STRAIGHT AND LEVEL

by Espie Butch Joyce

With this issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE EAA Oshkosh 90 will be history The AntiqueClassic Division will have hosted more than 800 classics and 120 antiques All of this activity will have been administered by volunshyteer help Its a monumental undertakshying that gets bigger every year

Your Division of EAA now stands at almost 7000 members making us close to being the largest organization in the world devoted to vintage airplanes We have one of the finest monthly publicashytions covering these airplanes and this era of aviation

We spend a good deal of our time and energy managing the area of the EAA Convention devoted to our aircraft and the aviation pioneers who flew them not to mention those who restore and maintain these fine aircraft today Throughout the year we also handle a great deal of correspondence relating to these aircraft and their maintenance People write from all over the world to me and other members of the Board of Directors with their needs and concerns One example of this is a gentleman from Australia who was having a problem getting his prop overhauled Boardmember John Berendt took care

2 AUGUST 1990

gtshyeuro 8 of the problem and solved the mans o

dilemma Q Ive had calls from people on cross-

co untri es who have deve loped problems with unusual engines such as for instance a Warner and asked if I might know a mechanic in the area familiar with the type Sometimes I can help sometimes I can refer them to another member who can Its another example of how we at the AC Di vision are better off as a group rather than as individuals

A viation people are unique They trot off to the airport at every opporshytunity while their friends are going to the golf course Aviation people would rather work on an airplane than mow the yard Have you ever noticed that these people also have other interests in similar areas A number of pilots I know for example are also ham radio operators fly model airplanes are intershyested in antique autos or hot rods These are the people I have come to know and love to be associated with

I know that the friendships I make in aviation will be enduring I know these people will work tirelessly to help with a project and contribute labor and materials while never keeping score What I mean by this is that they also know the help of others is available to them without their having to ask This is what goes on all the time among aviashytion people

Oshkosh is a big event and we all enjoy the experience When we return our flying buddies who stayed home will all want to know how it was We

will all do our best to pass along the excitement and satisfaction of coming to Oshkosh helping out where we could and learn ing the many lessons to be learned abou t peo ple as well as airplanes They will all say how hard it is to believe everyth ing and that they simply must get to Oshkosh next year

We need to continue to te ll everyone how fantastic the EAA Oshkosh exshyperience is and tell everyone to exshyperience it for themselves If we continue to pass the word and unite ourshyselves we stand a better chance of retaining the freedoms we now enjoy in personal flight

Ask a friend to join the AntiqueClasshysic Division While we have a large organization with close to 7000 memshybers there are 35000 aircraft registered that do not have electrical systems That represents a large number of pilots and owners who could benefit from membership in the Division and could help the Division to help others

As not ed las t month the AC Division voted to continue to give out participant plaques this year This is now solely an AntiqueClassic Di vision activity We are endebted to Bob Lickshyteig and Jack Copeland for their efforts on this project We were also fortunate to have the Polaroid Co donate the cameras and film to photograph our fine antique and classic aircraft for the plashyques Thanks Polaroid

As I have said in the past lets all pull in the same direction for the good of aviation

Join us and have it all bull

PUBLICATION STAFF PUBLISHER

Tom Poberezny

VICE-PRESIDENT MARKETING amp COMMUNICATIONS

Dick Malt

EDITOR August 1990 bull Vo118 No8Mark Phelps

MANAGING EDITOR Golda Cox

ART DIRECTOR Mike Drucks

ADVERTISING Mary Jones

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Norman Petersen Dick Cavin

FEATURE WRITERS George A Hardie Jr Dennis Parks

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Isabelle Wiske

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jim Koepnlck Carl Schuppel

Jefflsom

EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC_

OFFICERS President Vice-President

Esple Butch Joyce Arthur R Morgan 604 Highway St 3744 North 51st Blvd

Madison NC 27025 Milwaukee WI 53216 919427-0216 414442-3631

Secretary Treasurer George S York EE Buck Hilbert

181 Sloboda Ave PO Box 424 Mansfield OH 44906 UnlonIL60180

419529-4378 815923-4591

DIRECTORS Robert C Bob Brauer John S Copeland

9345 S Hoyne 9 Joanne Drive Chicago IL 60620 Westborough MA 01581

312779-2105 ffJ8366-7245

Philip Coulson William A Eickhoff 28415 Springbrook Dr 415 15th Ave NE

Lawton MI 49065 St Petersburg FL 33704 616624-6490 813823-2339

Charles Harris Stan Gomoll 3933 South Peoria 1042 90th Lane NE PO Box 904038 Minneapolis MN 55434 Tusla OK 74105 612784-1172

918742-7311

Dale A Gustafson Robert D Bob Lumley 7724 Shady Hill Drive 1265 South 124th St

Indianapolis IN 46278 Brookfield WI 53005 317293-4430 414782-2633

Gene Morris Steven C Nesse 115C Steve Court RR2 2009 Highland Ave

Roanoke TX 76262 Albert Lea MN 56007 817491-9110 ffJ7373-1674

S H Wes Schmid 2359 Lefeber Avenue Wauwatasa WI 53213

414771-1545

DIRECTOR ENERITUS S J Wlffman

7200 SE 85th Lane Ocala FL 32672

904245-7768

Copyright I) 1990 by the EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc All rights reserved

Contents

2 Str aight amp Levelfby Espie Butch Joyce

4 Letters to the Editor

7 Calendar Page 12

8 Vintage Literaturefby Dennis Parks

12 Vintage Seaplanesby Nonn Petersen

14 Members Projectsfby Nonn Petersen

16 AIC Half A World Awayby Jim Haynes

20 Ragwing Warbirdfby Gerard Pahl Page 22

22 Coon Bottom Monsterby John Larson

24 Interesting Memberby Bob Bauer

27 Pass It To Buckfby EE Buck Hilbert

30 Vintage Trader

34 Mystery Planefby George Hardie Jr Page 24

FRONT COVER Jerry and Nancy Groat Irom Mesa Arizona rellect a lew evening sunbeams in their polished Emigh Trojan during EM Sun n Fun 90 The Trojans externally ribbed wings combined great strength with ease 01 manulacture (Photo by Jim Koepnick photo plane Ilown by Jim Dorman)

REAR COVER Another rore magazine cover Irom the collecshytion 01 Ted Businger

ADVISORS John Berendt

7645 Echo Point Rd Cannon Falls MN 55009

507263-2414

George Daubner 2448 Lough Lane Hortford WI 53027

414673-5885

Jeannie Hill PO Box 328

Harvard IL 60033 815943-7205

Gene Chase 2159 Carlton Rd

Oshkosh WI 54904 414231-5002

John A Fogerty 479 Highway 65

Roberts WI 54023 715425-2455

Dean Richardson 6701 Colony Drive Madison WI 53717

608833-1291

The words EM ULTRAUGHT FLY WITH THE FIRST TEAM SPORT AVIATIONand the logos of EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INC EM INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION EM ANTIOUEJCLASSIC DIV1SION INC INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUBINC WARBIRDS OF AMERICA INC are registered trademarks THE EM SKY SHOPPE and logos of the EM AVIATION FOUNDATION INC and EM ULTRAUGHT CONVENTION are trademarks of the above associations and their use by any person other than the above associations is strictly prohibited

Editorial Policy Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographsPolicy opinions expressed in articles are sofefy those of the authors Responsibility for aocuracy in reporting rests entirely with the oontributor Material should be sent to Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE Wi ttman Regional Airport 3000 Pobefezny Rd Oshkosh WI 54903-~ Phone 414426-4800

The VINTAGE AIRPLANE (SSN 0091-6943) is published and owned exclusively by EM AntiqueClassic Divisionlnc of the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc and is published monthly at Wittman Regional Airport 3000 Pobefezny Rd Oshkosh WI 54903-3006Second Class Postage paid at Oshkosh WI 54901 and additional mailing offices Membership rates for EM AntiqueClassic Divisionlnc are $1800 for current EM members for 12 month period of wNoh $1200 is for the publication of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation

ADVERTISING -AntiqueClassic Division does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through our advertising We invite oonstructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken

POSTMASTER Send eddress changes to EM AntiqueClassic Division Inc PO Box 3006 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086

Dear Mark Thank you very much for the copy

of the June issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE You have a nice way of wording things in the rear cover credit and both of us appreciate that The story of Franny Rourkes career (Interesting Member) by Charlie Harris was very illuminating Ive known Fran for about 10 years and learned a lot from Charlies story Mr Rourke is a super nice guy too Do you think we can encourage Charlie to write about some of the other good guys in the Tulsa Chapshyter Its a nice picture by Ted Kosshyton of Ed Marquart at the Jenny on page 22

Try to take it easy during the Conshyvention week Say hi to Jack Cox and Mary Jones for me Our best to all the other nice people at EAA Headquarters

Cordially Ted Businger Evening Shade Arkansas 4 AUGUST 1990

Kadiak Speedster

Dear Norm Petersen On page 90 of the May 1990 issue of

SPORT A VIA TlON is a photograph of Everett Davids Kadiak Speedster I purchased the airplane in 1942 from someone in Benton Harbor Michigan I kept it at the old Hoosier Airport while I was teaching flying during World War II As the war drew to a close in 1944 I advertised it in Trade-A-Plane and sold it to someone in Texas He didnt pick up the plane for quite a while so I stored it in an old barn at the airport until it was picked up several years later A few years after that I saw it in Huntsville Alabama Several changes had been made on the plane Solid gear had been replaced by a spring gear and the Lambert engine and cowling by a four-cylinder opposed engine Some time later I saw an article about the plane at which time it was based in Sacramento California I thought this information might be of interest

Thank you Robert H Young Martinsville Indiana

Stearman south of the border

Dear Mark I am enclosing a picture of my Stearshy

man PT-13D Mexican registered XBshyPGS serial number 75-5729 with a Lycoming 300-hp engine The project

started two years ago in three 50-gallon drums full of parts and a mover with the airframe coming from Torreon Mexico to Monterrey in deplorable conditions It is flying now and exceeding all expecshytations I hope that this may be interestshying for your nice publication that I

always wait for at the beginning of every month

Truly yours Pablo Gonzalez Sada Monterrey Mexico

Scooter pie

Dear Mark Just a note to thank you once again

for your interest and the terrific article on the 120 (Father amp Son - Cessna June) My Dad and I both have received numerous comments on the story and pictures and Ive received a couple of out-of-state calls from members with similar projects underway Weve realshyly enjoyed the notoriety Also if you have the opportunity please thank Jim Koepnick for the great job he did on the photos I look forward to seeing you next year

Sincerely Leon Scooter Seale III Lakeland Florida

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Dear Mr Phelps In answer to Mr Richard Danios

mystery cowl I believe it is used on large round engines such as the Wright R-3350 to direct air into the 18 cylinders This small cowl is located behind the propeller spinner (thus the three sets of clamps to surround the three prop blades) for cooling purposes We have four such small cowls for our Connies engines for cooling Visit our Connie at EAA Oshkosh and see them in place

John B McMaster Save-A-Connie mechanic Kansas City Missouri

6 AUGUST 1990

August 18-19 - Schenectady New York Northeast Flight 90 Airshow Schenecdady County Airport Contact John Panoski Northeast Flight 90 419 Mohawk Mall Schenectady New York 12309 Tel 518382-0041

August 19 - Brookfield Wisconsin 5th Annual Ice Cream Social sponshysored by EAA AntiqueClassic Chapter II at Capitol Drive Airport Contact George Meade 5514 N Navajo Avshyenue Glendale Wisconsin 53217 Tel 414962-2428

August 24-26 - Sussex New Jersey 18th Annual Sussex Air Show Sussex Airport Call 201875-7337 or 702shy9719

September 1-2 - Prosser Washingshyton Seventh Annual Air Fair and fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 391 Call 5091786-1034

September 1-3 - Blakesburg Iowa Culver Cadet 50th Anniversary Celeshybration Antique Field Copntact Burke Bell 3795 Smuggler PI Boulshyder Colorado 80303 Tel 303494shy0108 or Dan Nicholson 713351-0114

September 8 - Chico California Chico Antique Airshow Chico Airshy

port Contact Chico Antique Airshow Committee 6 St Helens Lane Chico California 95926 Tel 916342-3730

September 14-16 - Tahlequah Okshylahoma (50 miles eastsoutheast of Tulsa) 33rd Annual Tulsa Fly-in and 10th Annual Bucker Fly-in Contact Charlie Harris 3933 South Peoria Tulsa Oklahoma 74105 Tel 918 742-7311 Bucker fans contact Frank Price Route I Box 419 Moody Texas 76557 Tel 8171772-3897 or 853-2008

September 14-16 (note date corshyrected from last issue) - Jacksonshyville Illinois Sixth Annual Byron Smith Memorial Stinson Fly-in and Reunion at the Jacksonville Airport Contact Loran Nordgren 4 West Nebshyraska Frankfort Illinois 60423

September 15-16 - Rock Falls Ilshylinois Fourth Annual North Central EAA Old Fashioned Fly-in Pancake breakfast Sunday Contact Dave Chrisshytansen at 815625-6556

September 23 - Rockford Illinois EAA Chapter 22 Annual Fly-in Steak and Brat Lunch Cottonwood Airport 1100 am to 300 pm Call Tom J anusevic at 815397-4995

