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Press Release: For immediate release
Blue Thunder Air Racing
April 2008 report on "Blue II's" construction progress
 After
the never ending on-again off-again issue with the electrically
controlled fuel valve, Andair has agreed to provide a prototype model
with a considerable number of strings attached.
MT Propellers has an electrically controlled hydraulic propeller
governor, but only for 24-volt operation. We are still working on
getting one for 12 volts.
Electrically controlled (drive by wire) throttle bodies are available in
all sizes now and we are looking into how this could be integrated into
an aircraft application. The redundancy requirements may outweigh the
advantages.
 The
fuselage of “Blue II” was delivered without an electronics bay/baggage
door cutout on the left side. The picture shows the bagging of the mold
we are making for a bay door.
The rear canopy trolley is installed with only a slight modification to
raise the canopy higher off the deck while it is open. The rear trolley
support is modified to provide a complete closeout of the aft fuselage
deck.
 Stringer
flanges and the rear fuselage deck shear web have been added to carry
the tensional loads in the fuselage all the way back to the aft rudder
spar (bulkhead 247).
Work on the wing is continuing even though the fuel system is on hold
until we get the new fuel valve. The inner gear doors are fitted and
functioning. After three days and about 43 man hours of work trying to
develop an new hinge for the outer gear doors, I gave up and installed
them per the TBG supplement to the TM construction manual.
 The
picture below left shows the result of our foot well appendectomy and
the first step in the development of a Thunder Mustang with a
turbocharger engine. The additional engine compartment is required to
house the turbochargers.
The rudder pedal assembly is straight out of a Cessna and bolts right in
just forward of the up latches with plenty of room for the “chubby
little pilot”.
 For
now, the oil tank will be suspended on fabricated support fixtures in
the standard TM location.
Work on the normally aspirated engine for Blue II is continuing at RFI.
The new engine will have a new induction system, controlled by Motec M6
ECUs and the new six-segment oil pan and pump. Next month we should have
a picture of the new Falconer Engine configuration for Thunder Mustangs.
Thanks again for everyone’s support.
Jan and John Parker
www.bluethunderairracing.com
Press release: For immediate release
Blue Thunder Air Racing
March 23, 2008 report on “Blue II’s” construction progress.
Here it is deep into April and I am just now getting out the March
progress report. I must begin this report by wishing all of our
sponsors, fans, supporters and crew a belated Happy Easter.
 The
electronically operated remote fuel valve from Andair we promised to
show you in this month’s progress report still has not shown up yet. We
are quite disappointed with this delay, and if any of our friends going
to the Sun-N-Fun show, stop by the Andair booth and ask Andy, or Owen,
about the remotely operated fuel valves we have on order.
The hydraulic pump has arrived and we are setting up a test stand for it
on our hydraulic mule stand. All of the hydraulic plumbing forward of
the main wing spar has been installed except for the inner gear door
cylinder lines. I am sure all can recognize a high tech test stand
pictured at the left.
What appears to be a snake pit pictured below right are the push- pull
cables that will operate the flight controls. These cables eliminate a
considerable amount of complexity and weight, but probably not much
cost.
 Pictured
at the left is the tail wheel unlock assembly. The assembly electrically
unlocks the tail wheel with an over center latch to hold the wheel
unlocked when the power is off. A momentary lock, unlock switch is used
to control the assembly which includes a light indication when the tail
wheel is unlocked. We have not decided yet as to whether we will mount
the switch next to the gear lever or on the throttle.
Normally there is a very large gap between the lower wing skin and the
flap as designed by Papa 51. “Blue II” has a gap seal which will close
that gap and improve the aerodynamics of the under side of the wing as
well as effectiveness of the flaps.
 Hopefully
we will be able to have some news about the remote fuel valve after
Sun-N-Fun. As soon as the wing portion of the fuel system is finished we
can close out the wing.
We are doing a lot of work on “Blue II” that sometimes looks like very
small steps; however, we will have plenty to report on in the April
report.
Thanks again for everyone’s support.
Jan and John Parker
www.bluethunderairracing.com
Press release: For immediate release
Blue Thunder Air Racing February 22, 2008 Report on “Blue II’s”
construction progress:
 The electronically operated remote fuel valve we
promised to show you in this month’s progress report has not shown up
yet so, little work has been accomplished on the fuel system. We have
been unable to get a firm commitment from Andair as to when it will be
delivered other than they will have some at Sun-N-Fun.
Some additional hydraulic plumbing has been installed in the wing. The
Oildyne Power Pack we mentioned last month was ordered and is scheduled
for shipment next week. Our March report should include some pictures of
that unit as well as some additional system components.
Most of the work on “Blue II” this month has been on the fuselage. So
far, all of the parts have been trimmed and the bulkheads from the rear
seat back through station 247 have been installed. The dog house is
assembled and the radiators attached the spray bars are in place.
 The belly scoop has been partially assembled with only a very few
modifications.
Most Thunder mustang builders will recognize the considerable
modifications to the tail wheel bay station 192 – 220. One objective is
for this bay to be completely sealed except for the leakage around the
gear doors. A new tail wheel door retraction method is also in the works
so that the door operation will be more positive and secure eliminating
their opening in high speed flight.
With the entire tail wheel mechanism confined to aft of bulkhead 192,
the bay aft of station 168 is available for additional equipment and
remote electronics storage. The opening in bulkhead 168 has
 been
enlarged to provide access to this bay.
Next month I will be able to show some changes in the control systems we
are working on and the new electronic fuel selector valve as well as the
hydraulic power pack.
The final $14,286.87 payment on the engine that burned up in Blue was
sent out last week. Anyone is interested in helping out on that payment,
don’t hesitate to hit the PayPal button on our web site. Any amount is
appreciated.
