The Beech 99 to KA350i Project!

[shaneb]

I'd say there would be a lot of laughs!

[Trevor Hale]

Hi guys, not a lot of progress this weekend however I did get some little things done that just seemed to take forever. I have managed to fix the slop in the captians rudder pedals and connect the potentiometer. Additionally I have added the pot for the ailerons and elevators. I had to install springs on the yokes to prevent uncommanded nosedives when visiting the Lou and have installed stops on the elevators to prevent the busting of items in the mip. It's amazing how much the cables limited the travel of the yokes.

I have started painting the throttle as well but will save those pictures for later in the week when I get back home.

Off for another week of business away from home.

Catch you all later.

[Trevor Hale]

Got the Captian side Seat Rails today..  yay!  They will require small modifications, but basically they will be a direct install part.

Trev

[Trevor Hale]

 (Pictures don't do it Justice, and I know there is lots of work to do. (Starting with new leather on the Glare) But..... It breathes again! That's right the Beech 99 although has Boeing glass installed is again fly able. I have been working hard over the past two weekends to dust off the bird.

Built a new mip to accommodate a proline 21 look and feel. I am sure it isn't accurate for most but for me is a movement in the right direction.

I am working on the lower switches now and soon will be adding another avionics bay behind the tq for the fmc.

I am evaluating proline 21 software and will soon make a decision on the software package.

Also got rid of the projector and am using 3 19" monitors for the front view. Hope one day to replace these with larger 27 or 32" screens.

Just though I would share my excitement with all of you.

NOTE: Also Looking for some new Sheepskin seat covers LOL

[tkellogg]

Trevor,

I don't know how I have missed seeing your project until tonight. I was a co pilot on a Beech 99 back in 1979 and have over 1,000 in the right seat. So I was very interested to see a project of the 99. I looked at your first post and saw the pictures of your aircraft and about fell out of my chair. The aircraft you bought was one of three Beech 99 aircraft that were operated by Air Kentucky Airlines in Owensboro Kentucky. The reason I know is that I flew for them in 1979 and 1980. I loved the time I flew that aircraft. Our flights were based in Owensboro and we serviced Nashville, Tennessee, Paducah, Louisville and Owensboro Kentucky. After I left they became and Allegheny commuter before they eventually went bankrupt. I have sent you a picture of what the paint scheme looked like before they became an Allegheny commuter. Also your aircraft has 2/3 chance that it was one of two separate incidents where 2 of the 3 aircraft landed gear up. The baggage compartment on the belly of the aircraft can take a lot of abuse. Best of luck to you.

[Trevor Hale]

This is just fantastic information.  I was hoping some day I would run into someone that would remember flying this aircraft.  With any luck someone can find N38AK in their logbook and I would actually get to see the entry.

I just want to bring it back to it's glory, As I said in my email she looks like she had a rough life, but I will bring it back to its former Glory.  What I found most interesting is as I go about running cables and controls, I find things like cigarette butts and newspaper clippings.  I even found some old "Flying Magazines" stuffed under the seat foam.  Its a neat feeling going over the aircraft, and sometimes when I sit in it, I can almost hear the voices and stories.  I know that sounds a little looney but, its pretty awesome.

Its not easy to get that aircraft smell into a wooden shell

Thanks for everything.

[tkellogg]

I have my logbook packed away somewhere. Once I locate it I will send you a copy of one of the pages.

[geeman47]

Cool story and what are the chances of this happening....pretty slim I would imagine.

Hmmmm, old aircraft smell.  Mix Jet A, lots of sweat, maybe a little musty from water leaks.  What else?

Don't mean to hijack this thread, it's a cool story!

[Trevor Hale]

I have my logbook packed away somewhere. Once I locate it I will send you a copy of one of the pages.

Fantastic,

That would be really cool.  I have the serial number plate, and to get the frames, with the log book page, and a pic of the aircraft would make an excellent piece of art.

[ETomlin]

VERY cool!

[Trevor Hale]

Cool story and what are the chances of this happening....pretty slim I would imagine.

Hmmmm, old aircraft smell.  Mix Jet A, lots of sweat, maybe a little musty from water leaks.  What else?

Don't mean to hijack this thread, it's a cool story!

Your not Hijacking it.  I want people to join in.  Its my project thread, so its all good.

Unfortunately there were some birds living in the plane before I got to it, so there is some other smells, but the hydraulic fluid, and fuel are a major scent.  Not enough to be harmful or distracting, just enough to add to the experience.

If I could only find a way to bottle it LOL.

[Trevor Hale]

Ok Guys.

Installed The first backer on the left side with the start and battery switches. Just the backer. It came from Eric Tomlin. Man do his panels look nice.

The light plate is next as soon as I order them.

Will work on the captain right side next.

Great stuff Eric. Just love them.

[shaneb]

Hi Trevor,

Just catching up on your build. . looking good!  Had to smile when I read the story of your Beech being based at one point  in my home state of Kentucky. Nice finding out about the history!  I don't have the complete airframe like you but I have most of the interior out of a Lear 45 that crashed in Telluride . . so far I have collected some photos of the aircraft prior to the crash and a few crash photos along with the NTSB report.  Fortunately both pilots survived. Once the sim is complete I plan on framing this information for visitors to see.  Its last flight was from Phoenix AZ to Telluride . . it crashed on landing.  So for the first official "cross country" flight of my sim . . I plan on flying from Phoenix to Telluride.   

[Trevor Hale]

Hi Shane,  That's the fun of it.  The history of these actual flight decks are very important.  I am glad that nobody passed away in the crash of your interior. That should mean good luck for your flights.

On a second note,  Can anyone tell me what the heck this button is?  I have searched and can't seem to identify it, and the part numbers on it don't turn up any searches. I was thinking it was an AML switch but it is more rectangle then it is Square.

Looking for help to identify it so I can replace it before I cover the Glare with the new Cloth.

[jackpilot]

Nice to see work in progress.
Restoring is much much more difficult than building and more time consuming.

Cool work!
Jack

[727737Nut]

Nice work!  Have you tried airliners.net for a picture of that annunciator?

[Trevor Hale]

Well I actually have the one, I am looking for the replacement for the other side   The space next to it is some sort of "Speed Control" gauge that mode B99's had them removed.  No idea what it was supposed to do. but when I recover I will go right over it.

Just the warning Annunciator I am trying to get for the FO side.

Trev

[shaneb]

Could it be a rectangular AML like this . . .

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rectangulor+aml+switch&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=D2702667A54E977C203150C494F3E0B63B8DB9EB&selectedIndex=8


Shane

[Trevor Hale]

That would probably work!  The one I have is long and all metal.  Has a manufacturers symbol on it, but I can't quite read it.  But thanks for the link, that may do the trick.

Trev

[ETomlin]

Great stuff Eric. Just love them.

Thanks Trevor, that is too kind. I appreciate the nice comments. I know you're excited to get back to work on your project! It's so much fun isn't it?!

[Trevor Hale]

Did some more work today. Installed the right side captains panel and wired the gear lights and gear handle light. Unfortunately the backer cracked in the lower left corner when I screwed it in. Grrr. The front plate will need some modification but man does this ever look good.

[Trevor Hale]

Well it isn't backlit panels. But it will get me through for a bit till I can get my front plates.
P-touch labels and hey the gear handle lights and my gear locked lights are working.

All I need now is something other than 737 instruments. Ha ha.

[Trevor Hale]

Wemac eyeball lights in the cabin are running. Haven't lit in 20+ years and they still work.

[Trevor Hale]

Thanks a million to RayS. My throttle Quad is almost done.

[727737Nut]

very cool!