September 29-30 - Lexington Tenshynessee Sixth annual Tennessee Tailshydraggers Fly-in Call 901968-8641 days or 968-2864 eves

October 6-7 - Sussex New Jersey Airport Fly-In sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 7 and EAA Chapters 238 73 and 891 Info Bill Tuchler 2011797shy3835 Konrad Kundig 201361-8789 FAX 2011361-5760 or Paul Steiger Sussex Airport 2011702-9719

October 13 - Dayton Ohio Annual EAA Chapter 610 Wright-Patterson AFB and USAF Museum tour Contact Jim Hammond at 5131767-8751

October 13-14 - Hickory North Carolina Municipal Airport EAA Chapter 731 5th Annual Fly-In Conshytact Norman Rainwater 1415 Linwood Place Lenoir NC 28645 evenings 704578-1919 or Lynn Crowell 113 Auld Farm Road Lenoir NC 28645 7041754-2723

October 27-28 - Winchester Virshyginia Winchester Regional Fall Fly-in at the Winchester airport Pancake breakfast Sunday Call George Lutz EAA Chapter 186 703256-7873

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

PUBLICATION STAFF PUBLISHER

Tom Poberezny

VICE-PRESIDENT MARKETING amp COMMUNICATIONS

Dick Malt

EDITOR August 1990 bull Vo118 No8Mark Phelps

MANAGING EDITOR Golda Cox

ART DIRECTOR Mike Drucks

ADVERTISING Mary Jones

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Norman Petersen Dick Cavin

FEATURE WRITERS George A Hardie Jr Dennis Parks

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Isabelle Wiske

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jim Koepnlck Carl Schuppel

Jefflsom

EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC_

OFFICERS President Vice-President

Esple Butch Joyce Arthur R Morgan 604 Highway St 3744 North 51st Blvd

Madison NC 27025 Milwaukee WI 53216 919427-0216 414442-3631

Secretary Treasurer George S York EE Buck Hilbert

181 Sloboda Ave PO Box 424 Mansfield OH 44906 UnlonIL60180

419529-4378 815923-4591

DIRECTORS Robert C Bob Brauer John S Copeland

9345 S Hoyne 9 Joanne Drive Chicago IL 60620 Westborough MA 01581

312779-2105 ffJ8366-7245

Philip Coulson William A Eickhoff 28415 Springbrook Dr 415 15th Ave NE

Lawton MI 49065 St Petersburg FL 33704 616624-6490 813823-2339

Charles Harris Stan Gomoll 3933 South Peoria 1042 90th Lane NE PO Box 904038 Minneapolis MN 55434 Tusla OK 74105 612784-1172

918742-7311

Dale A Gustafson Robert D Bob Lumley 7724 Shady Hill Drive 1265 South 124th St

Indianapolis IN 46278 Brookfield WI 53005 317293-4430 414782-2633

Gene Morris Steven C Nesse 115C Steve Court RR2 2009 Highland Ave

Roanoke TX 76262 Albert Lea MN 56007 817491-9110 ffJ7373-1674

S H Wes Schmid 2359 Lefeber Avenue Wauwatasa WI 53213

414771-1545

DIRECTOR ENERITUS S J Wlffman

7200 SE 85th Lane Ocala FL 32672

904245-7768

Copyright I) 1990 by the EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc All rights reserved

Contents

2 Str aight amp Levelfby Espie Butch Joyce

4 Letters to the Editor

7 Calendar Page 12

8 Vintage Literaturefby Dennis Parks

12 Vintage Seaplanesby Nonn Petersen

14 Members Projectsfby Nonn Petersen

16 AIC Half A World Awayby Jim Haynes

20 Ragwing Warbirdfby Gerard Pahl Page 22

22 Coon Bottom Monsterby John Larson

24 Interesting Memberby Bob Bauer

27 Pass It To Buckfby EE Buck Hilbert

30 Vintage Trader

34 Mystery Planefby George Hardie Jr Page 24

FRONT COVER Jerry and Nancy Groat Irom Mesa Arizona rellect a lew evening sunbeams in their polished Emigh Trojan during EM Sun n Fun 90 The Trojans externally ribbed wings combined great strength with ease 01 manulacture (Photo by Jim Koepnick photo plane Ilown by Jim Dorman)

REAR COVER Another rore magazine cover Irom the collecshytion 01 Ted Businger

ADVISORS John Berendt

7645 Echo Point Rd Cannon Falls MN 55009

507263-2414

George Daubner 2448 Lough Lane Hortford WI 53027

414673-5885

Jeannie Hill PO Box 328

Harvard IL 60033 815943-7205

Gene Chase 2159 Carlton Rd

Oshkosh WI 54904 414231-5002

John A Fogerty 479 Highway 65

Roberts WI 54023 715425-2455

Dean Richardson 6701 Colony Drive Madison WI 53717

608833-1291

The words EM ULTRAUGHT FLY WITH THE FIRST TEAM SPORT AVIATIONand the logos of EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INC EM INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION EM ANTIOUEJCLASSIC DIV1SION INC INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUBINC WARBIRDS OF AMERICA INC are registered trademarks THE EM SKY SHOPPE and logos of the EM AVIATION FOUNDATION INC and EM ULTRAUGHT CONVENTION are trademarks of the above associations and their use by any person other than the above associations is strictly prohibited

Editorial Policy Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographsPolicy opinions expressed in articles are sofefy those of the authors Responsibility for aocuracy in reporting rests entirely with the oontributor Material should be sent to Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE Wi ttman Regional Airport 3000 Pobefezny Rd Oshkosh WI 54903-~ Phone 414426-4800

The VINTAGE AIRPLANE (SSN 0091-6943) is published and owned exclusively by EM AntiqueClassic Divisionlnc of the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc and is published monthly at Wittman Regional Airport 3000 Pobefezny Rd Oshkosh WI 54903-3006Second Class Postage paid at Oshkosh WI 54901 and additional mailing offices Membership rates for EM AntiqueClassic Divisionlnc are $1800 for current EM members for 12 month period of wNoh $1200 is for the publication of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation

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Dear Mark Thank you very much for the copy

of the June issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE You have a nice way of wording things in the rear cover credit and both of us appreciate that The story of Franny Rourkes career (Interesting Member) by Charlie Harris was very illuminating Ive known Fran for about 10 years and learned a lot from Charlies story Mr Rourke is a super nice guy too Do you think we can encourage Charlie to write about some of the other good guys in the Tulsa Chapshyter Its a nice picture by Ted Kosshyton of Ed Marquart at the Jenny on page 22

Try to take it easy during the Conshyvention week Say hi to Jack Cox and Mary Jones for me Our best to all the other nice people at EAA Headquarters

Cordially Ted Businger Evening Shade Arkansas 4 AUGUST 1990

Kadiak Speedster

Dear Norm Petersen On page 90 of the May 1990 issue of

SPORT A VIA TlON is a photograph of Everett Davids Kadiak Speedster I purchased the airplane in 1942 from someone in Benton Harbor Michigan I kept it at the old Hoosier Airport while I was teaching flying during World War II As the war drew to a close in 1944 I advertised it in Trade-A-Plane and sold it to someone in Texas He didnt pick up the plane for quite a while so I stored it in an old barn at the airport until it was picked up several years later A few years after that I saw it in Huntsville Alabama Several changes had been made on the plane Solid gear had been replaced by a spring gear and the Lambert engine and cowling by a four-cylinder opposed engine Some time later I saw an article about the plane at which time it was based in Sacramento California I thought this information might be of interest

Thank you Robert H Young Martinsville Indiana

Stearman south of the border

Dear Mark I am enclosing a picture of my Stearshy

man PT-13D Mexican registered XBshyPGS serial number 75-5729 with a Lycoming 300-hp engine The project

started two years ago in three 50-gallon drums full of parts and a mover with the airframe coming from Torreon Mexico to Monterrey in deplorable conditions It is flying now and exceeding all expecshytations I hope that this may be interestshying for your nice publication that I

always wait for at the beginning of every month

Truly yours Pablo Gonzalez Sada Monterrey Mexico

Scooter pie

Dear Mark Just a note to thank you once again

for your interest and the terrific article on the 120 (Father amp Son - Cessna June) My Dad and I both have received numerous comments on the story and pictures and Ive received a couple of out-of-state calls from members with similar projects underway Weve realshyly enjoyed the notoriety Also if you have the opportunity please thank Jim Koepnick for the great job he did on the photos I look forward to seeing you next year

Sincerely Leon Scooter Seale III Lakeland Florida

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Dear Mr Phelps In answer to Mr Richard Danios

mystery cowl I believe it is used on large round engines such as the Wright R-3350 to direct air into the 18 cylinders This small cowl is located behind the propeller spinner (thus the three sets of clamps to surround the three prop blades) for cooling purposes We have four such small cowls for our Connies engines for cooling Visit our Connie at EAA Oshkosh and see them in place

John B McMaster Save-A-Connie mechanic Kansas City Missouri

6 AUGUST 1990

August 18-19 - Schenectady New York Northeast Flight 90 Airshow Schenecdady County Airport Contact John Panoski Northeast Flight 90 419 Mohawk Mall Schenectady New York 12309 Tel 518382-0041

August 19 - Brookfield Wisconsin 5th Annual Ice Cream Social sponshysored by EAA AntiqueClassic Chapter II at Capitol Drive Airport Contact George Meade 5514 N Navajo Avshyenue Glendale Wisconsin 53217 Tel 414962-2428

August 24-26 - Sussex New Jersey 18th Annual Sussex Air Show Sussex Airport Call 201875-7337 or 702shy9719

September 1-2 - Prosser Washingshyton Seventh Annual Air Fair and fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 391 Call 5091786-1034

September 1-3 - Blakesburg Iowa Culver Cadet 50th Anniversary Celeshybration Antique Field Copntact Burke Bell 3795 Smuggler PI Boulshyder Colorado 80303 Tel 303494shy0108 or Dan Nicholson 713351-0114

September 8 - Chico California Chico Antique Airshow Chico Airshy

port Contact Chico Antique Airshow Committee 6 St Helens Lane Chico California 95926 Tel 916342-3730

September 14-16 - Tahlequah Okshylahoma (50 miles eastsoutheast of Tulsa) 33rd Annual Tulsa Fly-in and 10th Annual Bucker Fly-in Contact Charlie Harris 3933 South Peoria Tulsa Oklahoma 74105 Tel 918 742-7311 Bucker fans contact Frank Price Route I Box 419 Moody Texas 76557 Tel 8171772-3897 or 853-2008

September 14-16 (note date corshyrected from last issue) - Jacksonshyville Illinois Sixth Annual Byron Smith Memorial Stinson Fly-in and Reunion at the Jacksonville Airport Contact Loran Nordgren 4 West Nebshyraska Frankfort Illinois 60423

September 15-16 - Rock Falls Ilshylinois Fourth Annual North Central EAA Old Fashioned Fly-in Pancake breakfast Sunday Contact Dave Chrisshytansen at 815625-6556

September 23 - Rockford Illinois EAA Chapter 22 Annual Fly-in Steak and Brat Lunch Cottonwood Airport 1100 am to 300 pm Call Tom J anusevic at 815397-4995

September 29-30 - Lexington Tenshynessee Sixth annual Tennessee Tailshydraggers Fly-in Call 901968-8641 days or 968-2864 eves

October 6-7 - Sussex New Jersey Airport Fly-In sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 7 and EAA Chapters 238 73 and 891 Info Bill Tuchler 2011797shy3835 Konrad Kundig 201361-8789 FAX 2011361-5760 or Paul Steiger Sussex Airport 2011702-9719

October 13 - Dayton Ohio Annual EAA Chapter 610 Wright-Patterson AFB and USAF Museum tour Contact Jim Hammond at 5131767-8751

October 13-14 - Hickory North Carolina Municipal Airport EAA Chapter 731 5th Annual Fly-In Conshytact Norman Rainwater 1415 Linwood Place Lenoir NC 28645 evenings 704578-1919 or Lynn Crowell 113 Auld Farm Road Lenoir NC 28645 7041754-2723

October 27-28 - Winchester Virshyginia Winchester Regional Fall Fly-in at the Winchester airport Pancake breakfast Sunday Call George Lutz EAA Chapter 186 703256-7873

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Dear Mark Thank you very much for the copy

of the June issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE You have a nice way of wording things in the rear cover credit and both of us appreciate that The story of Franny Rourkes career (Interesting Member) by Charlie Harris was very illuminating Ive known Fran for about 10 years and learned a lot from Charlies story Mr Rourke is a super nice guy too Do you think we can encourage Charlie to write about some of the other good guys in the Tulsa Chapshyter Its a nice picture by Ted Kosshyton of Ed Marquart at the Jenny on page 22

Try to take it easy during the Conshyvention week Say hi to Jack Cox and Mary Jones for me Our best to all the other nice people at EAA Headquarters

Cordially Ted Businger Evening Shade Arkansas 4 AUGUST 1990

Kadiak Speedster

Dear Norm Petersen On page 90 of the May 1990 issue of

SPORT A VIA TlON is a photograph of Everett Davids Kadiak Speedster I purchased the airplane in 1942 from someone in Benton Harbor Michigan I kept it at the old Hoosier Airport while I was teaching flying during World War II As the war drew to a close in 1944 I advertised it in Trade-A-Plane and sold it to someone in Texas He didnt pick up the plane for quite a while so I stored it in an old barn at the airport until it was picked up several years later A few years after that I saw it in Huntsville Alabama Several changes had been made on the plane Solid gear had been replaced by a spring gear and the Lambert engine and cowling by a four-cylinder opposed engine Some time later I saw an article about the plane at which time it was based in Sacramento California I thought this information might be of interest

