Two questions on the BVM T-Bird, any help would be appreciated.

1. The removable tail option from BV...good thing? Will I end up paying $50 for three wood blocks and a bag of PolyPly screws?

2. I seem to remember (years ago) some talk of making the upper nose removable for some reason...does anyone else remember that?

Thanks for your help

Dave

The removeable tail option is very nice for the '33. It makes it alot easier to work on both during construction and after. Requires a good bit more work and excellent craftsmanship as well. The removeable upper nose was an option that BVM was suggesting on the F80 at one point. Although not a must, it would make things easier to work on up front as well. I have the F80 and the '33, would probably do the upper nose and aft option if building one myself. Hope this helps-Mike O.

Mike O, thanks for the reply. That is a big airplane if that fuse doesn't come apart. I think I will have to give it a go then. Is it CF rods similar to the F-100 (I've seen pics...Lt's salary doesn't go that far!)?

Hi, I have just aquired a used T-33 with the removable tail option. It is REALLY worth it as far as maintainance is concerned. It makes work on the flap servo area and the whole tail much easier. It also allows for easy removal of the outer tailpipe and inner pipe. It is made up of 4 CF rods that go into matching GFRP blocks. The rods are then secured with a 4-40 bolt that is in the sockets. Its not something that you would want to do for every day transport to the field though. (Also doesnt save that much space as the inner pipe that is attache to the bypass still is part of the front fuse.)
It would make infrequent transport much easier though. It also makes it much safer on the work bench to avoid lots of hangar rash. As far as apparance goes on mine you can barely tell the difference between the seperation and any of the panel lines. (To bad I didn't build it. Scott

Scott,
That's exactly the info I was looking for, thank you. It sounds like something that is worth doing. I'm stationed overseas right now, so it might make getting the plane home easier as well. Thanks again to Scott and Mike O

Dave

Dave, I think the T-33 tailpipe arrangement that Scott is referring to is the older design which has now been changed to allow the tailpipe to be removable from the rear of the plane after removing the two mounting bolts attached to the bypass. It was very difficult to service prior to this change but now it is much easier and there is really not anything that you cannot reach I don't think with the new design. There is really nothing back there except the connections to the rudder and elevator at the very back of the fuselage and removing that rear section is not going to help that servicability I don't think.
You might want to call BVM and ask before you do the extra work. Transporting the plane may be the only benefit now that the new design is in place.
I think I purchased one of the first tailpipes after this update was completed just this summer. GAry