Last of Chinese Demo Team Aircraft Begins Restoration

Welcome to the Worldwide Warbirds 8120C blog! We hope you will follow along with us as we complete the last of 4 historically significant Nanchang CJ-6A's from the Chinese military demo team.

In 2007 Worldwide Warbirds, Inc. took possession of 4 Nanchang CJ-6A's that were used for a Chinese military demo team. These aircraft came to us in the exact condition they were flown in China. These airplanes were all very low time, late model airframes, which is why we decided to pick them up when they became available. This plane, N8120C, is the last of those aircraft and is beginning an extensive restoration by us at this time.

When we acquired the aircraft they were outside of Seattle, WA. We contracted with Peter Houghton (who takes care of Paul Allen's warbird fleet and had previous assembly experience with CJ's) to assemble and certified the aircraft (which includes a full inspection of the entire aircraft). We then flew them for about 15 hours, including the cross country from Seattle down to Chino, and  began our basic restoration process as time allowed. The aircraft came to us in nearly the identical condition it was flown in by the Chinese.

When the customer purchased this aircraft early this month, the following work had been done.

1. All Chinese radios and associated equipment and wiring removed
2. Cockpit lighting removed and lights refurbished (bead blasted, repainted, and assembled with CAD hardware).
3. Chinese smoke system removed
4. Aircraft exterior stripped of paint, body work done, and primered for paint of customer's choice.
5. Flight controls removed and recovered with ceconite and brought up through primer.
6. All exterior panel screws removed and all nut plates chased
7. Wing walk removed and wing structure inspected (known structural weakness)
8. Canopies removed, tube frames bead blasted, hardware Cad plated, and tube frames primered.
9. Cockpits completely disassembled. All gauges sent out for refurbishment and rescreening with range markings in english. All control levers removed for refurbishment. All lever guards removed and painted. Switch guards sent out for chrome. All knobs removed for cosmetic refurbishment.
10. Cockpits sanded, prepped, and painted in medium grey.
11. Landing gear completely stripped of paint. Hardware sent out for plating.
12. Wheel wells stripped and painted in light grey.
13. Rubber hoses replaced with new throughout aircraft
14. Rear brake override switch deactivated.
15. Installed Oil Cooler FOD screen and winterization kit.
16. Remove and pressure test air bottles
17. R&R all pitot static lines and complete pitot/static certification (accomplished at time of delivery)
18. All lightning hole covers in tail feathers covered with fabric (reduce drag and improve appearance)

The customer came to us looking for a show quality restoration and has engaged us for the following scope of work:

FIREWALL FORWARD

• Replace Engine with 12 SNEW Housai H6A (285 h.p.). Engine to receive full cosmetic detail by WW prior to installation (full case, cylinder and baffle paint and detail).
• Cosmetic detail firewall forward to include painting of firewall in light grey, powder coat and paint all casings, accessories, etc. C0lor scheme midnight blue, yellow (oil) and red (fuel).
• Install intake drain kit (eases preflight)
• Install solenoid and lines for electric prime/boost pump.
• Install ADC Oil filter with chip detector (includes flushing of oil cooler)
• New stainless steel exhaust

AIRFRAME

• Install Extended Range Fuel Tanks (60 gallons total)
• Install strut and air filler adapters to US schrader valves
• Install new battery tray (will have room for smoke system at future date)
• Install large baggage compartment
• Install new wing walk with doubler
• Exterior shine package includes: chroming of cowl latches, step, tail skid, and gear leg light bezels, and polishing of pitot tube.
• CO reduction kit (consists of 4 panels being louvered on belly and tail)
• New US Canopies with Malcom Hood front and WW exclusive one piece rear slider. UV blocking tint.
• US Nosewheel conversion
• New tires
• Install Antennas for Comm and ILS capabilities.
• Replace all control cables.

ELECTRICAL

• Remove all Chinese wiring and rewire airframe with 28v system. (This was done due to extensive electronic/avionic upgrades that made this the most sensible route for the customer to take.)
• Install B&C alternator and voltage regulator
• Install Whelen Strobes with comet flash
• Install 3 axis electric trim with Infinity stick grip control
• Rewire main switch panel

AVIONICS

• Custom front and rear instrument panels with Dynon D-100 EFIS with Auto Pilot, battery backup, and super bright screen (customer still considering Flight Dek D-180 for engine monitoring).
• Garmin SL-30 Nav/Comm
• Garmin 396 GPS
• Garmin GTX 327 transponder
• PS Engineering 1200 Intercom
• PS Engineering MB-10 Marker Beacon
• Custom right side panel for circuit breakers and AP control module
• Custom right instrument sub panel for TBD

COCKPITS

• repaint in medium grey
• interior shine package including: chrome control sticks and machined brake handles, chrome switch guards, chrome map holder, polished stick boot frames, and polished gear and flap handles.
• Standard WW cockpit refurbishment. Includes: all gauges refurbished and rescreened with US range markings, metal placard set for both cockpits, and all knobs refurbished.
• Install WW exclusive rudder pedal extension brackets in front cockpit.
• Replace mechanical primer with electric prime/boost pump. Eliminates both mechanical wobble pump and primer from cockpit.

PAINT

TBD at this time. Flying Tigers AVG and Marine Corsair schemes being considered.

We are very excited to be engaged in this project and will make regular updates to the blog as we progress. Thanks for checking in!