Thank you Robert H Young Martinsville Indiana

Stearman south of the border

Dear Mark I am enclosing a picture of my Stearshy

man PT-13D Mexican registered XBshyPGS serial number 75-5729 with a Lycoming 300-hp engine The project

started two years ago in three 50-gallon drums full of parts and a mover with the airframe coming from Torreon Mexico to Monterrey in deplorable conditions It is flying now and exceeding all expecshytations I hope that this may be interestshying for your nice publication that I

always wait for at the beginning of every month

Truly yours Pablo Gonzalez Sada Monterrey Mexico

Scooter pie

Dear Mark Just a note to thank you once again

for your interest and the terrific article on the 120 (Father amp Son - Cessna June) My Dad and I both have received numerous comments on the story and pictures and Ive received a couple of out-of-state calls from members with similar projects underway Weve realshyly enjoyed the notoriety Also if you have the opportunity please thank Jim Koepnick for the great job he did on the photos I look forward to seeing you next year

Sincerely Leon Scooter Seale III Lakeland Florida

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Dear Mr Phelps In answer to Mr Richard Danios

mystery cowl I believe it is used on large round engines such as the Wright R-3350 to direct air into the 18 cylinders This small cowl is located behind the propeller spinner (thus the three sets of clamps to surround the three prop blades) for cooling purposes We have four such small cowls for our Connies engines for cooling Visit our Connie at EAA Oshkosh and see them in place

John B McMaster Save-A-Connie mechanic Kansas City Missouri

6 AUGUST 1990

August 18-19 - Schenectady New York Northeast Flight 90 Airshow Schenecdady County Airport Contact John Panoski Northeast Flight 90 419 Mohawk Mall Schenectady New York 12309 Tel 518382-0041

August 19 - Brookfield Wisconsin 5th Annual Ice Cream Social sponshysored by EAA AntiqueClassic Chapter II at Capitol Drive Airport Contact George Meade 5514 N Navajo Avshyenue Glendale Wisconsin 53217 Tel 414962-2428

August 24-26 - Sussex New Jersey 18th Annual Sussex Air Show Sussex Airport Call 201875-7337 or 702shy9719

September 1-2 - Prosser Washingshyton Seventh Annual Air Fair and fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 391 Call 5091786-1034

September 1-3 - Blakesburg Iowa Culver Cadet 50th Anniversary Celeshybration Antique Field Copntact Burke Bell 3795 Smuggler PI Boulshyder Colorado 80303 Tel 303494shy0108 or Dan Nicholson 713351-0114

September 8 - Chico California Chico Antique Airshow Chico Airshy

port Contact Chico Antique Airshow Committee 6 St Helens Lane Chico California 95926 Tel 916342-3730

September 14-16 - Tahlequah Okshylahoma (50 miles eastsoutheast of Tulsa) 33rd Annual Tulsa Fly-in and 10th Annual Bucker Fly-in Contact Charlie Harris 3933 South Peoria Tulsa Oklahoma 74105 Tel 918 742-7311 Bucker fans contact Frank Price Route I Box 419 Moody Texas 76557 Tel 8171772-3897 or 853-2008

September 14-16 (note date corshyrected from last issue) - Jacksonshyville Illinois Sixth Annual Byron Smith Memorial Stinson Fly-in and Reunion at the Jacksonville Airport Contact Loran Nordgren 4 West Nebshyraska Frankfort Illinois 60423

September 15-16 - Rock Falls Ilshylinois Fourth Annual North Central EAA Old Fashioned Fly-in Pancake breakfast Sunday Contact Dave Chrisshytansen at 815625-6556

September 23 - Rockford Illinois EAA Chapter 22 Annual Fly-in Steak and Brat Lunch Cottonwood Airport 1100 am to 300 pm Call Tom J anusevic at 815397-4995

September 29-30 - Lexington Tenshynessee Sixth annual Tennessee Tailshydraggers Fly-in Call 901968-8641 days or 968-2864 eves

October 6-7 - Sussex New Jersey Airport Fly-In sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 7 and EAA Chapters 238 73 and 891 Info Bill Tuchler 2011797shy3835 Konrad Kundig 201361-8789 FAX 2011361-5760 or Paul Steiger Sussex Airport 2011702-9719

October 13 - Dayton Ohio Annual EAA Chapter 610 Wright-Patterson AFB and USAF Museum tour Contact Jim Hammond at 5131767-8751

October 13-14 - Hickory North Carolina Municipal Airport EAA Chapter 731 5th Annual Fly-In Conshytact Norman Rainwater 1415 Linwood Place Lenoir NC 28645 evenings 704578-1919 or Lynn Crowell 113 Auld Farm Road Lenoir NC 28645 7041754-2723

October 27-28 - Winchester Virshyginia Winchester Regional Fall Fly-in at the Winchester airport Pancake breakfast Sunday Call George Lutz EAA Chapter 186 703256-7873

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Stearman south of the border

Dear Mark I am enclosing a picture of my Stearshy

man PT-13D Mexican registered XBshyPGS serial number 75-5729 with a Lycoming 300-hp engine The project

started two years ago in three 50-gallon drums full of parts and a mover with the airframe coming from Torreon Mexico to Monterrey in deplorable conditions It is flying now and exceeding all expecshytations I hope that this may be interestshying for your nice publication that I

always wait for at the beginning of every month

Truly yours Pablo Gonzalez Sada Monterrey Mexico

Scooter pie

Dear Mark Just a note to thank you once again

for your interest and the terrific article on the 120 (Father amp Son - Cessna June) My Dad and I both have received numerous comments on the story and pictures and Ive received a couple of out-of-state calls from members with similar projects underway Weve realshyly enjoyed the notoriety Also if you have the opportunity please thank Jim Koepnick for the great job he did on the photos I look forward to seeing you next year

Sincerely Leon Scooter Seale III Lakeland Florida

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

Dear Mr Phelps In answer to Mr Richard Danios

mystery cowl I believe it is used on large round engines such as the Wright R-3350 to direct air into the 18 cylinders This small cowl is located behind the propeller spinner (thus the three sets of clamps to surround the three prop blades) for cooling purposes We have four such small cowls for our Connies engines for cooling Visit our Connie at EAA Oshkosh and see them in place

John B McMaster Save-A-Connie mechanic Kansas City Missouri

6 AUGUST 1990

August 18-19 - Schenectady New York Northeast Flight 90 Airshow Schenecdady County Airport Contact John Panoski Northeast Flight 90 419 Mohawk Mall Schenectady New York 12309 Tel 518382-0041

August 19 - Brookfield Wisconsin 5th Annual Ice Cream Social sponshysored by EAA AntiqueClassic Chapter II at Capitol Drive Airport Contact George Meade 5514 N Navajo Avshyenue Glendale Wisconsin 53217 Tel 414962-2428

August 24-26 - Sussex New Jersey 18th Annual Sussex Air Show Sussex Airport Call 201875-7337 or 702shy9719

September 1-2 - Prosser Washingshyton Seventh Annual Air Fair and fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 391 Call 5091786-1034

September 1-3 - Blakesburg Iowa Culver Cadet 50th Anniversary Celeshybration Antique Field Copntact Burke Bell 3795 Smuggler PI Boulshyder Colorado 80303 Tel 303494shy0108 or Dan Nicholson 713351-0114

September 8 - Chico California Chico Antique Airshow Chico Airshy

port Contact Chico Antique Airshow Committee 6 St Helens Lane Chico California 95926 Tel 916342-3730

September 14-16 - Tahlequah Okshylahoma (50 miles eastsoutheast of Tulsa) 33rd Annual Tulsa Fly-in and 10th Annual Bucker Fly-in Contact Charlie Harris 3933 South Peoria Tulsa Oklahoma 74105 Tel 918 742-7311 Bucker fans contact Frank Price Route I Box 419 Moody Texas 76557 Tel 8171772-3897 or 853-2008

September 14-16 (note date corshyrected from last issue) - Jacksonshyville Illinois Sixth Annual Byron Smith Memorial Stinson Fly-in and Reunion at the Jacksonville Airport Contact Loran Nordgren 4 West Nebshyraska Frankfort Illinois 60423

September 15-16 - Rock Falls Ilshylinois Fourth Annual North Central EAA Old Fashioned Fly-in Pancake breakfast Sunday Contact Dave Chrisshytansen at 815625-6556

September 23 - Rockford Illinois EAA Chapter 22 Annual Fly-in Steak and Brat Lunch Cottonwood Airport 1100 am to 300 pm Call Tom J anusevic at 815397-4995

September 29-30 - Lexington Tenshynessee Sixth annual Tennessee Tailshydraggers Fly-in Call 901968-8641 days or 968-2864 eves

October 6-7 - Sussex New Jersey Airport Fly-In sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 7 and EAA Chapters 238 73 and 891 Info Bill Tuchler 2011797shy3835 Konrad Kundig 201361-8789 FAX 2011361-5760 or Paul Steiger Sussex Airport 2011702-9719

October 13 - Dayton Ohio Annual EAA Chapter 610 Wright-Patterson AFB and USAF Museum tour Contact Jim Hammond at 5131767-8751

October 13-14 - Hickory North Carolina Municipal Airport EAA Chapter 731 5th Annual Fly-In Conshytact Norman Rainwater 1415 Linwood Place Lenoir NC 28645 evenings 704578-1919 or Lynn Crowell 113 Auld Farm Road Lenoir NC 28645 7041754-2723

October 27-28 - Winchester Virshyginia Winchester Regional Fall Fly-in at the Winchester airport Pancake breakfast Sunday Call George Lutz EAA Chapter 186 703256-7873

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Dear Mr Phelps In answer to Mr Richard Danios

mystery cowl I believe it is used on large round engines such as the Wright R-3350 to direct air into the 18 cylinders This small cowl is located behind the propeller spinner (thus the three sets of clamps to surround the three prop blades) for cooling purposes We have four such small cowls for our Connies engines for cooling Visit our Connie at EAA Oshkosh and see them in place

John B McMaster Save-A-Connie mechanic Kansas City Missouri

6 AUGUST 1990

August 18-19 - Schenectady New York Northeast Flight 90 Airshow Schenecdady County Airport Contact John Panoski Northeast Flight 90 419 Mohawk Mall Schenectady New York 12309 Tel 518382-0041

August 19 - Brookfield Wisconsin 5th Annual Ice Cream Social sponshysored by EAA AntiqueClassic Chapter II at Capitol Drive Airport Contact George Meade 5514 N Navajo Avshyenue Glendale Wisconsin 53217 Tel 414962-2428

August 24-26 - Sussex New Jersey 18th Annual Sussex Air Show Sussex Airport Call 201875-7337 or 702shy9719

September 1-2 - Prosser Washingshyton Seventh Annual Air Fair and fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 391 Call 5091786-1034

September 1-3 - Blakesburg Iowa Culver Cadet 50th Anniversary Celeshybration Antique Field Copntact Burke Bell 3795 Smuggler PI Boulshyder Colorado 80303 Tel 303494shy0108 or Dan Nicholson 713351-0114

September 8 - Chico California Chico Antique Airshow Chico Airshy

port Contact Chico Antique Airshow Committee 6 St Helens Lane Chico California 95926 Tel 916342-3730

September 14-16 - Tahlequah Okshylahoma (50 miles eastsoutheast of Tulsa) 33rd Annual Tulsa Fly-in and 10th Annual Bucker Fly-in Contact Charlie Harris 3933 South Peoria Tulsa Oklahoma 74105 Tel 918 742-7311 Bucker fans contact Frank Price Route I Box 419 Moody Texas 76557 Tel 8171772-3897 or 853-2008

September 14-16 (note date corshyrected from last issue) - Jacksonshyville Illinois Sixth Annual Byron Smith Memorial Stinson Fly-in and Reunion at the Jacksonville Airport Contact Loran Nordgren 4 West Nebshyraska Frankfort Illinois 60423

September 15-16 - Rock Falls Ilshylinois Fourth Annual North Central EAA Old Fashioned Fly-in Pancake breakfast Sunday Contact Dave Chrisshytansen at 815625-6556

September 23 - Rockford Illinois EAA Chapter 22 Annual Fly-in Steak and Brat Lunch Cottonwood Airport 1100 am to 300 pm Call Tom J anusevic at 815397-4995

September 29-30 - Lexington Tenshynessee Sixth annual Tennessee Tailshydraggers Fly-in Call 901968-8641 days or 968-2864 eves

October 6-7 - Sussex New Jersey Airport Fly-In sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 7 and EAA Chapters 238 73 and 891 Info Bill Tuchler 2011797shy3835 Konrad Kundig 201361-8789 FAX 2011361-5760 or Paul Steiger Sussex Airport 2011702-9719

October 13 - Dayton Ohio Annual EAA Chapter 610 Wright-Patterson AFB and USAF Museum tour Contact Jim Hammond at 5131767-8751

