STRAIGHT AND LEVEL

By Bob Lickteig

President

Antique/Classic Division

Most of us in the north country are accustomed to living with long, cold winters. The daily conversation is the weather - temperature - snow - and how much longer.

I have a guaranteed tonic and a sure cure for the winter blues - a trip to Sun 'n Fun '85 at Lakeland, Florida. Bill Eickhoff, President, and Bill Henderson, Executive Director of Sun 'n Fun, plus Lyle Flagg, President of Florida Sport Aviation Antique and Classic Association (A/C Chapter One) , extend a warm, sunfilled invitation to all EAA Antique/ Classic members and guests to attend Sun 'n Fun March 17-23, Lakeland, Florida.

Sun 'n Fun is now eleven years old and is acclaimed as the world's largest wintertime aviation event. Sun 'n Fun is recognized as EAA's spring celebration of flight and covers all areas of aviation from ultralights to warbirds. The Antique/Classic area is located at the west end of the field

2 FEBRUARY 1985

and includes 20 acres of tie down parking and plenty of aircraft camping to the south. The Antique/Classic Headquarters Building has a new addition and is equipped to provide hospitality and all services we have come to expect from our participation in a major event.

Scheduled Antique/Classic events include Aircraft Judging in all categories, Grand and Reserve Champion Reunion, History of Flight fly by, Antique/Classic Fly-Out, Forums, Interview Circle, Type Club Headquarters Tent, Antique/Classic Photo Contest, and a Cookout Luncheon.

EAA Antique/Classic Sun 'n Fun activities chairman are listed below. Please contact any of these chairman if they can be of help to you in planning your trip or after you arrive at Lakeland.

Convention Lyle Flagg 813/689-3393

Aircraft Parking George Read 813/345-2522

Headquarters Staff Stan and Lula Ware 813/689-2141

Grand & Reserve Champion Reunion Al Kelch 813/635-3878

Type Clubs Headquarters Tent Butch Joyce 919/427-0374

Antique Judging Donna Morris 813/644-6203

Classic Judging Dennis Gregory 813/628-3106

History of Flight Ray Olcott 813/485-8139

Interview Circle Don Morris 813/644-6203

Cookout Luncheon Donna Morris 813/644-6203

Fly-Out Polly McLean 813/681-4698

Photo Contest Bill Kilborne 305/727-8290

Fly-in Coordinator & Housing Ann McKee 813/688-8214 Dates, times and additional details

of all Antique/Classic activities will be published in the Sun 'n Fun convention program book.

Please check the December issue of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE for other convention details.

The weatherman has promised to cooperate, so let's all shovel away the snow, get the pre-heater going, fire up the old bird, and head for Sun 'n Fun, Lakeland, Florida.

See you at Sun 'n Fun. Your EAA Antique/Classic Division is celebrating its 15th year. It's going to be a great convention. Join us and you have it all!

MORE AUTOGAS

STC APPROVALS

STC's have recently been granted to EAA allowing use of autogas in the following models of aircraft:

AERONCA - B & B Aviation 7GCA

7GCB

7KC

7GCBA

7GCAA

7GCBC

15AC

PIPER PA-22-150 PA-22S-150

NORTHWEST - Rankin Porterfield CP-55 CP-65 CS-65

S.L. INDUSTRIES - Aero Commander 100

PUBLICATION STAFF

PUBLISHER

Paul H. Poberezny

DIRECTOR .

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Dick Matt

EDITOR

Gene R. Chase

MANAGING EDITOR

Mary Jones

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Norman Petersen

FEATURE WRITERS

George A. Hardie, Jr.

Dennis Parks

Roy Redman

EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC

DIVISION, INC.

OFFICERS

President Vice President R. J. Lickteig Roy Redman

1620 Bay Oaks Drive Rt. 3, Box 208

Albert Lea, MN 56007 Faribault , MN 55021

507/373-2922 507 -334-5922

Secretary Treasurer Ronald Fritz E. E. "Buck" Hilbert

15401 Sparta Avenue P.O. Box 145 Kent City, MI49330 Union, IL 60180

616/678-5012 815/923-4591

DIRECTORS

John S. Copeland Stan Gomoll 9 Joanne Drive 1042 90th Lane, NE

Westborough, MA 01581 Minneapolis, MN 55434 617/366-7245 612/784-1172

Dale A. Gustafson Espie M. Joyce, Jr.

7724 Shady Hill Drive Box 468

Indianapolis, IN 46274 Madison, NC 27025

317/293-4430 919/427-0216

Morton W. Lester Arthur R. Morgan P.O. Box 3747 3744 North 51st Blvd.

Martinsville, VA 24112 Milwaukee, WI 53216 703/632-4839 414/442-3631

Gene Morris John R. Turgyan 15C Steve Court. A.R. 2 Box 229, R.F.D. 2

Roanoke, TX 76262 Wrightstown, NJ 08562 817/491-9110 609/758-2910

S. J. Wittman George S. York Box 2672 181 Sloboda Ave.

Oshkosh, WI 54901 Manslield, OH 44906 414/235-1265 419/529-4378

ADVISORS

Daniel Neuman Ray Olcott

1521 Berne Circle W. 1500 Kings Way

Minneapolis, MN 55421 Nokomis, FL 33555

612/571-0893 813/485-8139

S. H. "Wes" Schmid Gar Williams 2359 Lefeber Road Nine South 135 Aero Drive

Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Naperville, IL 60540

414/771-1545 312/355-9416

FEBRUARY 1985. Vol. 13, No.2 Copyright '0 1985 by the EAA Antique/Classic Division, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contents

2 Straight and Level by Bob Lickteig

4 AlC News by Gene Chase

5 Vintage Literature by Dennis Parks

6 A Gathering at Sextonville by Norm Peterson

10 Mystery Plane by George A. Hardie, Jr.

11 Type Club News by Gene Chase

12 Restoring a Heath-Henderson Engine by Wesley Delong

16 Just Plane Crazy by Allan J. Bell

19 Rescue of a Sea Dart by leonard McGinty

20 Letters to the Editor 21 Members' Projects 22 Oshkosh '84 AIC Judges 23 Vintage Trader 26 Calendar of Events

Page 6

Page 12

Page 16

FRONT COVER ... 1947 Cessna 140, N2578N, SIN 12838, owned by Gene Bohl (EAA 39859, AlC 8177), 102 8th N. , Northwood, IA 50459. See story on page 6. (Photo by Gene Chase)

BACK COVER . .. Laird "Baby Biplane" with Carl "Buck" Weaver (L) and E. M. "Mattie" Laird in 1913 at Chicago's old Cicero Field. This was Mattie's first airplane and the one in which he soloed himself.

(Charles Arens' collection via Mike Rezich)

The words EAA, ULTRALIGHT, FLY WITH THE FIRST TEAM, SPORT AVIATION, and the logos of EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INC., EAA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, EAA ANTIQUEICLASSIC DIVISION INC., INTERNATIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB INC., WARBIRDS OF AMERICA INC. , are registered trademarks. THE EAA SKY SHOPPE and logos of the EAA AVIATION FOUNDATION INC. and EAA ULTRALIGHT 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 photographs. Policy opinions expressed in articles are soley those of the authors. Responsibility for accuracy in reporting rests entirely with the contributor. Material should be sent to: Gene A. Chase, Editor, The VINTAGE AIRPLANE, Wittman Airfield , Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591.

The VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) is published and owned exclusively by EAA AntiquelClassic Division, Inc. of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. and is published monthly at Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 549032591. Second Class Postage paid at Oshkosh, WI 54901 and additional mailing offices. Membership rates for EAA AntiquelClassic Division, Inc. are $18.00 for current EAA members for 12 month period of which $12.00 is for the publication 01 The VINTAGE AIRPLANE. Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation.

ADVERTISING - Antique/Classic Division does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through our advertising. We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inlerior merchandise obtained through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken.

Postmaster: Send address changes to EAA Antique/Classic Division, Inc., Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591 . VINTAGE AIRPLANE 3

Compiled by Gene Chase

TWO LONG-TIME BOARD MEMBERS RESIGN

Due to personal commitments and other considerations, Al Kelch of Frostproof, Florida and Claude Gray of Northridge, California have resigned from their positions as Directors of the Antique/Classic Division. Both men have served the membership well during their tenures.

In January 1981 Claude and Al were named Chairman and ViceChairman respectively of the EAA National Judging Committee formed by the EAA Board of Directors. In this capacity and with input from the ChiefJudges of each Division and category of aircraft, they were responsible for writing the EAA Aircraft Judging Manual. They leave this legacy which will serve EAA in a constructive manner for many years to come.

From January 1976 to February 1978 Al served as Editor of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE with his wife Lois as Assistant Editor. Since that time both have contributed articles to the magazine. Al also served on the Pioneer Airport Committee and was the driving force in the design and construction of the highly popular porch on the Antique/Classic Headquarters Building on Wittman Field at Oshkosh.

Claude and Al have received worldwide recognition as authorities on vintage aircraft through their untiring work in antique and classic airplane activities, including the superb restorations of their own vintage aircraft.

We thank both of these gentlemen for their leadership and long-time service, and we're sure they will continue to be active in the world of vintage aircraft. We look forward to seeing them at various fly-ins around the country.

SUN 'N FUN '85 UPDATE

Attendees at the 11th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-In scheduled for March 17 -23, 1985 at Lakeland, Florida will

Eighth Airforce veterans meet at Oshkosh '84.

see many improvements in the site since last year! EAA Antique/Classic Chapter 1 is expanding the Antique/ Classic Headquarters Building to include an office and storage area on the back of the present structure.

Regrading and seeding has been accomplished in the homebuilt, antique and classic parking areas; also in the aircraft camping area which, in addition has been increased to four times its original size. Runway 5/23 has been resurfaced and the drainage system has been improved.

Water service has been increased to the aircraft camping area and extended to the ultralight area and south parking lot. The south gate has been totally revamped to handle camper registration more efficiently and faster, and a new two-lane paved turn-off area has been installed, a long with a new camper registration building. New lighting and landscaping will make the south gate camper entrance work much smoother.

