VA-Vol-34-No-4-April-2006

APR I L LANE VOL 34 No4 2006

CONTENTS 1 Straight and Level

by Geoff Robison

2 VAA News

S Aeromail

6 Aging Aircraft Finding new ways to keep them airworthy by HG Frautschy amp Earl Lawrence

8 One Little Indian The Golden Eagle Chief by Gilles Auliard

18 Swingin Swift Gear The n uances of jacking swinging and inspecting Swift gear by Sparky Barnes Sargent

2S Restoration Corner by George York

30 Pass It To Buck Drilling Deeper by Buck Hilbert

32 Th e Vintage In structor CRM Part II by Doug Stewart

34 Book and Movie Reviews by HG Frautschy

36 Mystery Plane by HG Frau tschy

38 Calendar

39 Classified Ads

COVERS FRONT COVER The Golden Eagle Chief is one of the rare airplanes that has managed to hang on through storage and confiscation Read all about Bill Rasmussens restoration done with a bevy of friends starting on page 8 Gilles Auliard did the story and the terrific photos BACK COVER Schneider Cup 1925--Curtiss R3C is the title of this acrylic painting by artist John Sarsfield of Longmont Colorado The amazing race plane of 1925 was the winner of the Schneider Cup race held in Baltimore harbor on October 26 1925 with Lt James Doolittle at the controls Powered by a 665middothp Curtiss Vmiddot1400 engine the floatplane racer won with a speed of 253575 mph The original airplane is on display in the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC

STAFF EAA Publisher Tom Poberezny EAA EditormiddotinmiddotChief Scott Spangler Executive DirectorEditor HG Frautschy Administrative Assistant Jennifer Lehl Managing Editor Kathleen Witman News Editor Ric Reynolds Photography Jim Koepnick

Bonnie Bartel Advertising Coordinator Sue Anderson Classified Ad Coordinator Louise Schoenike Copy Editor Colleen Walsh Director of Advertising Katrina Bradshaw Display Advertising Representatives Northeast Allen Murray Phone 609-265-1 666 FAX 609-265- 1661 e-mail aleIlt1llIrray1r1 imsprillgcolll

Southeast Chester Baumgartner Phone 727-5 7]middot0586 FAX 727-556-01 77 e-mail (balllll J J UwlIillilsprillgculII

Central Todd Reese Phone 800-444middot9932 FAX 816-741-6458 e-mail todd(gpmiddotlIIogcolII

Mountain amp Pacific Keith Knowlton amp Associates Phone 770-516-2743 e-mail kekllowltollnimlsprillgcom

GEOFF ROBISON PRESIDENT VINTAGE AIRC RAFT ASSOC IATION

Here I go again Its time for anshyother column and again I am thinkshying I have little to offer in the ways of wisdom to our valued membership Somehow someone always gives me an idea to get me going and before I know it I have to edit for brevity

It has finally happened here in the great cold and snowy Midwest Spring has finally poked its nose at us on a couple of occasions One sure sign of spring for me is spring training for the B-I7s annual tour of these United States As I am writing this months column I am actually en route to Oshkosh for this event It was personshyally a grand moment for me to hear that EAAs beloved Aluminum Overshycast had finally returned to the skies on March Bear with me here and always remember a large portion of their stock machines fit into our age category including the mighty Boeshying bomber I speak so reverently of I can clearly recall the day now nearly 10 years ago when I was in Oshkosh for a board meeting and I was asked if I would like to take a hop on the B-17 for a systems check I must admit that I casually accepted the offer thinking Yeah this might prove interesting if not at least a little funI

Interesting became such a shallow word when as I strapped myself into this machine and those four Wright 1820s belched barked and then hummed I began to think This just might prove to be a different kind of airplane rideI To make a long story short I was hooked At the time the

VAAs initiatives FAA was still allowing people to fly the left seat of the big bird with an approshypriate amount of dollars exchanging hands so when the B-1 tour visited close to home I parted company with those bucks and took another ride that included about 10 minutes or so of stick timeI At the risk of making this sound any more like a warbirds commercial you should consider takshying this ride someday when we are in your neighborhood I have had a wonshyderful experience each year spending about four or five weeks on the tour The smiles and looks of awe of the participants always tells the story of their abundant gratitude of having had the unique opportunity of takshying a ride in such a historically signifishycant artifact of World War II If I have sparked your interest check out EAAs B-1 website wwwb17org

To date the responses we have garshynered from the various vintage ownshyers restoration folks and type clubs in regard to the proposed aging airshycraft initiatives developed by the EAA and the Vintage Aircraft Association have proven to be positive This inishytiative will continue to be one of the hottest topics within the vintage airshycraft movement for quite some time Although we have initially heard from a good number of individuals it will become even more important to hear from even more of the core membership of VAA as this initiative matures and begins to actually deshyvelop into some clearer framework Stay in touch with us on this evolving

initiative as we all know how imporshytant it is that we see rules developed that everyone can live within

By the time you read this column I am reasonably certain we will have a clearer idea as to what the FAAs inishytial response may be to the proposed modifications to the FARs that hopeshyfully will prove to be positive in imshypacting this important issue at hand Again please be sure to communicate your ideas or concerns to us so we will have the best chance possible of imshypacting this issue

