January 1997 Vol 25 No1

CONTENTS 1 Straight amp Level

Espie Butch Joyce

2 AlC NewsHG Frautschy

3 Aeromail

4 AlC VolunteersTrisha Dorlac

7 Robert Davis Contemporary 310shyNorm Petersen

8 The Child And The Plane William Whiting

EDITORIAL STAFF

Publisher Tom Poberezny

Edltor-in-Chief Jack Cox

Editor Henry G Frautschy

Managing Editor Golda Cox

Art Director Mike Drucks

Computer Graphic Specialists Olivia L Phillip Jennifer Larsen

Mary Premeau

Associate Editor Norm Petersen

Feature Writer Dennis Parks

Staff Photographers Jim Koepnick LeeAnn Abrams

Ken Lichtenburg

AdvertisingEditorial Assistant Isabelle Wiske

EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC OFFICERS

President Vice-President Espie Butch Joyce George Daubner

PO Box 35584 2448 Lough Lane Greensboro NC 27425 Hartford WI 53027

910393-0344 414673-5885 Secretary Treasurer

Steve Nesse Chanes Harris 2009 Highland Ave 7215 East 46th St

Alberl Lea MN 5tXJ7 Tulsa OK 74145 507373-1674 918622-8400

DIRECTORS John Berendt

Gene Morris 7645 Echo Point Rd 115C Steve Court RR 2 Cannon Falls MN 55009 Roanoke TX 76262507263-2414

817491middot9110Phil Coulson Robert C Bob Brauer28415 Springbrook Dr 9345 S HoyneLawton MI 49065

Chicago IL 60620616624-6490 3121779-2105 Joe Dickey John S Copetand 55 Oakey Av 28-3 Williamsburg Ct

Lawrenceburg IN 47025 Shrewsbury MA 01545812537-9354 508842-78676

Dale A Gustafson Stan Gomoll 7724 Shady Hill Dr 1042 90th Lane NE

Indianapolis IN 46278 Minneapolis MN 55434 317293-4430 612784-1172

Robert Uckteig Jeannie Hill 1708 Bay Oaks Dr PO Box 328Albert Lea MN 5tXJ7

Harvard IL 60033507373-2922 815943-7205

Dean Richardson Roberl D Bob Lumley 6701 Colony Dr

1265 South 124th StMadison WI 53717 Brookfield WI 53005608833-1291 414782-2633

SH Wes Schmid Geoff Robison2359 Lefeber Avenue 1521 E MacGregor DrWauwatosa WI 53213 New Haven IN 46774

414771-1545 219493-4724

George York 181 Sioboca Av

Mansfield OH 44906 419529-4378

DIRECTOR EMERITUS EE Buck Hilbert

PO Box 424 Union IL601SO 815923-4591

ADVISORS Steve Krog Roger Gomoll

930 Tara HL E 3238 Vicorio Sf N Hartford WI 53027 St Paul MN 55126

414966-7627 612484-2303

Page 9 9 The Dating MachinelBob Higgins

12 Trimotor C-3 Norm Petersen

13 Clipped - Wing Cubs HG Frautschy

19 Fancy Pants PA-H HG Frautschy and Norm Petersen

22 What Our Members Are RestoringiNorm Petersen

24 Oshkosh-If We Could Do It Lynn Pinson

26 Pass It To Buck EE Buck Hilbert

28 Mystery Plane HG Frautschy

30 Welcome New Members Calendar

31 Vintage TraderMembershipInformation

Canon EOS-l n equipped with an 80-200mm lens 1250 sec ilIon 100 ASA slide film Cessna 210 photo plane fiown by Bruce Moore

BACK COVER Heres the other Clipped-Wing Cub at Sun n Fun 96 restored and flown

bullbull by Scott Gross and his friend Bill Hadden along with Scotts brother Steve Trimmed as a bull regular Cub you need to check out the shorter wings before you realize this is no ordinary

Cub EAA photo by Jim Koepnick Shot with a Canon EOS-l n equipped with an 80shy200mm lens 160 sec f200n l00ASA slide film Cessna 210 photo plane flown by Bruce Moore

Copyright copy 1997 by the EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc All rights reserved VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) is published and owned exclusively by the EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc of the Experimental Aircraft Association and is published monthly at EAA Aviation Center 3000 POberezny Rdbull PO Box 3086 Oshkosh Wisconsin 54903-3086 Periodicals Postage paid at Oshkosh Wisconsin 54901 and at addional mailing offices The membership rate for EAA AntiquelClassic Division Inc is $2700 for current EAA members for 12 month period of which $1500 0 for lhe publication of VINTAGE AIRPLAiNE Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation POSTMASTER Send address changes 10 EAA AntiqueClassic Division Incbull PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 FOREIGN AND APO ADDRESSES - Please allow alleast two months for delivery of VINTAGE AIRPLANE to foreign and APO addresses via surlace mail ADVERTISING- AntiqueClassic Division does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through the advertising We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained lhrough our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken EDITORIAL POLICY Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs Policy opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors Responsibilny for accuracy in reporting rests entirely with the contributor No renumeration 0 made Material should be sent to Edor VINTAGE AIRPLANE PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 Phone 414426-4800

The words EAA ULTRALIGHT FLY WITH THE FIRST TEAM SPORT AVIATION and the logos of EAA EAA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB WARBIRDS OF AMERICA are reg registered trademarns THE EAA SKY SHOPPE and logos of the EAA AVIATION FOUNDATION and EAA ULTRALIGHT CONVENTION are trademarns of the above associations and their use by any person other than the above association is strictly prohibed

Page 13

Page 19

FRONT COVER Janeen and Dennis Kochan swing their newly restored Clipped-Wing Cub across the shore of one of the many lakes surrounding the Winter Haven FL region of central Florida The Reed Clipped-Wing conversion of the Cub has been a popular modification of the airplane for over 30 years EM photo by Jim Koepnick Shot with a

STRAIGHT amp LEVEL

With the beginning of 1997 were just a short distance from the year 2000 We can look back just a few to all the years with a seven in them - 07 17273747 57677787 When looking at these dates you and I might think of one major

event that happened during that time I was around in 1947 but I do not remember much as I was only three at the time

I can recall that my father owned a new Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser When he would put the Cruiser back into the T -hangar located in our back yard I would walk on the tire holding onto the strut One day I fell off of the tire and the airplane ran over me When mother got through with Dad he felt a lot worse than I did - it hardly scratched me

Lets see 1957 was the year that I was beginning to date girls and was getting into muscle cars My father had just bought a brand new Piper Tri-Pacer our first nose gear airplane When he brought it home he and Mom were in a hurry to leave for a dinner with some friends so he entrusted me to put his brand new Tri-Pacer away in the T -hangar I got the tow bar out something I had never seen before and hooked it up So we wouldnt damage anything on the airplane we carefully lined everything up before we began and with the help of some of my football buddies we proceeded to push the airplane back into the hangar Well the hangar was built when we had only taildraggers That tall tail of the Tri-Pacer was higher than the top of the T-hangar doorway Crunch The rudder hit the front beam of the hangar bending the rudder and knocking off the rotating beacon perched on top of the rudder

As you might have already guessed I caught H- L over this - we had never owned a rotating beacon before It was a good thing I did not do anything to our new Narco VHT-3 radio

While cleaning out some old papers lately I came across some paperwork that is related to this Tri-Pacer In a 1957 Carolina Aero Club membership directory is an article entitled How To Live With Control Towers Heres the first paragraph

There are only about 180 airport control towers operated by the CAA in the United States Many nonprofessional pilots actually fear these towers and everything they stand for and go out of their way to land at small outlying airports just to avoid trying to cope with that terrifYing monster the Control Tower

The article does go on to try and educate pilots how to cope with their perceived problem It was quite enlightening

Also I found my Dads insurance policy he carried on this Tri-Pacer in the late 1950s He had $30000000 of liability with $2500000 of passenger coverage The years premium for this was $63500 On another policy he had $1300000 worth of all-risk hull coverage Heres the amazing part about that transaction - the premium for one year for the hull coverage was $120000 Some things have gotten better in aviation I would go on to fly this Tri-Pacer N7006B for more than 1000 hours before it was sold

by Espie Butch Joyce

The next ten years would see the most aircraft ever manufactured and put into service

1967 would find me as a member of the U S Army in the Special Forces Green Berets I lost my Father that year and the Tri-Pacer was sold It wasnt a great year so theres not much more that I want to say about that time period

By 1977 I had two great daughters a business that was going great a Beech D-35 and I had discovered how much fun it is to be a volunteer at Oshkosh for the EAA

1987 - I moved up to a Beech Baron B-55 and was on the EAA AntiqueClassic Board of Directors Id made a lot of new great friends working as an EAA volunteer

1997 finds me writing another Straight amp Level article for your VINTAGE AIRPLANE and president of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division a duty that I really love

Throughout the year EAA and all of the EAA Divisions shyAntiqueClassic Warbirds of America and the International Aerobatic Club - will be recognizing the volunteers efforts Tom Poberezny in his December Homebuilders Comer in Sport Aviation wrote a letter to the Division presidents concerning this recognition effort He wrote

As you know throughout 1997 a major emphasis will be placed upon recognizing and thanking the thousands of volunteers who essentially have made EAA what it is today The celebration ofEAA volunteerism will be a major theme at Oshkosh 97 as well as Sun n Fun Details and plans will be forthcoming

Should any of you AntiqueClassic members have any volunteer stories or photos we would like to hear from you as soon as you can so other members can learn about the help that you and your friends give to the AlC Division Trisha Dorlac is authoring a series of articles underscoring the efforts put forth by the volunteer corps at EAA Oshkosh And of course shes doing it as a volunteer

Volunteerism is not confmed to that effort at Oshkosh but is found throughout the year by individuals helping the EAA movement If youre wondering how remember the individuals who help with the Young Eagles program and the local Chapter officers and members

The Officers and Directors of your AntiqueClassic Division would like for you to know that your Division has over 10000 members We feel your magazine VINTAGE AIRPLANE is the best that it has ever been and that your volunteer help is more important ever This year your AntiqueClassic Division will be looking at replacing the tents now used for the Type Club Headquarters and the AC Workshop with a more permanent structure News of what we are doing along this line will be forthcoming after your Board of Directors meeting in February at Oshkosh

One of the greatest things that you can do for your AntiqueClassic Division is to speak about the Division with your friends in aviation Let them know what your Division has to offer and lend them a copy of Vintage Airplane Lets all pull in the same direction for the good of aviation Remember we are better together Join us and have it all

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 1

STRAIGHT amp LEVEL

With the beginning of 1997 were just a short distance from the year 2000 We can look back just a few to all the years with a seven in them - 07 17273747 57677787 When looking at these dates you and I might think of one major

event that happened during that time I was around in 1947 but I do not remember much as I was only three at the time

I can recall that my father owned a new Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser When he would put the Cruiser back into the T -hangar located in our back yard I would walk on the tire holding onto the strut One day I fell off of the tire and the airplane ran over me When mother got through with Dad he felt a lot worse than I did - it hardly scratched me

Lets see 1957 was the year that I was beginning to date girls and was getting into muscle cars My father had just bought a brand new Piper Tri-Pacer our first nose gear airplane When he brought it home he and Mom were in a hurry to leave for a dinner with some friends so he entrusted me to put his brand new Tri-Pacer away in the T -hangar I got the tow bar out something I had never seen before and hooked it up So we wouldnt damage anything on the airplane we carefully lined everything up before we began and with the help of some of my football buddies we proceeded to push the airplane back into the hangar Well the hangar was built when we had only taildraggers That tall tail of the Tri-Pacer was higher than the top of the T-hangar doorway Crunch The rudder hit the front beam of the hangar bending the rudder and knocking off the rotating beacon perched on top of the rudder

As you might have already guessed I caught H- L over this - we had never owned a rotating beacon before It was a good thing I did not do anything to our new Narco VHT-3 radio

While cleaning out some old papers lately I came across some paperwork that is related to this Tri-Pacer In a 1957 Carolina Aero Club membership directory is an article entitled How To Live With Control Towers Heres the first paragraph

There are only about 180 airport control towers operated by the CAA in the United States Many nonprofessional pilots actually fear these towers and everything they stand for and go out of their way to land at small outlying airports just to avoid trying to cope with that terrifYing monster the Control Tower

The article does go on to try and educate pilots how to cope with their perceived problem It was quite enlightening

Also I found my Dads insurance policy he carried on this Tri-Pacer in the late 1950s He had $30000000 of liability with $2500000 of passenger coverage The years premium for this was $63500 On another policy he had $1300000 worth of all-risk hull coverage Heres the amazing part about that transaction - the premium for one year for the hull coverage was $120000 Some things have gotten better in aviation I would go on to fly this Tri-Pacer N7006B for more than 1000 hours before it was sold

by Espie Butch Joyce

The next ten years would see the most aircraft ever manufactured and put into service

1967 would find me as a member of the U S Army in the Special Forces Green Berets I lost my Father that year and the Tri-Pacer was sold It wasnt a great year so theres not much more that I want to say about that time period

By 1977 I had two great daughters a business that was going great a Beech D-35 and I had discovered how much fun it is to be a volunteer at Oshkosh for the EAA

1987 - I moved up to a Beech Baron B-55 and was on the EAA AntiqueClassic Board of Directors Id made a lot of new great friends working as an EAA volunteer

1997 finds me writing another Straight amp Level article for your VINTAGE AIRPLANE and president of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division a duty that I really love

Throughout the year EAA and all of the EAA Divisions shyAntiqueClassic Warbirds of America and the International Aerobatic Club - will be recognizing the volunteers efforts Tom Poberezny in his December Homebuilders Comer in Sport Aviation wrote a letter to the Division presidents concerning this recognition effort He wrote

As you know throughout 1997 a major emphasis will be placed upon recognizing and thanking the thousands of volunteers who essentially have made EAA what it is today The celebration ofEAA volunteerism will be a major theme at Oshkosh 97 as well as Sun n Fun Details and plans will be forthcoming

Should any of you AntiqueClassic members have any volunteer stories or photos we would like to hear from you as soon as you can so other members can learn about the help that you and your friends give to the AlC Division Trisha Dorlac is authoring a series of articles underscoring the efforts put forth by the volunteer corps at EAA Oshkosh And of course shes doing it as a volunteer

Volunteerism is not confmed to that effort at Oshkosh but is found throughout the year by individuals helping the EAA movement If youre wondering how remember the individuals who help with the Young Eagles program and the local Chapter officers and members

The Officers and Directors of your AntiqueClassic Division would like for you to know that your Division has over 10000 members We feel your magazine VINTAGE AIRPLANE is the best that it has ever been and that your volunteer help is more important ever This year your AntiqueClassic Division will be looking at replacing the tents now used for the Type Club Headquarters and the AC Workshop with a more permanent structure News of what we are doing along this line will be forthcoming after your Board of Directors meeting in February at Oshkosh

One of the greatest things that you can do for your AntiqueClassic Division is to speak about the Division with your friends in aviation Let them know what your Division has to offer and lend them a copy of Vintage Airplane Lets all pull in the same direction for the good of aviation Remember we are better together Join us and have it all

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 1

AC NEWS compiled by HC Frautschy

ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

By the time you read this the newest web page on the EAAs site on the Internet will be devoted to the EAA AntiqueClasshysic Division For now you can reach the page by going to EAAs s ite at wwweaaorg and selecting Specialty Groups on the main page We plan on ofshyfering direct access in the near future as our domain name is logged and registered

So what will you find on the AlC Web page Explanations concerning the misshysion of the AIC Division and AlC activishyties at EAA Oshkosh and Sun n Fun (inshycluding the Awards List) The text from the EAA Judging Manual concerning the definition of Antique Classic and Contemshyporary aircraft is included A section is devoted to an explanation of the division magazine Vintage Airplane is also inshycluded and a page detailing the various AlC programs is on line as well A full list of current AntiquelClassic Chapters is listed The importance of the various Type Clubs and AIC volunteers is also highshylighted

As you can imagine a web page is a moving target subject to revision at the reshyquest of those who use it If you dont see something on the EAA AntiquelClassic Web Site youd like to have available let us know You can send us a message via the home page by using the Type radio button We dont yet have direct access on our desktop Mac to the messages (they come to us via Sneaker Net when they are dropped in our IN basket) but well be there in the future We can send you a message back via e-mail The only thing we ask is patience E-mail messages dont receive any higher priority than those sent via the mail or a fax and so others may be in front of you as we work through your messages We endeavor to get to your question as fast as possible but if extenshysive research is needed it can take a bit of time Also if you send a message and would rather it not be considered for publishycation as a Letter to the Editor in Vinshytage Airplane please note that in your text

Let us know what you think and well continue to see the AIC site on the World Wide Web evolve

N-NUMBERS AND YOUR AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE

As noted in this month s edition of Sport Aviation s Hotline when you change

2 JANUARY 1997

Those clever folks on the AntiqueClassic flight line are always up for a bit of fun One of the wags parking airplanes waaaaaay down on the south end of the field (often refe r red to as North Fond du Lac) added this Row Inshyfinity marker after row 150 It can be a bit of a bus ride up north from your airshyplane but its still better than driving to the Convention

Fortunately through the diligent efshyforts of the EAA Maintenance staff the south end areas are becoming smoother and more hospitable as the years go by Those of us who recall the area just east of the Ultralight area 15 or 20 years ago will remember when it wasnt exactly a garden spot either but attention focused on the area did get in good condition

your N-number on your airplane you must have the Airworthiness Certificate for your airplane reissued Failure to do so could result in an uncomfortable situation should your airplane be checked by an FAA Inshyspector Remember there can be one and only one difference between the certificate and the actual number painted on your airshyplane Per FAR 4522 it is permissible to add the c (or R etc) to the registrashytion number applied to the airplane if it was originally registered with the prefix added to the N-number ie NC 12345 The c will not appear on your Airworshythiness Certificate Just be sure the rest of the number does You can get the necesshysary forms from your local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)

FCC REFUNDS Did you apply for a radio station lishy

censee from the FCC after July 17 1994 If you did you could be due a partial reshyfund from the FCC Send your licensee with the word Refund written on it to FCC Aircraft Refund 1270 Fairfield Rd Gettysburg PA 17325-7245 Youll be sent a partial refund depending on how close your application was mailed to the change in licensee requirements that was made by the FCC

EAA ADULT AIR ACADEMY You still have time to register for the

EAA Adult Air Academy This years class Basic Aircraft Maintenance Buildshying and Restoration Skills promises to be one of the best offered This one week session is offered February 16-22 1997 Your $800 registration fee covers alllodgshying food local transportation plus all classroom materials

Dont delay For further information contact the EAA Education Office by callshying 414426-6815 or write to the EAA Edshyucation Office at PO Box 3065 Oshkosh WI 54903-3065

SWIFT PRODUCTION Stuart Horn and his company Bravo

Victor Inc (which is doing business as Aviat Aircraft Inc of Afton WY) have entered into an agreement with The Intershynational Swift Association that will allow Aviat to produce the Swift on a production line using the original tooling It is exshypected that the airplane will be built using many of the existing certified modificashytions such as the bubble canopy and larger engines Also A viat will produce parts for the Swift that will be available to those who currently fly and maintain their Swifts Classic aircraft built in the 1940s

Mr Homs company is currently buildshying the Pitts Special and the Husky along with the Chisten Eagle Hom acquired the company in late 1995 and has seen its gross receipts exceed 9 million dollars durshying the first three quarters of his stewardshyship They see the addition of the Swift to their product line as a logical extension into a specialty market with which they are familiar tailwheel aircraft that appeal to a small segment of general aviation on a worldwide basis Congratulations to Charshylie Nelson and the Swift Association for coming to an agreement with the company that will help ensure the longevity of their favorite airplane

G DALE BEACH Our condolences to the family of G

Dale Beech founder of the Funk Aircraft Association Dale passed away November 16 1996 He is survived by his wife Inez son Andrew and daughter Glenda as well as his three grandchildren and two great grand children Dale was also the author of Its A Funk the book that detailed the history of the airplane he loved so much as well as highlighting the lives of the Funk brothers Know as the Flying Cowshyboy Dale brought his fiddle wherever he went Hell be missed by many people both in and out of aviation

VINTAGE

AeroMail Luscombe Door Flying

DearHG I read Mr Walter Bests letter in the

November 1996 issue of Vintage Airplane with much interest middotHis comments about maneuvering a Luscombe without rudder control merits further discussion

The Luscombe Model 8 by its design nature and center of gravity location will turn OPPOSITE the direction a door is opened in flight regardless of airspeed That is open the left door the nose swings right open the right door the nose swings left

To verify the door open in flight hanshydling characteristics I tried a series of simshyple in-flight tests in my venerable Lusshycombe 8A When I opened my left door the nose of the airplane swung right When I opened my right door the Luscombe yawed left

Each airplane has its own peculiar charshyacteristic(s) when a door is opened in flight For the lightplane owner this knowledge might save a life in the event of control failure

I hope this information clarifies Mr Walter Bests letter

Warmest Regards JimZazas Luscombe NC45504 Carthage NC

Jim and Walter are correct When editshying Walters letter I swapped the door efshyfects giving the impression that Walts letshyter was in error Not so Walt wrote it properly but I didnt get it down on paper correctly My apologies