Many other improvements have been made, all of which will add to the comfor t and enjoyment of those attending this highly popular fly-in . And in its need for volunteers, Sun 'n Fun is no different than Oshkosh. Thanks to those who spend many weekends working at the site throughout the year and those who accept responsibilities during the event itself, Sun 'n Fun has grown into a major fly-in , second only to Oshkosh, and one which thousands look forward to attending each year.

For additional information contact Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In Inc., P. O. Box 6750, Lakeland, FL 33807 . Phone

813/644-2431 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

HAPPY REUNION AT

OSHKOSH '84

Jim Hiner (EAA 74053, A/C 8158), 624 7th Street, Kenyon , MN 55946 flew 25 missions in B-24s during WW II with the 8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division 458th Bomb Group, 752nd Bombardment Squadron out of Hopshan, St. Faith, England.

Here he is joined by members of his crew at the EAA campground during Oshkosh '84. (L-R) standing: Jim Hiner, pilot; Paul Moore, tail gunner; John Gebhardt, navigator; Robert McAnulty, nose gunner. Kneeling: Herman Ratz, co-pilot; Joe Kennedy, top turret gunner and engineer; Steve Greco, waist gunner. Two of the crewmen were unable to attend: John Marlos , radio operator and Melborne McBee, waist gunner.

Jim currently serves as Editor of "The Sky Scout News Letter" for the B. H. Pietenpol Chapter 13 of the Antique/Classic Division.

We wonder how many other minireunions occur at the annual EAA convention at Oshkosh .

EAA CHAPTER 4 TO HOST ANNUAL NASM TOUR

Washington DC EAA Chapter 4 is holding its annual tour of the National Air and Space Museum and the Paul E. Garber Storage and Restora

(Continued to Page 18)

4 FEBRUARY 1985

VI~TA(3~ LIT~I2ATUI2~

By Dennis Parks

(EAA 115388)

Purdue University Libraries

Past "Vintage Literature" articles have covered particular journal titles. This time it will provide a listing of some early aviation journals represented in the EAA Library. This list does not include the titles already discussed in "Vintage Literature": Aerial Age, Aero Digest, Air Progress, Air Trails and Aviation.

All the titles represented began before World War II. They are listed by date of earliest issue in the collection and by broad time periods in order to provide a chronological approach. The information provided includes: Title, place of publication , library holdings, dates of publication, frequency of publication, and notes on variant titles.

PRE WAR Aeronautics (Great Britain)

Holdings: 1908-1921 Frequency: Weekly Published: Dec. 1907 - July 28,

1921. Flight International (Great Britain)

Holdings: 1909 to date. Frequency: Weekly Published: January 1909 to date Note: The nearly 4,000 issues of

Flight International constitute the most complete journalistic history of aviation.

Flugsport (Germany) Holdings: 1910-1922 Frequency: ~onthly Published: Dec. 1908 - Sept. 1944 Note: ~erged with WeItluftfahrt

and became Flug-Revue in 1956. Aeronautics (New York)

Holdings: 1911-1913 Frequency: Semi-monthly Published: July 1907 - July 30, 1915 Note: Title changed from American

Magazine of Aeronautics, February 1908. Absorbed by FLY(Lawson's magazine) January 31 , 1914.

Flying (New York; Aero Club; US) Holdings: 1912-1913 Frequency: ~onthly Published: January 1912 - July

1921 Note: Absorbed by Aerial Age,

August 1921 Aeroplane (Great Britain)

Holdings: 1913-1957 Frequency: Weekly Published: June 8, 1911-1968 Note: Absorbed by Flight Inter

national, 1968.

WORLD WAR I Air Service Journal (Highland, NY)

Holdings: 1917-1919 Frequency: Weekly Published: July 12, 1917 - ~arch,

1919 Note: Became Aircraft Journal

April 5, 1919; merged with A viation November 1, 1920.

Flying (Great Britain) Holdings: 1917-1919 Frequency: Weekly Published: January 24, 1917

August 1919. Air Power (New York)

Holdings: 1918-1919 Frequency: ~onthly Published: April 1915 June 1920 Note: Established on board the first

U. S. seaplane mother ship, the SS North Carolina.

POST WAR TO 1927 Aeronautique, L' (France)

Holdings: 1919-1933 Frequency: ~onthly Published: June 1919 - June 1940.

US Air Service (Washington, D.C. ) Holdings: 1926-1938 Frequency: ~onthly Published: February 1919 - De

cember 1956.

(Photo by Jim Koepnick, EAA Staff Photographer)

A portion of the EAA library.

POST 1927 Sportsman Pilot (New York)

Holdings: 1936-1942 Frequency: ~onthly Published: March 1929 - ~ay 1943 Note: Became Air Pilot and Techni

cian in June 1943. Absorbed by Aero Digest in April 1945.

Flying (Chicago) Holdings: 1940 Frequency: Monthly Published: August 1940 Note: Title changed from Popular

Aviation. Again, this listing is selective, but

it does cover most of the major runs of historic journals in the collection not already discussed in "Vintage Literature".

There are close to 400 different journals identified in the EAA Library comprising over 25,000 issues. A handout listing the journals is available by writing to: EAA Library, Wittman Airfield , Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065. Please provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope . •

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

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fi Gathering fit Sextonville

By Norm Petersen

(Photos by Gene Chase ___________________ except as noted)

OI'Tiger, Bob Lumley, flew up from Capitol Airport in his 65 hp Aeronca Chief 11 AC. Few people in this world enjoy flying more than Bob, an active member of AIC Chapter 11.

Resplendent in its bright yellow paint scheme is Dave Broadfoot's beautifully restored 1948 Cessna 170. The 145 hp Continental six cylinder engine runs like a sewing machine.

It seemed like the 01' rainmaker was after us to give up. All morning Saturday June 23rd the heavy clouds kept rolling by, each group dropping more rain as the cold front swept over Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Pacing the floor was difficult - trying to balance a cup of coffee at the same time!

Just before lunch, the phone rang and the voice of Gene Chase, with just a hint ofenthusiasm said, "It's getting lighter in the west!" Without further ado, we loaded our gear in the car and drove to Gene's hangar on Wittman Airfield and readied the "old girl" for the trip - Gene's 1933 Davis D-I-W. Our goal was a week-end fly-in of Antique/Classic Chapters 11 from Milwaukee and 13 from Albert Lea, Minnesota with everybody meeting at the Richland Airport near Sextonville in southwestern Wisconsin.

Several other EAAers gathered around us as we checked over the Davis in the hangar. The rain had moved on ' to the east and sunshine was poking through the clouds. Suddenly, Tom McConnel asked if we wanted him to weld up the crack in the exhaust manifold! His sharp eye had spotted a 3-inch crack emanating

from the number four cylinder exhaust stack where it joined the collector ring. Ouch! Now our trip was shot for sure!

Without a word being said, George Rotter backed his Escort wagon up to the nose of the Davis and opened the tailgate - tools galore! Side cutters took care of the cotter keys. Socket wrenches took care of bolts and nuts. A hammer and a piece of 2 x 4 gently persuaded the exhaust manifold to slide backwards. In less than an hour the manifold was in John Monnett's nearby shop and Tom and Randy Novak were firing up the TIG welder. What fun to watch an artist at work, as Tom laid a beautiful bead across the stainless collector ring, which promptly eliminated the crack.

Again many hands joined in to reinstall the exhaust system and by 4 o'clock the Davis was ready to go and we were loading our gear in the baggage compartment. Rolling the yellow and black "parasol" out on the tarmac, Gene called the tower and received permission for a no-radio departure.

With Gene in the rear cockpit, I pulled the big Warner through sev

eral revolutions to load up the cylinders. On the first hard pull, the Warner caught and we were off to the races . I wiggled into the front cockpit, waved to the many helpers who had done such a fine job on the exhaust repair, and we taxied to the active runway.

145 snarling ponies came to life as Gene opened the tap on the Warner and we climbed out to the west, then turned southwest on course over Pickett and Ripon. The wind was directly on our nose with one large, dark cloud in front of us. We flew under the monster, keeping a sharp eye for signs of hail or violent updrafts. (We later learned this cloud dumped a huge shower on Oshkosh.)

A radial engine, at easy cruise, has to be about as smooth as butter. It doesn't even work hard! Gene and I switched back and forth at the controls as we flew into a rapidly clearing sky. The lush green below with the many wooded hills, the cool fresh air whistling by the open cockpits, the smell of new-mown hay - it doesn't get much better than this!

It was 5:45 when Gene pointed to the right and I saw the two grass run

....••....•..•.••..•................•....•.•....

6 FEBRUARY 1985

(Photo by an accommodating spectator) The entire group from AIC Chapter 11 and AlC Chapter 13 assembled for their picture following Sunday noon dinner. Nobody went hungry!

ways of the Richland Airport. With hills all around and the airport nestled in between, it is one of the prettiest scenes I have encountered. On the ground we could see several planes, a Cessna 140, 170, a Swift and Roy Redman's Stinson SR-S. Gene, who has all the gauges in this cockpit, made his usual perfect landing on runway 27, and we taxied up to a

smiling group. With the sun slowly sinking in the

west and the wind diminishing to zero, it was an ideal time to line up the "birds" for some pictures. The setting was so perfect we all drooled at the scene. Unfortunately, Jim Shosted in his Swift had to return to Minnesota. After the photo session, Gene was invited to fly Roy's award-

From North Prairie, WI came this very nice 1 947 Luscombe BE flown by Richard Vanderburg. Note original wheel pants.

winning SR-S - a chance he had dreamed of for several years!

Roy climbed into the right seat, Gene elevated the left seat to fit his 5'6" frame and I settled into the plush rear seat of the Gullwing. Wow, but that big machine does fly . And it has to be the quietest, most elegant cadillac of the air I have ever been lucky enough to ride in. And for frosting on the cake, we spotted two beautiful deer as Gene came down final on his second landing approach. Roy demonstrated a couple of short-field takeoffs with the big 300 hp Lycoming hauling the whole works into the air without even straining! Such an airplane!