October 13-14 - Hickory North Carolina Municipal Airport EAA Chapter 731 5th Annual Fly-In Conshytact Norman Rainwater 1415 Linwood Place Lenoir NC 28645 evenings 704578-1919 or Lynn Crowell 113 Auld Farm Road Lenoir NC 28645 7041754-2723

October 27-28 - Winchester Virshyginia Winchester Regional Fall Fly-in at the Winchester airport Pancake breakfast Sunday Call George Lutz EAA Chapter 186 703256-7873

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

August 18-19 - Schenectady New York Northeast Flight 90 Airshow Schenecdady County Airport Contact John Panoski Northeast Flight 90 419 Mohawk Mall Schenectady New York 12309 Tel 518382-0041

August 19 - Brookfield Wisconsin 5th Annual Ice Cream Social sponshysored by EAA AntiqueClassic Chapter II at Capitol Drive Airport Contact George Meade 5514 N Navajo Avshyenue Glendale Wisconsin 53217 Tel 414962-2428

August 24-26 - Sussex New Jersey 18th Annual Sussex Air Show Sussex Airport Call 201875-7337 or 702shy9719

September 1-2 - Prosser Washingshyton Seventh Annual Air Fair and fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 391 Call 5091786-1034

September 1-3 - Blakesburg Iowa Culver Cadet 50th Anniversary Celeshybration Antique Field Copntact Burke Bell 3795 Smuggler PI Boulshyder Colorado 80303 Tel 303494shy0108 or Dan Nicholson 713351-0114

September 8 - Chico California Chico Antique Airshow Chico Airshy

port Contact Chico Antique Airshow Committee 6 St Helens Lane Chico California 95926 Tel 916342-3730

September 14-16 - Tahlequah Okshylahoma (50 miles eastsoutheast of Tulsa) 33rd Annual Tulsa Fly-in and 10th Annual Bucker Fly-in Contact Charlie Harris 3933 South Peoria Tulsa Oklahoma 74105 Tel 918 742-7311 Bucker fans contact Frank Price Route I Box 419 Moody Texas 76557 Tel 8171772-3897 or 853-2008

September 14-16 (note date corshyrected from last issue) - Jacksonshyville Illinois Sixth Annual Byron Smith Memorial Stinson Fly-in and Reunion at the Jacksonville Airport Contact Loran Nordgren 4 West Nebshyraska Frankfort Illinois 60423

September 15-16 - Rock Falls Ilshylinois Fourth Annual North Central EAA Old Fashioned Fly-in Pancake breakfast Sunday Contact Dave Chrisshytansen at 815625-6556

September 23 - Rockford Illinois EAA Chapter 22 Annual Fly-in Steak and Brat Lunch Cottonwood Airport 1100 am to 300 pm Call Tom J anusevic at 815397-4995

September 29-30 - Lexington Tenshynessee Sixth annual Tennessee Tailshydraggers Fly-in Call 901968-8641 days or 968-2864 eves

October 6-7 - Sussex New Jersey Airport Fly-In sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 7 and EAA Chapters 238 73 and 891 Info Bill Tuchler 2011797shy3835 Konrad Kundig 201361-8789 FAX 2011361-5760 or Paul Steiger Sussex Airport 2011702-9719

October 13 - Dayton Ohio Annual EAA Chapter 610 Wright-Patterson AFB and USAF Museum tour Contact Jim Hammond at 5131767-8751

October 13-14 - Hickory North Carolina Municipal Airport EAA Chapter 731 5th Annual Fly-In Conshytact Norman Rainwater 1415 Linwood Place Lenoir NC 28645 evenings 704578-1919 or Lynn Crowell 113 Auld Farm Road Lenoir NC 28645 7041754-2723

October 27-28 - Winchester Virshyginia Winchester Regional Fall Fly-in at the Winchester airport Pancake breakfast Sunday Call George Lutz EAA Chapter 186 703256-7873

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

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ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

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Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

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Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

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OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

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815-500 MON-FRI

THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST AVIATION ARTICLES SIX

DECADES AGO Not all aviation news and speculation

was covered by the aviation magazines The mass market magazines devoted to home mechanics how-to and technolshyogy also focused on aviation events Publications such as MODERN MECHANICS and POPULAR SCIENCE paid a lot of attention to aviashytion and related activities The editor of POPULAR SCIENCE reported his feelshyings on covering aviation in comments in the December 1930 issue

Aviation claws at the mainspring of popular interest because to the greatest possible degree it combines the features most stimulating to the human imaginashytion Deeds of daring danger success in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles hair-raising stunts all unite in a heart throbbing appeal to people imshymersed in the humdrum of everyday modern life

by f)ennisect Va-ksect

~ Lib-alYAnhives f)i-ectf)shy

Though the editors did not always pay careful attention to sources of authenshyticity these magazines provided some exaggerated but exciting coverage of aviation Some examples from 1930 folshylow

POPULAR MECHANICS shyJuly 1930

Zepps Defy Lightning In this article the author Henry Hoyle

reports the lightning research done by Arthur Austin at the outdoor high-voltshyage laboratory in Barberton Ohio Mr Austin was studying the subject of the lightning hazard in flying Some of the questions he was investigating were Is a lightning discharge likely to fire the fuel tanks in an airplane Will the fabric of a plane or dirigible be ignited Will a bolt of lightning damage sheet Duralumin sufficiently to cause trouble to the plane

Mr Austin received a model of a commercial airship from the nearby

Goodyear-Zeppelin factory The model was subjected to two kinds of manmade lightning It was first bombarded with a stream of giant sparks Then it was subjected to single impact discharges of great power According to Dr Arnstein of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Company the ship came through none the worse for wear except for a few scars in the fabric covering where the electrical disshycharges had entered or left

A Barling NB-3 was also used in tests The plane had a Duralumin fuselage over which doped fabric was placed very similar to the Zeppelin model The Barling was struck by the artificial lightning while its engine was running The results were also good for the airplane with neither the fabric nor any other part of the ship set on fire The fabric would show a small hole where the bolt of lightning entered the plane at some point in the metal structure

An Outboard Leaping Lena On the how to do it side there was an

An Outboard Leaping Lena

8 AUGUST 1990

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

article in the August 1930 issue on building a waterborne aircraft powered by an outboard motor The craft was guaranteed to give a Tingling thrill to the most bored of outboard racers The design called a Pegasus consisted of a light racing boat fitted with airplane wings and powered with an outboard motor The contraption would fly for short distances after the style ofa flying fish When driven into a fairly fresh breeze it played hop skip and jump over the waves the pilot experiencing A series of thrills that cannot be duplishycated by any amusement park thriller

MODERN MECHANICS - September 1930

Dummy Motors Dress Up Small Plane to Resemble Gotha in Crackup

In an article on using models in movies a section was devoted to the making of the movie Hells Angels The centerpiece of the movie was a Sikorsky S-29 converted to look like a Gotha bomber For the scene in the movie where the Gotha was to Fall to its Doom a flying model was made of the plane from a Jenny The Jenny was converted with dummy motors on each side of the fuselage to look like a twinshyengined bomber Checking in an article on the making of the movie it was disshycovered that the Jenny burned in a hanshygar fire and was not used in the film The article also reported that many of the airplane crackups were done with

The Hells Angels Jenny hi-motor

full-size aircraft that were launched off of rails on hillsides The planes were loaded with a stick of dynamite surshyrounded by lots of lamp black This made for a spectacular crash when the plane hit the ground

Denmarks Amazing Submarine Plane

Amazing in the daringness of conshyception and expected to be far-rearching in strategic value from a military standpoint is the remarkable new subshymarine-amphibion airplane secretly tested by Denmark

MODERN MECHANICS reported that the Danish Navy recently secretly tested a successful plane which not only flew but could fold its wings and travel under the sea - a perfect submarine

At last the flying submarine has been invented This hybrid craft which has already undergone successful tests off the Danish coast will travel over land run down a beach and launch itself into the sea and then it is able to turn itself into a submarine and continue to travel underwater

The craft supposedly had a tapering metal hull resembling the well-known Dornier flying boat hull and on each side were telescoping metal wings that shortened when the craft was under water After landing in the sea and closshying watertight compartments the crew could submerge the plane and operate it like a submarine by flooding the tanks provided The reporter stated that it sounded like a Jules Verne dream but said the device was a reality A search

I nstalla tion or smoke pot to show

----gtlt-------------- wind direction

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Drawings Below Show Three-Function Plane in Action

10 AUGUST 1990

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

of JANES for 1930 and 1931 showed no evidence of the craft It was apshyparently a well kept secret for the report in MODERN MECHANICS

Smoke Pots Are New Substitute for Airfield Wind Sock

Not all inventions reported in 1930 were as high tech as the flying subshymarine In the column called Plane Talk edited by Major H H Arnold there was a report on a new landing aid for pilots

One of the first things a pilot does when he approaches a strange field is to look for the wind indicator This is very important for practically every maneuver which he makes with his plane from that time on until it stops rolling on the ground hinges on the direction of the wind

The article reported that though most airports placed wind cones on elevated objects around the airport they are difshyficult to see So to secure all the adshyvantages of the wind cone and eliminate all of the disadvantages some airports were installing smoke pots These pots were buried in the center of the landing circle which was supposed to be the first part of the airshyport to attract the pilots eyes The pilot would see the circle and then the smoke streaming from the circle The smoke would immediately tell the direction of the wind and its velocity The smoke pots were placed in concrete recesses in the ground and covered by a strong grating with the bars close enough together to permit the tail skids of planes to pass over without damage

NEW WORDS FOR TODAY Landing Circle and Tail Skid

Clocks Ash Trays Fans Can Be Made From Old Props

For those of you who need some helpful hints on what to do with those old propellers MODERN MECHANICS had some suggestions

On visits to aviation fields and airdromes (Another New Word for Today) one sees many odd [no doubt] and useful [doubtful] things which have been made from old wooden propellers There are many old propellers lying around every aviation field which can be used to make all sorts of useful articles

The drawing shows a wooden propeller with cuts made to secure parts for ash trays and a clock The average prop is long enough to secure sufficient slices for about a dozen ash trays and still have the hub remaining for a clock

POPULAR SCIENCE - December 1930

New Thrills From Winged Bicycle It seems that wings were being

placed on everything in 1930 POPULAR MECHANICS put wings on an outboard motorboat and POPULAR SCIENCE put them on a bicycle

Part at least of the thrill of gliding

Clocks Ash Trays Fans

Can Be Made From Old Props

~~)SlIC[S n~OM P RO P MAKe A S H T ~t

Two types of clock and ash trays made from old propellers

can be had by bicycle riders whose machines are equipped with wings and tailpiece The winged bicycle was the invention of Harry T Nelson of Dallas Texas former World War flyer Mr Nelson reported that the wings and the tail feathers could be readily attached to any bicycle

As the speed of the bicycle inshycreases the wings are elevated and the front wheel leaves the ground The rear wheel remaining on the ground provides the traction As long as suffishycient speed is maintained the front wheel of the bicycle remains in the air

It was not claimed that greater speed was obtained by the device but that it added a thrill to the ordinary bicycle ride

How Errors Crash the Stoutest Planes

In a major four-page article on aviashytion POPULAR SCIENCE reported on aircraft crashes

Aircraft built for sane flying seldom fail but this article tells how stunts strain ships and cause wrecks that help [other] flyers

The article begins with a description of the death of Capt Arthur Page at the National Air Races at Chicago One more name has been added to the list of those who have gone west by crashshying in Why is this list so long Why do planes crash The author reported that Department of Commerce statisshytics showed that in six out of 10 cases the reason was Pilot Trouble That errors of judgment or handling the plane accounted for most bad crashes After discussing downwind landings and turbulence the author covered stunting

Stunting is part of the tests through which a modem machine must pass before it is accepted Present-day planes are stronger and safer than ever before But all planes have limits which must be recognized A pilot can dive the wings off his ship as surely as an automobile driver can skin into a ditch

The article concluded that in the early days of prewar daredevils the pilots who flew to thrill the mob took chances without understanding the strength or weaknesses of the planes they piloted

From that type of reckless flying the advance is being made to piloting that is based on a clear conception of the capabilities and limitations of the craft being flown The pilot of tomorshyrow will be trained to know his ship

Many large public libraries have these magazines in their collections Besides providing for fascinating reading these magazines provide a view of what general readers with a technical interest were reading about aviation bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

by Norm Petersen

This month we present four photos taken during the 1989 EAA Oshkosh Splash-In at Brennands Seaplane Base by noted photoshygrapher Bill McCarrel (EAA 76612) of White Pigeon Michigan Bill is an ardent seaplance fan and his photograhic artistry reveals his considshyerable talent along this line We look forward to displaying more of Bill McCarrels efforts in future issues

- Norm Petersen

Climbing on the step under full power (P amp W 450) is deHavilland Beaver DHC-2 N90YC SIN 1338 flown by George Cayness of Houston Texas Winner of the Best Amphibian trophy at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Seaplane Fly-In the Beaver is mounted on Wipline amphibs and is in absolutely pristine condition Carefully note how the ailerons droop with the extended flaps for maximum lift on takeoff

With water and spray churning from the huge propellers and Wright Cyclone engines a Grumman HU- 16 Albatross N9722B SIN 137927 climbs on the step at the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Flown by Dennis Buehn (EAA 168777) of Reno Nevada the huge amphibian is a popular favorite with its Navy paint schmeme as used at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba

