Will Dago Rise Again?

[Mustang1957]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

just wanted to mension that the "TF" role For dago scares me abit.hope that's not true and she returns as a unlimited racer.

[Leo]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

The "rumor" or joke about Dago (or any racer for that matter) being turned into a TF is a reference to the fact that Stiletto was restored to TF configuration by a new owner a few years back. It's new ego, "Diamondback", was actually at Stead last week.
It gets batted around anytime one of these racers changes hands. If you think about it a pure racer is pretty much worthless as a sport plane.

[Lon Moer]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

Miss Foxy Lady/Sumthin' Else is now TF Crazy Horse 2.

[Leo]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

Doh!
Forgot that one...

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

I'm buying Dago with some partners, turning it into a radial TF, and naming it "Nacho Money"

[Leo]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

I'll see that and raise you a couple laughs!

[omalley1537]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

I'm buying Dago with some partners, turning it into a radial TF, and naming it "Nacho Money"

I'm nominating this for Internet post of the week. Priceless.

[Fence Sence]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

If started today, what would a realistic time frame be for putting Dago back together?

[mdwflyer]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

If started today, what would a realistic time frame be for putting Dago back together?

As $$ quickly $$ as $$ you $$ want $$ to $$ add $$ money $$ and $$ manpower $$. Less $$ = more time.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

If started today, what would a realistic time frame be for putting Dago back together?

With a ton of money and man power it could make Reno this year.

This was PM the third week of July 2011 and was racing in September with a crew of 5 or 6.

[GRNDP51]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

With a ton of money and man power it could make Reno this year.[ATTACH=CONFIG]21483[/ATTACH]

This was PM the third week of July 2011 and was racing in September with a crew of 5 or 6.

Exactly, if Hoffman has a crew ready and set aside all of his other tasks to focus day in and day out on racing Dago she could make Reno 2015. Something tells me getting her there isn't his top priority though...

[Fence Sence]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

That's assuming all is well with all the parts though? It would seem to me (completely unknowledgable) that it would take much longer a a couple months to thoroughly inspect every nut and bolt in that thing. It's sort of been kicked around and left outside like a redheaded stepchild for several years now. Obviously the more cubic $$$ you throw at it, the faster that process can occur. Realisticly though, say 5 knowledgeable guys with reasonable funding and an owner who decides after watching Reno this year that he wants to be there in 2016 with a true contender. Could they put a fast, safe, reliable craft on the ramp? Just how good or bad are the bones of Dago?

[Big_Jim]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

That's assuming all is well with all the parts though? It would seem to me (completely unknowledgable) that it would take much longer a a couple months to thoroughly inspect every nut and bolt in that thing. It's sort of been kicked around and left outside like a redheaded stepchild for several years now. Obviously the more cubic $$$ you throw at it, the faster that process can occur. Realisticly though, say 5 knowledgeable guys with reasonable funding and an owner who decides after watching Reno this year that he wants to be there in 2016 with a true contender. Could they put a fast, safe, reliable craft on the ramp? Just how good or bad are the bones of Dago?

The parts of the airframe are just fine. They have been stored indoors, clean and dry for several years now. But understand, when the airframe was taken apart to be 'scanned', all of the profiling filler was taken off as well. If you tried to do it THIS year, the airplane could be put back together, but it would be a 1982 version of what an air racer should look like. The wings would not be filled and profiled with bondo, they wouldn't be smooth, and the fuselage would be just as rough. Could you put an airworthy airframe together that would be able to run? Yes. But you wouldn't have a 500 mph racer. And unless the engine builder who was responsible for the 2008 race motor has been spending the last couple months rebuilding it and getting it ready, you're not going to have a Merlin that is going to power you either.


If you spent the next 15 months putting it back together and profiling it and getting it back into trim...yes, it could theoretically be on the ramp in 2016.

[wingman]

Re: Will Dago Rise Again?

Lockwood, Chris Wood and the rest of the MOF crew spent at least three years bringing the airplane from "1982 specs" to something that could run with Tiger and The Bear. That was with an essentially unlimited budget and starting with a solid and fully assembled Gold Race airframe. This Gold Racing thing is not as easy as it looks -- just ask the current Rare Bear crew, or look at Bob Button's efforts from 1995 to 2012...

Neal