As darkness fell, the five of us were driven to a restaurant about a mile down the highway where the bunch of hungry pilots talked and "flew" through an excellent meal. Walking the mile back to the motel, we reveled in the perfectly still evening with all the stars shining and the millions of fireflies in the lush growth beside the road. The vote was unanimous - a perfect ending to a perfect day.

The Richland Center Airport features a unique restaurant run by two lovely ladies. Breakfast is their "piece de resistance" and before long our small gang had shaken the cobwebs and were enjoying a fantastic break

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VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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Jim Shosted of Burnsville, MN with his highly polished Swift had to return home on Saturday evening. This is one beautifully restored Swift.

Beautiful evening sun shines on Roy Redman's Stinson SR-B, Gene Chase's Davis D1-W, Gene Bohl's Cessna 140 and Gordon Kimber's Cessna 170.

Gordon Kimber of Preston, MN kneels in front of his beautiful ragwing Cessna 170.

fast. The cold front had now passed Milwaukee and as we finished our breakfast coffee, the first group of airplanes arrived from AIC Chapter 11 at Capitol Airport.

Gene Chase and I are charter members of Chapter 11, which was chartered in 1982; what a treat it was to see the old bunch of antiquers again. Even Al Kelch flew his J-3 Cub in from Mequon, Wisconsin in about 21/2 hours with a groundspeed of about 47 mph! Those headwinds can be tough.

The noon dinner at the little airport restaurant was fit for a king and the entire group marveled at the home cooked food. Apparently the local population is aware of this, too, because the line outside the restaurant was quite long at times.

Following a brief business meeting after lunch, the photo sessions were completed and the rides commenced. Gene gave open cockpit rides in the Davis while Roy had the big Stinson hauling three and four passengers at a time until all the members had been airborne. The smiles on their faces told the entire story.

In all too short a time, the afternoon sun indicated it was time to head for home. Plane after plane took off with the familiar wing waggles saying "goodbye until next time." The Minnesota-Iowa bunch headed west and the Wisconsin folks headed east.

Pulling up to the ramp at Sextonville in his 65 hp J-3 Cub is AI Kelch of Mequon, WI following a high speed cross-country trip at 47 mph ground speed!

8 FEBRUARY 1985

, .............................................. .

Art and Kate Morgan of Milwaukee flew their Bellanca Cruisair 14-13 from Capitol Airport. The 165 hp Franklin engine in this classic airplane developed a bad case of indigestion since this picture was taken!

A crew of genuine antiquers: L to R, Bob Lumley, Dave Broadfoot, AI Kelch and Roy Redman.

(Photo by Bob Licktieg) With the 145 hp Warner ticking over, Carl Pederson of Brookfield, WI is assisted into the front cockpit of Gene Chase's Davis .

Gene topped the fuel tank in the Davis and we cranked up the Warner for our trip home. I made the take-off from the front cockpit - a fingertip operation - because the Davis is so delightfully light on the controls. As we climbed out of the valley we took a long, last look at the picture post card setting. No wonder the airport manager, a retired Eastern Airlines Captain, retired to this lovely and peaceful place in the hills.

I made one of my better (i.e., lucky) landings at Fond du Lac as I brought the Davis in on runway 27. We gassed up, telephoned Wittman Control Tower and headed for Oshkosh. The sailboats on Lake Winnebago were enjoying the northwest breeze as we flew by. It was the end of a perfect weekend as Gene touched down and the Davis headed for its home hangar - like a plow horse heading home to its stall - the day's work done.

Gene and I both agreed we had enjoyed a fantastic gathering. The other participants felt the same way because the main item of business at the earlier meeting was to make this outing an annual affair.•

•••..•.........•..............•.......•.•....... ,

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

By George A. Hardie, Jr.

Here's another "mystery" from the 1920s period. Note the similarity to a number of other designs popular at the time. The location and date of the photo is not known, nor is the name of the contributor. This is another challenge for our dedicated .expert "aeroplane spotters". Answers will be published in the May 1985 issue of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE. Deadline for this issue is April 1, 1985.

The Mystery Plane for November 1984 was not a mystery to a number of our readers. Dick Gleason of Austin, Minnesota remembered it as fol lows:

"The November, 1984 Mystery Plane is an easy one, for me anyhow. I saw the bird in 1941, dismantled and stacked in a corner of a hangar in Van Nuys, California when I went out to the airport for my first ride. It is the American Gyro AG-4 "Crusader", designed by Thomas M. Shelton and built in Denver, Colorado in early 1935. I have a design three-view of it dated 10-5-34 and initialed by Shelton. In addition, I have several threeviews and photos of it. I would guess the published photo was taken at Denver about the time of its debut.

"Construction was all aluminum, flush riveted. Control surfaces were fabric covered and it was bronze or 10 FEBRUARY 1985

dark copper colored. Power was two C4S inverted Menascos. When I saw it, I recognized it right away and recalled that the Tootsietoy Toy Company had produced a toy miniature of it.

"One of my correspondents in the Van Nuys area has been in contact with Tom Shelton and recently sent me much additional material on the AG-4. Also a friend of mine in Hesperia, California supplied me with three good photos. Shelton lives in Burbank, California at present."

Sport Aviation for July 1964 featured an article on Tom Shelton, EAA 6647, then a member of EAA Chapter 11. A detailed history of the airplane is given, too lengthy to reproduce here. One point of interest is the fact that the airplane's top speed equaled that of the Air Corps' Boeing P-26 fighter. Failure to raise funds for a manufacturing company doomed this futuristic airplane to oblivion. It was destroyed in a hangar fire at Van Nuys Airport.

Additional correct answers were received from Charley Hayes, Park Forest, IL; Harold E. McFetrich, Salem, OH; H. Glenn Buffington, San Diego, CA; Herbert G. deBruyn, Bellevue, W A; Stan Piteau, Holland, MI; H. M. Richey, Waco, TX; Joe

Tarafas, Bethlehem, PA; Cedric Galloway, Herperia, CA; R. G. Adams, Laguna Hills, CA; Shelby B. Hagberg, Greenville, IA; Emil Strasser, Hawthorne, CA; Myles F. Aiken, St. Paul , MN; Dan Cullman, Lewiston, ID; J on A. Bra ithwaite , Moore, ID; and Douglas T. Rounds Zebulon, GA.

(Ref: Aero Digest, March, April , 1935 (AG-4); and March, 1937 (AG-7); Texaco Mission, April 1935; Scientific American, May, 1935; Sheil Aviation News, May, 1935, Popular MechaniCS, July, 1935; Sportsman Pilot, July 15, 1935; and a number of foreign aviation publications.) •

~ I ~ype ClubActivities

I

Augie Wegner reports that the combined Aeronca Clubs' Fly-In held in 1983 and 1984 at Middletown, Ohio will not be sponsored by them in '85. They are planning now, however, for another big event at Middletown in '86, plus their regular fly-in this year at Blakesburg. The four groups who sponsored the two fly-ins at Middletown had never intended for it to be an annual event. More than likely it will be scheduled every other year.

There is a possibility that a local Middletown group will sponsor an Aeronca Fly-In there this summer, and if it develops it will be listed in the Calendar of Events in THE VINT AGE AIRPLANE.

More information on the Aeronca Club can be obtained by contacting Augie and Pat Wegner, 1432 28th Court, Kenosha, WI 53140, phone 414/552-9014.

John Bergeson is pleased at the great response to the newly-formed Cub Club. Membership is approaching 1,700 members and John estimates it will reach 3,000.

Excellent information on maintenance and operating practices is appearing in the group's bi-monthly newsletter written by well-known Cub expert, Clyde Smith, Jr. Clyde is also scheduled to conduct the Cub Forum at Oshkosh '85.

Of interest is a forthcoming issue which will contain an article by Hanford Eckman, designer of the Piper Sky Cycle.

Camp/ipd by Gpnp ('hast'

John received the following letter from Mike Sellers, Marketing Manager of Univair, Aurora, Colorado:

"Univair Aircraft Corporation has reached an agreement with Piper Aircraft Corporation to purchase all remaining inventories of spare parts for the J-3 through PA-22 series aircraft. Piper will soon be announcing that they are discontinuing the manufacturing of all parts for this series of aircraft.

"In the wake of Piper's decision to phase out the support for these 'obsolete aircraft', Univair has been negotiating with Piper and its holding company, Lear Siegler, for the purchase of all remaining inventories as

. well as the tooling, engineering and Type Certificates (T.C.'s) for these older Pipers. After the better part of a year of negotiating, Lear Siegler has decided not to sell any rights or tooling to anyone, but as stated, nor do they plan any further support of the J-3 through PA-22 series.

"Univair already carries about 4,500 different Piper part numbered items for the classic Pipers. Piper Aircraft is planning to assist Univair in supplying some of the parts that have been discontinued over the years, so we may continue to maintain and increase the number of parts that are currently available from Univair. We are aware that this may be alarming news for some owners. However, for the last year or so, Piper has only carried approximately 400 different items, many of which Univair also supplies.

"Undoubtedly , there may be some parts that may no longer be available , but Univair will attempt to insure the availability of major structural and frequently requested items for many years to come."

More information on the Cub Club can be obtained by writing John B. Bergeson, P.O. Box 2002, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858, phone 517/561-2393.

This group headed by Gary Van Farowe was formed mainly to provide technical assistance to restorers and operators of Rearwin aircraft. There

are no newsletters and no dues. Activity is at a low ebb this time of year, but Gary recently learned of an 8500 series "Sportster", NC17099, SIN 541D, which was pulled out of a barn in Mississippi and is being restored.

More information on the Rearwin Club can be obtained by contacting Gary Van Farowe, 1460 Ottawa Beach Road, Holland, MI 49423, phone 616/399-4623.

.. ~,. Dick and Jeannie Hill proudly an

nounce they have acquired the 1929 Bird "BK" , NC9184, SIN 1013 from Herb Hartley of Redding, California. Due to health problems, Herb was not able to continue the restoration of this fine old biplane and he is pleased that it has found a good home.

More information on the Bird Airplane Club can be obtained by writing J eannie Hill, P. O. Box 89, Harvard, IL 60033, or phoning 815/ 943-7205.