Not only can the knowledge ofan airshyplane s handling with a door open be useshyful for controlling the airplane it can also prevent a panic response when a door inshyadvertently pops open Knowingjust how far to door will open (or how little it really will go without more force being applied) can help keep the pilot flying the airplane instead ofworrying about closing the door shyHGF

Pheasant Traveler Info Dear Mr Frautschy In one of your articles you stated that in

going through Steve Wittmans hangar you had found some long tapered pieces of wood I think they were spars left over from when the Pheasant Traveler was built in 1929 or 30

Did you find any other information on

that airplane Steve said that he had worked on them when they were built and test flew them

I owned the one that had the four cylinshyder inline air-cooled Cirrus Hermes engine in it It was a fast one to fly at that time but I liked it It also had a very different type oflanding gear

I have a small model of the one I had if you would like to see it let me know

Les Deltgen (AIC 14853)

Les stopped by EAA HQ here in Oshkosh and showed us his neat solid model The spars we found in Steves hangar seemed to be the right conjiguration for the Traveler but they were nearly two feet shorter than the span listed for the Pheasant Traveler In the EAA film archives exists a videotape copy ofa black and white jilm showing a air race staged during thejirst annual Wisconsin air show in 1930 In it a Pheasshyant Traveler is seen racing around the pyshylons Although he is not directly shown it is believed that Steve is racing the Traveler at this race Did he have a clip wing version hence the shorter spars Without more evidence it is difficult to say - HGF

News from the Lil Indian DearHG Gerry Martin came to me two months

ago and asked if we could fly 84 kids from a group called The Young Astronauts for the Young Eagles program I checked with Rucker Tibbs the owneroperator of New London Airport (ID W-90) and he said go for it The first try was rained out The second was scheduled Sunday Octoshyber 27 1996 We had ten pilots with 21 seats in aircraft from Cubs 7-AC C-150s C-I72s and twin Aztec (five seats) so 21 divided by 84 equals four trips each airshycraft that wouldnt keep us busy all day so we added a Cub Scout group and my Sunshyday school kids which added 18 kids and six adults

Rucker let us flag off the ramp to keep the kids away from active aircraft and gave us the use of a C-150 for ground school which Tom Muye did a fantastic job of We divided the folks into two groups one from 9-12 and one from 1-3 (giving pilots a one hour lunch)

These two photos show Les Delton of Menasha WI and his model of the Pheasant Traveler he owned at one time Les sent us the shot of his full size airplane taken when he used to keep it at the old Appleton Airshyport which used to be on the northeast corner of the city

We had eight ground members doing papershywork loading and unloading parking airshycraft etc

h turned out that the 84 number was children and parents So our end results by 3 pm was 67 Young Eagles and 42 parents Some of the kids were so excited we did 18 second rides and finished up at 530 pm for a total of 126 rides

Youll notice that under EAA Chapter or Affiliate Organization Ive listed Wshy90 (New London Airport I figured since most of us are EAA AntiqueClassic memshybers and based at New London and Rucker was generous enough to let us use his airshyport all day plus free gas two of his Cshy150s plus fly (his J-4 too) I would list his airport as the affiliate organization

We would like to thank you for giving us a program that put so many smiles on so many faces

Thanks Cheryl Best

The enjoyment offlying a Young Eagle is matched only by the excitement these young people feel when they get to fly in a light airplane for the very first time Thanks for writing Cheryl and keep on flying the youngsters - we ve passed the 25 percent mark but that just means we need to redouble our efforts - the end of2003 is only 6 short years away - HGF

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 3

OLUNTEERS ON THE byFLIGHT LINE

Patricia liTrish Dorlac

Safely guiding the many AlC planes that come to visit the EAA Convention is No1 priority to the many Flight Line Safety volunteers

This series of articles is dedicated to the men and women in the AntiqueClasshysic division without whom EAA Oshkosh as we know it would simply not exist These volunteers not only willshyingly but cheerfully offer countless hours of their time every summer and it s usually their hard earned vacation These articles are to recognize the aweshysome commitment so many offer every year and also to remind others that any time they would be willing to offer is alshyways enthusiastically welcomed

FLIGHT LINE OPERATIONS

Working on the flight line has apshypealed to me since my younger days in the Civil Air Patrol when I worked with A-7s I loved the roar of the engines checking out the intakes and just being around the planes Once a year I again have the opportunity to immerse myself in the joy of flight on the ground In our

4 JANUARY 1997

area of the AntiqueClassic Division we are challenged with the awesome responsishybility of parking hundreds of airplanes in a very short peshyriod of time We control the flight line from row 55 to row 150 and beyond an area often referred to as infinshyity When you check the odometer on one of the Honda scooters it is nearly two miles in length To enshysure the safety of every airshyplane pilot and onlooker each plane is escorted by a biker or foot escort - someshytimes both Over 100 volunshyteers were trained this year to work these positions

From right to left AI Supensky Charlie Kaminski and Randy Hytry pause for a moment in the shade of the AlC Point shack

the ability to escort the airplanes on and We put 50-100 miles a day on our off the field braving conditions such as

bikes Fortunately we have our own inshy unpredictable weather which can change ternal bike repairman Dyle Wilson who the field conditions from smooth and dry keeps them going Our bikers possess to wet and very muddy Our bikers are

Dave Thomas (holding the sign) and Russ Elshylis are just a couple of the many volunteers who work Ae Point at the south end of of the taxiway paralleling runway 1836

As each plane taxis in theyre picked up by one of the bikers who will dishyrect them to a parking spot in the AntiqueClasshysic area of the Convenshytion grounds

~ L-_______---__

Melinda Pickering escorts Paul Workman taxing in his wife Pams custom Aeronca Champ on their way to the AlC camping area

expert at picking out the safest route to bring the airplanes to their destination They are able to guide these beautiful machines around crowds of people who are busy admiring all the other aircraft and may not notice the newest arrival If you are a tricyc le pi lot th is may not seem like the amazing feat it is Many of our planes are tail draggers and there is no room for the zig zag that allows these pilots to see better on the ground When I say that these bikers have a great reshysponsibility I am not exaggerating They really are the eyes for the pilot These escorts are very talented Some of our expert bikers include Dan and Linda Bedzoldt Orlo Ellison Charlie Kaminshyski Reinhardt Kuntz Dave Thomas and Cheryl and Bruce Rosander

Each arrival is met by one of our Point managers who have years of experience

identify ing and directing the planes to their next destination Some of our point managers inc lude Don Straughn Bob Majka Mike Costa Kathy McGurran Randy Hytry a nd Denny Gru izenga Each year they return to teach the rest of us all they know

Our crossing guards are the best They are challenged with the responsibilshyity of stopping crowds who are not alshyways aware of oncoming propellers and being the extra set of eyes for the pilots and biker escorts Some of the most dedshyicated workers return to this position anshynually and are very well versed on the

activities at Oshkosh They have to be s ince many peop le mistake their booth for an information booth All of these wonderful people take the time to either answer questions or find out the answers T hey probably know the tram and bus schedu les by heart This year we welshycomed the husband wife team of Joe and Jenna Ware who put in many hours

Much of our operation is managed from our OPS shack where aircraft registration can be cross-referenced and all volunteers check in to be assigned their shift positions Smooth operations are guaranteed here thanks to Phillip

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Blake (vo luntee r since 1964) Steve Whelan Dyle Wilson and several others

Crowd control is probably one of the best jobs for the money Included in the benefits package are free food and drink (THANK YOU OPERATION THIRST) and an awesome view of the airs how These marvelous volunteers brave the heat rain or cold to ensure the safety of the crowd and planes They do their best to remind the crowd of the basic rules and are capable of keeping them behind the burn line with a single steely eyed glance (although a smi le and genshytle reminder are usually all that is needed)

Although it is not possible to include all the folks who work with us we want everyone of you to know how apprecishyated you are Every job is made easier by each person who pitches in to help make Oshkosh the truly grand event that we love Thanks

Flight line volunteers Philip Blake and Patty Trish Dorlac admire Kath McGurrans Flight Line Volunteer of the Year award presented to her during the 1996 Convention

It isn t all sunburns and smelly exhaust out there on the flightshyline Sally Ryan (left) hosts many volunteers as a volunteer herself Orlo Ellison stops by Sallys Woods for a smile and a drink of something cool

Okay so you might get just a bit sunshyburned on the flight line After a long satisfying day volshyunteering Evan Kathy Mike Trish and Randy along with Walt in front relax before retirshying for the evening

6 JANUARY 1997

Robert Davis Contemporary

by Norm Petersen

Photo by Paul Boyer a professional photographer from Port Townsend W A

This really sharp looking 1959 Cessna 310C N666T SIN 35925 is owned by Robert B Davis (Captain United Air Lines Ret) (EAA 5219 19) of Port Townsend WA He says After a one year restoration effort the 3 10 is providshying fast (200+) comfortable reliable and enjoyable flying experiences

After owning a 1946 Globe Swift and having twin-engine time in U S Air Force TB-25s and SA-16s plus United Convair 340s Robert bought N666T in January 1994 Roberts son John W Davis is an MEL CFI II so he volunshyteered to properly check out his old man in proper light

twin driving The local maintenance chief at Townsend Airways Jefshy

ferson County Airport Pat Paden A amp P and AI was the man in charge of the project and did a fabulous job accordshying to Robert The entire airplane was brought up to 1995 standards both mechanically and asethically It is obvious from the photo that somebody really knew what they were doing

Of262 Model Cs produced 155 remain on the FAA regshyister today A grand total of all 310 models brings the regisshyter total to 3276

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE CHILD AndThePLANE

by William R Whiting (Ale 19331)

The spring day was fresh and stirring inside myself as though a tonic full of excitement My senses went wild with a longing to be flying with the birds riding the air currents I drove to Crystal airshyport with my two daughters Bridgett nine and Jenilynn six who were looking forward to seeing our family plane - shed been in storage during the harsh winter months in Minnesota As I gazed at the old girl I recalled my wife Buddy had thought the planes name should be something fitting - The Mistress was her suggestion

I thought back to a time yet still alive in my memories The sun shone bright (it does usually in memories) of a crisp winter aftershynoon on a frozen lake My Dad and uncle working on trying to start an Enya 09 powering a Carl Goldberg Mambo free flight plane The engine was cold so with the help of the cars hot exshyhaust pipe a heavy prime of fuel and the batteries buried deep inshyside my Uncle Bills layers of clothes next to his hide (this of course being before Thinsulatereg) the engine came to life The plane soared on a low arching circle the clear yellow silk wings glistening against the sparkling snow All this grandeur came to an abrupt halt for as the plane kept coming around the circle it was not gaining any altitude and my Uncles DeSoto Fireflight was more or less in the circle To be exact the left hub cap was in the Mambos flight path It survived the sudden stop and for many years the old model flew and flew and became the cornerstone of my love of flight The memories are good of those times

I m brought out of my trance by a Bellanca Viking coming to life a few hangars down

I started to clean the faithful plane with my daughters who are equally excited to be getting on with it so we can go flying Both of them are already making memories of flight the people attribshyuted to it and those magnificent planes of then and now Once again my mind wanders back to earlier times when I was their age The aircraft was a Nesmith Cougar N93140 We built the plane and I polished and flew with my Dad On a crisp Minnesota winter day we went flying to the lake There was my uncle ice fishing beshylow and the plane seemed to be nearly that of the model airplane of years gone by boxy in shape and yellow We circled waggled our wings and since we were getting cold we headed for our home field Flying Cloud airport

Then came the day we shared our hangar with a stately aircraft of vintage heritage - a Stinson 108 I remembered it smelled as old as it looked Dad had our little Cougar snuggled in under one of her wings Wow is she BIG that Stinson A while later the old lady left our hangar and Cougar found a new home in California Dad was looking for that lady that touched our lives briefly someshytime earlier He did manage to find her at a now closed airport south of MinneapoJis called Southport Half buried in snow we disassembled her to give her life again The work was hard and long and not being too up there in years the time it took to rebuild it seemed to be an eternity Dad was patient in the learning process for both my brother Harry and myself

Our participation was essential for our small hand and size could hold that nut in inaccessible places The Readdy Heater warmed the garage while at the same time the kerosene fumes stung our eyes but it did manage to keep things bearable while out-

a JANUARY 1997

The Whiting familys Stinson 108 which now excites the two youngest Whitings Jenilynn (left) and Bridgett

side the wind howled and frost formed around the garage door seams Two years ago it was my turn as I spent the winter months in

the hangar with my daughter Bridgett diligently working the Readdy Heater as before our eyes burning as we worked getshyting the lady ready for competition at Oshkosh Wisconsin By spring she was cleaned and readied for flight and I realized the imshyportance of the child and the plane My daughters were sharing in the hard and important work of holding that nut We talked about this item and that and what functions they performed and then let our imaginations carry us aloft during break times The bond of adults planes and children is extraordinarily strong

As Jeni yells Dad I got her looking good I come out of my trance from atop the ladder where I had been cleaning the wing

I look down at my two precious girls and remember when I and my brothers Harry and Fran and our baby sister were once the children helping care for this lady My little sister who in the beshyginning was in charge of entertainment and later became a first rate mechanic has a lot in common with my girls The future does shine bright and not just in memories of a time gone by The child and the plane shall endure the hardships as the child in each of us older kids did remembering the memories of aircraft and fantasies and how we embellished in their grandeur

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

OLUNTEERS ON THE byFLIGHT LINE

Patricia liTrish Dorlac

Safely guiding the many AlC planes that come to visit the EAA Convention is No1 priority to the many Flight Line Safety volunteers

This series of articles is dedicated to the men and women in the AntiqueClasshysic division without whom EAA Oshkosh as we know it would simply not exist These volunteers not only willshyingly but cheerfully offer countless hours of their time every summer and it s usually their hard earned vacation These articles are to recognize the aweshysome commitment so many offer every year and also to remind others that any time they would be willing to offer is alshyways enthusiastically welcomed

FLIGHT LINE OPERATIONS

Working on the flight line has apshypealed to me since my younger days in the Civil Air Patrol when I worked with A-7s I loved the roar of the engines checking out the intakes and just being around the planes Once a year I again have the opportunity to immerse myself in the joy of flight on the ground In our

4 JANUARY 1997

area of the AntiqueClassic Division we are challenged with the awesome responsishybility of parking hundreds of airplanes in a very short peshyriod of time We control the flight line from row 55 to row 150 and beyond an area often referred to as infinshyity When you check the odometer on one of the Honda scooters it is nearly two miles in length To enshysure the safety of every airshyplane pilot and onlooker each plane is escorted by a biker or foot escort - someshytimes both Over 100 volunshyteers were trained this year to work these positions

From right to left AI Supensky Charlie Kaminski and Randy Hytry pause for a moment in the shade of the AlC Point shack

the ability to escort the airplanes on and We put 50-100 miles a day on our off the field braving conditions such as

bikes Fortunately we have our own inshy unpredictable weather which can change ternal bike repairman Dyle Wilson who the field conditions from smooth and dry keeps them going Our bikers possess to wet and very muddy Our bikers are

Dave Thomas (holding the sign) and Russ Elshylis are just a couple of the many volunteers who work Ae Point at the south end of of the taxiway paralleling runway 1836

As each plane taxis in theyre picked up by one of the bikers who will dishyrect them to a parking spot in the AntiqueClasshysic area of the Convenshytion grounds

~ L-_______---__

Melinda Pickering escorts Paul Workman taxing in his wife Pams custom Aeronca Champ on their way to the AlC camping area

expert at picking out the safest route to bring the airplanes to their destination They are able to guide these beautiful machines around crowds of people who are busy admiring all the other aircraft and may not notice the newest arrival If you are a tricyc le pi lot th is may not seem like the amazing feat it is Many of our planes are tail draggers and there is no room for the zig zag that allows these pilots to see better on the ground When I say that these bikers have a great reshysponsibility I am not exaggerating They really are the eyes for the pilot These escorts are very talented Some of our expert bikers include Dan and Linda Bedzoldt Orlo Ellison Charlie Kaminshyski Reinhardt Kuntz Dave Thomas and Cheryl and Bruce Rosander

Each arrival is met by one of our Point managers who have years of experience

identify ing and directing the planes to their next destination Some of our point managers inc lude Don Straughn Bob Majka Mike Costa Kathy McGurran Randy Hytry a nd Denny Gru izenga Each year they return to teach the rest of us all they know

Our crossing guards are the best They are challenged with the responsibilshyity of stopping crowds who are not alshyways aware of oncoming propellers and being the extra set of eyes for the pilots and biker escorts Some of the most dedshyicated workers return to this position anshynually and are very well versed on the

activities at Oshkosh They have to be s ince many peop le mistake their booth for an information booth All of these wonderful people take the time to either answer questions or find out the answers T hey probably know the tram and bus schedu les by heart This year we welshycomed the husband wife team of Joe and Jenna Ware who put in many hours

Much of our operation is managed from our OPS shack where aircraft registration can be cross-referenced and all volunteers check in to be assigned their shift positions Smooth operations are guaranteed here thanks to Phillip

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Blake (vo luntee r since 1964) Steve Whelan Dyle Wilson and several others

Crowd control is probably one of the best jobs for the money Included in the benefits package are free food and drink (THANK YOU OPERATION THIRST) and an awesome view of the airs how These marvelous volunteers brave the heat rain or cold to ensure the safety of the crowd and planes They do their best to remind the crowd of the basic rules and are capable of keeping them behind the burn line with a single steely eyed glance (although a smi le and genshytle reminder are usually all that is needed)

Although it is not possible to include all the folks who work with us we want everyone of you to know how apprecishyated you are Every job is made easier by each person who pitches in to help make Oshkosh the truly grand event that we love Thanks

Flight line volunteers Philip Blake and Patty Trish Dorlac admire Kath McGurrans Flight Line Volunteer of the Year award presented to her during the 1996 Convention

It isn t all sunburns and smelly exhaust out there on the flightshyline Sally Ryan (left) hosts many volunteers as a volunteer herself Orlo Ellison stops by Sallys Woods for a smile and a drink of something cool

Okay so you might get just a bit sunshyburned on the flight line After a long satisfying day volshyunteering Evan Kathy Mike Trish and Randy along with Walt in front relax before retirshying for the evening

6 JANUARY 1997

Robert Davis Contemporary

by Norm Petersen

Photo by Paul Boyer a professional photographer from Port Townsend W A

This really sharp looking 1959 Cessna 310C N666T SIN 35925 is owned by Robert B Davis (Captain United Air Lines Ret) (EAA 5219 19) of Port Townsend WA He says After a one year restoration effort the 3 10 is providshying fast (200+) comfortable reliable and enjoyable flying experiences

After owning a 1946 Globe Swift and having twin-engine time in U S Air Force TB-25s and SA-16s plus United Convair 340s Robert bought N666T in January 1994 Roberts son John W Davis is an MEL CFI II so he volunshyteered to properly check out his old man in proper light

twin driving The local maintenance chief at Townsend Airways Jefshy

ferson County Airport Pat Paden A amp P and AI was the man in charge of the project and did a fabulous job accordshying to Robert The entire airplane was brought up to 1995 standards both mechanically and asethically It is obvious from the photo that somebody really knew what they were doing

Of262 Model Cs produced 155 remain on the FAA regshyister today A grand total of all 310 models brings the regisshyter total to 3276

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE CHILD AndThePLANE

by William R Whiting (Ale 19331)

The spring day was fresh and stirring inside myself as though a tonic full of excitement My senses went wild with a longing to be flying with the birds riding the air currents I drove to Crystal airshyport with my two daughters Bridgett nine and Jenilynn six who were looking forward to seeing our family plane - shed been in storage during the harsh winter months in Minnesota As I gazed at the old girl I recalled my wife Buddy had thought the planes name should be something fitting - The Mistress was her suggestion

I thought back to a time yet still alive in my memories The sun shone bright (it does usually in memories) of a crisp winter aftershynoon on a frozen lake My Dad and uncle working on trying to start an Enya 09 powering a Carl Goldberg Mambo free flight plane The engine was cold so with the help of the cars hot exshyhaust pipe a heavy prime of fuel and the batteries buried deep inshyside my Uncle Bills layers of clothes next to his hide (this of course being before Thinsulatereg) the engine came to life The plane soared on a low arching circle the clear yellow silk wings glistening against the sparkling snow All this grandeur came to an abrupt halt for as the plane kept coming around the circle it was not gaining any altitude and my Uncles DeSoto Fireflight was more or less in the circle To be exact the left hub cap was in the Mambos flight path It survived the sudden stop and for many years the old model flew and flew and became the cornerstone of my love of flight The memories are good of those times

I m brought out of my trance by a Bellanca Viking coming to life a few hangars down

I started to clean the faithful plane with my daughters who are equally excited to be getting on with it so we can go flying Both of them are already making memories of flight the people attribshyuted to it and those magnificent planes of then and now Once again my mind wanders back to earlier times when I was their age The aircraft was a Nesmith Cougar N93140 We built the plane and I polished and flew with my Dad On a crisp Minnesota winter day we went flying to the lake There was my uncle ice fishing beshylow and the plane seemed to be nearly that of the model airplane of years gone by boxy in shape and yellow We circled waggled our wings and since we were getting cold we headed for our home field Flying Cloud airport