12 AUGUST 1990

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

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AIRCRAFT

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ENGINES

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MISCELLANEOUS

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MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

A nicely painted Piper J-3 Cub mounted on Edo 1400 floats and sporting an 0-200 Continental engine is pictured at rest during the EAA Oshkosh 89 Splash-In Registered C-FKZK the Cub was flown to Oshkosh by owner Jack Hatkoski (EAA 158801) of Dwight Ontario Note how the reflection is almost complete on the waters surface

With a matching white red amp gold paint scheme on the aircraft and floats this pretty Piper Pacer PA-2220 NI7PC SN 22-5931 was flown to EAA Oshkosh 89 by Perry Clark (EAA 219474) of Crosslake Minnesota Rebuilt over three years by Perry and his father Vernon (EAA 44085) the 160 hp Pacer features Edo 2000 floats Demers drooped wingtips and a Stits finish Perry who is a PanAm 727 co-pilot reports the Pacer will haul four people on floats if the breeze is right and the people are not too large

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

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Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

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included

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EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

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Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

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FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Standing by his favorite airplane is Dave Schommer (EAA 341279) of Little Suamico Wisconsin The object of his attention is a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C N99256 SIN 1879 which Dave flew home from Florida and has been slowly improving ever since Powered with a Continental C75- 12 engine the little two-placer is really a joy to fly according to Dave

With the window partly down (a la open cockshypit) Dave Schommer tools by in his Ercoupe Note the landing light in the leading edge ofthe wing and the original Grimes navigation lights (Ed note If you have never experienced the feather-soft touch of an Ercoupe landing gear you are in for a treat)

You are invited to look at th is airc raft

as much as you like but

PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH This biplane is a 1930 CONSOLIDATED FLEET powered by a 125 Horseoower Kinner B54 engine Gallons per Hour (Cruising) 8 oal Cruise Speed 105 moh Landing Speed 48 moh Gross Weight 1950 Ibs Empty Weight 1065 Ibs Wingspan 28 Restoration was completed in 1975 by Baron Bob Von Willer of Gillespie Field in EI Cajon CA This fabricmiddotcovered orange and ivory beauty has won numerous awards throughout California Arizona and the midwest Initially used as a military fightertrainer it now sports original wheel pants and speed ring

14 AUGUST 1990

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

VINTAGE AIRP LANE 15

ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

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WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

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included

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Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

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ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS HALF A WORLD AWAY EAAs down-under tour hosted by Steve and Dorothy Wittman was a glowing success

by Jim Haynes Steve WiHman with a Down Under Tailwind

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

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EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

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Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

THERE ARE ANTIQUES AND CLASSICS DOWN UNDER For several years now the EAA has

sponsored International Tours that have been designed with the aviation enshythusiast in mind Aside from the usual attractions the EAA tours include acshytivities that involve aircraft museums air shows personal contact with local aviation people and actual flying in aircraft that belong to them

My wife and I both having recently retired from school teaching decided to take advantage of the AustralianNew Zealand Tour offered this past April We had always talked about going there someday but had always put it off After reading the brochure describing the activities offered in the tour our plans were set

The tour was managed by Peter Strombom EAA Tours Director and accompanying the group were Steve Wittman and his wife Dorothy Under their leadership the 22-day tour was a fun-filled relaxing and educational exshyperience

I would like to stress that there were ample activities for the AntiqueClassic Division members Just being around Steve Wittman and sharing his exshyperiences in aviation would have been adequate but there were surprises along the way

One of the highlights was being flown in a DC-3 from Sydney to Maitshyland about a 50-minute flight and spending the day with the Australian

New Zealand Tiger Moth

Tiger Moth Club which has its own air strip at a place called Luskintyre There the group both husbands and wives were treated to rides and actually flying a Tiger Moth Some had the added exshyperience of being given a ride in a Stampe while performing aerobatics The group enjoyed a barbecue lunch and when the days flying activities ended there was a liquid social hour in the Tiger Moth Clubhouse It was well into the evening upon returning to Sydshyney in the DC-3

There was enough flying experience on the tour For Anne and me including our domestic flights to join the tour at LAX I counted a total of 18 takeoffs and landings during the entire trip The aircraft - Bonanza 737 747-400 767 A320 (Airbus) 727 Tiger Moth Stampe and a Cherokee 140 In most cases we were invited to the flight deck

At the Sport Aviation Association of Australia annual fly-in where the group spent two days there was much to offer Some of our group happened to be in the right place at the right time and were offered a ride in an old DR Drover Trishymotor I wasnt one of them Arrangeshyments were made with several pilots to fly us to nearby Kyabram where the Antique Airplane Association of Australia was having its get-together Several Austers Chipmunks Winjeels Tiger Moths a Stearman Stinson Reliant and a Rallye were seen Back at Mangalore we were invited to the banshyquet that evening where there was a combination of revelry awards-giving and a very historic event took place It seems that the CAA (equivalent to our FAA) had handed over the authority of inspection of amateur built aircraft to the SAAA I tried to imagine the FAA granting such authority to the EAA Somehow I couldnt It was an almost two-hour bus ride back to Melbourne from the Mangalore Aerodrome and there were some tired pups hitting the sack well after midnight Back to Manshy

L-4 galore the next day and more airplane

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

looking forums and an air show in the afternoon The Australians put on a good fly-in and its growing The one thing that could make it better would be for the various divisions to have their fly-ins at the same field instead of all at nearby fields

The War Memorial Museum in Canshyberra contained a number ofWorld War I and World War II aircraft as well as an A vro 504 the first I had ever seen The group was treated to a special tour of the Museum Annex a place the general public are not allowed There also were a variety of warbirds including an Me 262 and Me 163 The guide told us a lot about the history of each artifact

In New Zealand were visits to Ardmore and Rotorua Aerodromes At Ardmore the group met with the Aukshyland Aero Club in its clubhouse enjoyshying a light lunch prepared for the occasion Several of us were transported across the field and met with a group of the New Zealand Amateur Aircraft Constructors Assn who were busy in their own hangar working on various projects Noteworthy were the small quonset-like hangars in which builders housed their projects After looking over the page after page of checklists that had to be signed off by the government officials I developed a healthy respect for these guys and their work Before dark one of them took to the air and gave us a demonstration of light aerobatics in his Starlet (The tower closed at 6 pm) There were several warbirds housed in the hangars

Auster

at the field - the only T-28 and P-51D

liTHE FLY BY WAS PERFORMED FOR OUR BENEFIT

in New Zealand and three Harvards At Rotorua we were again entershy

tained by the Rotoiua Aero Club Upon arrival there were skydiving operations taking place a rotorcraft taking to the air a lodel following and a Quicksilver Ultralite chasing the rotorcraft Topshyping it off was a flyby of three New Zealand Air Force jets which were there for an encampment When I asked one of the Club members if they did this often he assured me that the flyby was

Ian Dickso - President of the Chipmunk

18 AUGUST 1990

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

deHaviliand Rallye

perfonned for our benefit with the speshycial pennission of the tower To round out the evening the Aero Club had cooked steaks on the grill and the wives had provided ample food to go along with them No one went away hungry

The next day after a morning tour of the sulphur springs area some of the group were picked up at the hotel by four members of the Aero Club and driven around to their homes to look at projects under construction and comshypleted I was especially interested in the

THE PILOT WANTED TO SHOW US HIS NEW HOUSE

restoration of an Auster It did have the fuselage of a Taylorcraft

Again as in Australia we were transported to the Museum of Transporshytat ion and Technology to look at the artifacts of New Zealands aviation past Here were Richard Pearses first and third airplanes For those who do not know this contraption lays claim to the first flight before the Wrights Apshyparently in the Spring of 1903 Pearse got the thing airborne on a downhill incline thus the substance of the claim

As mentioned previously even without all of these aviation activities there were sights to see tours to tak~ and people to meet What made this tour special were the many wonderful people who decided to go too and the events that were not planned preshyviously For instance we had the opshyportunity to help Steve Wittman celebrate his 86th birthday while crossshying the International Dateline and later at Mangalore Aerodrome celebrated Dorothys as well By chance we spent a delightful evening with the parents of an Australian exchange student living in our town back home I also was surprised by a landing on a fann air strip while being flown to Kyabram The pilot wanted to show us his new house None of these events were on the trip itinerary but they served to make the tour something special to us

If you have never been on an EAA International Tour and are considering a trip abroad it is well worth your conshysiderationbull

ort Aviation Association ot Australia

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

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WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

RAGWING WARBIRD A veteran of the CPT program this Aeronca Chief helped teach hundreds to fly

by Gerard Pahl

Director of Education Kalamazoo Air Museum

There is a little red Aeronca Chief years faithfully serving her country in was sold to Irving and Dorothy Woodshythat keeps plugging away through the times of war and her civilian owners in hams along with at least two other skies of southwestern Michigan and times of peace Chiefs that still remain in southwest shes ajoy for any vintage airplane buff Though the Chiefs history is probabshy Michigan Irv is one of Michigans real to see When not flying the honey of a ly not too different from that of many aviation pioneers In fact his pilots ragwing shares hangar space with the other low-powered taildraggers of the license was signed by Orville Wright big warbirds of the Kalamazoo Aviation 1940s it has its own little twists and He holds FAA ticket number 790 and he History Museum otherwise known as turns that add a lot of charisma to the old carries aircraft mechanic card number the Air Zoo This dutiful bird (N gal Aeronca NC 31948 rolled out of 654 31948 sin CA12231) has been pulling the factory at Middletown Ohio on Irv founded Austin Lake Airport amp her weight and more for almost 50 January 28 1941 and on February 11 it Seaplane Base on the southern edge of

20 AUGU

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

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Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

that lake in the mid-1930s During World War II the airport was utilized as a Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) facility and Irving used the Chief to train stushydent pilots By the end of 1943 the airplane had logged more than 2000 hours of flight time

During this time Sue (DeLano) Parish current president of the Kalamazoo A viashytion History Museum developed her skills receiving her primary training in the Chief Sue later went on to become a WASP (Womans Army Service Pilot) during the war and presently flies the museums desert pink Curtiss P-40 Warshyhawk

In order to use the Aeronca to its maxshyimum potential Irv flew the Chief with wheels floats and skis During 1943 alone the landing gear was changed at least 10 times according to the aircraft logs While the little Chief was training future fighter bomber and transport pilots its parent company Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation was trying to obtain military contracts It built a Midget Cargo Plane which was a Chief with a large door behind the cockpit for carrying packages (the maximum payload is not known) The company also removed the engine from its Champ model and added a bird cage

The Chief will soon return to its CPT livery

nose converting the little plane into a three-seat training glider the TG-5 In 1942 19 Aeronca 65 CA Chiefs were commandeered for use by the Army Air Forces and designated L middot3Fs

Following World War II Chief 31948 was still used to train pilots However the airplane was also used extensively for pleasure flying and was flown to Canada several times Some flights ended up being not so pleasant In the past 49 years the Aeronca has been damaged three times In 1949 it was tumed on its back in the St Marys River - the left wingtip was the only major component damaged but both wings were re-skinned In 1960 a wing was likewise damaged and in 1961 the plane again turned over in a lake southeast of Big Rapids Michigan

On August 15 1953 Chief 31948 was upgraded with an 85-hp Continental enshygine replacing the original -65 The switch was made to improve its perforshymance on floats Through the middle 1970s the little Aeronca was owned by Jerry Cole of Dearborn Heights Michigan However it returned to the Woodhams hangar in the spring of 1977 Irv moved to Florida in the early 1980s and the Chief was hangared at Robert Carpenters air strip in Vicksburg where it was flown by several local people

In 1981 Irv sold the Chief to his son Don who in turn sold it to the museum in 1987 Generally the Chief is used to represent the museum at dawn patrols and breakfasts so it is not on display in the main museum building However from May to September the museums tour program takes patrons through the Restoration Center where thy can see not only this gritty little airplane but aircraft that are in the process of being restored Currently the museum is fmishing the preservation of a B-25J Mitchell bomber continuing work on a Fairchild PT-23 Cornell and has a BTshy13 Valiant and a CG-4A Flying Jeep waiting in the wings

Since its acquisition by the museum the Chief continues to do what it does best adding to the 6300 flight hours in its logs When the little red airplane is due for a re-covering a new CPT paint scheme will be applied Those interested in seeing the Chief and 25 other fantastic warbirds including six National Grand Champions can visit the Kalamazoo Air Zoo by land or by air at the KalamazooBattle Creek Intershynational Airport For more informashytion write the museum at 3101 E Milham Road Kalamazoo Michigan 49002 or call 616382-6555 bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

COON BOTTOM MONSTER

An 82-year-old Florida airstrip owner and his highly modified Stearman

Last year I retired and moved from northeast Wisconsin to Tallahassee Florida One of the first things I did was join the local radio-control airplane club I overheard the fellows talking about an old-timer who had an airstrip

by John Larson north of the city where they would ocshy

22 AUGUST 1990

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

casionally fly their models I thought it would be interesting to see if I could fmd it After traveling up and down the country roads I fmally located it near the Georgia border

I stopped at a nearby house and asked where I could fmd the owner of the airstrip over yonder The fellow told me I would fmd Lou Rutten at a hangar on the far end of the field The strip was level at first but near the west end it sloped down and at the bottom of the hill I found two large rustic hangars Standing near a strange-looking biplane was a short slim man taking a break from washing the biplane and sipping a can of beer Are you Mr Rutten I asked Thats what they call me he said

