A-36 Apache

A-36 Invader, A.A.C. s/n 42-83738, N.A.A. s/n 15956 will be one of three in existence and one of two currently flying when it is out of restoration.

Sid Smith & The A-36A When Sid Smith owned the A-36 back in the late 60’s and early 70’s the plane was converted to a “D” model scoop, dog house and radiator along with the conversion of the early model gear legs to the later style leg.

Cockpit & Instrument Panel

Modern Avionics The radios will be removable when at airshows to retain the A-36’s original appearance inside.

Interior Wiring And Conduits

SCR-695-A Control Box The SCR-695-A Control Box was modified to accept and “hide” the Becker radio circuit breakers while still being accesseble to the pilot during flight.

Hiding The Circuit Breakers

Rolling Radio Rack The rolling radio rack and its radios were used to hide the modern components.

The Radiator The A-36 originally used a radiator built from Rich Low Brass and similar in style to oil coolers of that time. AAS is currently working with Erik Hokuf of Air Corps Aviation in building a radiator to its original specs for use in the A-36 and retaining its originallity.

Radiator Fixture

adiator Outlet Tube & Tank Fabrication The outlet tube was fabricated and held in place by three supports at the bottom of the radiator, the inlet tanks were pressed out of form blocks and installed in the upper end of the radiator.

Radiator End Plates New end plates were fabricated for the radiator using the CNC.

Cooling Tubes Radiator cooling tubes that will be used in the fabrication of the radiator.

Cooling Tubes Radiator cooling tubes that will be used in the fabrication of the radiator.

Milling Radiator Core Tube Fixture The milling machine was set up to drill and ream to end plates that will hold the core tubes of the radiator.

Cooling Tube Fixtures The cooling tubes will be assembled in a fixture with a template that profiles the core sections of the radiator. Once the core blocks are assembled they will be pressed into the shells of the radiator.

Baking The Core After assembly the core was baked in its fixture

Finished Radiator Core Segment

Radiator Core & Shell Assembly

Pressure Check Of New Core Assemblies

Coolant & Oil Lines Since the coolant and oil lines are built for each aircraft, new parts had to be fabricated for the Allison on the A-36.

Fabricating Parts During the restoration many missing parts were manufactured using Gibbs Cam software and our HASS CNC.

Fuel Fittings Gibbs Cam drawing of one of the fuel fittings.

Fuel Check Valves New fuel check valves were drawn and manufactured using original parts and drawings from N.A.A. on the CNC.

Wing Assembly American Aero’s P-51 wing fixture was being used to build up Selby Burch’s “D” model wing while the A-36 was being restored. It was decided to have Cal-Pacific build the A-36 wing at their facility so the project wouldn’t be waiting an extended period of time.

Fuelcell Installation & Plumbing

Wing Prep & Prime After the wing arrived the fuel bladders were installed and plumbed. The wing was then primed and filled per N.A.A. specifications. The A-36 wing tip extensions are diffrent then the later P-51 since the extension and tip are riveted together permenantly.

Assembly The mating of the fuselage and wing.

Fuselage & Wing

A-36 Cooling Scoop

Lower Radiator Skins

Lower Radiator Closeout With IFF Lights

Recessed Fasteners For IFF Panel

Ailerons The A-36 has ailerons that are much more complex then the later version Mustangs. The aileron consists of more parts and a much tighter leading edge roll. Our “D” model aileron fixtures were re-fitted to accept the build up of the earlier ailerons.

Aileron Build Up

Flaps The flaps are the same as the later model Mustang

Assembly Of The Flaps The flaps were built in our existing fixtures by Tom and Linda.

Fitting & Hanging The Flaps

Wing To Fuselage Fairings The wing to fuselage fairings along with the elephant ears were built in house by Linda and Steve.

Fabricating New Wing Fairings

Interior Paint & Markings Throughout the airframe the correct color primers, markings and bare anodized skins were used.

Wing & Wheel Well Details

Right Hand Wheel Well

Wheel Well Data Plates

Firewall Bulkhead

Hydraulics All of the hydraulic components have been overhauled and restored to represent factory components using inspection stamps, brass safety wire and lead seals.

Cowl Frame Work The newly fabricated cowling will be fitted to the frame work around the engine.

Lower Cowling Fabrication The entire A-36A cowling was fabricated in house from aluminum and stainless steel. The lower sections are split into left and right halves so you can access the guns and ammo box’es.

Cowling Fabrication & Spot Welding All doublers and hat sections were installed with spot welds like the originals.

Fabricating Left & Right Lower Gun Cowlings Steve and Linda fabricated all of the lower cowling in house, while Ashley fabricated the upper induction trunk.

Pre Oiler & Nose Gun Ammo Boxes

Fabricating Nose Ammo Boxes

Spent Ammo & Link Catch Box

Lower Cowling After the skins were fabricated, doublers and hat sections were added like the original damaged pieces.

Upper Cowl Fabrication Loft drawings were used to build a fixture for the fabrication of the upper cowl.

Upper Cowling Skin Fabrication

Upper Cowling & Induction Trunk

Lefthand Cowl Fabrication

Forward Lower Transition Of The Cowl

Fabrication Of Forward Gun Cowl The A-36 has a two piece cowl in front to access the guns

Fitting The M2’s Two of the 50’s are installed in the nose with their ammo boxes and their link and spent shell catch box.

Fabricating M2 Barrel Fairings

Fabricated Nose M2 Blast Tubes

Blast Tubes Installed

Curtiss Electric Propeller

Wing Ammo Boxes The original boxes didn’t excist so four new ones were fabricated

New Decals For Shell Loading