Then came the day we shared our hangar with a stately aircraft of vintage heritage - a Stinson 108 I remembered it smelled as old as it looked Dad had our little Cougar snuggled in under one of her wings Wow is she BIG that Stinson A while later the old lady left our hangar and Cougar found a new home in California Dad was looking for that lady that touched our lives briefly someshytime earlier He did manage to find her at a now closed airport south of MinneapoJis called Southport Half buried in snow we disassembled her to give her life again The work was hard and long and not being too up there in years the time it took to rebuild it seemed to be an eternity Dad was patient in the learning process for both my brother Harry and myself

Our participation was essential for our small hand and size could hold that nut in inaccessible places The Readdy Heater warmed the garage while at the same time the kerosene fumes stung our eyes but it did manage to keep things bearable while out-

a JANUARY 1997

The Whiting familys Stinson 108 which now excites the two youngest Whitings Jenilynn (left) and Bridgett

side the wind howled and frost formed around the garage door seams Two years ago it was my turn as I spent the winter months in

the hangar with my daughter Bridgett diligently working the Readdy Heater as before our eyes burning as we worked getshyting the lady ready for competition at Oshkosh Wisconsin By spring she was cleaned and readied for flight and I realized the imshyportance of the child and the plane My daughters were sharing in the hard and important work of holding that nut We talked about this item and that and what functions they performed and then let our imaginations carry us aloft during break times The bond of adults planes and children is extraordinarily strong

As Jeni yells Dad I got her looking good I come out of my trance from atop the ladder where I had been cleaning the wing

I look down at my two precious girls and remember when I and my brothers Harry and Fran and our baby sister were once the children helping care for this lady My little sister who in the beshyginning was in charge of entertainment and later became a first rate mechanic has a lot in common with my girls The future does shine bright and not just in memories of a time gone by The child and the plane shall endure the hardships as the child in each of us older kids did remembering the memories of aircraft and fantasies and how we embellished in their grandeur

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

Dave Thomas (holding the sign) and Russ Elshylis are just a couple of the many volunteers who work Ae Point at the south end of of the taxiway paralleling runway 1836

As each plane taxis in theyre picked up by one of the bikers who will dishyrect them to a parking spot in the AntiqueClasshysic area of the Convenshytion grounds

~ L-_______---__

Melinda Pickering escorts Paul Workman taxing in his wife Pams custom Aeronca Champ on their way to the AlC camping area

expert at picking out the safest route to bring the airplanes to their destination They are able to guide these beautiful machines around crowds of people who are busy admiring all the other aircraft and may not notice the newest arrival If you are a tricyc le pi lot th is may not seem like the amazing feat it is Many of our planes are tail draggers and there is no room for the zig zag that allows these pilots to see better on the ground When I say that these bikers have a great reshysponsibility I am not exaggerating They really are the eyes for the pilot These escorts are very talented Some of our expert bikers include Dan and Linda Bedzoldt Orlo Ellison Charlie Kaminshyski Reinhardt Kuntz Dave Thomas and Cheryl and Bruce Rosander

Each arrival is met by one of our Point managers who have years of experience

identify ing and directing the planes to their next destination Some of our point managers inc lude Don Straughn Bob Majka Mike Costa Kathy McGurran Randy Hytry a nd Denny Gru izenga Each year they return to teach the rest of us all they know

Our crossing guards are the best They are challenged with the responsibilshyity of stopping crowds who are not alshyways aware of oncoming propellers and being the extra set of eyes for the pilots and biker escorts Some of the most dedshyicated workers return to this position anshynually and are very well versed on the

activities at Oshkosh They have to be s ince many peop le mistake their booth for an information booth All of these wonderful people take the time to either answer questions or find out the answers T hey probably know the tram and bus schedu les by heart This year we welshycomed the husband wife team of Joe and Jenna Ware who put in many hours

Much of our operation is managed from our OPS shack where aircraft registration can be cross-referenced and all volunteers check in to be assigned their shift positions Smooth operations are guaranteed here thanks to Phillip

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Blake (vo luntee r since 1964) Steve Whelan Dyle Wilson and several others

Crowd control is probably one of the best jobs for the money Included in the benefits package are free food and drink (THANK YOU OPERATION THIRST) and an awesome view of the airs how These marvelous volunteers brave the heat rain or cold to ensure the safety of the crowd and planes They do their best to remind the crowd of the basic rules and are capable of keeping them behind the burn line with a single steely eyed glance (although a smi le and genshytle reminder are usually all that is needed)

Although it is not possible to include all the folks who work with us we want everyone of you to know how apprecishyated you are Every job is made easier by each person who pitches in to help make Oshkosh the truly grand event that we love Thanks

Flight line volunteers Philip Blake and Patty Trish Dorlac admire Kath McGurrans Flight Line Volunteer of the Year award presented to her during the 1996 Convention

It isn t all sunburns and smelly exhaust out there on the flightshyline Sally Ryan (left) hosts many volunteers as a volunteer herself Orlo Ellison stops by Sallys Woods for a smile and a drink of something cool

Okay so you might get just a bit sunshyburned on the flight line After a long satisfying day volshyunteering Evan Kathy Mike Trish and Randy along with Walt in front relax before retirshying for the evening

6 JANUARY 1997

Robert Davis Contemporary

by Norm Petersen

Photo by Paul Boyer a professional photographer from Port Townsend W A

This really sharp looking 1959 Cessna 310C N666T SIN 35925 is owned by Robert B Davis (Captain United Air Lines Ret) (EAA 5219 19) of Port Townsend WA He says After a one year restoration effort the 3 10 is providshying fast (200+) comfortable reliable and enjoyable flying experiences

After owning a 1946 Globe Swift and having twin-engine time in U S Air Force TB-25s and SA-16s plus United Convair 340s Robert bought N666T in January 1994 Roberts son John W Davis is an MEL CFI II so he volunshyteered to properly check out his old man in proper light

twin driving The local maintenance chief at Townsend Airways Jefshy

ferson County Airport Pat Paden A amp P and AI was the man in charge of the project and did a fabulous job accordshying to Robert The entire airplane was brought up to 1995 standards both mechanically and asethically It is obvious from the photo that somebody really knew what they were doing

Of262 Model Cs produced 155 remain on the FAA regshyister today A grand total of all 310 models brings the regisshyter total to 3276

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE CHILD AndThePLANE

by William R Whiting (Ale 19331)

The spring day was fresh and stirring inside myself as though a tonic full of excitement My senses went wild with a longing to be flying with the birds riding the air currents I drove to Crystal airshyport with my two daughters Bridgett nine and Jenilynn six who were looking forward to seeing our family plane - shed been in storage during the harsh winter months in Minnesota As I gazed at the old girl I recalled my wife Buddy had thought the planes name should be something fitting - The Mistress was her suggestion

I thought back to a time yet still alive in my memories The sun shone bright (it does usually in memories) of a crisp winter aftershynoon on a frozen lake My Dad and uncle working on trying to start an Enya 09 powering a Carl Goldberg Mambo free flight plane The engine was cold so with the help of the cars hot exshyhaust pipe a heavy prime of fuel and the batteries buried deep inshyside my Uncle Bills layers of clothes next to his hide (this of course being before Thinsulatereg) the engine came to life The plane soared on a low arching circle the clear yellow silk wings glistening against the sparkling snow All this grandeur came to an abrupt halt for as the plane kept coming around the circle it was not gaining any altitude and my Uncles DeSoto Fireflight was more or less in the circle To be exact the left hub cap was in the Mambos flight path It survived the sudden stop and for many years the old model flew and flew and became the cornerstone of my love of flight The memories are good of those times

I m brought out of my trance by a Bellanca Viking coming to life a few hangars down

I started to clean the faithful plane with my daughters who are equally excited to be getting on with it so we can go flying Both of them are already making memories of flight the people attribshyuted to it and those magnificent planes of then and now Once again my mind wanders back to earlier times when I was their age The aircraft was a Nesmith Cougar N93140 We built the plane and I polished and flew with my Dad On a crisp Minnesota winter day we went flying to the lake There was my uncle ice fishing beshylow and the plane seemed to be nearly that of the model airplane of years gone by boxy in shape and yellow We circled waggled our wings and since we were getting cold we headed for our home field Flying Cloud airport

Then came the day we shared our hangar with a stately aircraft of vintage heritage - a Stinson 108 I remembered it smelled as old as it looked Dad had our little Cougar snuggled in under one of her wings Wow is she BIG that Stinson A while later the old lady left our hangar and Cougar found a new home in California Dad was looking for that lady that touched our lives briefly someshytime earlier He did manage to find her at a now closed airport south of MinneapoJis called Southport Half buried in snow we disassembled her to give her life again The work was hard and long and not being too up there in years the time it took to rebuild it seemed to be an eternity Dad was patient in the learning process for both my brother Harry and myself

Our participation was essential for our small hand and size could hold that nut in inaccessible places The Readdy Heater warmed the garage while at the same time the kerosene fumes stung our eyes but it did manage to keep things bearable while out-

a JANUARY 1997

The Whiting familys Stinson 108 which now excites the two youngest Whitings Jenilynn (left) and Bridgett

side the wind howled and frost formed around the garage door seams Two years ago it was my turn as I spent the winter months in

the hangar with my daughter Bridgett diligently working the Readdy Heater as before our eyes burning as we worked getshyting the lady ready for competition at Oshkosh Wisconsin By spring she was cleaned and readied for flight and I realized the imshyportance of the child and the plane My daughters were sharing in the hard and important work of holding that nut We talked about this item and that and what functions they performed and then let our imaginations carry us aloft during break times The bond of adults planes and children is extraordinarily strong

As Jeni yells Dad I got her looking good I come out of my trance from atop the ladder where I had been cleaning the wing

I look down at my two precious girls and remember when I and my brothers Harry and Fran and our baby sister were once the children helping care for this lady My little sister who in the beshyginning was in charge of entertainment and later became a first rate mechanic has a lot in common with my girls The future does shine bright and not just in memories of a time gone by The child and the plane shall endure the hardships as the child in each of us older kids did remembering the memories of aircraft and fantasies and how we embellished in their grandeur

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

Blake (vo luntee r since 1964) Steve Whelan Dyle Wilson and several others

Crowd control is probably one of the best jobs for the money Included in the benefits package are free food and drink (THANK YOU OPERATION THIRST) and an awesome view of the airs how These marvelous volunteers brave the heat rain or cold to ensure the safety of the crowd and planes They do their best to remind the crowd of the basic rules and are capable of keeping them behind the burn line with a single steely eyed glance (although a smi le and genshytle reminder are usually all that is needed)

Although it is not possible to include all the folks who work with us we want everyone of you to know how apprecishyated you are Every job is made easier by each person who pitches in to help make Oshkosh the truly grand event that we love Thanks

Flight line volunteers Philip Blake and Patty Trish Dorlac admire Kath McGurrans Flight Line Volunteer of the Year award presented to her during the 1996 Convention

It isn t all sunburns and smelly exhaust out there on the flightshyline Sally Ryan (left) hosts many volunteers as a volunteer herself Orlo Ellison stops by Sallys Woods for a smile and a drink of something cool

Okay so you might get just a bit sunshyburned on the flight line After a long satisfying day volshyunteering Evan Kathy Mike Trish and Randy along with Walt in front relax before retirshying for the evening

6 JANUARY 1997

Robert Davis Contemporary

by Norm Petersen

Photo by Paul Boyer a professional photographer from Port Townsend W A

This really sharp looking 1959 Cessna 310C N666T SIN 35925 is owned by Robert B Davis (Captain United Air Lines Ret) (EAA 5219 19) of Port Townsend WA He says After a one year restoration effort the 3 10 is providshying fast (200+) comfortable reliable and enjoyable flying experiences

After owning a 1946 Globe Swift and having twin-engine time in U S Air Force TB-25s and SA-16s plus United Convair 340s Robert bought N666T in January 1994 Roberts son John W Davis is an MEL CFI II so he volunshyteered to properly check out his old man in proper light

twin driving The local maintenance chief at Townsend Airways Jefshy

ferson County Airport Pat Paden A amp P and AI was the man in charge of the project and did a fabulous job accordshying to Robert The entire airplane was brought up to 1995 standards both mechanically and asethically It is obvious from the photo that somebody really knew what they were doing

Of262 Model Cs produced 155 remain on the FAA regshyister today A grand total of all 310 models brings the regisshyter total to 3276

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE CHILD AndThePLANE

by William R Whiting (Ale 19331)

The spring day was fresh and stirring inside myself as though a tonic full of excitement My senses went wild with a longing to be flying with the birds riding the air currents I drove to Crystal airshyport with my two daughters Bridgett nine and Jenilynn six who were looking forward to seeing our family plane - shed been in storage during the harsh winter months in Minnesota As I gazed at the old girl I recalled my wife Buddy had thought the planes name should be something fitting - The Mistress was her suggestion

I thought back to a time yet still alive in my memories The sun shone bright (it does usually in memories) of a crisp winter aftershynoon on a frozen lake My Dad and uncle working on trying to start an Enya 09 powering a Carl Goldberg Mambo free flight plane The engine was cold so with the help of the cars hot exshyhaust pipe a heavy prime of fuel and the batteries buried deep inshyside my Uncle Bills layers of clothes next to his hide (this of course being before Thinsulatereg) the engine came to life The plane soared on a low arching circle the clear yellow silk wings glistening against the sparkling snow All this grandeur came to an abrupt halt for as the plane kept coming around the circle it was not gaining any altitude and my Uncles DeSoto Fireflight was more or less in the circle To be exact the left hub cap was in the Mambos flight path It survived the sudden stop and for many years the old model flew and flew and became the cornerstone of my love of flight The memories are good of those times

I m brought out of my trance by a Bellanca Viking coming to life a few hangars down

I started to clean the faithful plane with my daughters who are equally excited to be getting on with it so we can go flying Both of them are already making memories of flight the people attribshyuted to it and those magnificent planes of then and now Once again my mind wanders back to earlier times when I was their age The aircraft was a Nesmith Cougar N93140 We built the plane and I polished and flew with my Dad On a crisp Minnesota winter day we went flying to the lake There was my uncle ice fishing beshylow and the plane seemed to be nearly that of the model airplane of years gone by boxy in shape and yellow We circled waggled our wings and since we were getting cold we headed for our home field Flying Cloud airport

Then came the day we shared our hangar with a stately aircraft of vintage heritage - a Stinson 108 I remembered it smelled as old as it looked Dad had our little Cougar snuggled in under one of her wings Wow is she BIG that Stinson A while later the old lady left our hangar and Cougar found a new home in California Dad was looking for that lady that touched our lives briefly someshytime earlier He did manage to find her at a now closed airport south of MinneapoJis called Southport Half buried in snow we disassembled her to give her life again The work was hard and long and not being too up there in years the time it took to rebuild it seemed to be an eternity Dad was patient in the learning process for both my brother Harry and myself

Our participation was essential for our small hand and size could hold that nut in inaccessible places The Readdy Heater warmed the garage while at the same time the kerosene fumes stung our eyes but it did manage to keep things bearable while out-

a JANUARY 1997

The Whiting familys Stinson 108 which now excites the two youngest Whitings Jenilynn (left) and Bridgett

side the wind howled and frost formed around the garage door seams Two years ago it was my turn as I spent the winter months in

the hangar with my daughter Bridgett diligently working the Readdy Heater as before our eyes burning as we worked getshyting the lady ready for competition at Oshkosh Wisconsin By spring she was cleaned and readied for flight and I realized the imshyportance of the child and the plane My daughters were sharing in the hard and important work of holding that nut We talked about this item and that and what functions they performed and then let our imaginations carry us aloft during break times The bond of adults planes and children is extraordinarily strong

As Jeni yells Dad I got her looking good I come out of my trance from atop the ladder where I had been cleaning the wing

I look down at my two precious girls and remember when I and my brothers Harry and Fran and our baby sister were once the children helping care for this lady My little sister who in the beshyginning was in charge of entertainment and later became a first rate mechanic has a lot in common with my girls The future does shine bright and not just in memories of a time gone by The child and the plane shall endure the hardships as the child in each of us older kids did remembering the memories of aircraft and fantasies and how we embellished in their grandeur

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

Robert Davis Contemporary

by Norm Petersen

Photo by Paul Boyer a professional photographer from Port Townsend W A

This really sharp looking 1959 Cessna 310C N666T SIN 35925 is owned by Robert B Davis (Captain United Air Lines Ret) (EAA 5219 19) of Port Townsend WA He says After a one year restoration effort the 3 10 is providshying fast (200+) comfortable reliable and enjoyable flying experiences

After owning a 1946 Globe Swift and having twin-engine time in U S Air Force TB-25s and SA-16s plus United Convair 340s Robert bought N666T in January 1994 Roberts son John W Davis is an MEL CFI II so he volunshyteered to properly check out his old man in proper light

twin driving The local maintenance chief at Townsend Airways Jefshy

ferson County Airport Pat Paden A amp P and AI was the man in charge of the project and did a fabulous job accordshying to Robert The entire airplane was brought up to 1995 standards both mechanically and asethically It is obvious from the photo that somebody really knew what they were doing

Of262 Model Cs produced 155 remain on the FAA regshyister today A grand total of all 310 models brings the regisshyter total to 3276

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE CHILD AndThePLANE

by William R Whiting (Ale 19331)

The spring day was fresh and stirring inside myself as though a tonic full of excitement My senses went wild with a longing to be flying with the birds riding the air currents I drove to Crystal airshyport with my two daughters Bridgett nine and Jenilynn six who were looking forward to seeing our family plane - shed been in storage during the harsh winter months in Minnesota As I gazed at the old girl I recalled my wife Buddy had thought the planes name should be something fitting - The Mistress was her suggestion

I thought back to a time yet still alive in my memories The sun shone bright (it does usually in memories) of a crisp winter aftershynoon on a frozen lake My Dad and uncle working on trying to start an Enya 09 powering a Carl Goldberg Mambo free flight plane The engine was cold so with the help of the cars hot exshyhaust pipe a heavy prime of fuel and the batteries buried deep inshyside my Uncle Bills layers of clothes next to his hide (this of course being before Thinsulatereg) the engine came to life The plane soared on a low arching circle the clear yellow silk wings glistening against the sparkling snow All this grandeur came to an abrupt halt for as the plane kept coming around the circle it was not gaining any altitude and my Uncles DeSoto Fireflight was more or less in the circle To be exact the left hub cap was in the Mambos flight path It survived the sudden stop and for many years the old model flew and flew and became the cornerstone of my love of flight The memories are good of those times

I m brought out of my trance by a Bellanca Viking coming to life a few hangars down

I started to clean the faithful plane with my daughters who are equally excited to be getting on with it so we can go flying Both of them are already making memories of flight the people attribshyuted to it and those magnificent planes of then and now Once again my mind wanders back to earlier times when I was their age The aircraft was a Nesmith Cougar N93140 We built the plane and I polished and flew with my Dad On a crisp Minnesota winter day we went flying to the lake There was my uncle ice fishing beshylow and the plane seemed to be nearly that of the model airplane of years gone by boxy in shape and yellow We circled waggled our wings and since we were getting cold we headed for our home field Flying Cloud airport

Then came the day we shared our hangar with a stately aircraft of vintage heritage - a Stinson 108 I remembered it smelled as old as it looked Dad had our little Cougar snuggled in under one of her wings Wow is she BIG that Stinson A while later the old lady left our hangar and Cougar found a new home in California Dad was looking for that lady that touched our lives briefly someshytime earlier He did manage to find her at a now closed airport south of MinneapoJis called Southport Half buried in snow we disassembled her to give her life again The work was hard and long and not being too up there in years the time it took to rebuild it seemed to be an eternity Dad was patient in the learning process for both my brother Harry and myself

Our participation was essential for our small hand and size could hold that nut in inaccessible places The Readdy Heater warmed the garage while at the same time the kerosene fumes stung our eyes but it did manage to keep things bearable while out-

a JANUARY 1997

The Whiting familys Stinson 108 which now excites the two youngest Whitings Jenilynn (left) and Bridgett

side the wind howled and frost formed around the garage door seams Two years ago it was my turn as I spent the winter months in

the hangar with my daughter Bridgett diligently working the Readdy Heater as before our eyes burning as we worked getshyting the lady ready for competition at Oshkosh Wisconsin By spring she was cleaned and readied for flight and I realized the imshyportance of the child and the plane My daughters were sharing in the hard and important work of holding that nut We talked about this item and that and what functions they performed and then let our imaginations carry us aloft during break times The bond of adults planes and children is extraordinarily strong

As Jeni yells Dad I got her looking good I come out of my trance from atop the ladder where I had been cleaning the wing

I look down at my two precious girls and remember when I and my brothers Harry and Fran and our baby sister were once the children helping care for this lady My little sister who in the beshyginning was in charge of entertainment and later became a first rate mechanic has a lot in common with my girls The future does shine bright and not just in memories of a time gone by The child and the plane shall endure the hardships as the child in each of us older kids did remembering the memories of aircraft and fantasies and how we embellished in their grandeur

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

THE CHILD AndThePLANE

by William R Whiting (Ale 19331)