I found Lou Rutten to be a living breathing 82-year-old history book In 1925 he paid two dollars for a Learn to Fly correspondence course He bought a World War I surplus Jenny in parts put it together and started barnstorming Neither a pilots license nor numbers on the ariplane were reshyquired at the time Then he bought one of Ed Heaths kit airplanes and started modifying even way back then He changed the parasol design to a midshywing like Jim Church did to create the

Church Mid-wing racer In 1932 he decided to get educated and took a course in aeronautical engineering in Marshall Missouri He designed and built his own airplane in 1934 the Rutshyten Special In 1936 he worked for Eastern Airlines as a maintenance flight inspector on DC-3s The following year he got his AampE license number 15619 During World War II he flew cargo planes all over the world for the government as a civilian In 1945 he got his commercial pilots license and was flight engineer on a DC-4 for a while He also got a job flying a DC-3 for Caribbean Airlines from Miami to the Canal Zone mostly carrying leather goods but on his last trip he was carrying 13000 baby chicks when one of the engines ran away due the prop governor failure It was in 1947 he bought a Stearman and started dusting in Marianshyna Florida The next year he bought 75 acres where he built the Coon Bottom Airport as a base for dusting tobacco He designed and built his own dusting equipment and even holds a patent on one of his designs

I asked what kind of plane he was washing there and he said Thats the Coon Bottom Monster It was a highly modified Stearman he had

changed into a truly one-of-a-kind fun machine When he retired from dusting he took one ofhis Stearmans and rebuilt it to eliminate all the undesireable feashytures He took off the heavy gear and rebuilt it lighter moving it forward at the same time so the aircraft was less prone to nosing over in soft ground He eliminated the forward visibility probshylem by raising the top wing and building up the fuselage so the cockpit is higher This created lots of room for storing baggage and camping gear under the seats He also changed the ailerons to flaperons On final approach he can crank the ailerons down for slower landshying speeds He added servo tabs to the ailerons to lower stick forces and to increase range he added a streamlined drop tank between the main wheels For fun he mounted some rocketshylaunching tubes on the wings

Lou showed me around the hangars and I have never seen so many parts and pieces of airplanes in my life He must have bought new airplanes and engines every year and never parted with anyshything Theyre all still there in pieces Lou admits that at 82 his flying days are over but as I found out to my delight his hangar-flying days are still going strong bull

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

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EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

For more than 50 years Jim Martin of Beecher Illinois has been maintainshying and repairing aircraft I first met him five years ago when he joined EAA Chapter 260 and during these years he has regularly presented programs about aircraft maintenance at Chapter 260s meetings In addition to being a chapter designee he is always willing to take time to help anyone who comes to him with an engine or airframe problem It does not seem to matter whether the plane is a late model custom built or antiqueclassic Jims dedication to the 24 AUGUST 1990

private pilot has earned him Chapter 260s Devotion to Aviation award in recognition of his unselfish support of private and sport aviation This chapter can attest that many plane owners around south suburban Chicago have benefited from his vast reservoir of exshyperience and knowledge

Jim was born and raised in Toronto Canada and prepared for his career at Central Technical School there At the time the aviation department was new and in 1936 Jim was one of its first three graduates He explained that in addishy

tion to drafting math and aVIatIOn theory classes he learned aircraft conshystruction The aspects of plane-buildshying included woodworking sheet metal machine shop and fabric

Since opportunities in aviation were limited in Canada at the time Jim moved to Chicago in 1939 and began working at BampF Aviation a repair stashytion at Harlem Airport near what is now Midway Airport He started as a shop welder and worked up to mechanic by 1940 A year later he had earned his AampE (Airframe and Engine now

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

known as AampP for Airframe and Powerplant) license

Jim related that during the good old days (the 1940s) Our winter schedule consisted of re-cover jobs and a busy complement of maintenance and inshyspections I liked to do repair work rather than inspections where I specialshyized in woodwork - specifically wing spars On the subject of the quality of workmanship Jim said proudly We did a lot of re-covering in those days

which compared favorably with todays restoration

While at Harlem Jim worked on some interesting and famous aircraft Quite an unusual one was a Laird-type design Not only was it difficult to fly it also suffered frequent taxiing accishydents on the ground which kept Jim busy in the repair shop

American Airlines nevertheless acshycounted for most of Jims career He started work there in 1942 and remained

until he retired 34 years later During much of this time he was a maintenance crew chief in a support shop doing sheet-metal work welding and a variety of other kinds of repairs He serviced DC-3s and more up through DC-6s and -7s Boeing 707s and even the last Ford Trimotor to fly from Midway The Convair 240 though was his favorite because he knew it so well He had attended a special Convair school on this aircraft involving emergency

A Travel Air at the Toronto Flying Club 1934 or 35 with the future Mrs Jim Martin

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

II II W L G S

S E p T E

M B

i

Jim (lett) and a friend with a J-3 Cub at Bamp F Aviation Oaklawn Illinois

A brand-new Convair 240 at the Ardmore Oklahoma training facility

26 AUGUST 1990

damage repair Jim said that he frequently wound up

with what he termed garbage work such as repair of baggage pods coffee makers and tire and battery changes However much of his repair work would require special tools Any time a special tool was required he made whatever was necessary to do the job Furthermore when there was no section in a manual covering a particular repair he would come up with a way to do it Often he was called upon to do oddshyball jobs nobody wanted such as removing broken studs or screws that were difficult to extract

Jim recalled that there were times he had to endure smart-alecs who knew everything One of his favorite ways of dealing with them was when they came to him to borrow a tool For instance he would give the person a 5Jl6-inch drill with a left-hand twist just to see how long it would take him to figure it out Another variation of this was to hand the victim a left-hand tap-and-die

While still working at American Jim opened his own shop across from Ashshyburn Field a small airfield south of Midway Airport There he did extra work as a mechanic which meant just about anything He operated this shop until Ashburn Field closed in the 1960s

It was at Ashburn that Jim rebuilt many old airplanes Over the years he has reworked E-2s J-2s and J-3s on up to current Pipers Buhl Pups and an American Eaglet a Fairchild Cabin and just about anything that we now call an antique or classic He also built a Pitts Special in his shop but it was only flown once The owner wrecked it the first time out had it rebuilt and then sold it That was in 1969 Shortly thereafter the airport closed and Jim flew the last aircraft out of Ashburn a Swift

Jim has owned a Cessna 140 for the past eight years and has been an AI for the past 30 years His first flying was dual time in a deHaviliand Gypsy Moth in 1934 but he did not solo until 1943 at Ashburn in a J-3 His most recent projects have been supervision of the rebuilding of an Aeronca Chief and Sedan a Mustang II a 2J3-scale Hawshyker Hurricane and a Christen Eagle

When Jim puts his hands on an aircraft to perform maintenance or to advise its pilot he draws from many years experience A lot of affordable flying has resulted from Jims dedicashytion to the private pilot

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

PASS II IQ--1] An information exchange column with input from readers

by Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 Ale 5) PO Box 424 Union IL 60180

Prop and Circumstance Dear Buck

I enjoyed your series on propping and appreciate the mention of those immorshytal words It also brought back some memories and some well taught and well-learned lessons about clubs

When I was growing up I thought all airplanes had to be propped to get started Only real airplanes like John Loucks Ford Trimotor had starters I was taught the prop-er commands at nine years old when I was in the cockpit of Travel Air NC 606K executing them One rule was never never touch the mag switch unless instructed and then always shout back the position of the switch Another rule was to always know the airplane and the pilot or else let someone else do it I saw one good example of this at an AAA fly-in at Ottumwa Iowa It seems the guy in the drivers seat got the mixture and throttle

reversed and the machine started on the fIrst pull proceeded to rear up and over and made toothpicks out of Sensenich lumber

I also remember a certain airplane that had a booster in the cockpit that had to be cranked by hand when starting the engine I recall how the pilot was afraid to crank the booster before the prop man was clear and this usually resulted in the engine running backwards for several cycles before it finally got going If the booster was cranked while the propeller was spun it started every time

But the most important rule was Never step into the prop arc Dad considered it a cardinal sin and sure to result in an injury The most graphic tale of this happened to the old man himself at an airshow at Joe Halsmers airport in Lafayette Indiana As usual Dad was announcing as well as flying in

the show When his turn to perform came he jumped off the announcers trailer and dashed to his Travel Air Also as usual Dad propped the Travel Air himself Since the Wright was still warm from the opening of the show on the fIrst pull it sneezed and spun back a couple of turns ending up with the prop straight vertical Being a little rushed Dad stepped into the prop arc and started to pull the prop down when the big Wright kicked back The other blade hit him on the inside of his left knee and threw him out to the wingtip Luckily Mrs Halsmer was on the spot for fIrst aid and quickly taped and bandaged his leg The skin was not broken but it did swell quite badly She also applied some other pain killer

Well he was still able to announce the rest of Saturdays show and got a new kid to fly in his place on Sunday - Gene Soucy The Travel Air rested in Lafayette for a couple weeks until Dad was able to bend his knee again He said he knew he was in trouble as soon as he reached for the prop but it was too late He was damned lucky

I had my J-3 for six years and my Culver Cadet for 12 years Neither one had a starter and by following these rules I never had an incident Now Ive got a Navion and it has a starter but if it ever quits I think I will be able to start it safely using the same rules

Keep up the good work

James Rezich Winnebago Illinois

Defender re-bender Dear Mr Hilbert

I enjoy reading your column every month and see from the January issue that you prefer letters to phone calls So even though I live in the next town east of Union I fIgured what the heck

The reason Im writing is Im restorshying an Aeronca 0 -58B to original military confIguration and want to make some contacts in EAA as Im sure Ill be needing a little good council from time to time as work progresses Im a member ot the new EAA Chapter in Galt Illinois I have an AampP from 1965 but little practical experience since then so I may not know what to do but Ive got a pretty good idea what not to do One of the fIrst things Ive got to decide is on the IA I will work with so I can get him in on it from the beginning (I just disassembled the airplane and brought it home on April 12) I thought you

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Data Plates US Army Air Corps Type L-3B Ser 92-36317 Order 24584 Aeronca Model 0-58B Ser 058B3432 Built 6-13-42 Engine Continental A-65-8 14193228

might have some suggestions on this Ill give you a little background on

the airplane The enclosed photo is recent and the information from the data plates is on the back It was converted to the Defender configuration by Bershynard Pietenpol in 1945 It has a Standshyard Airworthiness Certificate which I naturally want to retain Pietenpols Form 337 doesnt indicate any strucshytural alteration so this may not be a big problem

The airplane is in pretty good shape It spent most of its life in storage but was protected from rodents birds and moisshyture I didnt have any problem getting it ready to ferry to Galt though it was out of license It does have the wood ribs The paperwork appears to be complete and there arent any gaps in the logs I dont have anything on its military hisshytory from 1942 to 1945 and have written several letters trying to get some help on that There are no ADs on it but I suspect thats just because nobody cares Im wondering if old Aeronca Service Bulletins could be of any help - and where to fmd them Ive been able to turn up very little info on 0-58Lshy3s The Army only bought about 1300 of them and they didnt seem to attract a lot of attention Ive written to Mr Silberman at the National Air and Space Museum archive support center and am waiting to hear from him re availability

specs etc Id like to meet you someshytime and hear your thoughts on this project or maybe youd like to take a look at the pieces If so drop a note or give me a call and perhaps we could get together one day soon

Thanks for taking the time to read this

Sincerely Jeff Hill Woodstock Illinois

Sensenich itch Hi Buck

Here is the prop hub info your friend can use If you know of anyone who is doing a plane with a Tank engine I have a Sensenich 96T69 prop that is good

The best for you and yours Ralph Driscoll Rural Route 2 Mount Vernon Iowa 52314

Fueling around military style Dear Buck

Here is what the military had to say about fueling around according to the War Department Field Manual FM 20shy100 September 1947 Army Ground Forces Light Aviation

Refueling The aircraft should be electrically grounded in accordance with appropriate Army Air Forces Technical Orders before and during refueling (See figure 7)

Keep em Flying

Bill Davis Marine City Michigan

of engineering drawings contract Figure 7 Grollnding during relteiillg 28 AUGUST 1990

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Sensenich Corporation August 1955 No 203

SENSENICH MODEL NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINCS

In devising a system of identification for fixed 3 It gives a complete description of the conshypitch propellers Sensenich Corporation worked struction and dimensions of the propeller out a code system which not only identifies the propellers but also describes them The model number used as an illustration is

I It is easy to remember and understand an example of the complete description of a 2 It readily identifies the propeller from all propeller that is possible with our system and

other designs code of marking

FOR EXAMPLE 90CASPL86A DWIVt BLADE DESIGNS

A B c o First two numbers always indicate propeller90 diameter in inches C FirBt letter alwayB indicateB the baBic blade deBign

HUI DIMINSIOHS

lOUD CIt PLfWOCO

Always indicates integral Bolid wood Bpinner unshys Ie followed by the letter P The second letter indicates hub dimensions for Following the letter S indicates integral plywoodA a particular metal hub P Bhell Bpinner