John Bright and John Bergeson, co-chair this active organization which boasts 1,100 members. A National Luscombe Fly-In is planned for June 28-30 at Moraine Airport, southwest of Dayton, Ohio. In addition to other activities, tours through the U.S. Air Force Museum at Dayton's Wright-Patterson AFB will be conducted. For more information on this fly-in contact John Bright, 436 Stuart Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Phone 616/344-095S.

An interesting story concerning spin recovery appears in the current Luscombe Association Newsletter which could apply to aircraft other than the Luscombe SA involved:

"Date: February 24, 1983 Place: Lantana County Airport

(West Palm Beach, Florida) Subject: Luscombe SA flat spins Person Interviewed: Richard Zisa

(Continued on Page 18)

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11

Restoring A Heath-Hender~

This story has as many facets as a

well cut diamond. It relates to a boy born in 1926 and later recalling adult conversations about Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic, and the Bruno Richard Hauptmann case. All this excitement about aviation made a lasting impression on me. I recall at age 5 leather helmets with goggles were the fashion for boys, including hightop laced boots with a jack knife sheath like Lindy's.

As the Depression was upon us, money was not to be had, and my burning interest in airplanes continued. I told my mother my favorite breakfast cereal wast Post 40% Bran Flakes so I could tape a dime to the box top and send it in for a Capt. Hawks balsa model plane kit. This went on for a few years. At Christmas, however, I would get the glue and dope supply replenished and then the models flew. This developed into gas model, free flight competition.

About 1939 I met a fellow named Irv McGilvery who was a superbrain, a super gas modeler and a little older than I. Wouldn't you know, one Sunday in 1941 I stopped to visit him and he had a two-seat Pietenpol Aircamper in his garage with the wings dismantled. It had a Heath-Henderson engine on the nose. One prop blade was damaged so Irv cleaned it up and made the other blade match for balance. This underpowered plane was not capable of flight.

This was fantastic , Irv let me occupy tl1e front cockpit as he taxied the craft without wings up and down the hayfield on Miller's farm . This experience has lingered in my mind for 40plus years.

A few years ago Mike Kimbrel designed and built a replica of the 1924 Dormoy Bathtub with a 36 hp VW engine. I thought, what a grand experience it would be to build a Dormoy Bathtub with a genuine HeathHenderson engine like the original. Having the philosophy that I can do anything I want to if I set my mind to it, I set out to build one of these flying machines and get a taste of our pioneer's experience. I sent a letter to Mike who sent me a set of his super plans.

Meanwhile , Bob Burge, an antique collector of cars, motorcycles and airplanes had a Heath Parasol and five or six Heath-Hendersons in various stages of disrepair stored at Merle Betz Airport in Blissfield, Michigan. It took about a year of negotiating. 12 FEBRUARY 1985

The following five photos show the parts and pieces which Wesley

Delong purchased and built into a Heath-Henderson engine.

.nEngine By Wesley DeLong (EAA 11155, Ale 7363) 71 aSandralee Dri ve Toledo, OH 43612

(Photos by the author)

and rummaging through this mess scattered on the floor of Merle's hangar to collect enough parts to make what I thought would be a complete Heath-Henderson. Bear in mind at this time I had no manuals - nothing but horse sense to go by. Fortunately I ended up with about 90% of the parts being restorable or of pattern value.

I started by cleaning everything, followed by measuring and charting all journal, bearing and gear information I could develop. My headaches started when I put the crank in vee blocks and checked the center main. This was okay, but the prop extension ran out .065 TIR. At Peninsular Steel I bought a piece of 6150 round stock and went to work on a lathe. Everything was fine unhl it came time to turn the 4 degree taper. The piece was short so not being able to use the compound and not having a taper attachment, I set about the task of making a taper attachment for the lathe. Then, turning the 4 degree taper was a snap. It was an enjoyable task and the crank and extension came out super true .

Next I melted the Babbitt out of the main shells, made molds and poured all new mains with U. S. Govt. Grade Babbitt. My wife wasn't too happy about my making a foundry out of the kitchen, but things cooled off, including the Babbitt.

I made a boring fixture so the bores would be concentric with the O.D. of the main shells and proceeded to bore the mains with .002 clearance to the journals as a goal. All went well. A serious thought struck me. What if the crank is bedded and scraped in and the crank binds or has too much backlash with the timing gears? At this point, all I had was scrap/junk timing gears for reference, some involute spur and some helical. However, after much measuring and counting, it was decided the timing gears were standard 16 D.P. series gears.

Since some of the junk had 5/ 16 face and some had % face gears, it was decided to go with % size for durability. I bought gear blanks and bronze bushings from a local belting and transmission outlet and went to work on the lathe and mill as the oil pump gear is slotted. My son David, being a top notch tool and die maker, handily broached the keyslots.

After oil grooving the bushings in the gears as required, and assembling the timing gears to the rear case, the "crank to timing gear backlash" had to be addressed. The rear main required moving. To accomplish this, repouring and a lot of tedious scraping was required.

Next, I assembled the cam. Since the cam main bearings were shot, I

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13

Wesley built the taper aHachment for his lathe, shown here turning the 4-degree taper on the new propeller extension.

made a new set and proceeded to assemble what looked like a decent cam. It was severely bound up. The first possibility could have been a bad cam, and secondly, maybe this 60-year-old case had warped the center main out ofline. It turned out the cam probably was in a motorcycle wreck as the gear ran out about .020 TIR. Back to work on the cam. The thread was welded oversize with stainless rod, new centers were bored and all three bearing O.D.'s were ground, chromed and reground to fit the cam bearings. The cam looked great and it measured right on.

When assembling it to the case, it still bound up! Scratch head, now what? We removed the cam, put in centers and it looked excellent. Conclusion - the case is warped! How do 14 FEBRUARY 1985

The "beehive" cooling towers were cast at a local foundry from a paHern and machined in Wesley's basement shop.

you bore a center main in line with the case end mains. I made a boring bar with a 1/4 sq. bit using the end main bearings for the cam and proceeded to chuck one end with the other end of the boring bar in the tail stock center. The compound was geared into .003 feed and the case was fed down the boring bar. The center main had to have .025 dia. increase to clean up true. This boggled my mind, however it was a fact . How did this case ever work?

After making a new center main bearing to suit, the cam assembly was routine. I honed the cylinders and reseated the valves without problems.

The valves were made from Toyota exhaust valves which were cut off and cross drilled for the keeper pins. The valve springs are from a Wisconsin engine.

One other item of interest is that the pistons were standard O.D., but had two compression rings and one oil groove. After discussing this with Jim Maichele of Hastings Piston Rings it was decided to machine the oil groove to accept an oil ring. This was done and Jim made the ring set for the engine. Hastings Piston Ring Company can be proud of Jim.

The beehive coolers over the intake and exhaust valves were cast at a

Restoring A Heath-Henderson Engine

The right side of the engine showing the mounting of the single Bosch magneto. The oil filler tube is below and aft of the mag.

The finished engine is a work of art. The engine data plate is barely visible on the upper case ahead of the carburetor. The "beehive" cooling towers are mounted over the valves with the four shorter ones over the intake valves. Note the wood beam engine mount and deep wet sump lower case.

local foundry from a pattern and were machined in my basement shop.

The magneto is a story in itself. The magneto purchased with the other Heath-Henderson parts was an unknown quantity, but in all it worked out well. The case had the mounting threaded holes stripped, with no good way to repair them. The armature was a solid gob of pitch, indicating burnout. I contacted Standard Magneto in Chicago where a repairable armature was purchased along with some miscellaneous parts. The correct magneto, as near as can be established, is a Robert Bosch FF4AR. In the process I came across

a Bosch FF4AL from a Continental A-40. It had a case that looked promising. Between a box of parts, an FF4AR and an FF4AL, I was able to make a good mag that will snap at 3/8 inch spark with the twist of a wrist.

It is difficult to understand what drives an aviation enthusiast to do some of these things. However, the restoration of this engine for the Dormoy has been an experience that I will treasure throughout my life.

Some of the parts of the story that appear to be omitted can be assumed to be of ordinary engine overhaul nature.

At the beginning there was a mess

This back view of the Heath-Henderson clearly shows the oil pump with its copper lines. The coil of wire will connect to the mag switch. The oil temperature and pressure instruments are temporarily mounted for test running.

of parts, and throughout there were precious conversations with: Gene Chase, EAA Headquarters; Otis Spiker, last living employee of the Henderson Motorcycle factory in Chicago; Lou Lichva, Ace Motorcycle expert; Dale Crites, 1911 Curtiss owner and his crew chief, W. B. Perkins; Dean Salmons, Antique Cycle Equipment; Joe at Standard; Magneto, Chicago; Merle Betts, FBO, Blissfield, Michigan; Mrs. Shirley Hogdon, Henderson Manuals; Mrs. Thurman Baird, Asheville, NC, Heath B-4 Book; W. L. Schlapman, Heath Parasol expert; W. I. McGilvery, thanks for the ride in 1942, and your friendship; and Jim Maichele, Hastings Piston Rings . This project was long and frustrating at times but it was fun and I have a Heath-Henderson restoration that I'm kind of proud of. •

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15

By Allan J. Bell

(EAA 239176)

N8429 Hwy. 107

Tomahawk, WI 54487

(Photos courtesy of the author)

Who knows when my insanity first started? Was it at about seven years of age when I began drawing aeroplanes (that's the way it was usually spelled then)? Do you remember a plane called the "Travel Air Mystery Ship"? I'll bet Johnny Green would! The name still excites me.

Maybe the madness began a couple of years later in May of 1927 when Charles Lindbergh thrilled the world with his nonstop, solo flight across the Atlantic ocean from New York to Paris. A hero must be honored. I did it by naming my new German Shepherd puppy "Lindy". I also built a solid wood model plane with only one wing, a monoplane like Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. Before , most planes built or drawn by me were biplanes or even triplanes.

The derangement continued into 1928 when Johnny Green and I dragged many coaster wagon loads of wood lath to Johnny's home. A large community building, the Macabee Hall in our hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin, was being torn down to make room for - a filling station.