The spring day was fresh and stirring inside myself as though a tonic full of excitement My senses went wild with a longing to be flying with the birds riding the air currents I drove to Crystal airshyport with my two daughters Bridgett nine and Jenilynn six who were looking forward to seeing our family plane - shed been in storage during the harsh winter months in Minnesota As I gazed at the old girl I recalled my wife Buddy had thought the planes name should be something fitting - The Mistress was her suggestion

I thought back to a time yet still alive in my memories The sun shone bright (it does usually in memories) of a crisp winter aftershynoon on a frozen lake My Dad and uncle working on trying to start an Enya 09 powering a Carl Goldberg Mambo free flight plane The engine was cold so with the help of the cars hot exshyhaust pipe a heavy prime of fuel and the batteries buried deep inshyside my Uncle Bills layers of clothes next to his hide (this of course being before Thinsulatereg) the engine came to life The plane soared on a low arching circle the clear yellow silk wings glistening against the sparkling snow All this grandeur came to an abrupt halt for as the plane kept coming around the circle it was not gaining any altitude and my Uncles DeSoto Fireflight was more or less in the circle To be exact the left hub cap was in the Mambos flight path It survived the sudden stop and for many years the old model flew and flew and became the cornerstone of my love of flight The memories are good of those times

I m brought out of my trance by a Bellanca Viking coming to life a few hangars down

I started to clean the faithful plane with my daughters who are equally excited to be getting on with it so we can go flying Both of them are already making memories of flight the people attribshyuted to it and those magnificent planes of then and now Once again my mind wanders back to earlier times when I was their age The aircraft was a Nesmith Cougar N93140 We built the plane and I polished and flew with my Dad On a crisp Minnesota winter day we went flying to the lake There was my uncle ice fishing beshylow and the plane seemed to be nearly that of the model airplane of years gone by boxy in shape and yellow We circled waggled our wings and since we were getting cold we headed for our home field Flying Cloud airport

Then came the day we shared our hangar with a stately aircraft of vintage heritage - a Stinson 108 I remembered it smelled as old as it looked Dad had our little Cougar snuggled in under one of her wings Wow is she BIG that Stinson A while later the old lady left our hangar and Cougar found a new home in California Dad was looking for that lady that touched our lives briefly someshytime earlier He did manage to find her at a now closed airport south of MinneapoJis called Southport Half buried in snow we disassembled her to give her life again The work was hard and long and not being too up there in years the time it took to rebuild it seemed to be an eternity Dad was patient in the learning process for both my brother Harry and myself

Our participation was essential for our small hand and size could hold that nut in inaccessible places The Readdy Heater warmed the garage while at the same time the kerosene fumes stung our eyes but it did manage to keep things bearable while out-

a JANUARY 1997

The Whiting familys Stinson 108 which now excites the two youngest Whitings Jenilynn (left) and Bridgett

side the wind howled and frost formed around the garage door seams Two years ago it was my turn as I spent the winter months in

the hangar with my daughter Bridgett diligently working the Readdy Heater as before our eyes burning as we worked getshyting the lady ready for competition at Oshkosh Wisconsin By spring she was cleaned and readied for flight and I realized the imshyportance of the child and the plane My daughters were sharing in the hard and important work of holding that nut We talked about this item and that and what functions they performed and then let our imaginations carry us aloft during break times The bond of adults planes and children is extraordinarily strong

As Jeni yells Dad I got her looking good I come out of my trance from atop the ladder where I had been cleaning the wing

I look down at my two precious girls and remember when I and my brothers Harry and Fran and our baby sister were once the children helping care for this lady My little sister who in the beshyginning was in charge of entertainment and later became a first rate mechanic has a lot in common with my girls The future does shine bright and not just in memories of a time gone by The child and the plane shall endure the hardships as the child in each of us older kids did remembering the memories of aircraft and fantasies and how we embellished in their grandeur

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

The by Bob HigginsDating

Machine

I suppose there have been enough well-researched nuts-and-bolts articles written about the Piper Vagabond so I decided to offer a look at that old girl from a different perspective

Recollections of my first contacts with the PA-15 date back to July of 1948 the same month she received Civil Aeronaushytics Authority approval That string of memorable events began just five days afshyter the same government agency had isshysued me a private license I was just six months shy of graduation from high school but I didnt even have a drivers license yet Schools and car dealers hadnt begun to sponsor driver education and Dad saw no reason to teach me In fact my parents had only recently learned about my secret life as an aviator

I first sighted the shiny figure of NC4340H from the seat of my fire engine red Cushman motor scooter The cute yellow bird wasnt tied down on the flight line next to the six fairly new J-3 Cubs Id flown It stood parked in front of the

FBO ready to take Warshy

ren Oliver s first Vagabond rental customer into a cloudless sky from the sandy grass airfield located about six miles southwest of downtown South Bend Indiana I could hardly wait to see how she handled

Excitement mounted as I conducted the walk-around accompanied by a flight instructor The plane looked and smelled as great as any aircraft fresh from the facshytory Since the PA-15 had only one set of controls my check-out consisted of a few words of advice Bob youll have to wiggle your toes a lot with this short girl Bruce warned She has a strong tenshydency to sashay all over the place during the takeoff and landing rolls

The usual small crowd of Chain 0 Lakes airports hangar fliers assembled behind a rickety three foot fence to watch the sod fields youngest aviators attempt to tame a tigress The torque of her Lyshycoming engine allowed her to wander

some during the first few takeoffs but I soon got wise to her tricks

The Vagabond became a refined and well-behaved lady once her wheels left the ground I could relax and concentrate on her other features while I flew the patshytern In level flight at 600 feet on downshywind leg she provided an outstanding view over the nose and she accelerated to a thrilling 90 mph a record speed for me In my minds eye I could picture some awe-struck girl sitting beside me on the Vagabonds cozy cushioned seat It was covered with a washable fabric in my fashyvorite color which matched the cabins deep blue interior finish

Thirty minutes and several takeoffs and landings later it was love at first flight After the final smooth three point landing I taxied in to face the inevitable questions I told everyone that as far as I was concerned the need to keep tabs on the latest Piper s high-spirited nature merely added to her charm I surmised that the Vagabond and I had made each other look good because the airport crowd

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

heaped accolades on both of us Since the runways were so close I enjoyed the thrill of being a spectator with a splendid vantage point as the second Vagabond pilot made the circuits around the pattern that also qualified him to carry passengers

I was still filled with obshyvious enthusiasm when 1 reshyported for work that aftershynoon at a local tennis shoe factory I shared details of my good fortune with a coworker and news about that momentous flight spread quickly among the assemblers on the producshytion line Among them was a shy girl near my age a ministers daughter The older women guarded her and had made it known that 1 should leave the girl alone Since Betty seemed comshyfortable with their ultimashytum I honored their wishes Besides 1 had my eyes on Nancy a younger girl Id met recently while attending a fellow pilots church

Ironically the preachers daughter broke the ice that evening She slipped away from her protectors when the dinner whistle blew rushed to my work station out of breath and startled me with the news that her father was an earthbound airplane buff whose flying activities consisted of nothshying except dreams inspired by reading magazines

Did you really fly a brand new airplane today she asked

Yes I did Betty I replied

Really she persisted Are you telling the truth

I reached in a trouser pocket and pulled out the reshyceipt that proved I had paid a $300 rental fee for a 30 minute solo flight in a PAshylS that day She wanted to show it to her father so I gave it to her

During our shift the following day Betty- at her fathers request-invited me to visit him in the parsonage I gladly jumped at the chance to possibly convert a ministers fantasies into the real thing

The armchair aviator ushered me into his study and closed the door For a coushyple of hours we had a great time comparshy

10 JANUARY 1997

ing what he had read about the three modshyels of Pipers Id flown with what Id learned through actual experiences He knew enough to ask intelligent questions and wanted to hear about the 50 minute check ride that had netted me a private lishycense especially the thrilling details about the required two turn precision tailspins

Have you looped the J-3 he asked

leaning forward Of course I replied I learned that

maneuver from more experienced pilots at the airport Youre not a Cub pilot unshytil youve learned to do a loop without getting sand in your eyes

Obviously intrigued he decided to go up with me He agreed to pay the legal limit-half the cost of a one hour flight in the Vagabond and he would provide the

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

auto transportation to and from the aiIlX)lt I got a big kick out of Betty s father as

he raved about our magic carpet Keepshying our destination a secret seemed to enshyhance his obvious enjoyment Since I knew the route and flew IFR (I follow railways) I didnt need to consult a secshytional chart or the Vagabonds sole navishygational instrument a magnetic compass I simply picked up the Grand Trunk (Canadian National) railway tracks just south of the airport and followed them to our destination It was fun to watch my elated passenger s reactions to the scenery prominent landmarks readings on the altimeter and airspeed indicator and the increased speed during descent as I maneuvered to enter the traffic pattern at a suburban Chicago airfield His eyes widened as we came close enough to enshyter a downwind leg I anticipated his exshycitement at viewing the huge ramp covshyered with row after row of small airplanes

The Vagabond didnt have a radio I found a break in the traffic flow and eased into it behind another plane After landshying we cleared the runway and followed a jeep to a parking space After that I was content to follow my passenger while he examined many makes and models of aircraft hed only seen in photos Many were in mint condition

The good reverend could hardly conshytain his joy as we mixed with some Piper owners and engaged them in some great hangar flying After a light lunch I pracshytically had to pry the preacher away from that place

We departed to the west and made a sweepshying turn to the north to enjoy the Vagabonds outstanding over the nose view ofChicagos Loop That did it He was so elated that he agreed to allow his daughter to take a one hour ride at his expense

Under the circumstances I didnt mind having the girls father drive Betty and me to and from the airport a few days later I got to log more time at a cut rate Besides Id never tire ofviewing the scenery on the way to Benshyton Harbor via the Warren Dunes and the shoreline ofLake Michigan especially sitting beside a demonstrative girl thrilled with her first flight

Bettys reaction to that birds-eye view of southwestern Michigan amused and pleased me The experience loosened her shy tongue dramatically She was sti ll talkative over lunch I had to laugh and agree with my elated passenger when she claimed that nothing could beat the taste of a hamburger fries and a malt eaten afshyter a hop in a clipped wing marvel

Another reward from taking that flightshydate of sorts came at work the next day Betty s glowing report about the Vagabond its pilot and the thrill of flyshying astonished her self-appointed

guardians I listened with glee Circumshyventing those older ladies had pleased me as much as finding my way around a danshygerous thunderstorm I accomp lished the latter feat when my future wife and I made our first Vagabond flight a trip in which I formed my fondest memories associated with that wonderful dating machine

The general aura of romance associshyated with flying intensified when it came to carrying girls in a Vagabond It had a profound psychological effect on them For one thing the lack of a control stick on the passenger side allowed them to wear typical apparel of that era skirt blouse bobbysox and saddle shoes

Nancy had begun to make articles of clothing several years earlier when she had tackled sewing projects with the Campfire Girls What we considered a sport plane inspired her to buy some cloth that matched the Vagabonds interior The airport crowd dubbed us a cute couple as

A couple of love struck highshyschool students squeezed into the blue confines ofa cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think oftheir surroundings as austere Wefeft privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the

we boarded the P A-IS wearing a shirt and a blouse cut from the same fabric

After takeoff on an especially hot and humid day we headed south-southeast and climbed above the haze to the cooler air at 3500 feet Our destinationshyRochester Indiana- lay ahead During my boyhood Id gone there many times for picnics and swimming with my parshyents sisters and other relatives Thats where Id met Phyllis Onstott a local girl I dated via the buses that ran through Rochester to the state capitol

A couple of love struck high-school students squeezed into the blue confines of a cozy Vagabond cockpit would hardly think of their surroundings as austere We felt privileged as we roared aloft in our private compartment leaving the world behind

Using pilotage and dead reckoning we flew a direct course until we spotted Rochester Then we made a wide circle over the small resort town and Lake Manshyitou for a leisurely entry into the traffic pattern Along the way we enjoyed an unprecedented view of the familiar castleshylike courthouse downtown the many cotshytages and resorts along the lake shore and the general lay of flat farmland spread beshyfore us in squares like a patch quilt

Nancy and I created quite a stir as we taxied up to the flight line and deplaned from a novel aircraft wearing youthful

smiles and matching outfits A couple cameras clicked while we fielded quesshytions about ourselves and our yellow bird

Eventually we walked to what I conshysidered a major attraction the Airport Grill It featured a juke box the kind of food teens prefer a fine view of the lake and a congenial group of local people and vacationers from near and far It was easy to spot newcomers in that eating place they would attempt to pick up a nickel that was firmly attached to the floor

While we ate and talked airplane buffs hanging around on the flight line had amshyple time to inspect the Vagabond under the watchful eyes of Helen House Outshycelt the lady who ran the airport

During those Vagabond days we could arrange to pay for only the time aloft as long as we got the plane back in time for its next appointment That day however the sudden approach of an isolated air mass thunderstorm cut our stay short

Our takeoff to the southwest afforded us a fuzzy view of a dark haze shrouded menshyace that promised a bumpy ride ifwe got too close Once we got high enough to maneushyver I entered a gentle tum away from the storm until it was slightly behind our left wing tip Mother Nature s No Trespassshying sign (increased turbulence) suddenly sent us to a more northerly heading

By the time we reached the clear cool air above the haze we were far enough from the storm to safely turn to a direct homebound course and level flight at 4500 feet However we first made a brief detour to the west a heading that afforded us a marvelous but eerie view of the aweshysome black roll cloud unleashing its fury on Rochester Above the storm we could see the beautiful white towering cumushylonimbus cloud capped with an anvil

With a tail wind pushing our groundshyspeed to more than two miles per minute we reached the South Bend area with time to spare Reluctant to return to earth I stayed high made a rapid descent and used a slip on final approach

We watched the next couple take to the sky added our adventure to the other hangar flying tales of the afternoon and took an early evening meal in the small airport restaurant We finished the meal with a special treat - a slice of genuine butterscotch pie We topped off that wonshyderful day with a motor scooter ride to Nancys house at dusk and an hour or more on a porch swing

I never lost my appreciation for the Vagabonds important contribution to my happiness as I evolved from a grassroots flier of small tail draggers to a pilot of much larger planes with nosewheels and multiple jet engines Over the next five decades I never missed a chance to fly any of the beloved Pipers from the days ofyouth

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

Tri-Motor Aeronca C-3

by Norm Petersen

I f you think you are seeing double (or triple) with your eyeballs dont be dismayed This parshyticular airplane is indeed a tri-motor Aeronca C-3 that was put together in the late 1940s by Howard Libersky of Mashyson City Iowa and now of Okeechobee FL Deshysigned to be something different at airshows the basic Aeronca C-3 was modified with a 65 hp Continental in the nose pulling a Lewis proshypeller (you can see the Lewis logos on the prop) In addition Howard hung two 168 cu in two-stroke enshygines from the Radioshyplane OQ-2A drone unshyder the wings that were attached by special mounts The drone enshygines had contra-rotating propellers (note the different blade angles on the small props) and could be throttled from the cockpit

Howard says the most difficult item was hand propping the drone engines as the two propellers were so close that you could only lay your fingers on the front face of the blade to pull the enshygine through If you put your hand over the edge of the front prop and pulled the engine through the rear prop would come from the other direction and hit your fingers hard

To add a bit of safety around crowds Howard added a set of Piper Cub wheels and brakes along with 800 X 4 tires and tubes He then installed brake pedals below the rudder pedals on the cabin floor With all that power at hand the airplane could easily have gotten away without brakes - especially among airshow crowds

Normal takeoff was about 30 feet however at times Howard says he was off the ground in 25 feet or even less with a little headwind to help the takeoff It was quite a performer and the crowds really liked the little tri-motor The airplane was pictured in FL YINO magazine in 1948

In 1952 with the airshow business suspended by the CAA

because of a fatal crowd accident in Colorado Howard removed the two outboard engines and sold the single-engined Aeronca Cshy3 to a farmer living near Charles City IA With no hangar the farmer tied the C-3 out in his field During the summer a storm came along and totally wiped out the Aeronca creating a rather sad ending to this story

In the summer of 1954 I walked into Howards shop at Worshythington Minnesota looked around and spotted his welding cart I remarked that his was the first welding cart I had ever seen with Rose Parrakeet wheels on it Howard looked at me kind of quizzically and said You are the very first person to ever walk in here and identify those wheels How do you know about Rose Parrakeet wheels I remarked as to how they had a certain diashymond shape to them and to the best of my knowledge were the only plane to use them Together we had quite a chuckle over the wheels which had indeed come from a wrecked Rose Parrashykeet

Howard Libersky passed his 83rd birthday on November 29th and still repairs aircraft magnetos on a daily basis to keep himself ~~~~~

12 JANUARY 1997

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

A Different Short Wing Piper

by HG Frautschy

A trim ship is not only a joy to the owner bit is also appreciated by the fly-in and non-jIying public alike

-Earl C Reed Zenda KS

Earl Reed wrote those words years ago in the introduction to his STC After lookshying at the shorter wings on the Piper Clipshyper and the other Short-Wing Pipers Earl looked at the J-3 and probably thought Why not

He put together a modification to the Piper J-3C-65 and -75 that shortened the wings a total of 80 inches With each wing relieved of 40 inches the J-3C was a little faster a bit lighter in weight and was easshy

ier to handle in windy conditions With a little sweat equity and only a minimal amount of extra hardware the change wasnt horribly expensive either

Earl Reeds change to the wooden sparred J-3 has remained popular to this day Wag-Aero who has sold copies of the STC for over 20 years still sells the drawshyings spar reinforcements and STC papershywork to a number of wing cl ippers each year

The main reason it has become a popushylar modification to the Cub over the years is simply the added maneuverability the shorter wings give The snappier roll charshyacteristics (the regular ailerons are used)

appealed to the beginning aerobatic pilot or to those who just wanted something just a bit less sedate than a regular Cub Beshysides it looks well racier

Whats it take tltgt make a Clipped-Wing Cub a 13 Reed This article isnt intended to detail the complete procedure so dont head off the hangar with your trusty Stanshyley saw in hand but the basics include takshying the wings off and peeling back the fabshyric Earl wrote his procedure with the thought that it was possible to do it without completely recovering the wing but most are done while a complete restoration is made to the airplane The first bay draganti-drag wires are loosened and re-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

moved the No2 Compression strut is taken out and the leadshying edge metal root ribs and false ribs are removed That leaves over 40 inches of the spa rs exposed at their root Measure twice and cut once with a saw varnish the exshyposed ends of the spar and get ready to start installing hardshyware The compression strut in the old No 2 position is reshymoved replaced with the origshyinal root compression tube inshystalled in its place The spars are drilled using a hand brace and bit and the fittings and ribs reinstalled The spars have to be reinforced at the strut fitshytings with a vertical channel added to compensate for ecshycentric strut loads (the wing struts will no longer line up precisely with the fittings inshystalled on the spar) The wings is then trammeled and recovshyered Thats not all there is too the modifishycation though

A new set of wing struts is built up All four struts use the larger front strut tubshying The forward struts can be made up usshying the original forward struts provided they pass inspection for corrosion The struts are shortened at the top end and the new tube welded in the upper end has a thicker wall thickness The strut fitting on the fuselage has to be headed and bent upshywards to match the new strut mounting anshygie While the wing dihedral remains the same the shortened struts assume a more acute angle so the fitting must be modified

Finally because of the new strut geomeshytry the cockpit door must be modified with a small cut out on the top of the lower door or it will not clear the strut when it is folded down

You can see how a seemingly easy change can get a bit more involved Finally when all of the structural work is done the fabric is installed or repaired None of it is

14 JANUARY 1997

The Clipped-Wing Cub Piper Clipper and Meyers 200 all share floor space in the Kochans hangar in central Florida

~ E =

Dennis and Janeen Kochan Winter Haven FL

i

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

As an anniversary present last year Janeen commissioned aviation artist Sam Lyons 4600 Kings Crossing Dr Kennesaw GA 30144 to render this pretty artwork of the restored Cub resting in front of the bam it was found in Janeen had the artwork entitled Treasures on display with the airplane during Sun n Fun 96

especially difficult and care taken during the changes can result in and very good looking airplane All of the required changes are spelled out in the STC packshyage

That racy look I spoke of earlier has inshyspired some wild color schemes over the years Thinking back youll remember the blue and white sunburst on Hazel Sigs Clipped-Wing and the many others that have shown up as mounts for basic class Keeping it light is the aerobatic pilots at lAC contests The modishy secret of its success fied airplane has brought out the fun side in A stock panel with

nothing additional restorers keeps the fun in thisA couple of restorers who fit that de-sport airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

(Above) The shorter wings of the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion are readily apparent in this shot of this J-3C restored by Scott Gross and his brother Steve Gross along with their AampP friend Bill Hadden

scription are Airborne Express DC-8 Capshytain Janeen Kochan of Winter Haven FL and her husband Dennis a Captain and inshystructor pilot for Piedmont (now USAir soon to be US Airways) The also own a beautiful Meyers 200 and a Piper Clipper They keep both in a hangar located in the back of their home site bordering the Winshyter Haven Airport Without too much diffishyculty they had room for another airplane so when the opportunity presented itself they took advantage of the situation

A few years ago a friend of a Janneen s mechanic mentioned he knew of a Cub in a barn not too far from the Wilmington OH base of Airborne Express Sure enough there really was a Cub in a barn in central Ohio It had just been covered and was available so she made an offer right away It didnt take too long and the J3F-65 was in a moving van and headed to Florida

