My dad volunteers at an air museum in upstate NY which has an A-7E in their collection, I believe on loan from Pensacola. Apparently, they were informed that one of the conditions of the loan is that they keep the cockpit ventilated to avoid condensation. This hasn't been done. The staff is a bunch of retired folks for the most part, and some people are arguing to just cut a hole somewhere to complete the requirement. My dad is trying to find a way to do this without taking a hacksaw to an old jet.
We talked on the phone about the basics of how ECS systems and pressurization work. I'm sure a lot (if not all) of the valves are electrically operated, and also that a decommissioned engineless jet which has surely been stripped for parts probably wouldn't take ground power. Thus I thought the best way to get the ventilation was for him to yank the cockpit ram air and pressure relief valves completely out to get free airflow. But not having ever flown or worked on A-7s, I was wondering if anyone here could enlighten us as to how one could acquire the requisite maintenance pubs to do so? Do NATOPS and maintenance pubs fall under FOIA? Would the museum in P-cola have them? Or have they all been shredded when the Corsairs all went to the boneyard?
We talked on the phone about the basics of how ECS systems and pressurization work. I'm sure a lot (if not all) of the valves are electrically operated, and also that a decommissioned engineless jet which has surely been stripped for parts probably wouldn't take ground power. Thus I thought the best way to get the ventilation was for him to yank the cockpit ram air and pressure relief valves completely out to get free airflow. But not having ever flown or worked on A-7s, I was wondering if anyone here could enlighten us as to how one could acquire the requisite maintenance pubs to do so? Do NATOPS and maintenance pubs fall under FOIA? Would the museum in P-cola have them? Or have they all been shredded when the Corsairs all went to the boneyard?