The wood lath was transformed, with a saw and hammer and nails and enthusiasm, into an airplane large enough for one of us to sit in. Mounted on the wagon, and pushed or pulled, it took little imagination to put us "up in the clouds."

My friend's father kept our assembly line humming by smashing plane after plane into smithereens. I don't remember the reason, I don't think we were ever told not to build any more , and I now wonder why we didn't 16 FEBRUARY 1985

The author, Allan Bell (R), with his pal John Green in 1930.

transfer the operation to my home. Maybe it was Johnny's wagon.

His dad would have qualified for an "ace" several times over with the many aircraft he destroyed. We never lost our zest, we had plenty of wood lath and the planes got better each time.

A large farm field on the edge of town was often used by pilots for landings and take-offs. It was relatively smooth, with the fences far enough apart so that entanglements didn't happen too often. There were no runways. The planes used the wind to their full advantage, avoiding crosswinds at all costs. The narrow landing gear and the light construction made things tricky enough.

If a plane roared over town quite low, headed in the direction of the field, we ran like crazy (there I go again) trying to beat it. Those goggled, helmeted daredevils! How we envied them! Not to be outdone, we strutted around with our sheeplined imitation pilot helmets complete with attached goggles on the forehead. Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward must have sold millions.

It seemed to us that the few local pilots spent most of their time repairing their planes. Much more than they did flying. Accidents were frequent, engines unpredictable and pilots suspect. Injuries were usually slight, likely due to slow landing speeds. Most of the planes were World War I surplus (even then!) Curtiss "Jennies".

A plane manufactured locally was called an "Osaco", an acronym for

Olson Standard Airplane Company. The owner was a sawed-off Swede named Reidar Olson. He was optimistic, enthusiastic, probably brave (or foolish?) and a hero to all of us kids .

I only got inside the plant once. A couple of fifteen year olds appeared to be his only employees. They were busy nailing plywood gussets on wing ribs using tiny nails. See what I mean about being brave or the other. Motorcycle engines, inexpensive and readily available, were used for the power plants. These quit at unexpected and inopportune times.

The Depression ended this venture. In later years, Reidar was a successful fishing tackle manufacturer and developer of an improved performance oil-burning furnace.

The lunacy continued into the 1930's. Building models that flew was now the craze. The first model plane I saw fly was a "Ceci l Paoli". It was in the shape of a flat, elongated triangle, looking something like the TransAmerica building in California does now. A pusher model, with twin propellers, the horizontal stabilizer was at the apex of the triangle in front, with the wing in the rear.

The rubber band powered propellers had to be wound many turns, in opposite directions, a tiresome job. Some inventive mind fashioned a hand egg beater with hooks that did the job quickly and easily.

Several other nuts and myself formed the "Flying Aces Model Airplane Club". Many of our models were of simple design, just a strong single stick fuselage plus wings and

Young Allan Bell's version of Lindbergh's " Spirit of St. Louis".

tail. If the stick wasn't sturdy enough, a few too many turns of the rubber bands warped the fuselage .

Fancier models were constructed of very thin sheets of ultra light balsa wood for fuselages and/or wings. Others had fuselages built up of tiny,

'/ '6" square strips of balsa wood covered with colored Japanese tissue paper. Wings were assembled' in a similar manner with balsa ribs and spars. Water applied to the paper would shrink it, giving a tight, drumlike covering which we prized.

All the balsa wood was cut with a razor blade - so were our fingers. Dried model airplane glue accumulated on the fingers too, to be picked at and pulled off the following day. Just occupational hazards. We whittled props of cedar just for practice but the smell of those fresh arbor vitae shavings was cherished as well. Old discarded telephone poles furnished the raw material.

The Cracker Jack company offered free model kits in exchange for blue sailor boys cut from box fronts. We ate gobs of Cracker Jacks. Radio excited us with stories of a daring pilot, Jimmie Allen. Magazines were exchanged until they fell apart. Our bible was one called "Model Airplane News", but "Flying Aces", "G-8 and His Battle Aces," and "Aero Digest" weren't far behind.

After a model had crashed one or more times (the norm, as crashes were far more frequent than successful

Allan built this biplane some 55 years ago.

flights), they often came to a fiery end. Wound up , set afire and launched from a porch roof, they were spectacular at night. Our own version of "shot down in flames." Displays of our models in downtown store windows swelled our egos. Otz Zellmer made

Pilot, Lt. Allan J. Bell (L-standing) and his crew. Aircraft is B-24J, SIN 42-100224 of the 98th Bomb Squadron, based in the Marianas in the Pacific, 1944-1945.

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17

the top models; he had the most patience. Bill Ball was the fastest builder by far.

Remembered names of those models are Curtiss Robin, Sopwith Camel, Spad, Fokker DVII and DVm, Northrop Gamma, Aeronca C-3, Gee Bee Speedster, Stinson Reliant and Lockheed Vega.

The BIG event took place when I was 15. I was watching a local pilot, Ed Marquardt, practice landings and take offs in his Aeronca C-3. This was a small, light, safe and inexpensive aircraft that carried the pilot and one passenger in its triangular-shaped fuselage.

When Ed asked if I would like a ride , I'm sure he already knew the answer. Was I "walking on air?" No, I was finally up in it. What a feeling! I was surprised to find it kind of bumpy and noisy too. No complaints, though. I was flying! The finale of that flight , a sideslip to lose altitude quickly, took place right above King's Dam on the Wisconsin River. My heart (and my stomach) were both in the vicinity of my mouth. The bottom drops out, something like the old , illadjusted elevators sometimes did . It remains one of the top thrills in my lifetime.

The Depression curtailed any dreams of flying lessons or flying school. A war came along. Pilots were needed. John Green reappeared after a 15-year absence to reveal the opportunities of the Aviation Cadet program. Uncle Sam would pay you to learn to fly. You wouldn't have to worry about the trenches or foxholes .

After a year of frenzied study, hard work and much flying, the proud moment arrived. My wife pinned those sought-for wings to my puffed up chest. I had won my wings! The dream was fulfilled.

Many moons have passed. We've even been there. We've walked on it and brought some back. And we'll go farther!

I still look up every time I hear an airplane.

I'm still crazy - about airplanes .•

TYPE CLUB ACTIVITIES . .. (Continued from page 11)

Aircraft: Luscombe 8A N1170K '46 metal wing, no radio or electrical system

Location: Waterbury, CN and Plymouth, MA

Date: Summer of 1978 Conditions: Full fuel (14 gal.), 2

people on board (160 and 180 lbs.) Both men had previously spun aircraft on many occasions and had spun this aircraft doing 3 turn spins numerous times.

Objective: To climb to 5,000 AGL and execute a 6 turn spin.

Here is the story as told to John Bright by Dick Zisa , operator of Glider Flights in West Palm Beach. Dick stated that he and the other man had climbed to 5,000 ft. AGL and entered a spin as planned (he did not remember which direction) . Upon entry, everything s(!emed normal compared to previot.

First flolwttiri'

to exceed Mach 1.

is shown here minus outer whwr'llJlnll

Fun site. It is being resto_..;.._~..;....;..~..;..~__......_____red by

ESCUE OP A SEA DAR

By Leonard McGinty (EAA 6036, Ale 3029)

878 Main Street Thonotosassa, FL 33592

Being a long-time EAA member and vitally interested in the preservation of antique and classic aircraft for future generations, I became interested several years ago in a rare, derelict Convair XF2Y-l Sea Dart. This aircraft was at the now defunct SST Museum near Kissimmee, Florida in deplorable condition, with weeds growing through and around its various component parts.

I began tracing the ownership of this machine and first went to Gene Chase at EAA Headquarters with the name of a museum on the west coast that was supposed to own this aircraft. Gene provided me with the phone number of the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington and I immediately called and talked with their Executive Director, Mr. Howard K. Lovering. Mr. Lovering and I negotiated plans for the storage of this aircraft at the Sun 'n Fun site at Lakeland, Florida. The Board of Directors at Sun 'n Fun and Mr. Lovering's Museum board agreed upon the terms and conditions of the Sea Dart's removal and restoration.

During the period of telephone conversations and letter writing, the aircraft mysteriously disappeared. I informed Mr. Lovering and then contacted various sheriffs departments throughout the State of Florida, tracing the movement of this airplane in the general direction of Tennessee. The truck and its cargo had bypassed all Florida Highway Patrol scales and disappeared across the border into Georgia. The Georgia Highway Patrol, Florida Highway Patrol and

various sheriffs departments were unable to locate the missing aircraft.

I then called a good friend and EAA member John Baugh in Nashville, Tennessee, telling him the aircraft was heading in his general direction, and asking ifhe could offer any assistance. Johnny responded, "Leonard, before the night is out, it will be on TV, radio and in the newspaper. We're gonna find that warbird for ya." His southern drawl meant what he said.

Several days later I got a call from John. One of his duck hunting buddies in the back woods of Tennessee had found a derelict sitting on a trailer and he told John, "You've got to see this aircraft. It's the strangest looking think I've ever seen." John followed his friend to the plane, examined it and then called me. "What are the numbers on that airplane you had?" I gave them to him and he said, "That's the ugliest looking think I ever saw, but I found it!" The Sea Dart was at an aircraft salvage yard in the hills ofTennessee. I immediately called the sheriff in that county and told him that I was responsible for the plane. After much letter writing and documents to prove it was "mine", the sheriff said, "Okay, come and get it."

But, getting the plane wasn't easy. It took some talking by the sheriff and an attorney to convince the present "holder" of the aircraft that it wasn't his. About the time this was successful, the fellow filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and the Federal Judge in Tennessee said, "Mr. McGinty, it's your plane; however, it is on a trailer that is under federal jurisdiction so you cannot move it." After much negotiating, the judge agreed that if we sent a crane and a

low boy, he would release the airplane to us.

Further negotiations resulted in the judge agreeing to allow us to move the Sea Dart back to Florida on the same trailer that it was on, but we would have to pay the expenses. That sounded easiest to us, so I immediately wired the money. And then the truck jack-knifed coming out of the farm at which the plane was stored. That delayed us some more, but we did eventually get the plane to its present location in Lakeland where it is being restored to static display by EAA volunteers.