16 JANUARY 1997

Already a clipped wing conversion the Kochens Cub had only a few owners in its past A man from St Louis bought it new from the factory delivered with a 65 horse Franklin engine Later it would have a 75 hp Continental installed Not long after it was delivered to St Louis a fellow runshyning a flight school in Oshkosh WI was searching for another Cub so he bought it Steve Wittman used the it to train students in the Civilian Pilot Training Program until 1944 when it was sold to Russell McNeil of Lakeville IL Russell owned the airshyplane until it was sold to the Kochans in September of 1993 Since it had been the airplane he spent almost all of his time in Russell agreed to release the airplane as long as he could retain the N-number

Long before it was purchased by the two airline pilots it was given the Reed Clipped-Wing conversion Disassembled

in 1974 the Cub got its Continental engine somewhere along the line as well It didnt fly again until 1996 this time with the new registration number N12190 the Kochens wedding anniversary date in December They put the airplane together using their new Aamp P mechanics licenses Janeen inshydicated shell sit for the Inspection Authoshyrization test as soon as she qualifies

The number three woman at Airborne in seniority (behind Dana Folks and Susan Dusenbury) Janeen doesnt stand still too long An athletic person she enjoys runshyning and lifting weights and her boundless energy level is quite apparent when you meet Far from nervous she enjoys the confidence of doing what she enjoys and is good at what ever she takes on which can fall in a wide range of interests In addition to her aviation and athletic pursuits she also enjoys playing her baby grand piano

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

Janeen started flying at the age of 27 after a demo ride in a Cessna 150 Aerobat The demo came complete with loops and spins and she so thoroughly enjoyed hershyself she decided upon a new career in aviashytion Later after she became an instructor she went back to that instructor and asked him why he gave her such a wild demo Fred do you always do into flights like that she asked No Janeen you just looked like the type

Flying checks at night getting on every charter certificate in the state she could flying whenever called upon helped put valuable experience in her logbook She sold her cars her house her cat and her business to put herself through the necesshysary flight schools and build up her time Finally with ratings in her pocket she fired off her resume to Airborne As a pishylot who enjoys training she really likes flying for the air freight company and her enthusiasm for aviation doesnt stop there The hangarfull of airplanes is testimony to that as is the Kochens most recent addishytion - a single-place sailplane

Now about that color scheme Bevo Howard had the only factory built Piper J-3C Intended for airshow work it had red white and blue markings in what is

Until you look at the shortened wings and the tell-tail cutout on the lower cockpit door youd never suspect this Cub had been modified with the Reed conversion

now a familiar sunburst pattern Red and nentals but that helps white happen to be favorites of Janeens keep it light The so both the Clipper and Meyers have simishy Kochen s look forward to lar color schemes She and Dennis took a having a little fun with little ofBevos scheme (the sunburst) a litshy their new light aerobatic tle from the Clipper (the stripe on the side) mount By Christmas added the checkerboard on the tail and time they had about 50 made an airplane that just looks as though hours on the airplane Jashyits ready for some fun neen says you have to be

Still equipped with the A-75-8 it sure and put on an equa l weighs just a bit over 700 Ibs No starter amount of time of all the or generator is on the -8 series of Contishy airplanes or they start to

get jealous of each other I hadnt seen a newly Clipped-Wing

Cub at a fly-in in quite some time but at Sun n Fun 96 there were two - the Kochens and a yellow Cub that for all the world looked like any other nicely restored airplane When you stepped back and looked at the wings you knew something special was afoot

Scott Gross of Mechanicsburg V A along with his brother Steve who hails from Louisville KY and Bill Hadden of Richmond VA restored their fun machine over a three year period Scott is a corposhyrate pilot and while conversing with one of

Scott Gross and Bill Hadden

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

his bosses friends the subject of airplanes came up Imagine that The friend menshytioned that he had the first airplane he ever owned a Cub whose wings had been clipped back in the 1950s by a man named Frank Sadler The old story of selling the airplane then looking for it again buying it and intending to restore it was told again It had been sitting untouched for over 20 years Scott planted the seed with the now familiar If you ever change your mind about selling give me call To his surshyprise the call came later Do you still want that Cub

Sure January of 92 was the moving day for

this basket case Covered in cotton many years ago it required a complete rebuild from the sandblasted frame on up Unforshytunately the engine had never been pickshyled so it was completely rusted on the inteshyrior A new set of Superior cylinders was obtained along with a good crank and a new camshaft Everything needed to be reshyplaced on the Continental C-85 engine A complete rebuild was done on the pair of Eiseman LA-4 magnetos and they report that the engine runs beautifully with the Eisemans Of course the carburetors was also completely overhauled

The sheet metal was also pretty bad so

18 JANUARY 1997

it too was replaced with new Fortunately the wings were in better condition The spars passed inspection as did most of the ribs A few ribs were replaced One of the surprising items was the tires When the airplane was found in the barn the tires were flat Since they didnt look too bad an air hose was applied to the valves and the tubes were inflated To this day they continue to hold air and are installed on the airplane today A set of sea led wing struts were welded up for the airplane by Wag-Aero and most of the sheet metal came was also supplied by the company

Changes made the restorers include a left wing fuel tank and thicker Plexiglasreg in the side windows They also got a field approval for an enlarged baggage compartshyment and added shoulder harnesses The ELT is one of the new ACK units remotely mounted in the aft fuselage with a control switch and indicator mounted up forward in the cockpit A buried comm antenna is also mounted aft of the baggage compartshyment

The airplane is covered in Poly-Fiber and finished in Polytone The sheet metal is finished with Aerothane with a flattenshying agent added to match the low gloss sheen of the Poly tone It looks very trim and attractive

This project got done again through the cooperative efforts of a trio of men Each added their own talents to the whole and finished with a great looking Cub Scott is a CFI so in trade for Bill Haddens help as an AampP Scotts giving Bill flight instruction in the Cub He says its a lot of fun to fly and is happy with the way it handles with the full aileron she is really sweet to fly shythey just bring the wings over so easily Its real docile on the controls A regular full Cub wing you push On this you are barely touching the controls and she just goes It has a real nice roll rate and cruises about 90 mph Scott says They have a neat little sportplane to fly and enjoy for many years to come

A few final notes about the Clipped Wing Conversion of the J-3 As a converted light plane its not meant for hard snaps or punshyishing outside maneuvers but for someone who with the proper training would like to enjoy smooth aerobatics on a Iightplane budshyget it could be just the airplane they need Earl Reed had something to write on this subject at the end of his STC

Final note It should be borne in mind also that this Mod is intended to put the Cub back in the class with other similar aircraft and in no way constitutes a race plane ofharebrained hot rod

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

A well done restoration by the Cinquanta family and friends has given them a fitting tribute to their father Frank who bought the PA-11 in 1964 for $700

By Daril E CinquantaAle 21758

ecently I visited the place where I grew up a plateau south of Boulder Colorado overlookshying the city of Boulder and the Flatirons Standing at the end of the once-extant 500 foot runway brought back memories of growing up at our restaurant The Mattershyhorn which had its own private runway

My dad Frank and my Uncle Joe had been pilots all their life and had developed the love of flying while growing up in Erie Pennsylvania They also flew during WW II while in the Army Air Corps

When we arrived in Colorado we found the perfect location for our restaurant which sat on a hill overlooking the valley beshy A standard cream-faced Cub panel is supplemented when low The view was breathtaking The restaurant was designed needed with a King KX-99 handheld comm radio an external by my Uncle Joe and the three of us built it by hand It was antenna and an intercom with headsets A shielded ignition constructed out of rock and was in the style of a Swiss chalet system keeps the electrical noise down to a minimum

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

The color scheme scallops add an air of raciness to the PA-11 accentuated by the cowled enshygine of the J-3 derivative If it could be seen the restorers eishyther chromed polished or painted it to perfection Even the propeller was polished with fancy paint trim applied to the tips

20 JANUARY 1997

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

The hangar was constructed at the far end of the seven acres and the dirt runway that I was standing on as I reminisced ran dishyagonally across the property Very few pilots would attempt to land on such a short runway Most would land on the plateau to the west which was a very long dirt runway Once airborne you were 1000 feet AGL If you were dragshyging on takeoff you could drop your nose and build airspeed soaring down the valley

During the 1960s Joe and Frank had Washycos a Stearman Swifts and varishyous models of Pipers Joe would restore them and sell them in his spare time Some were jet powered such as the DH Hawker Joe would hand craft many of the parts himshyself A number of his airplanes would appear over the years in various flyshying magazines He was well shyknown throughshyout Colorado

sixties in order to be restored Circumshystances unfortunately dictated that she would sit in storage until restoration finally was begun in 1993 At one point the Civil Air Patrol stored the airplane for my dad but strangely enough it disappeared The CAP had to send out search planes to fmd her but sure enough she was ultimately found and rescued

Restoration was commenced in 1993 but unfortunately my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then lymphoma

cable brackets and footstep were chromed in order to add to its uniqueness Various metal pieces exhaust manifolds and exshyhaust were powder coated in flat and gloss black This is very durable and looks great

The cabin was carpeted by Airtex and we had a dash cover made We have a hand held King KX-99 an intercom and has an external antenna Headsets are a must and the whole system works great The instrument panel looks wonderful with a touch of nostalgia Original cream faced

instruments inshycluding a rate of climb and a 1949 inclinomeshyter were inshystalled

The C90-SF was completely overhauled and fitted with a McshyCauley climb prop which helps here in the Mile High City An 0shy200 oil tank was also installed The left side winshydow was modishyfied to open out on a small hyshydraulic strut this really opens up the cabin Piper should have thought of this as an option

The upholshyMinnesota and Straight lines that are supposed to be straight are and curved lines are smooth and accushy stery is custom Wisconsin For rate attesting to the excellent work done by the painter Larry Pickerell and beefed up many years Joe his wife Kathy and daughter LeAnn lived in Minshynesota and had a private strip called Hawks Haven Joe is well-known in EAA circles and is presently building one of his bishyplane designs called the Homet

The PA-II was our Dads personal airshyplane and one of two which have remained in the family The second was the Horshynet mentioned above This Cub special is truly special and has an interesting history As was many of her ancestors she was used as a crop-duster in 1945 In 1949 she was fitted with skis and was flown to South Dakota and eventually relocated to Neshybraska In 1949 she again was used as a crop-duster up until 1952 My Dad purshychased the Cub for $700 in 1964 from a Nebraska farmer

After arriving in Colorado she was used to tow a banner in order to advertise our restaurant The Matterhorn She pershyformed this duty honorably up until 1967 In fact she delivered the first pizza by air from our restaurant to the Boulder Airport She also soloed a few students whom Joe taught the old-fashioned way

The PA-II was dismantled in the late

We tried to have the airp lane restored in time so that he could fly her one more time but it was not meant to be He loved to visit our hangar and spend time there We know he would have approved of our restoration of his plane and we truly feel he will be in the back seat when we fly

In restoring the Cub Special we wanted her to have a personality of her own We wanted her to be unique in Cub circles esshypecially since there are only 700 PA-II s sti ll in existence in this country She was covered in Ceconite 101 and painted in Randolph butyrate Tennessee Red and Daytona White The paint scheme is an old-fashioned scallop design similar to other Cubs of the Matterhorn era The paint was done by Larry Pickerell of Flying Colors out of Longmont Colorado

The Cub has two IS gallon tanks and I wonder if we can make it to Oshkosh 96 with a tailwind without refueling All of the aluminum parts propeller muffs screws bolts knobs and the Scott tail wheel hubcaps were polished out with Red Baron The tail brace wires tiedowns and numerous engine pieces as well as bolts

for us short Italshyians The engine

cowling is also custom allowing room for the towering plugs We had to search all over the country for the RPM and oil temshyperaturepressure gauge We finally loshycated them in Maine The hardest thing to find was the spinner with front and back plates This was not an original item Inshystead the PA-II came stock with a skull cap The sp inner was ultimately found in the warehouse of forgotten parts at Duffs Aircraft Salvage in Denver It must have been one of the last ones in the country The spinner and wheel pants make this lady a show piece with a personality of her own She gets a lot of attention wherever she lands It is amazing what you can do to even customize a Cub

The PA-II will now be used for fun and for aerial surveillance in my private invesshytigation business which I started in 1990 after retiring as a detective from the Denshyver Police Department after 20 years of service My brother Matt will get his lishycense in the PA- II at the direction of our Uncle Joe which was what our Dad wanted before he passed away The P A-II is our memorial to our Dad

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE RESTORING -----------------------------------------------------------byNornm Petersen

Frank Bass Kari-Keen Coupe

This extremely rare 1929 Kari-Keen 90 Coupe NC244K SIN 211 was the pride and joy of veteran antiquer Frank Bass (EAA 132867 A C 4434) of Moore Montana One of only four on the US register the pretty two-placer was flown east on several occashysions to Oshkosh and Blakesburg Power is a five-cylinder 90 hp Lambert 266 cu in engine pulling a wooden propeller that nicely flows from the spinner into the cowling The wing is one piece all

wood full cantilever and is the handiwork of designer Swen Swanshyson Frank who is a walking encyclopedia on antique airplanes reshycently sold the Kari-Keen Coupe to a museum in Canada so it is no longer on the U S Register In its original green and orange paint scheme the Kari-Keen was always a welcome sight at any fly-in Getting to know its restorer Frank Bass an auctioneer by trade with a story for every occasion is a treat in itself

Dean Kronwalls Taylorcraft BC-12D

This pretty 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D N61895 SIN 6515 received its airworthishyness certificate on October 29 1996 folshylowing a five and a half year restoration effort by its owner Dean Kronwall (EAA 90889 A C 20768) of Northbrook lllishynois The test flight the first for the TshyCraft in 46 years was made by veteran Taylorcraft pilot Don Claude (EAA 134336 A C 17459) of nearby DeKalb IL The test flight was made on Novemshyber 29 1996 and Don reports everything worked to perfection Note the tubular swing-out windows on this model and the original Taylorcraft hubcaps on the wheels Congratulations are in order for Dean Kronwall for a magnificent job of bringing a Taylorcraft BC-12D back to life after 46 long years

22 JANUARY 1997

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

James Donnells Contemporary Cessna 172

stra ight tail Cessnas for an older straight tail 182 he stumbled into this 172 and bought it in 1991 was in dire need of some TLC

This sharp looking 1959 Cessna 172 s traight-t a il N6331E SIN- 46431 is the pride and joy of James W Donnell (EAA 530423) of WinnsboroLouisiana Jim has been flying for 52 years and has always had a soft spot in his heart for th e

While searching

It Since

then he has upgraded the entire airplane inside and out installed a complete new interior one piece windshield and reshyplaced the former droop tips with these hi-performance wingtips A new paint job in white and blue with black trim reshyally sets the pretty four-placer off With the list of improvements running over two pages in length Jim has done just about everything to this airplane that is possible He admits it draws many second looks at airports with many questions about it beshying for sale He feels he has been blesssed as the owner and enjoys the airplane imshymensely Congratulations Jim on a really beautiful 172

Jack Duecks Luscombe 8-E Jack Dueck (EAA 337912) and hi s

wife Jean of Whitehorse Yukon Terrishytory Canada restored this pretty Lusshycombe 8-E CF-MNS after finding it in a garage The former owner had purchased the airplane with floats used the floats on a different airplane and stored the Lusshycombe When the Dueck s hauled the Luscombe home the restoration got unshyderway and the result is the beautiful polshyished Luscombe you see in the photo Both restorers admit the total costs were a bit unreal but the job itself took patience and hard work After flying the neat twoshyplacer to Oshkosh they have now emshybarked on building an RV-4 The photo and story were submitted by Rem Walker (EAA 11640 A C 12982) of Regina Sask Canada

Jeff Spencers Commonwealth Sky Ranger 185

All dressed up in its original paint scheme of blue and cream is this 1946 Commonwealth Skyranger 185 N93238 SIN 1743 Its the pride andjoy of its reshystorer Jeff Spencer (EAA 521337 A C 26208) of Rushsylvania Ohio Jeffs fashyther Carl Spencer owned a 1940 Rearwin Skyranger when Jeff was 8-10 years of age and Jeff has wanted one ever si nce Ironically Carls old airplane has been reshystored and is based about twenty miles from Jeffs house Powered with a Contishynental C85-12F engine the Commonshy

wealth is being upgraded with new Cleveshyland brakes and other amenities as the budget allows Note the fixed slots in the outboard section of the NACA 23012 wing and the original wheel covers The

Skyranger is also approved on about six models of Federal skis Presently there are 88 Commonwealth Skyranger 185s listed on the FAA register Congrats to Jeff on a beautiful airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

OSHKOSH-IF WE COULD DO IT YOU CAN TOO by Lynn R Pinson Ale 2343

There are times in your life when you need to say NO to the naysayers and those who would steal your dreams Establishing a goal and making it come to fruition makes the accomplishment all that much sweeter Lynn Pinson and his friend Jerry confronted their fears and slayed a mental dragon What mental dragon has you at bay Perhaps beshyginning or finishing that restoration project or planning that long cross country Perhaps doing what you already know needs to be done is all that stands between you and the worthwhile attainment ofyour objective - HGF

Someone much smarter than I am once said that the moment of readiness is when the discomfort of the status quo finally exshyceeds the fear of change After nine years that moment had come For nine years Jerry Hostick and I talked and dreamed about flying to Oshkosh for the annual EAA Fly-In and Convention We talked about how we would take our time fly when we wanted to fly stop when we wanted to stop and we especially wanted to fly up the Misshysissippi River just flying and looking as we would make our way to the Mecca of aviashytion Oshkosh But each year we got cold feet and backed out a couple of weeks before it started We had heard so many stories about how many airplanes got there at the same time and how we might run into someshybody or crash or just anything - maybe everything - awful might happen to us or our airplanes We would then suddenly get sick or have to be somewhere else or have to work that week Until now

When I closed the hangar door that beaushytiful summer Sunday morning after packing the 1947 Cessna 120 with the sleeping bag the pork n beans the crackers the cheese crisps the canteen the hand-held radio the borrowed GPS and two duffel bags of extra clothes I wondered if I would ever come back and see that hangar again

It was Toms fault I told him in Februshyary about our dreams and how long Jerry and I had been talking about it He came back with Well we re going this year no backing out cause I told Chuck I would be there this year with the Kitfox Pinion you aint baclan out this time

No way could Tom finish that Kitfox by July He didnt even have the engine in it or the insides in it yet But he did He soloed it in May on Memorial Day weekend

So Jerry in his Cessna ISO and me in the Cessna 120 took off from Frederick Oklashyhoma that Sunday morning and headed east to our first stop at Tenkiller Airpark in eastern OkJahoma where we were to meet Tom Yates in that brand new Kitfox We were commitshyted The moment of readiness had come and gone We were on our way to Oshkosh

We flew from Tenkiller to Jefferson City Missouri to Hannibal MO to Keokuk Iowa to Muscatine lA to Madison Wisshyconsin We flew over some of the prettiest country I had ever seen Our dream of flyshying up the Mississippi River became a realshyity We listened on 12275 MHz to other pishylots as they too were flying from all over the United States all headed for Oshkosh

24 JANUARY 1997

We landed at Morey Airport on the west side of Madison WI late Tuesday evening in a light rain shower The past three days we had flown in clear skies in light rain and clouds and actually did some scud running in southwest Missouri but nothing really bad the whole trip We checked into a motel and decided to have a nice dinner and then try to get a good nights rest before the much anticipated and dreaded arrival at Oshkosh

Wednesday morning after several trips to the restroom the engines were started we took several deep breaths and departed Morey We headed to the rendezvous point of every VFR airplane in the United States Canada and parts of Europe-Ripon We felt as if we were flying over the English Channel to do war with the Germans We were scared spit less because we just knew we were going to meet sudden death at any moment by colliding with all those other airshyplanes that were going to be at Ripon

Curses Tom Yates why did I let you talk me into this

Then I saw a town and the water tower said Ripon I was there Where was everyone else Where were all those other 8000 airplanes There was Green Lake and Rush Lake and there were the railroad tracks but only three or four airplanes were in sight I saw the markers then the strobes then that much anticipated voice came over the radio and said Blue high wing taildragshyger rock your wings I did and the voice said Good rock blue taildragger clear Fisk and proceed 070 degrees for landing on 36L listen 1266 I had no idea I could see Lake Winnebago ahead of me and also saw the hundreds no thousands of airplanes and things immediately in front of me Oshkosh tower cleared me to land on 36L and as I turned final the whole thing lay in front of me I was going to land at Oshkosh I set up to land on the numbers but the tower told me to extend and land long because there was another airplane landing behind me It then occurred to me that there was probably another one coming over my top and going to land in front of me

Touchdown 940 a m Not even a bounce The eagle had landed Tears welled up in my eyes but that must not be because I needed to see The emotion the elation the dream had come true I had finally really and truly flown to Oshkosh

With a grin from ear to ear I turned off at the second taxiway I was led to my parking space on row 83 by a fellow on a little red motor scooter and given a cordial welcome

by another fellow on a green Gator I got out of the little Cessna and looked

around at the gorgeous day The sun was shining the airplanes were still landing and the rows behind me were rapidly filling up with aircraft I stared in disbelief There was nowhere else in the whole wide world I had rather be at this moment