Jan and I thank everyone for their continued support.
John & Jan Parker
www.bluethunderairracing.com
Press release: For immediate release
Blue Thunder Air Racing January 13, 2008 Report:
 Within
a week after the loss of Blue, the Team started collecting and
inventorying the Thunder Mustang parts we had collected as spare
parts. By air race time, we had a stabilizer built. December 5, 2007
saw the delivery of Bob Garrison’s complete Thunder Mustang kit,
which provided us with the entire Papa – 51 parts. You all know that
Blue had many updates to her, and Blue II will have even more.
To date, major progress has been made on the
wing. All the parts have been trimmed, ribs and spars installed, MLG
installed along with the flaps.
The hydraulic system will be powered by an
Oildyne power pack greatly reducing the complexity of the system and
some of that plumbing has been installed in the wing as well as the
brake lines.
 The
fuel system will have the same capacity, but the plumbing is
modified to eliminate all fuel lines and fittings from the cockpit.
We are waiting for our electronic fuel selector to arrive before any
additional fuel plumbing is done. We expect the selector sometime in
February.
Our accountant, the firm of Grant Thornton of
Reno has put the loss of Blue at one million dollars. The bad news
is that it will take about that much to complete Blue II. The good
news is that through the very generous contributions of good,
services, parts and money from all of our friends, fans, supporters,
and sponsors, we are at least 50% back to the million-dollar
objective. The road ahead is a lot of labor, along with the purchase
of parts not supplied in the TM kit. A $5,000.00 payment to the TBG
for the new PSRU cover plates for Blue and Blue II was due last
week. If anyone is interested in helping out on that payment, don’t
hesitate to hit the PayPal button on our web site. Any amount is
appreciated.
Next month I will be able to show some changes in
the control systems we are working on and maybe show you the new
electronic fuel selector.
John Parker
Press
release: For immediate publication
December 5, 2007
 Bob
Garrison has sold his complete Thunder Mustang kit to us in terms and
conditions that are so favorable to us it is like a gift. His kit will
become Blue Thunder II. We owe Bob more THANKS than anyone could
imagine.
An ABF truck arrived at the AAR facility today at about 0920 with
the Blue II kit on board. With the help of the Blue Crew and our airport
volunteers, the unloading began.
By 1230 the truck was unloaded and the crew broke for lunch, and a
celebration that the Blue Thunder II kit was on the property.
 With
all the support we have, we should have Blue II far enough along in the
construction process that she can be “a roller” by Thunderstorm 2008.
The next event for the Blue Thunder Racing Team and the Thunder
Builders Group is to support George Giboney with “Rapid Travel” at the
Pylon Racing School in June 2008.
Press release:
For immediate publication
September 5, 2007
Blue Report:
As you all
know by now, the Blue Thunder Air Racing Team suffered a devastating
blow with the loss of Blue Thunder in a sage brush fire after an aborted
take off on Labor Day, September 3, 2007. The decision to abort was
based on an instrumentation failure. In the attempt to stop, the brakes
over heated and became minimally effective. Standing beside her,
watching Blue Thunder burn up was the most heart wrenching time of our
lives. Blue Thunder may not have had a heartbeat but she had a soul,
and the blood, sweat, and love that so many people have put into her
made her something more than an inanimate object. The outpouring of
condolences has been overwhelming, coming from thousands of Blue
Thunder’s fans, friends, sponsors, competitors, and supporters. Many
from sources we don’t know.
The
question is, what is next for the Blue Thunder Crew? The crew and I have
never looked back, never stopped, never given up, always supported any
racing team when asked for help as well as all the Thunder Mustangs. So
that is how things are going to continue. Thunder Storm 2007 is still on
as well as 2008.
In the
coming days and weeks we will be consulting with our friends and
sponsors to clearly define a plan for the next Thunder Mustang. We are
asking all of our fans and sponsors to stay with us as we go forward
with our next project which will be a benefit for us all.
Thank you for your continued support,
John
Parker
Blue Thunder Air Racing
You Can Help Us Return Blue Thunder To The Air!
The hair on your neck is standing straight up. Your
eyes strain as you stare, closely observing shimmering objects in the
distance. You feel your muscles tighten; you feel the electricity in the air.
Amongst the wind, your ears begin to detect the faint sound of shear,
raw, unimaginable horsepower, echoing off the distant mountains. The faint
sound turns into symphonic vibrations of harmony, ever increasing in
intensity. Your eyes now have a lock on multiple, winged-crafts
splitting the boundary between sky and earth, and turning. The
mechanical music still grows, your muscles tighter, your eyes widen. The
rush of power blasts by in a shattering roar as the thunder travels
through your ears and down to your feet, then another, and another and
still more. As the sound fades, the crafts grow small, but the intensity
remains. Your heart pounding, your adrenaline flowing, your body
shaking, you have just
witnessed the first lap, of an air race.
We get the same feeling. Blue Thunder
Air Racing Team is a dedicated group of professionals who campaign a
Thunder Mustang at the Reno Air Races in the Sport Division. They have
been involved with air racing for nearly 40 years. Our team is determined to see the expansion of air
racing to encompass more people, places, and sponsors. We believe
through increased exposure comes increased interest. That is why we need
your help.
With your support, air racing will grow to
have events throughout the country. With your
interest, more people will be exposed to the sport and become fans. With
your participation, you will see why so many people have become
completely committed and addicted to this unique sport.
To some, it's a sport. To us it's a way of life.
Blue Thunder Air Racing supports our men and women in
uniform.
Blue Thunder Air Racing would like to
thank its sponsors; their generous support makes it all possible.
Please take a
moment to visit their websites and see how they may assist you:
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