The Sea Dart is one of five aircraft of this type built by Convair. Most of the others have been destroyed. It is an engineering marvel that we feel should be preserved so future generations can see the concept. Many dedicated EAAers have been involved with this project from the start, but some deserve special recognition. Bill Williams, Ken Chalker, Rocky and Flo Sawyer left their jobs and homes to come out in a rain storm to help off load this machine. And John Baugh went through a lot of trial and tribulation to help via long distance. It just proves that EAAers have the tenacity of a bull dog. If you want the job done, don't hire it out, get EAAers to volunteer - they'll accomplish it! •

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Only two more Sea Dart volunteer work parties are scheduled prior to Sun 'n Fun '85. The dates are February 16 and March 2 at the Sun 'n Fun site on the Lakeland, Florida Airport. All help will be greatly appreciated.

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19

Letters To Editor

Dear Gene,

Many thanks for your letter and enclosures!

The Corben brochure will be especially helpful to the project, and answers most of the questions we had.

Surprising how many of our sources drew a blank on photo prints of the Super Ace - even the Smithsonian had nothing!

And we were gratified to see that you too had concluded that the final installment of the construction article (in Popular Aviation) was never published. One wonders why .. .

W'as intrigued to learn of your interest in model building . . . we frequently encounter people who are either former builders or who somehow manage to stay active in both camps. As you say, people such as Fernando Ramos and Tom Laurie are truly amazing for their abilities in both full-size and model aviation. In my own case, I find it difficult to keep the pace with even the tiny jobs, seemingly spending most of my "spare?" time just writing about them, leaving little time for actually building and flying. Ah well, at least there is no possible danger of boredom, right?

Cordially, Bill Hannan for the Williams Brothers 181 Pawnee Street San Marcos, California 92069

Gentlemen: The article by Dennis Parks in the

October 1984 issue of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE caught my eye. I've been a fan of the Bill Barnes series since way back. Would it be possible to get some 3-view plans for the old "Lancer" and "Snorter" aircraft from the series? I would greatly appreciate any help in obtaining them and gladly pay costs involved.

Sincerely, Ed Morton (EAA 148076, A/C 5221) 13338-1 SW 114th Lane Miami, FL 33186

EAA member Dick Gleason, Route 2, Box 125, Austin, Minnesota 55912 has an extensive collection of plans and may be able to comply with your request.

Dear Gene, I enjoyed reading about the Osh

kosh '84 Grand Champion Classic, the Cessna 140, N4135N. My first student purchased this airplane in 1951 when it had 190 hours total time, for the then fantastic sum of $2,000 when clean 140s were going to $1 ,200 to $1,500.

The former owner said, "I didn't want to sell it - I didn't think anyone would pay that price!"

In the long run I think it was a bargain anyway, as it was the cleanest and best flying 140 that I ever flew.

At Oshkosh I showed the present owners, Rick and Kathie Paige, my autographs in the plane's log books as I did a few inspections and maintenance on N4135N from 1951 to 1956.

Keep up the good work. Cheers, Shelby B. Hagberg (EAA 2473, AlC 211) Rt. 1, Box 42 Greenville, IA 51343

Dear Sir, I recently acquired an R.A.F. rig

ging Manual that had belonged to R.A.F. Sgt-Major D. K. Morrison, dated 1916-17-18-19.

You will find enclosed the list of 26 airplanes covered in the manual with my notes as to the completeness of the material on each, including photos, drawings, dimension tables and text.

I feel that some of the replica builders could use this information to good advantage. The copies of the individual pages for each plane will be copied in the 8V2 x 11 size rather than the 41/2 x 7 pages ofthe original book.

The enclosed listing includes the price of copies for each plane as they vary as to amount of information available. I will be glad to answer questions about any of them.

Ernest E. Miner

(EAA 85465)

321 So. Middle St.

Cape Girardeau. MO 63701

Mr. Miner included with his letter, a copy of the S.E. 5A rigging instructions. This information would be vital to anyone building a replica of the aircraft. Among the 26 planes listed are the Bristol Fighter, Nieuport Scout, Sopwith Trip1ane, Spad S VII, etc. Scale modelers and WW I buffs would also be interested in this material for their collections. Contact Mr. Miner for more information.

Dear Dennis, I want to thank you for the book

review. You emphasized the parts of the story that I feel will be interesting to most airplane people. The years from 1910 to World War I is a period that most of us don't know too much about. We know about the Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss and then we jump up to World War I.

One slight correction - there was a typographical error that rearranged my first name. The letters were all there, but with a different arrangement.

Again, thanks for the write-up. Yours, Foster A. Lane (EAA 137998, A/C 4796) Lane Aviation Corporation Columbus International

Airport Columbus, OH 43219

We apologize for the inadvertent misspelling of Foster Lane's first name in the review ofhis book in the December 1984 issue of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE.

Dear Sir, I really enjoy THE VINTAGE

AIRPLANE very much. I read each issue from cover to cover.

Congratulations on an intert;sting magazine. All those stories of old aircraft and their history are quite interesting.

Keep up the good work. Yours truly, J . F. Leatherman (EAA 17630, A/C 7961) 1408 Elizabeth Scott City, KS 67871

Dear Sirs, I joined EAA in 1975 (member

number 88645) but allowed my membership to lapse. I have recently purchased an Aeronca 7 AC and am interested in learning about the aircraft through your organization.

Please send information on joining the Antique/Classic Division and what you might have in the way of literature on the 7AC Champ.

Thank you, Sincerely, Robert P. Gralton 6060 S. 92nd Street Hales Corners, WI 53130 •

Information concerning membership, Chapters and Aeroncas was sent to Mr. Gralton.

20 FEBRUARY 1985

MEMBERS' PROJECTS

This section of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE is dedicated to members and their aircraft projects. We welcome photos

along with descriptions, and the projects can be either completed or underway. Send material to the editor at the address shown on page 3 of this issue.

Dear Gene, Enclosed are two photos of a Piper

L-4K, NI0492, SIN 45-4913, modified and completely renovated by Antiquel Classic Division members Mike Blatnick and myself pIus members ofEAA Chapter 727, Tyler, Texas. This bird was manufactured in 1945 and served for years in the C.A.P. after released as surplus by Uncle Sam.

Along the way it was given a Cub yellow color scheme, retaining the military greenhouse. The current owner wanted to get rid of the many plexiglass panels , so we designed a specialized recovering job for the fuselage. The top and side windows are my design in keeping with the owner's wishes.

Essentially the bird is strictly G.!', but without the greenhouse and olive drab color. The covering is Stits process. The engine is a Continental C-85 without starter and generator. With its metal prop it climbs out very well.

William C. Ware, Jr. (EAA 3328, AlC 6949 ) Apt. E 202 1030 Old Omen Rd. N2802A was manufactured in JanTyler, TX 75701 uary, 1953 and delivered to Continen

tal Engine on February 6, 1953. They flew it for a year (500 hrs) apparentlyDear Sir, using it as a test bed for various comWe own and fly a 1946 Fairchild binations of exhaust/induction sysF-24R and a 1950 Cessna 140A. My tems. The last entry in the log book pilot ratings are: Commercial, single before they sold it is: "Upgraded to& multi-engine, instrument, CFI-I 1954 standards."#1358243, with 17,200 hours.

When I purchased it in July, 1983Sincerely, the plane had approximately 3400Don A. Mather hrs., but had a new prop and only 7 (EAA 206557 , AlC 8995 ) hours on a zero time overhauled 0402 Love Street 470J. I installed a new windshield, a Sandusky, OH 44870 new Airtex interior, a II Morrow

Dear Gene, Apollo Loran C and had it certified Here is the picture I promised you IFR. I have flown it carefree ever

of my newlold Cessna 180. N2802A, since. SIN 30002, was the first production Sincerely, Cessna 180. N2801A the prototype, Cal Bass appears in the March 1, 1953 issue of (EAA 48743, AlC 6823 ) FLYING in the first ad for the Cessna 6111 S. Joplin Avenue 180. It was never sold. Tulsa , OK 74136 •

Don's Cessna 140A, N5644C, which he and Todd Mather restored in 1979.

The Fairchild F-24R-46, N81207, which Don, Todd and Scott Mather rebuilt in 1981 .

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21

Oshkosh '84

--Ale Judges-

Classic Aircraft judges for Oshkosh '84 were: (front row, L-R) George York (chief judge), Dale Wolford, Tim Bowers; (back row, L-R) Bill Pancake, Charles C. Johanson, Terry L. Ladage, Judy Girard, Jim ROllison, Jean LeMay, Marvin V. Hoppenworth, Robert C. Hilbert, John W. Womack, Pau l L. Stephenson, Norma Baldwin, George LeMay, Jim Mankins.

Antique Aircraft Judges for Oshkosh '84 were: (front row, L-R) Bob Wilson, Arnold Nieman, Gene Morris, Robert Kitslaar; (back row, L-R) Fred Pritchard, Dale Gustafson (chief judge), C. W. "Pete" Covington, Dick Martin, Dr. Don Coleman. Missing from the photo was Charlie Bell.

22 FEBRUARY 1985

MEMBERSHIP

INFORMATION

EAA Membership in the Experimenta l Aircraft Association, Inc. is $25.00 for one year, $48.00 for 2 years and $69.00 for 3 years. All include 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year. Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $15.00 annually. Family Membership is available for an addit i onal $10.00 annually.

ANTIQUE/CLASSIC EAA Member - $18.00. Includes one year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division, 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and ' membership card. Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number.

Non·EAA Member - $28.00. Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Divison, 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane, one year membership in the EAA and separate membersh ip cards. Sport Aviation not included.

lAC

Membership in the Internationa l

Aerobatic Club, Inc. is $20.00 an

nually which includes 12 issues of

Sport Aerobatics. All lAC members

are required to be members of EAA.

WARBIRDS Membership in the Warbirds of America, Inc. is $25.00 per year, which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter. Warbird members are required to be members of EAA.

ULTRALIGHT Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn. is $25.00 per year which includes. the Light Plane World publication ($15.00 additional for Sport Aviation magazine). For current EAA members only, $15.00, which includes Light Plane World publication.