Well we were at the Convention for three days saw everything we could see walked our legs off to the hips and still couldnt see it all It was everything we had heard about read about and hoped it would be about

We saw Paul Gene Tom Patti Bobby Julie Chuck Bud Delmar and many many others We saw bitty planes and big ones almost 14000 of them

We saw most of the 850000 other people there besides us The weather was perfect and there was not anything that disappointed us Then it came time to go home Early Satshyurday morning we got up early checked weather and took off from Wittman Field at 730 am in three mile visibility and low ceilshyings As I was climbing out I looked back through the right window of the 120 at that giant sleepy airport that was just beginning to stir for the day s activities still amazed that I had been there I headed to Portage Wisconshysin where I was to meet Jerry since he had to depart on the other runway and then we conshytinued the long trip back home Tom and the Kitfox stayed another couple ofdays leaving on Tuesday We went back through Muscashytine then down to Kirksville and spent the night at Sedalia Missouri We then flew to Coffeyville Kansas Stillwater Oklahoma then finally Frederick Municipal appeared in sight about 330 Sunday afternoon Our welshycome committee was a very happy and reshylieved wife Nancy and proud brother Keith who stayed home and worked so that we could make the trip

H was over We had done it The dream had come true and we could talk about it over and over for years to come And we would We would tell our two year old granddaughter Allie about it and hope that maybe she could fly the same little 120 there someday herself We had been in the air nearly 22 hours for the whole trip and flown nearly 2000 miles No breakdowns no crashes no trouble We were awfully tired but not too tired to smile real big as we reshymembered the past 8 days ofpure joy

Scared to make the trip You bet we were But we did it As this is being written there is talk about next year Nothing serious yet but ofcourse Tom hasnt called either

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

The Monarch ~irdmen

A gold-Iinged giant The trouble lith flying lies not in the peril but the return to t arth Yes coming

arrests my eye dOln is much harder than spinning a Jenny or pulling off that four point roll

soaring and stalking his sacred patch of sky Ask anyone of these old fellols clustered near that yelloling box kite perched on

and around the machine as if it Iere some sturdy fence

As a great touring czar my field he rumbles past Inquire Ihat its like to play God for alhile soaring high above patchlork pastures

blue frame and patriotic fin fighting that dOlnlard pull

holding our raptured gazes fast Discover Ihy they treat that plane like a lady hol they talk to her feed her

Collective breath is held in check doctor her on occasion Mol they knol her mind like their oln

as he circles and touches dOln Mis loyal entourage forms to flank him Ihat do they see climbing high enough to peer over the edge of the Iorld miles

reveling in the smoke belched from his croln of hazy indigo sloping gently alay into space

This monarch holds court good natured Look at them their leathery faces cracked and tanned as their jackets their eyes

and god-like regally surveying his domain alight lith fire reliving the long day hands tJisting turning retelling an aerial ballet

As admiring masses move tolard him spl05hes of color against the grassy plain lith eyes as big as the children on their shoulders they latch a craft shudder to

life and rumble across the Iide grassy sea

P-gtIack blades of steel and those throaty cylinders contrast his bright blinding sheen A different breed they are these slorn foes of gravity shuffling inside the eyes in

Truly he is a splendid sight the backs of their heads looking lovingly over the rustic machine

this proud and mighty PT-1 7 Their thoughts are never far from its needs and their oln To fly to paint on a

Rumbling again taxiing alay brilliant blue canvas there can be no greater aim

thundering into the Ii ld blue at his kingly feet I lay one request Theres not one among you Iho Iouldnt sprout ling if he could Circling higher

next time your highness please take me lith you higher lith the sole purpose of staying aloft

-Jef Reahard -Jef Reahard

shy

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~==================~~

Jef Reahard a twenty-one-year-old pilot from Williamson GA has been immersed in aviation all hi s life Along with his grandfather Jean Reahard Jr and his father Chip Jef and a few other friends have been restoring a Stearman One of his other passions is writing and he penned these two pieces weve selected We hope you enjoy them and we re open to comments regarding this type of material in Vintage Airplane Would you like to see a poem or prose such as thi s included in the pages of Vintage Airplane on a regular basis Send your comments to Editor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

PASSdh BUCK by EE Buck Hilbert EAA 21 NC 5 PO Box 424 Un ion IL 60180

Heres a problem that I cant directly help this fellow with - maybe one of you can supshyply him with the needed part

Dear Mr Hilbert I own a Taylorcraft 15A one the six still

flying or flyable in the US The T-Craft 15A and the Aeronca 15AC both use the Cshy145 have identical motor mounts and may ifmy eyes havent deceived me nearly the same cowl As we readers ofYintage know you own a 15AC and that leads me to you for help

My problem lies with the plugcowl disshytance on the number six cylinder which is too low to allow the use of a conventional shielded plug and wiring My 15A (N6653N) was restored in 1992 by a couple of ge ntlemen in Ohio from whom I purshychased it Their solution to the plug problem was to install a Champion C-26 plug in numshyber six with a strange insul ated wire cap which is like nothing I or anyone at our field has ever seen It s that plug cap that Im tryshying to locate (or some other reasonable solushytion to the height problem) The plug cap they installed came from a friend who is now deceased and no one knows where he got the part The following sketch (above right) gives you some idea of the design It is lashybeled Breeze 3202 with no other markshyings It sort of looks like something from the automobile world but I also wonder if it wasnt used in the forties and early fi fties beshyfore resistor aircraft plugs became common The interior is lined with Bakelite which in my case is starting to deteriorate and is alshylowing some leakage to ground Thus my quest to locate another I suppose one solushytion may be to have a blister put on the cowl but to me thats a last resort since I want to keep this rare bird as original as possible and I know the cowls of the 15A s were not blistered in production I put that in quotes since the 15A never really went into producshytion in the true sense of the word and each of the six remaining intact has subtle differshyences from the others But that s another story

Any help you or your readers could proshyvide in locating a replacement or coming up

26 JANUARY 1997

with a reasonable solution would be grateshyfully received I m particularly keen in knowing how the problem assuming it exshyists is resolved in the Aeronca

Richard B Roe 10141 Spring Lake Terrace Fairfax Y A 22030

Dear Richard HG happened to be at my house the day

your letter arrived and he offered to help anshyswer your question since he recalled seeing a simi lar plug cap in Steve Wittmans junk box Over to you H G

Richard s Tay lorcraJt 15A is one good looking airplane 1 last saw it at the MERFI Fly-In aJew years ago While the cowl does look similar to the A eronca Sedan theyre not the same Th e sedan nose cowl is a Champ nose bowl with different cut outs and a large center hole Jor crankcase cooling Since theJrontal cross section oJthe C-145 doesn t appreciably vary Jrom its smaller 4 cylinder cousins the same cowl could be used Only the much longer wrap cowl surshy

rounding the engine is unique Even with shielded plugs and harnesses there is no problem with clearance in the Aeronca Sedan cowling - the engine has plenty oj room The Taylorcraft 15A used a cowl from their production line

The spark plug shield you write about was manuJactured by the Breeze MJg Co Jor many years with the majority oJthem produced in the late 1920 s through the 1930 so The ad weve reproduced (opposite page top) is from an Air Associates catalog Jrom the 1930s (were unsure as to the exshyact date - they didn t mark them with a date) It show a cap similar to the one youve drawn and Im sure there were a number oj different styles

While shielded spark plugs eventually solved the problemJor most airplanes they still were being used by many until the shielded plugs and harnesses came into widespread use

Unless you can determine whether your 15A was built using this spark plug shield the question ojoriginality may not matter - it

BREEZE SPARK PLUG SHIELDS Th hield fit right ov r your pre Dt park plu~s and radi hi Id th m perfectly They ar made In

two siz and fit all standaN lircrlft plugs IZE No 5-Fits all plug$ lip to 1 I ngrh such

as the B G o 4 4B1 48middot2 4C 582 Champion Mmiddot3 Hurleymiddot owruend No 300 aDd 437 tc SIZE o 6--Fits Ill p lugs up to 2 length such 5

th B G Model IX t Th pri includes th terminal nut and bur no ferrule for the spark plug wire

o 5 Brc zc Spark Plug Shield o 6 Sr czc Spark Plug Shi Id

No 3 140-3 u a Tennio t Nu Each No 3154- 2 Ex Ira Rub ber P ackil1g Each

o RS-I O Ferrul e for connecting Packa rd bl e 10 Br~ue hi Id bull h

may not have had one installed when it came from the factory Unless it came with a radio it s unlikely that the shield was installed As you mentioned it was given to the restorers of your airplane by a now departed friend

Asfar as ignition noise is concerned don t forget to cast a critical eye on the P-leads that hook your mag switch to the magnetos - they re notorious for eminating lots ofnoise ifnot shielded properly or grounded as well Othershywise they act like nice long antennas radiating RFfor your radio recieve Keeping the antenna as far aft as possible is also a good idea

The top cap that Jfou nd is not lined with Bakelite but it certainly makes sense that it would be What other solutions are available to Richard Can anybody else help us youngfelshylows out on th is neat little solution to an annoyshying problem Ifyou can supply Richard with one ofthe Breeze Spark Plug Shields feel free to drop him a line at the address listed above - HGF

The Fleet I Os Fahlin prop decided after gos h knows how long to delaminate In a =Iuandary I looked at an old Hamilton and a Hamilton Standard that Ive been sitting on for years and dec ided that maybe it was tim e to witch the Warner over to a metal prop

A closer inspection of the Hamilton was disshyleartening It was on loan to the Sun n Fun 1useum for several years and they had sent it Jut to a prop shop for overhaul It was very apshyJarent on close in spection that it had been ~iven a lick and a promise a polish job and had lome bogus decals installed for di splay I jon t think the shop ever expected it to be anyshyhing but a display

Since this particular propeller was NOS new old stock) when I sent it down to Lakeshyand I was reluctant to call it quits and relegate t to display only status I called Verne Jobst vho had the same prop for his Waco and asked lim where he had sent hi s for overhaul The JrOp is now up in the Minneapolis-St Paul hop of Maxwell Propellers They have Jromised me its return in about another month

My other metal prop is a Hamilton Standard ~round adjustable that I had Whirlwind ProshyJellers overhaul last year It came back so Jretty that I was reluctant to use it Ever had hat happen If it was dirty and beat up well naybe that would be all right but this one

packing

$J50 $350 20c 10c

hi Idelt 1 6c

shines like the proverbial G belt buckle at a Saturday inspection

I put it on to test run the engine got it all fmgerprinted and messy in the process and had just finished repolishing it when in walks my buddy Mike Mogdans Ive written about Mike in this column before He is the machinist who made the flying wire bullets for the Fleet He always seems to be there when I need him and if there is a challenge to the project man he s gonna whip it

He looked at the prop and said something like Gee That looks naked Shouldnt it have a dome or a spinner or something on it to hide the nut and stuff I told him that there were little spinners on these props when they were new back in the late 1920s but I hadn t seen one in years What d they look like he wanted to know

So we dragged out an old Air Associates Catalogue from who-knows-what year (late 20s maybe) and looked it up There it was the very same propeller and on the next page a chromium plated and polished nose cap to fit the Hamilton Standard hub Guess what the price was Two dollars and 25 cents

Mike was off and running I could actually see the wheels going around in his head as he mentally worked out the detail s Next aftershynoon he was in the shop with thread gauge mishycrometers pencil paper and machinist rule

He was back the next day with a s lug of aluminum to test his thread measurements (it fit) and review hi s thoughts and do some more sketches

I didn t see him for a couple days and then I heard his car in the driveway He didn t even stop a t the house but went s traight to the hangar shop After a couple of minutes I amshybled out and there was the fini shed product Its beautiful

I asked him how difficult it was to make It wasnt too bad after I got the proper thread size and diameter It only took seven or eight hours altogether

I thought to myse lf What does a Master Machinist make these days Thirty maybe even 40 dollars an hour Eight hours times 35 and then add the material cost WOW That original $225 price tag is as obso lete as the catalog No wonder airplanes cost so much

And so Ive got a real show piece now Ill

be the envy of the biplane line at Oshkosh or wherever thanks to Mike Mogdans Master Machinist Academy of Model Aeronautics and friend of old airplanes

Spinner For Hamilton Standard Prop It was necessary to make a mandrel duplishy

cating the prop hub It served two purposes to allow the proper fit on the threads and the final tum radius and poli sh First measure the 00 of th e threads front and back Then use a thread gauge to find the number of threads Then using the proper thread wires measure over them On Bucks is measured up as 2683shy2 685 16 TI P 2715 over 0040 wires I wanted the hub to screw on at least one inch and then bottom on the Hub lock nut and thi s nut is about 5 16 thick (312) Then using a scale I measured the Hub nut over the points and then measured the length sticking out and allowed clearance Next I located a piece of scrap aluminum to use as the mandrel about 6 inches long Face the back and tum the excess stock off to 2700 00 Then tum it around in the lathe and indicate it to run true Face and tum the small diameter Next tum a step on to 1700 00 312 length next tum the 00 of the threads to 2684 1-12 inches long Next set lathe to cut threads at 16 per inch and start chas ing them For final size use thread wires to check and chase them to 2 715 You now have a duplicate to the prop hub

Spinner Next I located a piece of aluminum 3- 14

00 by 4-1 8 long Chucking it in the lathe I faced off one end and light cut the 00 Then turning it around I indicated it true face and light cut the 00 to match Next I drilled a Ishy18 inch hole 2-58 DP fro m the point of the drill Next I bored the small ID to 1750 and 2 187 deep (Face the bottom of thi s hole) Next I bored the minor ID of the threads to 2610 ID by 13 12 deep and face this step Now the fun part Set up the internal threading tool to cut the threads at 16 threads per inch When yo u get close to your final s ize start checking the th reads with your mandrel for fit When yo u have the proper fit remove fro m lathe and check it on the prop hub If you made the mandrel right it will fit Now find a piece of tubing that will go over the mandrel Chuck up the mandrel and thread the spinner on the mandrel and then back it off a few turns Measure the distance from the face of the j aws to the spinner and cut the tubing to fit between them and face the tubing true Replace the mandrel and indicate it true Place the tubing over th e mandrel Screw the spinner on the mandrel locking it against the tubing Now light cut the 00 of the spinner and radius the nose of the spi nner pleas ing to your eye and polish Remove mandrel with tubing and spinshyner from lathe Now remove sp inner fro m mandrel and place the spinner on the prop

Making Bucks spinner took about 78 hours Michael Mogdrans Master Tool amp Die Maker Woodstock IL 60098 AMA 327518

f( ~ I ~ Over to you ~~

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

by HG Frautschy

This large flying boat from the WWI era is our January Mystery Plane and it shouldn t be as difficult as our October bishyplane The photo comes from the Tex LashyGrone collection of the EAA Aviation Founshydation Boeing Aeronautical Library Answers need to be in no later than Febmary 25 1997 so that they can be included in the April 1997 issue of Vintage Airplane

The October Mystery Plane must have been a real sturn per for almost everybody (It already had us baffled here at EAA HQ) Only one brave soul dared send in an answer - Charley Hayes of New Lenox IL He thought it might be a product of the Advance Aircraft Co Troy Ohio A review of the Waco models before the Waco 10 shows that none of those aircraft match this airplane but it was a good try

The only clue we have concerning this airplane is this The picture was taken by a Philadelphia commercial photographer R Newell amp Son of South 6th St

We dont know the year nor do we know who the pilot is

Well leave this one open so if anybody else has any ideas as to the identity of this elephant-eared biplane powered by an OX engine feel free to drop us a note

Send your Mystery Plane Answers to

Vintage Airplane Mystery Plane EAA PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

28 JANUARY 1997

-------=

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RoonokeTX

Began flying at age 15

Received commercial license before HS

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EAA AVIATION CENTER PO box 3086

Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 WEB SITE httpwwweaaorg

E-MAIL Vintage eaaorg PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4873 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 mon-fri 1-800-843-3612

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO EAA AND ITS DIVISIONS ARE NOT TAX

DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Something to buy sell or trade An inexpensive ad the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elusive part 40 per word $600 minimum charge Send your ad and payment to Vintage Trader fAA Aviation Center PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or fax your ad and your credit card number to 414426-4828 Ads must be received by the 20th of the month for insertion in the issue the second month following (eg October 20th for the December issue)

AIRCRAFT

1941 Culver Cadet Project - Fuselage rebuilt wings recovered Franklin 90 new propeller $150000BO 860974-3399 (1224)

MISCELLANEOUS

SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manshyufacture STC-PMA-d 4130 chromoly tubing throughout also complete fuselage repair ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRFRAME INC (J Soares Pres) 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 FAX 406388-0170 Repair station No QK5R148N (0387)

FREE CATALOG - Aviation books and videos How to building and restoration tips historic flying and entertainment titles Call for a free catalog EAA1-800-843-3612

Ragwing Replicas - Ultralight legal Aircamper Heath Pitts Duster Triplane Plans $52 Brochure $3 P O Box 39 Townville SC 29689 (0400)

A Life in the Clouds - Quote from Gene Chase What a great book Lively memoirs about real life flying experiences from first airplane ride to airline Captain By John A Anderson 388 pages hard bound cover $1995 + $200 shipshyping IL residents add $145 for sales tax Order from Jeanne Anderson P O Box 1811 Woodstock IL 60098 (1420)

Midwest Randolph Distributor - All Randolph products and services dopes epoxies paints Call or write for product information and color chart Brown Aero B716 CTP Unity WI 54488 715223-4444 (1194)

A rag aircraft is unless it looks

great like an old rag

Let US make it a classic rag (We currently have a Stinson 108-1 under rebuild)

Call 330-669-2211

M= Wayne County Airport 6020 N Honeytown Rd Smithville OH 44677Restoration

FREE WORLDWIDE BOOKSEARCH for out of print books ALSO over 1000 aeronautic titles available Leatherstocking Bookscout 738 Hillside Ave Lake Wales FL 33853 800230shy8071 (1272)

For all pre-WW II aircraft - Hand woven or wrapped-and-soldered control and rigging cable ends $20 per end Endless loop trim cable $150 300 Lycoming cowl n ice $1 000 540822-5125 (1550)

bull AVIATION INSURANCE bull

All aviation insurance poliCies are not created equal

Call AVEMCO about Direct Approachfl 2000 the new standard in aircraft insurallcefI

US and Canada call

800-276-5207 ~

GiViMCOmiddot INSURANCE COMPANY

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

BREEZE SPARK PLUG SHIELDS Th hield fit right ov r your pre Dt park plu~s and radi hi Id th m perfectly They ar made In

two siz and fit all standaN lircrlft plugs IZE No 5-Fits all plug$ lip to 1 I ngrh such

as the B G o 4 4B1 48middot2 4C 582 Champion Mmiddot3 Hurleymiddot owruend No 300 aDd 437 tc SIZE o 6--Fits Ill p lugs up to 2 length such 5

th B G Model IX t Th pri includes th terminal nut and bur no ferrule for the spark plug wire

o 5 Brc zc Spark Plug Shield o 6 Sr czc Spark Plug Shi Id

No 3 140-3 u a Tennio t Nu Each No 3154- 2 Ex Ira Rub ber P ackil1g Each

o RS-I O Ferrul e for connecting Packa rd bl e 10 Br~ue hi Id bull h

may not have had one installed when it came from the factory Unless it came with a radio it s unlikely that the shield was installed As you mentioned it was given to the restorers of your airplane by a now departed friend

Asfar as ignition noise is concerned don t forget to cast a critical eye on the P-leads that hook your mag switch to the magnetos - they re notorious for eminating lots ofnoise ifnot shielded properly or grounded as well Othershywise they act like nice long antennas radiating RFfor your radio recieve Keeping the antenna as far aft as possible is also a good idea

The top cap that Jfou nd is not lined with Bakelite but it certainly makes sense that it would be What other solutions are available to Richard Can anybody else help us youngfelshylows out on th is neat little solution to an annoyshying problem Ifyou can supply Richard with one ofthe Breeze Spark Plug Shields feel free to drop him a line at the address listed above - HGF

The Fleet I Os Fahlin prop decided after gos h knows how long to delaminate In a =Iuandary I looked at an old Hamilton and a Hamilton Standard that Ive been sitting on for years and dec ided that maybe it was tim e to witch the Warner over to a metal prop

A closer inspection of the Hamilton was disshyleartening It was on loan to the Sun n Fun 1useum for several years and they had sent it Jut to a prop shop for overhaul It was very apshyJarent on close in spection that it had been ~iven a lick and a promise a polish job and had lome bogus decals installed for di splay I jon t think the shop ever expected it to be anyshyhing but a display

Since this particular propeller was NOS new old stock) when I sent it down to Lakeshyand I was reluctant to call it quits and relegate t to display only status I called Verne Jobst vho had the same prop for his Waco and asked lim where he had sent hi s for overhaul The JrOp is now up in the Minneapolis-St Paul hop of Maxwell Propellers They have Jromised me its return in about another month

