1 July 1959.

 

[skyking1]

My Favorate B-23 Conversion

View attachment 894424

And a few Privateers
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Pima Air and Space Museum has a B-23 conversion outside
Douglas B-23 - Pima Air & Space


Can't say enough about that place.

 

[MiTasol]

How about some of our Kiwi members upload some photos of the postwar cropdusting Hudsons, Lodestars, Dakotas, etc.

 

[Crimea_River]

Our Spartan Air Services Mosquito P.R. 35 converted for photo mapping duties in the 1950s. Swiss WILD RC8 camera and operator facilities added in the rear.

 

[skyking1]

our plane had that gear in it too. I wish it was still there when we got it.

 

[MiTasol]

Our Spartan Air Services Mosquito P.R. 35 converted for photo mapping duties in the 1950s. Swiss WILD RC8 camera and operator facilities added in the rear.

View attachment 894673View attachment 894674

Spartan also operated several dH Hornets as well. One was rotting on a coastal BC airport in 68.