FOREIGN

MEMBERSHIPS

Please submit your remittance with a check or draft drawn on a United ' States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn.

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

WITTMAN AIRFIELD OSHKOSH, WI 54903-2591

PHONE (414) 426-4800 OFFICE HOURS:

8:30-5:00 MON.-FRI.

Where The Sellers and Buyers Meet...

~ustom velour interior, new panel, krinkle finish , Richard Kasper, 392 North Country Road, Smith

25~ per word, 20 word minimum. Send your ad to cream face instruments, clipper rear windows, 6:00 town, NY 11787, 516/360-0109. The Vintage Trader, Wittman Airfield x 6 wheels, fairings, McCauley polished prop, Cont.

Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591. A65 130 hrs. SCMOH, Ceconite 102. Randolph WANTED: Complete 120 hp Ken-Royce engine Butyrate hand rubbed, Day10na white , Castillian or parts to make EAA Air Museum's Rearwin red trim. Must be seen, one of top three in exist Cloudster airworthy. Contact Ralph Bufano, EAA ence. Annual date of sale. Norm Gagne, 802/868- Aviation Foundation, Wittman Field, Oshkosh, WIAIRCRAFT: 4888. 54903-3065, 414/426-4800.

ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unlimited aerobatics. 23 sheets of clear. easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings, photos and exploded views. Complete parts and materials list. Full size wing drawings. Plans plus 139 page Builder"s Manual - $60.00. Info Pack - $5.00. Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing $15.00. The Technique of Aircraft Building $10.00. Send check or money order to: ACRO SPORT, INC., Box 462, Hales Corners, WI 53130. 414/529-2609.

POSER PIXIE - VW powered parasol- unlimited in low-cost pleasure flying. Big, roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot. VW power insures hard to beat 3'12 gph at cruise setting. 15 large instruction sheets. Plans - $47.00. Info Pack - $5.00. Send check or money order to: ACRO SPORT, INC., Box 462, Hales Corners, WI 53130. 414/529-2609.

ACRO " - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane. 20 pages of easy to follow, detailed plans. Complete with isometric drawings, photos, exploded views. Plans - $85.00. Info Pac $5.00. Send check or money order to : ACRO SPORT, INC., P.O. Box 462 , Hales Corners, WI 53130.414/529-2609.

PIPER VAGABOND - 1948 PA-17, Completely restored '81 to '82 show room condition. Aircraft was restored mint by the King of Vagabond East . Jim Jenkins of Monroe, Connecticut. Dual control.

For Sale: D-18S Twin Beechcraft. n 5,000 hrs., Collins radio. Original interior. Originally owned by Pennsylvania Railroad. Was in storage 12 years. Left engine 800 hours, right engine 1100 hours. Asking $30,000. Fresh annual. Call Ed Young, 8041 642-3723.

WANTED TO BUY: WANTED: Original Spinner for 11 AC Aeronca Chief. Also, instrument trim piece (original 5 hole aluminum). Write Ray Johnson, 347 S. 500 E. Marion, Indiana 46953.

NEED Engine mount and cowl for Fairchild-24 with Ranger engine. Bill Seltzer, 7041786-8492.

WANTED: C-140A with C-90. Good condition. Contact Phil Ellison, 16W070 West 83rd Street, Burr Ridge, IL 60521, 312/323-8750.

WANTED: 1941 Aeronca Chief CA 65 airframe repair parts or fuselage. Front fuselage firewall to behind gear attach points. Motor mount - fuel tank. 84" L T and RT ailerons, tail brace wires, windshield. Phone Don 515/955-3679.

WANTED: Szekely engines or parts - any types or condition. Kinner K-5 or B-5 parts or engines .

VINTAGE TRADER AD fORM Send check or money order with copy to Vintage Trader ~AA, Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591.

Total Words _ ___ Number of Issues to Run ____

Total $,____ Signature __________ _

MISCELLANEOUS: BACK ISSUES . .. Back issues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE (and other EAA Division publications) are available at $1.25 per issue. Send your list of issues desired along with payment to: Back Issues, EAA-Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591.

For Sale: Set of covered in silver Piper J-3 ailerons. Make offer. Acro Sport, P.O. Box 462, Hales Corners, WI 53130.

For Sale Techniques of Aircraft Building manual, $9.50 ppd. Send to Acro Sport, P. O. Box 462, Hales Corners, WI 53130.

AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES: FOR IMMEDIATE SALE

1940 T-Craft BC-12 - Original round control wheels and center round instrument panel. Ceconite on wings, 412 SMOH. Ferryable, $4700.00.

1948 PA-15 Vagabond - Hand-rubbed finish. Wheel fairings. Mint condition - $6995.00.

Foster Taperwing - Baby Ace look-alike. 65 Lyc. $2,495.00.

Lyc. 0-290G Complete - Original, $800.00.

(2) Lyc. 0-480-IA - off twin Bonanza. Military records. One - 1383 SMOH, other, 455 SMOH. $4,800 for the pair or $2,500 each.

All above items located at Burlington, Wisconsin Municipal Airport. Contact Mr. Wagner at 414/7637692.

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23

http:2,495.00

&~~@'>~~~~~~~~ FORD TRI· MOTOR ~ ~'~-

~ WA~T~() Limited ~diti()n ~ ~ COLLECTORS 01 AVIATION

~ MEMORABILIA

i ~

i ~

~

~ This collectors package includes a rare 1927

brochure reprint of Ford suggestions for Tri-Motor use, circa 1927. ~ This entire offer, Including a personalized certificate and a book on Ford history by EAA, is avail~ able for $100.00 postpaid to your address or as a gift, mailed directly to requested address. Send

~ your tax deductible contribution to the Ford Tril

Motor Umijed Edition Fund, Wittman Airfield,Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065. Checks should be made payable to EAA Aviation Foundation.

~.~~~

ASP

24 FEBRUARY 1985

EAA·s Ford Tri-Molor will be flying soon I The wings are installed, engines installed and new exterior finish sparkles. Interior appointments, gold trim and new seats are in place, the same as it left the lactory in 1929. During the restoration some of the corrugated aluminum was replaced and these remaining "original" pieces have been mounted onto a limited quantity of commemorative "numbered" plaques.

The first flight is being planned now and all of us will be seeing this historic aircraft flying again!

Shown here is the actual 1929 Ford NC8407 wall plaque with cornugated aluminum artifact, etched photoplate and Ford nameplate.

The fabulous times of Turner, Doolittle, Wedell and Wittman recreated as never before in this 600-page two-volume series. Printed on high grade paper with sharp, clear photo reproduction. Offical race results 1927 through 1939 - more than 1,000 photos-3-view drawings-scores of articles about people and planes that recapture the glory, the drama, the excitement of air racing during the golden years.

Volume 1 and 2 @ $14.95 each - add $1.50 for postage and handling. Special both volumes $28.50 postage free. Send check or money order to: EAA Aviation Foundation, Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065.

More Flying For the Dollar

...with EAA's Auto Fuel STC's

Aircraft approved with al\

1\80 octane TCM engines (not fuel inj.) and Lycoming 0-320-A, C, and E

engines. STC's are sold and approved only for engine/airframe combinations listed.

STC's AVAILABLE FOR:

STITS POLY-FIBER

• IS THE WORLD'S ONLY COMPLETE FABRIC COVERING

SYSTEM APPROVED BY FAA UNDER AN STC AND MANUFACTURED UNDER AN FAA-PMA.

• WILL NOT SUPPORT COMBUSTION.

• WITH POLY-FIBER FINISHES, WILL NEVER RINGWORM, CHECK OR PEEL.

• IS THE LIGHTEST COVERING METHOD APPROVED UNDER AN FAA-STC.

• IS THE MOST ECONOMICAL, CONSIDERING THE YEARS OF TROUBLE FREE SERVICE.

• SAMPLE OF OUR NEW HIGH STRENGTH, LIGHT WEIGHT, SMOOTH FABRIC STYLES, WOVEN FROM SECOND GENERATION POLYESTER FILAMENT.

• NEW 68 PAGE MANUAL #1, REVISION 13, WITH DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR FABRIC COVERING, REFINISHING FABRIC SURFACES, AND PAINTING AIRCRAFT FOR CORROSION CONTROL.

• LATEST CATALOG AND DISTRIBUTOR LIST.

Classic owners! Interior looking shabby?

CJ

Finish it right with an airtex interior

Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installa tion.

Custom Quality at economical prices.

• Cushion upholstery sets • Wall pane l sets • Headliners • Carpet sets • Baggage compartment sets • Firewall covers • Seat S lings • Recover envelopes and dopes

Free Catalog of complete product line. Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials: $3.00.

airtex prod~cts , i n~ 259 Lower Morrisville Rd., Dept. VA Fallsington, PA 19054 (215) 295-4115

I VISA I I I•

AERONCA,FULLY APPROVED BY FAA Including Bellanca.

Switch to readily available, less costly auto Champion. Trylek. Wagne,B&B AViation. Incgas and cut down your flying costs. STC's 5O·TC

for auto gas now available from the EAA 65·TC [L· 3J)65·TAC [L·3E)Aviation Foundation at 50¢ per engine YD·58

horsepower. Example - 85 hp Cessna 140 D-58B 5O-58B- (.50x85) = $42 .50. (Non EAA members D-58·A [L-3A)

add $15.00 to totaL) Send check with air 7AC craft N no .. aircraft and engine model and 7BCM IL.16AI 7CCM L·16Bserial no.'s, EAA member number. Com 7DC

7ECplete low cost insurance protection includ 7FCing autogas coverage available through EAA 7JC

7ECAapproved program. S7AC SlDC S7CCM S7EC IIAC 8. 8A. C. D. E. F. T·8F J4A-S

EAA-WORKING FOR YOU!EA~

IIBC IICC SIIAC SIIBC SIICC KCA 5O-C 65-C 65-CA S-5O-C S-65·C S-65·CA ARCTIC AIRCRAFT CO.• INC. ~ BEECHCRAFT, Including Booatlza

A35E:ig. F_~?,5GSg53fR35 CESSNA 12D. 14D.14DA

150, 15OA-H. 15OJ-M. AI5OK-M

170, 17DA. B 172. 172M . 172F (T- 4IA).