My other metal prop is a Hamilton Standard ~round adjustable that I had Whirlwind ProshyJellers overhaul last year It came back so Jretty that I was reluctant to use it Ever had hat happen If it was dirty and beat up well naybe that would be all right but this one

packing

$J50 $350 20c 10c

hi Idelt 1 6c

shines like the proverbial G belt buckle at a Saturday inspection

I put it on to test run the engine got it all fmgerprinted and messy in the process and had just finished repolishing it when in walks my buddy Mike Mogdans Ive written about Mike in this column before He is the machinist who made the flying wire bullets for the Fleet He always seems to be there when I need him and if there is a challenge to the project man he s gonna whip it

He looked at the prop and said something like Gee That looks naked Shouldnt it have a dome or a spinner or something on it to hide the nut and stuff I told him that there were little spinners on these props when they were new back in the late 1920s but I hadn t seen one in years What d they look like he wanted to know

So we dragged out an old Air Associates Catalogue from who-knows-what year (late 20s maybe) and looked it up There it was the very same propeller and on the next page a chromium plated and polished nose cap to fit the Hamilton Standard hub Guess what the price was Two dollars and 25 cents

Mike was off and running I could actually see the wheels going around in his head as he mentally worked out the detail s Next aftershynoon he was in the shop with thread gauge mishycrometers pencil paper and machinist rule

He was back the next day with a s lug of aluminum to test his thread measurements (it fit) and review hi s thoughts and do some more sketches

I didn t see him for a couple days and then I heard his car in the driveway He didn t even stop a t the house but went s traight to the hangar shop After a couple of minutes I amshybled out and there was the fini shed product Its beautiful

I asked him how difficult it was to make It wasnt too bad after I got the proper thread size and diameter It only took seven or eight hours altogether

I thought to myse lf What does a Master Machinist make these days Thirty maybe even 40 dollars an hour Eight hours times 35 and then add the material cost WOW That original $225 price tag is as obso lete as the catalog No wonder airplanes cost so much

And so Ive got a real show piece now Ill

be the envy of the biplane line at Oshkosh or wherever thanks to Mike Mogdans Master Machinist Academy of Model Aeronautics and friend of old airplanes

Spinner For Hamilton Standard Prop It was necessary to make a mandrel duplishy

cating the prop hub It served two purposes to allow the proper fit on the threads and the final tum radius and poli sh First measure the 00 of th e threads front and back Then use a thread gauge to find the number of threads Then using the proper thread wires measure over them On Bucks is measured up as 2683shy2 685 16 TI P 2715 over 0040 wires I wanted the hub to screw on at least one inch and then bottom on the Hub lock nut and thi s nut is about 5 16 thick (312) Then using a scale I measured the Hub nut over the points and then measured the length sticking out and allowed clearance Next I located a piece of scrap aluminum to use as the mandrel about 6 inches long Face the back and tum the excess stock off to 2700 00 Then tum it around in the lathe and indicate it to run true Face and tum the small diameter Next tum a step on to 1700 00 312 length next tum the 00 of the threads to 2684 1-12 inches long Next set lathe to cut threads at 16 per inch and start chas ing them For final size use thread wires to check and chase them to 2 715 You now have a duplicate to the prop hub

Spinner Next I located a piece of aluminum 3- 14

00 by 4-1 8 long Chucking it in the lathe I faced off one end and light cut the 00 Then turning it around I indicated it true face and light cut the 00 to match Next I drilled a Ishy18 inch hole 2-58 DP fro m the point of the drill Next I bored the small ID to 1750 and 2 187 deep (Face the bottom of thi s hole) Next I bored the minor ID of the threads to 2610 ID by 13 12 deep and face this step Now the fun part Set up the internal threading tool to cut the threads at 16 threads per inch When yo u get close to your final s ize start checking the th reads with your mandrel for fit When yo u have the proper fit remove fro m lathe and check it on the prop hub If you made the mandrel right it will fit Now find a piece of tubing that will go over the mandrel Chuck up the mandrel and thread the spinner on the mandrel and then back it off a few turns Measure the distance from the face of the j aws to the spinner and cut the tubing to fit between them and face the tubing true Replace the mandrel and indicate it true Place the tubing over th e mandrel Screw the spinner on the mandrel locking it against the tubing Now light cut the 00 of the spinner and radius the nose of the spi nner pleas ing to your eye and polish Remove mandrel with tubing and spinshyner from lathe Now remove sp inner fro m mandrel and place the spinner on the prop

Making Bucks spinner took about 78 hours Michael Mogdrans Master Tool amp Die Maker Woodstock IL 60098 AMA 327518

f( ~ I ~ Over to you ~~

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

by HG Frautschy

This large flying boat from the WWI era is our January Mystery Plane and it shouldn t be as difficult as our October bishyplane The photo comes from the Tex LashyGrone collection of the EAA Aviation Founshydation Boeing Aeronautical Library Answers need to be in no later than Febmary 25 1997 so that they can be included in the April 1997 issue of Vintage Airplane

The October Mystery Plane must have been a real sturn per for almost everybody (It already had us baffled here at EAA HQ) Only one brave soul dared send in an answer - Charley Hayes of New Lenox IL He thought it might be a product of the Advance Aircraft Co Troy Ohio A review of the Waco models before the Waco 10 shows that none of those aircraft match this airplane but it was a good try

The only clue we have concerning this airplane is this The picture was taken by a Philadelphia commercial photographer R Newell amp Son of South 6th St

We dont know the year nor do we know who the pilot is

Well leave this one open so if anybody else has any ideas as to the identity of this elephant-eared biplane powered by an OX engine feel free to drop us a note

Send your Mystery Plane Answers to

Vintage Airplane Mystery Plane EAA PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

28 JANUARY 1997

-------=

Gene Morris

RoonokeTX

Began flying at age 15

Received commercial license before HS

graduation and got out of school for his first

American Eaglet Right from Benton It to Springfield MO

His Ihobby turned into a coreer when he

became a co-pilot for American Airlines in

March 1955

AUAis

approved

To become an

EAA Antique amp

Classic Division

Member call

8~43-3612

Ive been retired for over seven years

now but my wife Carol and I both

continue to fly and maintain our little fleet

[Gene also has a 0 Model Bonanza and Carol

owns a 1966 Aircoupe Alon] AUA Inc has

been my familys aircraft insurer for several

years and has given us exemplary service

with claims while maintaining one of the

lowest premiums in the insurance industry

- Gene Morris

800-727-3823 Fly with the pros fly with AUA Inc

AUAs Exclusive EAA AntiqueClassic Division Insurance Program

Lo er liability and hull premiums

Medical payments included

Fleet discounts for multiple aircraft carrying all risk coverages

No hand-propping exclusion

No age penalty

No component parts endorsements

Discounts for claim-free renewals carrying all risk coverages

Remember Were Befter Together

AVIATION UNliMITED AGENCY

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Aerospace Branch Library Little Rock AR Bob Brack Lees Summit MO Tim Bronson Pittsburgh PA Christa L Brown Oro Valley AZ C Alan Carter Douglas GA Richard Cinesi Jefferson WI Robbie Culver North Chicago IL Clifford Edington Springfield OR Lewis R Fisher Friendswood TX Irby Ford Pflugerville TX Jerry L Gecowets Urbana OH Pat Greco San Jose CA AI J Gross lssaquah WA Sam K Harmon Columbia SC John E Heller Pasadena CA Richard Hotchkiss Calgary Alberta Canada Elvin W Hurst Santa Rosa CA

James Ilgenfritz 11 Monroe MI Pau l Kinzie Alva OK Kurt Kohler Hampton VA Howard H Kron Montevideo MN Patrick J LaVigne Rochester NY Jean Pierre Llech Elbeuf France Thurman F Longcrier Florence AL Mark S Lopac Cokato MN Larry Metzel Garland TX Atsuo Nishimura Otsuk Chyo Kochi Ken Japan Rolph C Olsen San Diego CA Ralph Parker Wichita Falls TX Andre Pelletier Grand Junction CO Robert M Percy Patterson NY Richard J Perrotti Melrose MA

Don J Pustina Indianapolis IN Barry Joseph Ramer Fox River Grove IL David Fritz Reins Crewe VA R W Robertson Roanoke VA Michael F Smith Leesburg VA Ron Smith Brawley CA Timothy D Smithen Belgrade MT Robert J Stewart Erie PA Karl R Szczypta Naperville IL James M Thomas Watsonville CA Robert B Tyndall 5myrna GA Charles M Vaughn Titusville FL James J Weber Williamsville NY William R Woodall Akron OH Elmer D Yost Greensboro NC

Adult Air Come to

for a week of

EAAs Adult Air Academy is where you edge and skills needed to build or restore with other aviation enthusiasts for a wee on instruction tailored to your individual

deel()D the know 1shyairplane Gather

specialized halncl~

ities and interests

Learn about bull welding

bull sheet metal fabrication bull oodworking

bull composite construction bull fabric covering

bull upholstery bull aircraft engines

Enrollment fee is S800 which includes all instr ctio al materials as well as meals and lodging during your stay in Oshkosh

Call

414middot4~6middot681~ for more

information

Enrollment is limitedshy

call today

30 JANUARY 1997

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $35 for one year including 12 issues ofSPORTAVIATION Family membership is available for an additional $10 annually Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $20 annually All major credit cards accepted for membership

ANTIQUECLASSIC Current EAA members may join the Antique Classic Division and receive VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE magazine for an additional $27 per year EAA Membership VINTAGE AIRPLANE magshyazine and one year membership in the EAA AntiqueClassic Division is available for $37 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

lAC Current EAA members may join the Intemational Aerobatic Club Inc Division and receive SPORT AEROBATICS magazine for an additional $40 per year EAA Membership SPORT AEROBATICS magashyzine and one year membership in the lAC Division is available for $50 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

WARBIRDS Current EAA members may join the EAA Waroirds of America Division and receive WARshyBIRDS magazine for an additional $35 peryear EAA Membership WARBIRDS magazine and one year membership in the Warbirds Division is available for $45 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

EAA EXPERIMENTER Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine for an additional $18 per year EAA Membership and EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine is available for $28 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dolars Add $13 postage for SPORT AVIATION magazine andor $6 postage for any of the other magazines

EAA AVIATION CENTER PO box 3086

Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 WEB SITE httpwwweaaorg

E-MAIL Vintage eaaorg PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4873 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 mon-fri 1-800-843-3612

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO EAA AND ITS DIVISIONS ARE NOT TAX

DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Something to buy sell or trade An inexpensive ad the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elusive part 40 per word $600 minimum charge Send your ad and payment to Vintage Trader fAA Aviation Center PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or fax your ad and your credit card number to 414426-4828 Ads must be received by the 20th of the month for insertion in the issue the second month following (eg October 20th for the December issue)

AIRCRAFT

1941 Culver Cadet Project - Fuselage rebuilt wings recovered Franklin 90 new propeller $150000BO 860974-3399 (1224)

MISCELLANEOUS

SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manshyufacture STC-PMA-d 4130 chromoly tubing throughout also complete fuselage repair ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRFRAME INC (J Soares Pres) 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 FAX 406388-0170 Repair station No QK5R148N (0387)

FREE CATALOG - Aviation books and videos How to building and restoration tips historic flying and entertainment titles Call for a free catalog EAA1-800-843-3612

Ragwing Replicas - Ultralight legal Aircamper Heath Pitts Duster Triplane Plans $52 Brochure $3 P O Box 39 Townville SC 29689 (0400)

A Life in the Clouds - Quote from Gene Chase What a great book Lively memoirs about real life flying experiences from first airplane ride to airline Captain By John A Anderson 388 pages hard bound cover $1995 + $200 shipshyping IL residents add $145 for sales tax Order from Jeanne Anderson P O Box 1811 Woodstock IL 60098 (1420)

Midwest Randolph Distributor - All Randolph products and services dopes epoxies paints Call or write for product information and color chart Brown Aero B716 CTP Unity WI 54488 715223-4444 (1194)

A rag aircraft is unless it looks

great like an old rag

Let US make it a classic rag (We currently have a Stinson 108-1 under rebuild)

Call 330-669-2211

M= Wayne County Airport 6020 N Honeytown Rd Smithville OH 44677Restoration

FREE WORLDWIDE BOOKSEARCH for out of print books ALSO over 1000 aeronautic titles available Leatherstocking Bookscout 738 Hillside Ave Lake Wales FL 33853 800230shy8071 (1272)

For all pre-WW II aircraft - Hand woven or wrapped-and-soldered control and rigging cable ends $20 per end Endless loop trim cable $150 300 Lycoming cowl n ice $1 000 540822-5125 (1550)

bull AVIATION INSURANCE bull

All aviation insurance poliCies are not created equal

Call AVEMCO about Direct Approachfl 2000 the new standard in aircraft insurallcefI

US and Canada call

800-276-5207 ~

GiViMCOmiddot INSURANCE COMPANY

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

by HG Frautschy

This large flying boat from the WWI era is our January Mystery Plane and it shouldn t be as difficult as our October bishyplane The photo comes from the Tex LashyGrone collection of the EAA Aviation Founshydation Boeing Aeronautical Library Answers need to be in no later than Febmary 25 1997 so that they can be included in the April 1997 issue of Vintage Airplane

The October Mystery Plane must have been a real sturn per for almost everybody (It already had us baffled here at EAA HQ) Only one brave soul dared send in an answer - Charley Hayes of New Lenox IL He thought it might be a product of the Advance Aircraft Co Troy Ohio A review of the Waco models before the Waco 10 shows that none of those aircraft match this airplane but it was a good try

The only clue we have concerning this airplane is this The picture was taken by a Philadelphia commercial photographer R Newell amp Son of South 6th St

We dont know the year nor do we know who the pilot is

Well leave this one open so if anybody else has any ideas as to the identity of this elephant-eared biplane powered by an OX engine feel free to drop us a note

Send your Mystery Plane Answers to

Vintage Airplane Mystery Plane EAA PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

28 JANUARY 1997

-------=

Gene Morris

RoonokeTX

Began flying at age 15

Received commercial license before HS

graduation and got out of school for his first

American Eaglet Right from Benton It to Springfield MO

His Ihobby turned into a coreer when he

became a co-pilot for American Airlines in

March 1955

AUAis

approved

To become an

EAA Antique amp

Classic Division

Member call

8~43-3612

Ive been retired for over seven years

now but my wife Carol and I both

continue to fly and maintain our little fleet

[Gene also has a 0 Model Bonanza and Carol

owns a 1966 Aircoupe Alon] AUA Inc has

been my familys aircraft insurer for several

years and has given us exemplary service

with claims while maintaining one of the

lowest premiums in the insurance industry

- Gene Morris

800-727-3823 Fly with the pros fly with AUA Inc

AUAs Exclusive EAA AntiqueClassic Division Insurance Program

Lo er liability and hull premiums

Medical payments included

Fleet discounts for multiple aircraft carrying all risk coverages

No hand-propping exclusion

No age penalty

No component parts endorsements

Discounts for claim-free renewals carrying all risk coverages

Remember Were Befter Together

AVIATION UNliMITED AGENCY

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Aerospace Branch Library Little Rock AR Bob Brack Lees Summit MO Tim Bronson Pittsburgh PA Christa L Brown Oro Valley AZ C Alan Carter Douglas GA Richard Cinesi Jefferson WI Robbie Culver North Chicago IL Clifford Edington Springfield OR Lewis R Fisher Friendswood TX Irby Ford Pflugerville TX Jerry L Gecowets Urbana OH Pat Greco San Jose CA AI J Gross lssaquah WA Sam K Harmon Columbia SC John E Heller Pasadena CA Richard Hotchkiss Calgary Alberta Canada Elvin W Hurst Santa Rosa CA

James Ilgenfritz 11 Monroe MI Pau l Kinzie Alva OK Kurt Kohler Hampton VA Howard H Kron Montevideo MN Patrick J LaVigne Rochester NY Jean Pierre Llech Elbeuf France Thurman F Longcrier Florence AL Mark S Lopac Cokato MN Larry Metzel Garland TX Atsuo Nishimura Otsuk Chyo Kochi Ken Japan Rolph C Olsen San Diego CA Ralph Parker Wichita Falls TX Andre Pelletier Grand Junction CO Robert M Percy Patterson NY Richard J Perrotti Melrose MA

Don J Pustina Indianapolis IN Barry Joseph Ramer Fox River Grove IL David Fritz Reins Crewe VA R W Robertson Roanoke VA Michael F Smith Leesburg VA Ron Smith Brawley CA Timothy D Smithen Belgrade MT Robert J Stewart Erie PA Karl R Szczypta Naperville IL James M Thomas Watsonville CA Robert B Tyndall 5myrna GA Charles M Vaughn Titusville FL James J Weber Williamsville NY William R Woodall Akron OH Elmer D Yost Greensboro NC

Adult Air Come to

for a week of

EAAs Adult Air Academy is where you edge and skills needed to build or restore with other aviation enthusiasts for a wee on instruction tailored to your individual

deel()D the know 1shyairplane Gather

specialized halncl~

ities and interests

Learn about bull welding

bull sheet metal fabrication bull oodworking

bull composite construction bull fabric covering

bull upholstery bull aircraft engines

Enrollment fee is S800 which includes all instr ctio al materials as well as meals and lodging during your stay in Oshkosh

Call

414middot4~6middot681~ for more

information

Enrollment is limitedshy

call today

30 JANUARY 1997

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $35 for one year including 12 issues ofSPORTAVIATION Family membership is available for an additional $10 annually Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $20 annually All major credit cards accepted for membership

ANTIQUECLASSIC Current EAA members may join the Antique Classic Division and receive VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE magazine for an additional $27 per year EAA Membership VINTAGE AIRPLANE magshyazine and one year membership in the EAA AntiqueClassic Division is available for $37 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

lAC Current EAA members may join the Intemational Aerobatic Club Inc Division and receive SPORT AEROBATICS magazine for an additional $40 per year EAA Membership SPORT AEROBATICS magashyzine and one year membership in the lAC Division is available for $50 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

WARBIRDS Current EAA members may join the EAA Waroirds of America Division and receive WARshyBIRDS magazine for an additional $35 peryear EAA Membership WARBIRDS magazine and one year membership in the Warbirds Division is available for $45 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

EAA EXPERIMENTER Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine for an additional $18 per year EAA Membership and EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine is available for $28 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dolars Add $13 postage for SPORT AVIATION magazine andor $6 postage for any of the other magazines

EAA AVIATION CENTER PO box 3086

Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 WEB SITE httpwwweaaorg

E-MAIL Vintage eaaorg PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4873 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 mon-fri 1-800-843-3612

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO EAA AND ITS DIVISIONS ARE NOT TAX

DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Something to buy sell or trade An inexpensive ad the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elusive part 40 per word $600 minimum charge Send your ad and payment to Vintage Trader fAA Aviation Center PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or fax your ad and your credit card number to 414426-4828 Ads must be received by the 20th of the month for insertion in the issue the second month following (eg October 20th for the December issue)

AIRCRAFT

1941 Culver Cadet Project - Fuselage rebuilt wings recovered Franklin 90 new propeller $150000BO 860974-3399 (1224)

MISCELLANEOUS

SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manshyufacture STC-PMA-d 4130 chromoly tubing throughout also complete fuselage repair ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRFRAME INC (J Soares Pres) 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 FAX 406388-0170 Repair station No QK5R148N (0387)

FREE CATALOG - Aviation books and videos How to building and restoration tips historic flying and entertainment titles Call for a free catalog EAA1-800-843-3612

Ragwing Replicas - Ultralight legal Aircamper Heath Pitts Duster Triplane Plans $52 Brochure $3 P O Box 39 Townville SC 29689 (0400)

A Life in the Clouds - Quote from Gene Chase What a great book Lively memoirs about real life flying experiences from first airplane ride to airline Captain By John A Anderson 388 pages hard bound cover $1995 + $200 shipshyping IL residents add $145 for sales tax Order from Jeanne Anderson P O Box 1811 Woodstock IL 60098 (1420)

Midwest Randolph Distributor - All Randolph products and services dopes epoxies paints Call or write for product information and color chart Brown Aero B716 CTP Unity WI 54488 715223-4444 (1194)

A rag aircraft is unless it looks

great like an old rag

Let US make it a classic rag (We currently have a Stinson 108-1 under rebuild)

Call 330-669-2211

M= Wayne County Airport 6020 N Honeytown Rd Smithville OH 44677Restoration

FREE WORLDWIDE BOOKSEARCH for out of print books ALSO over 1000 aeronautic titles available Leatherstocking Bookscout 738 Hillside Ave Lake Wales FL 33853 800230shy8071 (1272)

For all pre-WW II aircraft - Hand woven or wrapped-and-soldered control and rigging cable ends $20 per end Endless loop trim cable $150 300 Lycoming cowl n ice $1 000 540822-5125 (1550)

bull AVIATION INSURANCE bull

All aviation insurance poliCies are not created equal

Call AVEMCO about Direct Approachfl 2000 the new standard in aircraft insurallcefI

