Robert Baetke's Images and Text - Thanks Robert!

	The airplane was "staged" at the Washington County Fairgrounds while the salvage crews removed the engines and many of the parts that could be resold as "flight ready".
	The Boeing 727 has 3 engines. [] Here the starboard engine has been removed and the center engine is being prepared for removal.
	The rear stairway of the Boeing 727 was made famous by D.B. Coopers' infamous escape by lowering the stairs in flight and parachuting out of the plane with the ransom money he received from the airline. He has never been found but some of the money washed up on the shore of the Columbia River a few years ago. Most people believe he did not survive the jump. [], the stairway will be the main entrance to Bruce's new home.
	After ascending the stairs, this is the view looking forward. To the left is a head and the aft galley.
	During the salvage operation, Bruce stayed with the plane almost around the clock for safety and security.
	The interior of the 727 will provide Bruce with over 1000 square feet of living space once the seats are removed.
	The "Front Office", where the pilot and copilot do their work. This will eventually be Bruces home office, complete with computer displays where the instruments are located.
	The pilot's overhead control panel.
	Close-up of the co-pilots controls and instruments.
	The Flight Engineer's console.
	To make more room available inside, the overhead bins had to be removed. This involved disconnecting the lights, call buttons, oxygen masks, sound system, and air conditioning.
	Before transporting the airplane on surface streets it would be necessary to remove the tail section. All three engines have been removed and a ladder placed to allow Bruce to climb up into the intake tube for the #2 engine.
	Here's Bruce climbing up the "S-tube". The metal vanes are vortex generators placed on the inside radii of the S-tube to reduce turbulence within the engine duct.
	He made it to the top! You get a good idea of the size of the airplane by seeing Bruce hanging out the engine inlet, something you won't see at the airport!
	The tail has been cut off and the S-tube is lying in the foreground.
	Here's the tail section. The seats were stacked up under the horizontal stabilizer to keep the tail assembly steady. This was a very cold and windy week.
	The starboard wing has been cut off and laid on the ground. Notice the tail section in the background.
	The starboard wing root after the wing was cut off.
	The port wing root after wing removal. Notice that the landing gear has been retracted and the plane is resting on the cribbing in preparation for moving day.
	Close-up of the port wing after it was cut off.
	This is what the plane looks like after having its wings "clipped". This was necessary to transport the airplane over surface streets. The wings and tail will be re-attached when the plane reaches its final destination.
	Transport cribbing under the nose.

Copyright 24 June 2002, Howard Bruce Campbell, AirplaneHome.com.

Contact Information AirplaneHome, Airplane Home, Aircraft Home, Boeing 727 Home, Boeing Home, Airplane House, Aircraft House, Boeing 727 House, Boeing House. UCECage@AirplaneHome.com. Report mail misconduct to UCE@FTC.gov.