172G H. 172). K L M m:1~8Ai ~6N\1fB 182. 182A-P

il8~~(~~~ (TO-ID. 0-10. 3Ogc! rd- ,E). 3050 [0-1 G).

305F

ERCOUPE, IncllKfing AireD, Forney,

4 1 ~/g~ 4~go8~t G. 415-CD F-I . F- IA A-2. A·2A M- I O

LUSCOMBE

PIPER J-3C-40 J3C-65S J4E (L-4E) J5A-BD L-4J [NE-2) PA-IB PA-2B-15O J-3C·50 J4 J5A [L-4F) L-4A PA-I 1 PA- 19 PA-2B·151 J3C-50S J4A J-2 L-4B [NE· I ) PA-IIS E-2 J3C-65 [L·4)

J-3 L-4H PA-17 PA-2B-140

TAYLORCRAFT BC BC12D-85 BCS 12·65 19 BCI2-DI BC·65 BCI2D-4-B5 BCS-12D FI 9 BCS I2·DI BC 12-65 (L-2H) BCS BCSI2-D-B5 DC-65 (L-2. L-2C)BC12-0 BCS-65 BCS I 2D-4-B5 DCD-65 (L-2A. B. M!

Join EAA be a part of the dedicated group that works constantly to make flying safer, more enjoyable, more affordable for everyone in aviat ion.

Write Attn : STC Annual membership $25.00 inc ludes monthly magazine, SPORT AVIATI ON and many other benefits. Join today, get the member rate on your STC. Wittman Airfield Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25

EAA OFFICIAL

VIDEO

VHS & BETA

rThe official EAA Foundation video collection otters these great tapes tor your viewing pleasure: EAA '84 55 minutes of Fly-In excitement from pre-Convention preparaton to the arrival of Voyager. Includes great Warbirds show scenes. $52.00 EAA OSHKOSH '83 A 26 minute film covering the complete '83 Convention and the dedication of the EAA Aviation Center. $39.00 EAA OSHKOSH '77 The '77 Convention plus excellent excerpts of the Spirit of St. Louis Commemorative Tour. $39.00 AERONAUTICAL ODDITIES 17 minutes of fun featuring the oddities and comedies of the early flight as seen in newsreels of the day. A great addition to your personal library. $29.95 WE SAW IT HAPPEN

·60 minutes covering the history of flight as seen in rare early footage and interviews with many aviation pioneers. $59.00 WINGS ON DREAMS (1981) This famous John Denver film is an in-depth look at EAA Oshkosh '81 and features ground breaking ceremonies for the Aviation Center. $29.00 BASIC AIRCRAFT WELDING Learn the intricacies of welding with practical demonstrations on the subject. An excellent film for the builder. $39.95 IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS New Release EAA member actorlpilot Cliff Robertson is narrator host of a film that features Founder Paul Poberezny and tells of EAA's early days, philosophy and accomplishments. $29.00 (16 minutes) BASIC AIRCRAFT WOODWORKING New

Release Woodworking knowledge is essential to any homebuilder project. This tape covers the basics of wood construction techniques. $39.95

Add $2.50 for postage and handling WIsconsin residents add 5% sales tax

Guaranteed Immediate Delivery

Watch for New Releases

26 FEBRUARY 1985

THE JOURNA L OF THE EARLY AEROPLANE

SAMPLE ISSUE $4 ) ( 15 CRESCENT RD. POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. 12601

CALENDAR OF EV'ENTS

We would like to list your aviation event in our calendar. Please send information to the Editor, The VINTAGE AIRPLANE, Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591. Information must be received at least two months in advance of the issue in which it will appear. MARCH 1-3 - CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA - Arizona Antique Aircraft Association's annual Cactus

Fly-In. For more information contact F. O. Kling, Fly-In Chairman, 6021567-4588 or Tom O'Connel , President 6021567-3271 .

MARCH 17-23 - LAKELAND, FLORIDA - 11th Annual EAA Sun 'n Fun Spring Celebration of Flight. Contact Sun 'n Fun office at 813/644-2431 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or write to P. O. Box 6750, Lakeland, FL 33807.

APRIL 13-14 - WASHINGTON, DC - 5th Annual Tour of National Air and Space Museum and Paul E. Garber Facility by EAA Chapter 4, Inc. Dinner with speaker of note. Limited to 200. Contact Margarent Scesa, 9611-51st Place, College Park, Maryland 20704, 301 /345-3164.

APRIL 26-28 - KILL DEVIL HILL, NC - 3rd Annual Wilber Wright Fly-In. Three-day festival honoring Wilbur Wright's birthday April 16, 1867. Sponsored by First Flight Society, National Park Service and EAA Chapter 339. Contact Bob Woody, National Park Service, 919/473-2111 or Katherine Martin, 919/441-4124.

JULY 26 - AUGUST 2 - OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN - 33rd Annual EAA Fly-In and Convention. Make your plans now to attend the World's Greatest Aviation Event. Contact EAA, Wittman Airfield, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2591 .

It's Exciting! It's for Everyone!

See this priceless coillection of rare, historically

830 to 5DO p.m.significant aircraft, all imaginatively displayed in the HOURS Monday thru Saturdayworld's largest. most modern sport aviation 11:00 a.m. to 5 :00 p.m.

Sundaysmuseum. Enjoy the many educational displays and Closed Easter. Thanksgiving. Christmasaudio-visual presentations. Stop by-here's and New Years Day (Guided group tour

something the entire family will enjoy, Just arrangements must be made t'MJ weeks

in advance).minutes away!

CONVENIENT

IDCATION

The EAA Aviation Center is located onEA~ Wittman Field. Oshkosh, Wis. - just off Highway 41. Going North Exit Hwy. 26 or ~ FOUNDATION 44. GOing South Exit Hwy 44 and follow

"....~N Wittman Airfield signs. For fiy- ins- fi"ee bus fi"om Basler Flight Service.

414-426-4800 Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065

FT

CUSTOM AMATEUR-UU I LT AIRC AlBCIUlFTS"::RVICE AND M."UNTKl'

MANUAL BUILDING

TIPS EXPERIMENTAL TIPS

A I RCRA("'T TIPSASSOCIATION

TIPS TIPS TIPS TIPS TIPS TIPS

BUY 3

EAA-

Problem Solvers!

The EAA Aviation Foundation has established an excellent library of manuals, technical publications, design aids and log books_ We call them "the problem solvers:' If you are a builder, restorer or enthusiast who is looking for answers .. _you'll find them here. To make a good deal even better ... buy any three publications and get SPORT AIRCRAFT YOU CAN BUILD OR BUY (a $6.50 value) absolutely free.

- GET 1 FREE...

Basic Hand Tools, Vol. I .. .. .. .. ... . $ 3.65 Custom Aircraft Building Tips, Vol. 4 ... 3.50 Powerplant Handbook - CAM 107 .... 4.50 Aircraft Maintenance Manual

CAM 18 .. . .. .. .. . .... . ... ........ 4.50 The Sport Plane Builder ... . .. .... . .. 17.95 Wood Aircraft Building Techniques .. .. 7.95 Firewall Forward - Tony Bingelis . .. . 19.95 Aircraft Dope and Fabric . ....... .... . 8.95 Refinishing Metal Aircraft ........ .. .. 4.95 Light Plane Prop Design, Selection,

Maintenance .. . ... . .. .. . . . ..... ... 4.95 How to Install and Finish Synthetic

Aircraft Fabric .. . ... .. . .... . ... . .. 4.95 Aircraft Weight and Balance ..... . ... . 5.95 Sheet Metal Construction and Repair . . 5.95 Electronic and Radio Installation . ... . . 5.95 Aircraft Bonded Structure ....... . .. .. 3.95 Aircraft Reciprocating Engine . . . .. . ... 5.95 Aircraft Painting and Finishing .... .. . . 5.95 Aircraft Fabric Covering ..... . .. . . .. .. 4.95 Welding Guidelines . . .... . ... ........ 8.95 Ignition and Electric Power Systems . .. 5.95 The Custom Built Sport Aircraft

Handbook . . .. ... . .. . ... .. .. .. ... . 3.25 EAA Aircraft Show Judging Stand;J.rds . 1.00 Aircraft Hardware Standards Manual &

Eng. Reference .. ..... . ....... .. .. 12.95 Hangar Plans . .. . . ....... ....... . ... 5.00 Comprehensive Guide to

Airfoil Section . ... . .. .. .. ......... 19.95 Aircraft Detail and Design Manual .... 15.95 Theory of Wing Sections ............. 9.00 Amateur-Built Aircraft Service &

Maintenance Manual. . ... . . . .. . .. .. 3.50

Ultralight Pilots .Log . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . 1 .75 Ultralight Engine & Aircraft Log ... . . .. 1 .75 Pilot Reports & Flight Testing ... . . ... 3.65 This is EAA . . ... . . ... . . . . .... . . 5.95 The World of Sport Aviation . . . . . . . .. 14.95 Aircraft of the EAA Museum . . . .. .... 2.00 EAA International Cookbook ...... . ... 7.95 EAA Aircraft Placard & Passenger Warning

Set (Stainless Steel) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4.00 EAA Calendar .................... 5.25 SPORT AVIATION First Magazine 2.00

Each additional Issue . . . . . . . . . 1.50 VINTAGE AIRPLANE, ULTRALIGHT

and WARBIRD Back Issues . . .. 1.25 Techniques of Aircraft Building 6.95 EAA Amateur Log Book . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.75 EAA Pilot Log Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.75 EAA Propeller Log Book . . . . . . . . 1.75 EAA Engine Log Book . . . . . . . . . . . .. $1 .75

U. S. Postage for Foreign surface mail is $1.00 for the first book and 50¢ for each addi tional book. Foreign Air Mail is possible if you write for details and list the books you want. Wisconsin residents - add 5% sales tax. Allow 4 - 6 weeks for delivery. Whi le the supply lasts ... prices subject to change after May 31, 1985. Send your order for the EAA Problem Solvers along with your check or money order to:

EAA Wittman Airfield Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065