US and Canada call

800-276-5207 ~

GiViMCOmiddot INSURANCE COMPANY

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

-------=

Gene Morris

RoonokeTX

Began flying at age 15

Received commercial license before HS

graduation and got out of school for his first

American Eaglet Right from Benton It to Springfield MO

His Ihobby turned into a coreer when he

became a co-pilot for American Airlines in

March 1955

AUAis

approved

To become an

EAA Antique amp

Classic Division

Member call

8~43-3612

Ive been retired for over seven years

now but my wife Carol and I both

continue to fly and maintain our little fleet

[Gene also has a 0 Model Bonanza and Carol

owns a 1966 Aircoupe Alon] AUA Inc has

been my familys aircraft insurer for several

years and has given us exemplary service

with claims while maintaining one of the

lowest premiums in the insurance industry

- Gene Morris

800-727-3823 Fly with the pros fly with AUA Inc

AUAs Exclusive EAA AntiqueClassic Division Insurance Program

Lo er liability and hull premiums

Medical payments included

Fleet discounts for multiple aircraft carrying all risk coverages

No hand-propping exclusion

No age penalty

No component parts endorsements

Discounts for claim-free renewals carrying all risk coverages

Remember Were Befter Together

AVIATION UNliMITED AGENCY

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Aerospace Branch Library Little Rock AR Bob Brack Lees Summit MO Tim Bronson Pittsburgh PA Christa L Brown Oro Valley AZ C Alan Carter Douglas GA Richard Cinesi Jefferson WI Robbie Culver North Chicago IL Clifford Edington Springfield OR Lewis R Fisher Friendswood TX Irby Ford Pflugerville TX Jerry L Gecowets Urbana OH Pat Greco San Jose CA AI J Gross lssaquah WA Sam K Harmon Columbia SC John E Heller Pasadena CA Richard Hotchkiss Calgary Alberta Canada Elvin W Hurst Santa Rosa CA

James Ilgenfritz 11 Monroe MI Pau l Kinzie Alva OK Kurt Kohler Hampton VA Howard H Kron Montevideo MN Patrick J LaVigne Rochester NY Jean Pierre Llech Elbeuf France Thurman F Longcrier Florence AL Mark S Lopac Cokato MN Larry Metzel Garland TX Atsuo Nishimura Otsuk Chyo Kochi Ken Japan Rolph C Olsen San Diego CA Ralph Parker Wichita Falls TX Andre Pelletier Grand Junction CO Robert M Percy Patterson NY Richard J Perrotti Melrose MA

Don J Pustina Indianapolis IN Barry Joseph Ramer Fox River Grove IL David Fritz Reins Crewe VA R W Robertson Roanoke VA Michael F Smith Leesburg VA Ron Smith Brawley CA Timothy D Smithen Belgrade MT Robert J Stewart Erie PA Karl R Szczypta Naperville IL James M Thomas Watsonville CA Robert B Tyndall 5myrna GA Charles M Vaughn Titusville FL James J Weber Williamsville NY William R Woodall Akron OH Elmer D Yost Greensboro NC

Adult Air Come to

for a week of

EAAs Adult Air Academy is where you edge and skills needed to build or restore with other aviation enthusiasts for a wee on instruction tailored to your individual

deel()D the know 1shyairplane Gather

specialized halncl~

ities and interests

Learn about bull welding

bull sheet metal fabrication bull oodworking

bull composite construction bull fabric covering

bull upholstery bull aircraft engines

Enrollment fee is S800 which includes all instr ctio al materials as well as meals and lodging during your stay in Oshkosh

Call

414middot4~6middot681~ for more

information

Enrollment is limitedshy

call today

30 JANUARY 1997

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $35 for one year including 12 issues ofSPORTAVIATION Family membership is available for an additional $10 annually Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $20 annually All major credit cards accepted for membership

ANTIQUECLASSIC Current EAA members may join the Antique Classic Division and receive VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE magazine for an additional $27 per year EAA Membership VINTAGE AIRPLANE magshyazine and one year membership in the EAA AntiqueClassic Division is available for $37 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

lAC Current EAA members may join the Intemational Aerobatic Club Inc Division and receive SPORT AEROBATICS magazine for an additional $40 per year EAA Membership SPORT AEROBATICS magashyzine and one year membership in the lAC Division is available for $50 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

WARBIRDS Current EAA members may join the EAA Waroirds of America Division and receive WARshyBIRDS magazine for an additional $35 peryear EAA Membership WARBIRDS magazine and one year membership in the Warbirds Division is available for $45 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

EAA EXPERIMENTER Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine for an additional $18 per year EAA Membership and EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine is available for $28 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dolars Add $13 postage for SPORT AVIATION magazine andor $6 postage for any of the other magazines

EAA AVIATION CENTER PO box 3086

Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 WEB SITE httpwwweaaorg

E-MAIL Vintage eaaorg PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4873 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 mon-fri 1-800-843-3612

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO EAA AND ITS DIVISIONS ARE NOT TAX

DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Something to buy sell or trade An inexpensive ad the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elusive part 40 per word $600 minimum charge Send your ad and payment to Vintage Trader fAA Aviation Center PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or fax your ad and your credit card number to 414426-4828 Ads must be received by the 20th of the month for insertion in the issue the second month following (eg October 20th for the December issue)

AIRCRAFT

1941 Culver Cadet Project - Fuselage rebuilt wings recovered Franklin 90 new propeller $150000BO 860974-3399 (1224)

MISCELLANEOUS

SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manshyufacture STC-PMA-d 4130 chromoly tubing throughout also complete fuselage repair ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRFRAME INC (J Soares Pres) 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 FAX 406388-0170 Repair station No QK5R148N (0387)

FREE CATALOG - Aviation books and videos How to building and restoration tips historic flying and entertainment titles Call for a free catalog EAA1-800-843-3612

Ragwing Replicas - Ultralight legal Aircamper Heath Pitts Duster Triplane Plans $52 Brochure $3 P O Box 39 Townville SC 29689 (0400)

A Life in the Clouds - Quote from Gene Chase What a great book Lively memoirs about real life flying experiences from first airplane ride to airline Captain By John A Anderson 388 pages hard bound cover $1995 + $200 shipshyping IL residents add $145 for sales tax Order from Jeanne Anderson P O Box 1811 Woodstock IL 60098 (1420)

Midwest Randolph Distributor - All Randolph products and services dopes epoxies paints Call or write for product information and color chart Brown Aero B716 CTP Unity WI 54488 715223-4444 (1194)

A rag aircraft is unless it looks

great like an old rag

Let US make it a classic rag (We currently have a Stinson 108-1 under rebuild)

Call 330-669-2211

M= Wayne County Airport 6020 N Honeytown Rd Smithville OH 44677Restoration

FREE WORLDWIDE BOOKSEARCH for out of print books ALSO over 1000 aeronautic titles available Leatherstocking Bookscout 738 Hillside Ave Lake Wales FL 33853 800230shy8071 (1272)

For all pre-WW II aircraft - Hand woven or wrapped-and-soldered control and rigging cable ends $20 per end Endless loop trim cable $150 300 Lycoming cowl n ice $1 000 540822-5125 (1550)

bull AVIATION INSURANCE bull

All aviation insurance poliCies are not created equal

Call AVEMCO about Direct Approachfl 2000 the new standard in aircraft insurallcefI

US and Canada call

800-276-5207 ~

GiViMCOmiddot INSURANCE COMPANY

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Aerospace Branch Library Little Rock AR Bob Brack Lees Summit MO Tim Bronson Pittsburgh PA Christa L Brown Oro Valley AZ C Alan Carter Douglas GA Richard Cinesi Jefferson WI Robbie Culver North Chicago IL Clifford Edington Springfield OR Lewis R Fisher Friendswood TX Irby Ford Pflugerville TX Jerry L Gecowets Urbana OH Pat Greco San Jose CA AI J Gross lssaquah WA Sam K Harmon Columbia SC John E Heller Pasadena CA Richard Hotchkiss Calgary Alberta Canada Elvin W Hurst Santa Rosa CA

James Ilgenfritz 11 Monroe MI Pau l Kinzie Alva OK Kurt Kohler Hampton VA Howard H Kron Montevideo MN Patrick J LaVigne Rochester NY Jean Pierre Llech Elbeuf France Thurman F Longcrier Florence AL Mark S Lopac Cokato MN Larry Metzel Garland TX Atsuo Nishimura Otsuk Chyo Kochi Ken Japan Rolph C Olsen San Diego CA Ralph Parker Wichita Falls TX Andre Pelletier Grand Junction CO Robert M Percy Patterson NY Richard J Perrotti Melrose MA

Don J Pustina Indianapolis IN Barry Joseph Ramer Fox River Grove IL David Fritz Reins Crewe VA R W Robertson Roanoke VA Michael F Smith Leesburg VA Ron Smith Brawley CA Timothy D Smithen Belgrade MT Robert J Stewart Erie PA Karl R Szczypta Naperville IL James M Thomas Watsonville CA Robert B Tyndall 5myrna GA Charles M Vaughn Titusville FL James J Weber Williamsville NY William R Woodall Akron OH Elmer D Yost Greensboro NC

Adult Air Come to

for a week of

EAAs Adult Air Academy is where you edge and skills needed to build or restore with other aviation enthusiasts for a wee on instruction tailored to your individual

deel()D the know 1shyairplane Gather

specialized halncl~

ities and interests

Learn about bull welding

bull sheet metal fabrication bull oodworking

bull composite construction bull fabric covering

bull upholstery bull aircraft engines

Enrollment fee is S800 which includes all instr ctio al materials as well as meals and lodging during your stay in Oshkosh

Call

414middot4~6middot681~ for more

information

Enrollment is limitedshy

call today

30 JANUARY 1997

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $35 for one year including 12 issues ofSPORTAVIATION Family membership is available for an additional $10 annually Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $20 annually All major credit cards accepted for membership

ANTIQUECLASSIC Current EAA members may join the Antique Classic Division and receive VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE magazine for an additional $27 per year EAA Membership VINTAGE AIRPLANE magshyazine and one year membership in the EAA AntiqueClassic Division is available for $37 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

lAC Current EAA members may join the Intemational Aerobatic Club Inc Division and receive SPORT AEROBATICS magazine for an additional $40 per year EAA Membership SPORT AEROBATICS magashyzine and one year membership in the lAC Division is available for $50 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

WARBIRDS Current EAA members may join the EAA Waroirds of America Division and receive WARshyBIRDS magazine for an additional $35 peryear EAA Membership WARBIRDS magazine and one year membership in the Warbirds Division is available for $45 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

EAA EXPERIMENTER Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine for an additional $18 per year EAA Membership and EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine is available for $28 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dolars Add $13 postage for SPORT AVIATION magazine andor $6 postage for any of the other magazines

EAA AVIATION CENTER PO box 3086

Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 WEB SITE httpwwweaaorg

E-MAIL Vintage eaaorg PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4873 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 mon-fri 1-800-843-3612

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO EAA AND ITS DIVISIONS ARE NOT TAX

DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Something to buy sell or trade An inexpensive ad the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elusive part 40 per word $600 minimum charge Send your ad and payment to Vintage Trader fAA Aviation Center PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or fax your ad and your credit card number to 414426-4828 Ads must be received by the 20th of the month for insertion in the issue the second month following (eg October 20th for the December issue)

AIRCRAFT

1941 Culver Cadet Project - Fuselage rebuilt wings recovered Franklin 90 new propeller $150000BO 860974-3399 (1224)

MISCELLANEOUS

SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manshyufacture STC-PMA-d 4130 chromoly tubing throughout also complete fuselage repair ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRFRAME INC (J Soares Pres) 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 FAX 406388-0170 Repair station No QK5R148N (0387)

FREE CATALOG - Aviation books and videos How to building and restoration tips historic flying and entertainment titles Call for a free catalog EAA1-800-843-3612

Ragwing Replicas - Ultralight legal Aircamper Heath Pitts Duster Triplane Plans $52 Brochure $3 P O Box 39 Townville SC 29689 (0400)

A Life in the Clouds - Quote from Gene Chase What a great book Lively memoirs about real life flying experiences from first airplane ride to airline Captain By John A Anderson 388 pages hard bound cover $1995 + $200 shipshyping IL residents add $145 for sales tax Order from Jeanne Anderson P O Box 1811 Woodstock IL 60098 (1420)

Midwest Randolph Distributor - All Randolph products and services dopes epoxies paints Call or write for product information and color chart Brown Aero B716 CTP Unity WI 54488 715223-4444 (1194)

A rag aircraft is unless it looks

great like an old rag

Let US make it a classic rag (We currently have a Stinson 108-1 under rebuild)

Call 330-669-2211

M= Wayne County Airport 6020 N Honeytown Rd Smithville OH 44677Restoration

FREE WORLDWIDE BOOKSEARCH for out of print books ALSO over 1000 aeronautic titles available Leatherstocking Bookscout 738 Hillside Ave Lake Wales FL 33853 800230shy8071 (1272)

For all pre-WW II aircraft - Hand woven or wrapped-and-soldered control and rigging cable ends $20 per end Endless loop trim cable $150 300 Lycoming cowl n ice $1 000 540822-5125 (1550)

bull AVIATION INSURANCE bull

All aviation insurance poliCies are not created equal

Call AVEMCO about Direct Approachfl 2000 the new standard in aircraft insurallcefI

US and Canada call

800-276-5207 ~

GiViMCOmiddot INSURANCE COMPANY

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $35 for one year including 12 issues ofSPORTAVIATION Family membership is available for an additional $10 annually Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $20 annually All major credit cards accepted for membership

ANTIQUECLASSIC Current EAA members may join the Antique Classic Division and receive VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE magazine for an additional $27 per year EAA Membership VINTAGE AIRPLANE magshyazine and one year membership in the EAA AntiqueClassic Division is available for $37 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

lAC Current EAA members may join the Intemational Aerobatic Club Inc Division and receive SPORT AEROBATICS magazine for an additional $40 per year EAA Membership SPORT AEROBATICS magashyzine and one year membership in the lAC Division is available for $50 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

WARBIRDS Current EAA members may join the EAA Waroirds of America Division and receive WARshyBIRDS magazine for an additional $35 peryear EAA Membership WARBIRDS magazine and one year membership in the Warbirds Division is available for $45 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

EAA EXPERIMENTER Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine for an additional $18 per year EAA Membership and EAA EXPERIMENTER magazine is available for $28 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included)

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dolars Add $13 postage for SPORT AVIATION magazine andor $6 postage for any of the other magazines

EAA AVIATION CENTER PO box 3086

Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 WEB SITE httpwwweaaorg

E-MAIL Vintage eaaorg PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4873 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 mon-fri 1-800-843-3612

MEMBERSHIP DUES TO EAA AND ITS DIVISIONS ARE NOT TAX

DEDUCTIBLE AS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Something to buy sell or trade An inexpensive ad the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elusive part 40 per word $600 minimum charge Send your ad and payment to Vintage Trader fAA Aviation Center PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or fax your ad and your credit card number to 414426-4828 Ads must be received by the 20th of the month for insertion in the issue the second month following (eg October 20th for the December issue)

AIRCRAFT

1941 Culver Cadet Project - Fuselage rebuilt wings recovered Franklin 90 new propeller $150000BO 860974-3399 (1224)

MISCELLANEOUS

SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manshyufacture STC-PMA-d 4130 chromoly tubing throughout also complete fuselage repair ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRFRAME INC (J Soares Pres) 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 FAX 406388-0170 Repair station No QK5R148N (0387)

FREE CATALOG - Aviation books and videos How to building and restoration tips historic flying and entertainment titles Call for a free catalog EAA1-800-843-3612

Ragwing Replicas - Ultralight legal Aircamper Heath Pitts Duster Triplane Plans $52 Brochure $3 P O Box 39 Townville SC 29689 (0400)

A Life in the Clouds - Quote from Gene Chase What a great book Lively memoirs about real life flying experiences from first airplane ride to airline Captain By John A Anderson 388 pages hard bound cover $1995 + $200 shipshyping IL residents add $145 for sales tax Order from Jeanne Anderson P O Box 1811 Woodstock IL 60098 (1420)

Midwest Randolph Distributor - All Randolph products and services dopes epoxies paints Call or write for product information and color chart Brown Aero B716 CTP Unity WI 54488 715223-4444 (1194)

A rag aircraft is unless it looks

great like an old rag

Let US make it a classic rag (We currently have a Stinson 108-1 under rebuild)

Call 330-669-2211

M= Wayne County Airport 6020 N Honeytown Rd Smithville OH 44677Restoration

FREE WORLDWIDE BOOKSEARCH for out of print books ALSO over 1000 aeronautic titles available Leatherstocking Bookscout 738 Hillside Ave Lake Wales FL 33853 800230shy8071 (1272)

For all pre-WW II aircraft - Hand woven or wrapped-and-soldered control and rigging cable ends $20 per end Endless loop trim cable $150 300 Lycoming cowl n ice $1 000 540822-5125 (1550)

bull AVIATION INSURANCE bull

All aviation insurance poliCies are not created equal

Call AVEMCO about Direct Approachfl 2000 the new standard in aircraft insurallcefI

US and Canada call

800-276-5207 ~

GiViMCOmiddot INSURANCE COMPANY

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

book Its the clearest most thorough and most fun-to-read step-by-step book of its kind It ll guide you all the way through the ent ire Poly-Fiber process in plain easy language and with a sense of humor

Our new manual isnt just a reference - its a covering course in a

It ll show you just how

Just $500 Order Yours

easy it is to cover an airplane with PolyshyFiber and how much

fun it can be It includes our entire cata log of too ls products and lots of other

goodies too So all you rea ll y need to make it happen is our brand-new manual and a dream

A i rcra ft Coa t i n gs

808-362-3490 w w winfopo lyfibercom

Post Office Box 31 29 Riverside California 92519

Fly high with a quality Classic interior Complete interior assemblies for do-it-yourself installation

Custom quality at economical prices

bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers

bull Seat slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes

Free catalog of complete product line

Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300

QiFt~RODUCTS INC 259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115

Own the Airplaneof Your Dreams with EAAsregAircraft Finance Program

EAAs Aircraft Finance Program is designed to make it easier and more affordable to own an airplane The plan will finance not only homebuiits antiques and ultralights - but most other airplanes as well Skyhawks Bonanzas Aztecs Citations - with no aircraft age limit

The EAA Aircraft Finance Program offers low down payments loan mini shymums of $ 10000 and attractive rates with terms up to 15 years

We welcome partnerships flight schools and flying clubs Save money by refinancing your current airplane

EAA membership is included with every loan that s approved We ll also automatishycally renew and pay for your annual EAA dues for the length of the loan - on loans over $20000

For more information on the EAA Aircraft Finance Program or to obtain a loan application call

1middot800middot999middot451 5 or fax 941middot646middot1671

EAAreg Aircraft Finance Program

The EAA Aircraft Finance Program is administered by NAFCO PD Box 6145 Lakeland FL 33807

32 JANUARY 1997

Fly-In Calendar

The following list of coming events is furshynished to our readers as a matter of

information only and does not constitute approval sponsorship involvement control or direction ofany event (fly-in seminars

fly market etc) listed Please send the information to fAA Att Golda Cox PO

Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 Information should be received four months

prior to the event date

FEBRUARY 28 - March 2 - 39th Annua l Cactus Fly-In sponsored by Arizona Antique Aircraft Association at Casa Grande AZ Contact John Engle 602830-9670

APRIL 6-12 - LAKELAND FL - 23rd Annual Sun n Fun EAA Fly- In and Convention 813644-2431

MAY 24 - DECATUR AL - (KDCU) EAA Chapter 94 7 9th Annual Fly- In Food fun aircraft j udging For more information conshytact Dick Todd 205977-4060 or 205967shy4540 (work)

MAY 4 - DAYTON OH - 34th Annual EAA Chapter 48 Fly- In Breakfast at Moraine Air Park Lots of Antiques on the field Contact Jennie Dyke at 573878-9832

JUNE 6- 7 - BARTlESVillE OK - Frank Phillips Fie ld 17 th A nnua l Nationa l Biplane Convention and Exposition For info ca ll Charlie Harris Chairman 978622shy8400 Virgil Gaede Expo Director 978336-3976

JUNE 15 - ANDERSON IN - Anderson Municipa l Airport EAA Chapter 226 Fathers Day Fly- In breakfast 7 am - 17 am For info call Larry Rice 377649-8690

JUNE 26-29 - MT VERNON OH - 38th Annual National Waco Reunion Fly-In 513868-0084

JULY 30-AUGUST 5 - OSHKOSH WI - 45th Annual fAA Fly- In and Sport Aviation Convention NOTf DA Y CHANGf - Now Wednesday through Tuesday Wittman Regional Airport Contact John Burton fAA PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903shy3086 414426-4800

SEPTEMBER 19-20 - BARTlESVILLE OK shyFrank Phi ll ips Field 40th Annual Tulsa Regional Fly-In For info call Charlie Harris 978622-8400

EAASPORTAIR WORKSHOPS

Co-sponsored by EAA and Alexander SportAir these Workshops offer weekshyend programs with a wide range of basic and advanced aircraft fabrication and restoration skills

bull February 7-2 Griffin GA

bull February 8-9 Phoenix AZ

Please contact SportAir for location information and registration Call1-BOO967-5746 Fax

770467-941 3

IF WE DONT HAVE IT

GE Bulbs Randolph Whelen

Ask For Lynn or Rick CALl 18008269252

Continental Lvcoming WELL FIND ITSuperior Air Parts Champion Alcor Goodyear Tires Safety Wire Rapco Brackett Loctite Slick (Unison) Gil Batteries Cleveland McCreary Tires Tempo 3-M Products Datcon Michelin Tires Thermoid Airborne Dow Corning Precision Carburetor Parts Universal