ROTATION

Geometric pitch in inches measured at 75 of the radius

ILlU ~GHT

VI[WED FROII SUP STREAM

Preceded by two or more letters always indicatesL 86left hand rotation

Any letter following the geometric pitch designation indicates a material modificationA of a standard design

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet 25cent per word $500 minimum charge Send your ad to

The Vintage Trader EAA Aviation Center Oshkosh WI 54903-2591

AIRCRAFT

Yes a 1940 Stinson 10 - This fine old aircraft $950000 (Canadian) Springhouse Aviation Box 38 AR 1 Widgeon Drive Williams Lake BC V2G 2P1 604392-2186 (9-5)

Fairchild F24W-41 - Aircraft is complete less FWF for Warner engine Have engine mount and cowling for Ranger conversion also Ranger engine 507263-2414 (9-2)

ENGINES

Engine Parts - for Continental A50 65 75 80 and their accessories - cylinder cases cams rods gears everything but crankshafts Send want list to Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 call 501394-1022 (-591)

Good Used Ignition Harnesses - tested okay Fuel pumps in boxes Rod bolts in plastic bags All properly identified as removed from engines going in for overhaul Air Salvage of Arkansas Rt 1 Box 8020 Mena Arkansas 71953 501394-1022 (shy591)

MISCELLANEOUS

NEW EAA REFERENCE GUIDE - Now in one volume Covering all EAA journals 1953 through 1989 Newly organized easier to read MUCH REDUCED PRICE Past purshychasers $750 USD plus $1 50 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other new purchasers $15 USD plus $150 UPSpostage $300 Canadian $700 other VISAMASTERCARD accepted John B Bershygeson 6438 W Millbrook Road Remus MI 49340 517561-2393 Note Have all jourshynals Will make copy of any article(s) from any issue at 25cent per page ($300 minimum)

1910-1950 Original Plane and Pilot Items - Buy - sell- trade 44-page catalog over 350 30 AUGUST 1990

items available $500 Airmailed John Aldrich POB-706 - Airport Groveland CA 95321 209962-6121 (9-6)

Super Cub PA18 fuselages repaired or rebuilt - in precision master fixtures All makes of tube assemblies or fuselages repaired or fabricated new JE Soares Inc 7093 Dry Creek Road Belgrade Montana 59714 406388-6069 Repair Station D65shy21 (UFN)

CURTISS JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can now own memorabilia from the famous Jenny as seen on TREASURES FROM THE PAST We have posters postcards videos pins airmail cachets etc We also have RC documentation exclusive to this historic aircraft Sale of these items support operating expense to keep this Jenny flying for the aviation public We appreciate your help Write for your free price list Virginia Aviation Co RDv-5 Box 294 Warrenton VA 22186 (c11 -90)

NostalgiC Airline Poster Art - Colorful publicity of the Airlines of the World FREE DETAILS Gerard 3668-VA Hilaire Seaford NY 11783 (12-4)

HANGARS

Quonset Style Steel Buildings - Ideal for airplane hangars equipment and workshops Easy to erect and disassemble Buy factory direct and save up to 40 percent US ARCH BUILDINGS CORPORATION National 1-800-527-4044 (-591)

WANTED

Wanted - The Vintage Airplane Back Issue - September 1986 - No reprints Mint conshydition only $5000 Mail to I will accept the first one I receive all others will be returned Robert V Beal EAA 220499 825 W Broadshyway Madisonville Kentucky 42431 (8-1)

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $3500 for one year including 12 issues of Sport A viation Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $2000 anshynually Family Membership is available for an additional $1000 annually All major credit cards accepted for memshybership FAX (414) 426-4873

ANTIQUECLASSICS EAA Member- $1800 Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classhysic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membershyship number

Non-EAA Member - $2800 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antishyque-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation QQ

included

lAC Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $3000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are reshyquired to be members of EAA

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America Inc is $3000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Warbird members are required to be members of EAA

EAA EXPERIMENTER EAA membership and EAA EXshyPERIMENTER magazine is available for $2800 per year (Sport Aviation not included) Current EAA members may receive EAA EXPERIMENTER for $1800 per year

FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars

Make checks payable to EAA or the division in which membership is desired Address all letters to EAA or the parshyticular division at the following address

EAA A VIA TlON CENTER PO BOX 3086

OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086 PHONE (414) 426-4800

FAX (414) 426-4828 OFFICE HOURS

815-500 MON-FRI

Antiques amp ClassicsshyYoure Welcome Here I s there a pilot among us whose heart doesnt swell when a WACO Stearman or a pretty little Jenny flies overhead On the wings of these airplanes we all experience the leather helmet days before radios nosewheels and controlled airspace Were fortunate your EAA is dedicated to keeping our flying heritage alive

Keeping antique and classic aircraft flying means investing substantial money as well as time AVEMCOs antique and classic airshycraft coverage provides protection of your financial investment at a surprisingly reasonable cost In adshydition to liability and hull coverage you can be compensated for your labor if you make repairs yourself After all who knows your airplane better than you do

Your antique and classic airshycraft as well as your enthusiasm is welcome here

CALL DIRECT TODA Y FOR AN IMMEDIA TE NO OBLIGA TlON QUOTE

1-800-638-8440

CAviMCO This is intended as a brief description of the coverage rHE SPORr AVIATION ASSOClAfIONINSURANCE COMPANY offered Certain exclusions and limitations apply We

will be glad to send you a sample policy for your review

By Aviation People For Aviation People AAA04-0 (690)

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 31

MANUFACTURER DIRECT

HANGARS BUILDING MATERIAL

Less Than 112 Price Sale Example 42 wide x 36 long - Frames Sheeting and Hardware Inc 40x12 Bi-fold Door with Electric door lift

$15266 Value NOW Your Price

ONLY$7~593 SOME OTHER SIZES AVAILABLE

~MIRACLE~ WILL SHIP NATIONWIDE

Call Tol l Free - 1middot800middot843middot8275 612middot593middot1000

FAX 612middot544middot1835

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 sl ings bull Recover envelopes and dopes

Free catalog of complete product line

Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300

I I IQir~RODUCTS INC

259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295middot4115 ~

WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~ STITS POLY-FIBERr

Ipound THE MOST POPULARI AIRCRAFT COVERING MATERIALS I IN AVIATION HISTORYI HERES WHYI Proven Durability on Thousands of Aircraft I FAA-STC for Over 660 Aircraft Models Over 23 Years Service pound ~ History Superior Quality Coatings Developed and Manufactured II Under the Quality Control of an FAA-PMA especially for Polyester IIII Fabric on Aircraft Not Brittle Automotive Finishes Modified Short Life I ~ Water Borne House Paint or Tinted and Relabeled Cellulose Dope II Will Not Support Combustion Lightest Covering Approved ~ pound Under FAA-STC and PMA Most Economical Covering Materials poundI Considering Years of Trouble Free Service Easy Repairability I

II~I VIDEO TAPE AVAILABLE I

~ FABRIC COVERING WITH RA Y STITS Sponsored by EAA II Aviation Foundation Before Making Expensive Mistakes See This ~I ~ Tape and LEARN HOW TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME VHS i

or Beta $4995 Also Direct from EAA (1-800-843-3612) and from

II Very Smooth 17 oz Patented Polester Fabric Developed IiI Especially for Aircraft Covering PolymiddotFlber Manual with I ~ Detailed Instructions for Fabric Covering and Palnllng Aircraft II lor Corrosion Control Latest Catalog and Distributor List I I ISTITS POLY FIBERI AIRCRAFT COATINGS III L

PO Box 3084-V Riverside CA 92519 Phone (714) 684-4280

WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1

po box 88 madison north carolina 27025 (919) 427-0216

AWWA MEMBER

MEMBER

TANK PAINTiNb AND REPAIRING

SANOIlASTING TANK LINERS AND COATINGS PREVENTIVE TANK MAINTENANCE INSPECTION SERVICE LADDER SAfHY EQUIPMEN T

RESERvOIR l iNERS AND ROOFS

DISMANTlING AND MOVING TANKS

NEW USED AND lleONDITONEO TANKS

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 33

The designer and builder of this neat biplane was well-known at the time it was produced The photo is from the Hardie collection Answers will be published in the October issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE Deadline for that issue is September 10 1990

Dick Hill identified John Dennys Speed Bird from the May issue John has the aircraft in the process of restorashytion and as you can tell by Dicks lengthy answer he has himself a rare piece of aviation history Dick and his wife Jeannie an AntiqueClassic Division Advisor preside over the Bird type club and are writing a book on the company so Dicks answer carries the weight of authority

The Mystery Plane is the 1935 prototype Speed Bird A with an 85-hp LeBlond engine Its tail number was 34 AUGUST 1990

X15641 and it was serial number 1000 The design of the Speed Bird began

at the Bird Airplane Company in New Jersey It was a scaled down singleshycockpit side-by-side version of the Bird Before tests and paperwork for certification could be completed on the Speed Bird the Bird company was wiped out by the Depression

The Speed Bird Co was formed from the remains of the old Bird comshypany in 1933 It was to use up the stock of parts that were left over from producshytion and to supply the owners of Bird airplanes with parts The new comshypany was located in the factory buildshyings that belonged to the old Aeromarine Airplane and Motor Comshypany located at a small New Jersey airfield and had been used for the production of airplanes as early as

World War I Many of the US Navys large flying boats from that era were built on this site In the mid-1920s they were building metal-hull flying boats on the site

The address for the Speed Bird Co in the 1937 Federal Register was Church and Front Streets Key Port New Jersey Another address that we found listed the company at Locust Street Key Port is just a small village located on the swampy shoreline of Raritan Bay opposite Staten Island New York Researcher and aircraft historian John Barberry visited the site in 1960 and found that the factory buildings had been torn down and the area was returning to nature

On April 20 1937 the Speed Bird Company was re-formed in San Jose California A corporation was formed

with Mr Fred J Anderson as president and Francis Schmidt as secretary treasurer The only Speed Bird airplane that had been built was ferried to California from N~w Jersey by the chief mechanic and the designer Soon after forming the corporation Mr Anderson passed away and when the corporation and its future dissolved the aircraft was stored outside and left to deteriorate

The plane was later damaged when the pilot of a Travel Air lost control while taxiing and hit it Mrs Anderson who owned the assets of the Speed Bird Co well into the 1950s donated the wrecked plane to the San Jose College Aeronautics Department At one point the plane was assembled and flown by John Reid and his father Pop Reid who had started and operated the Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose

In a telephone interview with John Reid in 1986 he reported that it flew very nicely and was very stable During hands-off flight the pilot could make turns by flexing the long Pyralin windshield one way and the other Spin recoveries were another matter and the plane did not respond too well The men decided that it needed more

rudder so they cut a pattern from sheet metal and fastened it to the trailing edge of the rudder with screws The shape of this rudder extension still remains as the basis for an improved rudder-fin comshybination that will be used on John Dennys current restoration

In another transaction Captain Ralph McPhee an interim owner did not have the plane fully paid for when he passed away so the plane was reposshysessed by the college When the colleges aeronautical program closed the plane became the property of a local aircraft restorer Jim Nissen Jim was commissioned to clean out the school and was given the remains of the Speed Bird for his efforts Along with his other aircraft Jim currently owns one of the few remaining airworthy Curtiss Jennys

In 1968 the Speed Bird was sold to John Denny who lived near San Jose He has completely rebuilt the plane with all new wood The fuselage is shaped with several bridges and an array of stringers This has all been replaced and the woodwork has been protected with several coats of urethane varnish He has built new landing gear and new wings Mr Nissen had removed the

90-hp LeBlond engine with intentions of using it on a Bleriot restoration Mr Denny will use a 125-hp Warner Scarab that he has completely overhauled The valves and pistons caused some delay but now the engine is complete

In 1973 he wrote to EAA asking the membership for help in finding the valves for his engine A photo of the Speed Bird was included and it was published on page 12 of the March 1973 issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE We were treated to a complete tour of the project during a visit with the Denshynys several years ago and can attest to the quality of this restoration

Blumiddoteprints of the design are needed for the plane to become eligible for an Experimental Aircraft certificate and Mr Denny has worked backwards from plane to paper producing the needed blueprints In 1988 the Dennys moved to Springfield Oregon and completion of the Speed Bird project has been consigned to Tim Talons Aircraft Restoration Shop at the Springfield Airport

For now that is the story on the Speed Bird the last of the line

- Dick Hill

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 35

May I929 2Jc nts

tonlobil bull ti gtn 111

MANUFACTURER DIRECT

HANGARS BUILDING MATERIAL

Less Than 112 Price Sale Example 42 wide x 36 long - Frames Sheeting and Hardware Inc 40x12 Bi-fold Door with Electric door lift

$15266 Value NOW Your Price

ONLY$7~593 SOME OTHER SIZES AVAILABLE

~MIRACLE~ WILL SHIP NATIONWIDE

Call Tol l Free - 1middot800middot843middot8275 612middot593middot1000

FAX 612middot544middot1835

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 sl ings bull Recover envelopes and dopes

