There's always someone with a camera

[QuietOne]

...said Brian (the one with the hammer and the stake)

[Matt K.]

Not sure exactly what they are doing .. but it looks like they might need some duct tape and chicken wire ... What kind of plane is this? Looks like a fighter jet of sorts ....

[QuietOne]

It's the Mig that was delivered recently. One of the straps was between the edge of the flap and the fuselage. When the plane was set down and the wood blocks that were between the strap and the metal were slid out, it became obvious that the strap was stuck. They had this silly notion that they could get the strap loose without damage to the strap or the plane. Once it became apparent that the strap would never be the same, Mike just cut it with a box knife above the wing and pulled it out from underneath. But it was great fun watching them try various hammers and pliers before they gave it up.

[Matt K.]

Ahhh, a Mig. Wonderful .. it always amazes me that this stuff is held together by rivets. I remember way back when I took a triple prop plane over the English Chanel and saw the rivets vibrating as the throttle was fully engaged for take off ... and I wondered ....

[QuietOne]

it always amazes me that this stuff is held together by rivets.

Mike says he knows of 2 WWII planes that were spot welded. Brian said most of the crop duster mechanics love them Russian planes, because they're basically tractors with wings.

I remember way back when I took a triple prop plane over the English Chanel and saw the rivets vibrating as the throttle was fully engaged for take off ... and I wondered ....

3 engines or 3 blades on a prop? What were you flying?