Free catalog of complete product line

Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300

I I IQir~RODUCTS INC

259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295middot4115 ~

WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~ STITS POLY-FIBERr

Ipound THE MOST POPULARI AIRCRAFT COVERING MATERIALS I IN AVIATION HISTORYI HERES WHYI Proven Durability on Thousands of Aircraft I FAA-STC for Over 660 Aircraft Models Over 23 Years Service pound ~ History Superior Quality Coatings Developed and Manufactured II Under the Quality Control of an FAA-PMA especially for Polyester IIII Fabric on Aircraft Not Brittle Automotive Finishes Modified Short Life I ~ Water Borne House Paint or Tinted and Relabeled Cellulose Dope II Will Not Support Combustion Lightest Covering Approved ~ pound Under FAA-STC and PMA Most Economical Covering Materials poundI Considering Years of Trouble Free Service Easy Repairability I

II~I VIDEO TAPE AVAILABLE I

~ FABRIC COVERING WITH RA Y STITS Sponsored by EAA II Aviation Foundation Before Making Expensive Mistakes See This ~I ~ Tape and LEARN HOW TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME VHS i

or Beta $4995 Also Direct from EAA (1-800-843-3612) and from

II Very Smooth 17 oz Patented Polester Fabric Developed IiI Especially for Aircraft Covering PolymiddotFlber Manual with I ~ Detailed Instructions for Fabric Covering and Palnllng Aircraft II lor Corrosion Control Latest Catalog and Distributor List I I ISTITS POLY FIBERI AIRCRAFT COATINGS III L

PO Box 3084-V Riverside CA 92519 Phone (714) 684-4280

WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1

po box 88 madison north carolina 27025 (919) 427-0216

AWWA MEMBER

MEMBER

TANK PAINTiNb AND REPAIRING

SANOIlASTING TANK LINERS AND COATINGS PREVENTIVE TANK MAINTENANCE INSPECTION SERVICE LADDER SAfHY EQUIPMEN T

RESERvOIR l iNERS AND ROOFS

DISMANTlING AND MOVING TANKS

NEW USED AND lleONDITONEO TANKS

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 33

The designer and builder of this neat biplane was well-known at the time it was produced The photo is from the Hardie collection Answers will be published in the October issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE Deadline for that issue is September 10 1990

Dick Hill identified John Dennys Speed Bird from the May issue John has the aircraft in the process of restorashytion and as you can tell by Dicks lengthy answer he has himself a rare piece of aviation history Dick and his wife Jeannie an AntiqueClassic Division Advisor preside over the Bird type club and are writing a book on the company so Dicks answer carries the weight of authority

The Mystery Plane is the 1935 prototype Speed Bird A with an 85-hp LeBlond engine Its tail number was 34 AUGUST 1990

X15641 and it was serial number 1000 The design of the Speed Bird began

at the Bird Airplane Company in New Jersey It was a scaled down singleshycockpit side-by-side version of the Bird Before tests and paperwork for certification could be completed on the Speed Bird the Bird company was wiped out by the Depression

The Speed Bird Co was formed from the remains of the old Bird comshypany in 1933 It was to use up the stock of parts that were left over from producshytion and to supply the owners of Bird airplanes with parts The new comshypany was located in the factory buildshyings that belonged to the old Aeromarine Airplane and Motor Comshypany located at a small New Jersey airfield and had been used for the production of airplanes as early as

World War I Many of the US Navys large flying boats from that era were built on this site In the mid-1920s they were building metal-hull flying boats on the site

The address for the Speed Bird Co in the 1937 Federal Register was Church and Front Streets Key Port New Jersey Another address that we found listed the company at Locust Street Key Port is just a small village located on the swampy shoreline of Raritan Bay opposite Staten Island New York Researcher and aircraft historian John Barberry visited the site in 1960 and found that the factory buildings had been torn down and the area was returning to nature

On April 20 1937 the Speed Bird Company was re-formed in San Jose California A corporation was formed

with Mr Fred J Anderson as president and Francis Schmidt as secretary treasurer The only Speed Bird airplane that had been built was ferried to California from N~w Jersey by the chief mechanic and the designer Soon after forming the corporation Mr Anderson passed away and when the corporation and its future dissolved the aircraft was stored outside and left to deteriorate

The plane was later damaged when the pilot of a Travel Air lost control while taxiing and hit it Mrs Anderson who owned the assets of the Speed Bird Co well into the 1950s donated the wrecked plane to the San Jose College Aeronautics Department At one point the plane was assembled and flown by John Reid and his father Pop Reid who had started and operated the Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose

In a telephone interview with John Reid in 1986 he reported that it flew very nicely and was very stable During hands-off flight the pilot could make turns by flexing the long Pyralin windshield one way and the other Spin recoveries were another matter and the plane did not respond too well The men decided that it needed more

rudder so they cut a pattern from sheet metal and fastened it to the trailing edge of the rudder with screws The shape of this rudder extension still remains as the basis for an improved rudder-fin comshybination that will be used on John Dennys current restoration

In another transaction Captain Ralph McPhee an interim owner did not have the plane fully paid for when he passed away so the plane was reposshysessed by the college When the colleges aeronautical program closed the plane became the property of a local aircraft restorer Jim Nissen Jim was commissioned to clean out the school and was given the remains of the Speed Bird for his efforts Along with his other aircraft Jim currently owns one of the few remaining airworthy Curtiss Jennys

In 1968 the Speed Bird was sold to John Denny who lived near San Jose He has completely rebuilt the plane with all new wood The fuselage is shaped with several bridges and an array of stringers This has all been replaced and the woodwork has been protected with several coats of urethane varnish He has built new landing gear and new wings Mr Nissen had removed the

90-hp LeBlond engine with intentions of using it on a Bleriot restoration Mr Denny will use a 125-hp Warner Scarab that he has completely overhauled The valves and pistons caused some delay but now the engine is complete

In 1973 he wrote to EAA asking the membership for help in finding the valves for his engine A photo of the Speed Bird was included and it was published on page 12 of the March 1973 issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE We were treated to a complete tour of the project during a visit with the Denshynys several years ago and can attest to the quality of this restoration

Blumiddoteprints of the design are needed for the plane to become eligible for an Experimental Aircraft certificate and Mr Denny has worked backwards from plane to paper producing the needed blueprints In 1988 the Dennys moved to Springfield Oregon and completion of the Speed Bird project has been consigned to Tim Talons Aircraft Restoration Shop at the Springfield Airport

For now that is the story on the Speed Bird the last of the line

- Dick Hill

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 35

May I929 2Jc nts

tonlobil bull ti gtn 111

The designer and builder of this neat biplane was well-known at the time it was produced The photo is from the Hardie collection Answers will be published in the October issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE Deadline for that issue is September 10 1990

Dick Hill identified John Dennys Speed Bird from the May issue John has the aircraft in the process of restorashytion and as you can tell by Dicks lengthy answer he has himself a rare piece of aviation history Dick and his wife Jeannie an AntiqueClassic Division Advisor preside over the Bird type club and are writing a book on the company so Dicks answer carries the weight of authority

The Mystery Plane is the 1935 prototype Speed Bird A with an 85-hp LeBlond engine Its tail number was 34 AUGUST 1990

X15641 and it was serial number 1000 The design of the Speed Bird began

at the Bird Airplane Company in New Jersey It was a scaled down singleshycockpit side-by-side version of the Bird Before tests and paperwork for certification could be completed on the Speed Bird the Bird company was wiped out by the Depression

The Speed Bird Co was formed from the remains of the old Bird comshypany in 1933 It was to use up the stock of parts that were left over from producshytion and to supply the owners of Bird airplanes with parts The new comshypany was located in the factory buildshyings that belonged to the old Aeromarine Airplane and Motor Comshypany located at a small New Jersey airfield and had been used for the production of airplanes as early as

World War I Many of the US Navys large flying boats from that era were built on this site In the mid-1920s they were building metal-hull flying boats on the site

The address for the Speed Bird Co in the 1937 Federal Register was Church and Front Streets Key Port New Jersey Another address that we found listed the company at Locust Street Key Port is just a small village located on the swampy shoreline of Raritan Bay opposite Staten Island New York Researcher and aircraft historian John Barberry visited the site in 1960 and found that the factory buildings had been torn down and the area was returning to nature

On April 20 1937 the Speed Bird Company was re-formed in San Jose California A corporation was formed

with Mr Fred J Anderson as president and Francis Schmidt as secretary treasurer The only Speed Bird airplane that had been built was ferried to California from N~w Jersey by the chief mechanic and the designer Soon after forming the corporation Mr Anderson passed away and when the corporation and its future dissolved the aircraft was stored outside and left to deteriorate

The plane was later damaged when the pilot of a Travel Air lost control while taxiing and hit it Mrs Anderson who owned the assets of the Speed Bird Co well into the 1950s donated the wrecked plane to the San Jose College Aeronautics Department At one point the plane was assembled and flown by John Reid and his father Pop Reid who had started and operated the Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose

In a telephone interview with John Reid in 1986 he reported that it flew very nicely and was very stable During hands-off flight the pilot could make turns by flexing the long Pyralin windshield one way and the other Spin recoveries were another matter and the plane did not respond too well The men decided that it needed more

rudder so they cut a pattern from sheet metal and fastened it to the trailing edge of the rudder with screws The shape of this rudder extension still remains as the basis for an improved rudder-fin comshybination that will be used on John Dennys current restoration

In another transaction Captain Ralph McPhee an interim owner did not have the plane fully paid for when he passed away so the plane was reposshysessed by the college When the colleges aeronautical program closed the plane became the property of a local aircraft restorer Jim Nissen Jim was commissioned to clean out the school and was given the remains of the Speed Bird for his efforts Along with his other aircraft Jim currently owns one of the few remaining airworthy Curtiss Jennys

In 1968 the Speed Bird was sold to John Denny who lived near San Jose He has completely rebuilt the plane with all new wood The fuselage is shaped with several bridges and an array of stringers This has all been replaced and the woodwork has been protected with several coats of urethane varnish He has built new landing gear and new wings Mr Nissen had removed the

90-hp LeBlond engine with intentions of using it on a Bleriot restoration Mr Denny will use a 125-hp Warner Scarab that he has completely overhauled The valves and pistons caused some delay but now the engine is complete

In 1973 he wrote to EAA asking the membership for help in finding the valves for his engine A photo of the Speed Bird was included and it was published on page 12 of the March 1973 issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE We were treated to a complete tour of the project during a visit with the Denshynys several years ago and can attest to the quality of this restoration

Blumiddoteprints of the design are needed for the plane to become eligible for an Experimental Aircraft certificate and Mr Denny has worked backwards from plane to paper producing the needed blueprints In 1988 the Dennys moved to Springfield Oregon and completion of the Speed Bird project has been consigned to Tim Talons Aircraft Restoration Shop at the Springfield Airport

For now that is the story on the Speed Bird the last of the line

- Dick Hill

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 35

May I929 2Jc nts

tonlobil bull ti gtn 111

with Mr Fred J Anderson as president and Francis Schmidt as secretary treasurer The only Speed Bird airplane that had been built was ferried to California from N~w Jersey by the chief mechanic and the designer Soon after forming the corporation Mr Anderson passed away and when the corporation and its future dissolved the aircraft was stored outside and left to deteriorate

The plane was later damaged when the pilot of a Travel Air lost control while taxiing and hit it Mrs Anderson who owned the assets of the Speed Bird Co well into the 1950s donated the wrecked plane to the San Jose College Aeronautics Department At one point the plane was assembled and flown by John Reid and his father Pop Reid who had started and operated the Reid Hillview Airport in San Jose

In a telephone interview with John Reid in 1986 he reported that it flew very nicely and was very stable During hands-off flight the pilot could make turns by flexing the long Pyralin windshield one way and the other Spin recoveries were another matter and the plane did not respond too well The men decided that it needed more

rudder so they cut a pattern from sheet metal and fastened it to the trailing edge of the rudder with screws The shape of this rudder extension still remains as the basis for an improved rudder-fin comshybination that will be used on John Dennys current restoration

In another transaction Captain Ralph McPhee an interim owner did not have the plane fully paid for when he passed away so the plane was reposshysessed by the college When the colleges aeronautical program closed the plane became the property of a local aircraft restorer Jim Nissen Jim was commissioned to clean out the school and was given the remains of the Speed Bird for his efforts Along with his other aircraft Jim currently owns one of the few remaining airworthy Curtiss Jennys

In 1968 the Speed Bird was sold to John Denny who lived near San Jose He has completely rebuilt the plane with all new wood The fuselage is shaped with several bridges and an array of stringers This has all been replaced and the woodwork has been protected with several coats of urethane varnish He has built new landing gear and new wings Mr Nissen had removed the

90-hp LeBlond engine with intentions of using it on a Bleriot restoration Mr Denny will use a 125-hp Warner Scarab that he has completely overhauled The valves and pistons caused some delay but now the engine is complete

In 1973 he wrote to EAA asking the membership for help in finding the valves for his engine A photo of the Speed Bird was included and it was published on page 12 of the March 1973 issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE We were treated to a complete tour of the project during a visit with the Denshynys several years ago and can attest to the quality of this restoration

Blumiddoteprints of the design are needed for the plane to become eligible for an Experimental Aircraft certificate and Mr Denny has worked backwards from plane to paper producing the needed blueprints In 1988 the Dennys moved to Springfield Oregon and completion of the Speed Bird project has been consigned to Tim Talons Aircraft Restoration Shop at the Springfield Airport

For now that is the story on the Speed Bird the last of the line

- Dick Hill

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 35

May I929 2Jc nts

tonlobil bull ti gtn 111

May I929 2Jc nts

tonlobil bull ti gtn 111