Its that time of year again when we encourage everyone to give conshysideration to supporting the Vintage Aircraft Associations Friends of the Red Barn Last years program was by all means a grand success Your support was by all measures simply amazing as well as impressive I am pleased to share with you the fact that last years support was sufficient to fund the construction of a brand-new building to house the kitchen for our Tall Pines Cafe Construction will beshygin this month with our own Vintage volunteer group being assisted by the fine folks at EAA South Maintenance

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006 the worlds greatest aviation celebration is July 24-302006

VAA is about participation Be a member Be a volunteer Be there

Lets all pull in the same direction for the good of aviation

Remember we are better together

Join us and have it ft~

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLANS TO ATTE ND THE 2006 EAA AIRVENTURE EAA A IRVEN TUR E OSH KOSH 2006 TH E WORLD S GR EATEST AVIATION C ELEBRATIO N- J ULY 24-30

VAA IS ABOUT PA RTICIPATION BE A MEM BER BE A VOLuNTEER B E TH ERE

VINTAGE AIRPLANE

Its only a few short months away from the annual convention for EAA VAA members and plenty of planning and work is already underway

Here are just a few of the items that will be featured on the EAA grounds

Kids Plan Trip to Oshkosh in Aeronca They Restored

George Coon and Katelie Cobain work on new ribs during early days of the Wathen Foundation Aeronca Project

Over the past five years about 20 Young Eagles at Flabob Airport in Southshyern California have helped restore a worn and weathered Aeronca Super Chief Their goal to bring it to EAA AirVenture someday This summer that wish could become reality as the group prepares the aircraft for its first flight on May 1

The Thomas Wathen Foundation headquartered at Flabob purchased the airplane in 2000 after its owners death Organizers then found space on the airshyport where the kids could make the old bird airworthy again

The airplane was stripped of fabric and disassembled Not much of the wood was usable but it provided a handy pattern for building new wings stringers and floorboards The steel parts were sent out for professional cleaning and then refinished by the kids Adult supervisors from Flabobs EAA Chapter 1 offered guidance but the kids did the work

Some of the kids volunteered to help overhaul the engine Others in the group built new wings covered the airshyframe and installed wiring plumbing and instruments

APRIL 2006

The kids could earn flying lessons for helping with the project-five free hours after the first SO hours of work on the plane and an additional hour for each additional five hours The experishyence allowed many of them to solo and some even earned a private ticket while working on the Aeronca

If the Aeronca makes it to EAA AirshyVenture Oshkosh 2006 at least two of the kids involved in the restoration will make the journey to Oshkosh with the airplane taking turns flying along the way

EAA AirVenture Welcomes American Barnstormers Tour

The American Barnstormers Tour will showcase the dazzling aircraft and the dashing men and women represhysenting liThe Golden Age of Aviation at EAA AirVenture where the tour will conclude its nine-city schedule The group plans to display as many as 20 meticulously restored aircraft from the 1920s 30s and 40s in EAA AirVenshytures Vintage Aircraft area Theyll also be featured in showcase flights during the convention

The tour which begins in Kalamashyzoo Michigan in mid-July features the pilots and crews in period clothing as they re-create the period between the world wars when aviation captured the worlds imagination

Several informal mini-forums in the display area will offer visitors a chance to discover more about the pishylots and flying machines that made this tour possible

Learn more about the tour at www

americanbarnstormerstourcom

EAA Fights Ethanol Legislation in Washington Idaho

If you use an EAA auto fuel STC in your airplane even if you dont live in either of these states you should pay attention to this story Since fuel prices have risen so dramatically in the past couple of years proponents of domestishycally produced ethanol have been pushshying legislation for the incorporation of ethanol in all gasoline intended for consumption in motor vehicles

Just as it did successfully in Monshytana last year EAA is working to modify pending state legislation in Washingshyton and Idaho that would require ethashynol to be added to all gasoline sold in those states

Were asking our members in these states to contact their elected represhysentatives and urge them to not just sweep a large number of their constitshyuents-aviators-under the rug with this legislation said EAA Vice Presishydent of Industry and Regulatory Afshyfairs Earl Lawrence

Washingtons pending legislation would reqUire all gasoline sold to conshysumers for use in motor vehicles to contain ethanol by December 1 2008 with no exceptions Many aircraft canshynot currently operate safely with fuel blended with alcohol WaShington regshyistrations show more than 600 airplanes that have FAA-approved auto fuel supshyplemental type certificates (STC) plus numerous ultra light vehicles and amashyteur-built aircraft that operate with enshygines that require auto fuel

Pending Idaho legislation includes aviation exceptions but they would reshyquire new expenditures by airports or businesses that may not have the inclishynation or available resources

A simple workable compromise which was successfully advocated by EAA and other organizations in Monshytana last year exempts 91-octane or premium grade fuel from having to inshyclude ethanol additives

This standard boosts the use of ethshyanol in automobiles but still allows ethanol-free premium gasoline to be

2

available for aviation vintage cars and recreational vehicles at every gas stashytion in the state

IYED 2006 Make Plans to Participate

The worlds most successful youth aviation program holds its biggest day of the year on June 10 and you can take part On International Young Eashygles Day thousands of EAA volunteers in the air and on the ground bring the thrill and excitement of flight to thoushysands of kids aged 8-17

EAA Chapter leaders make sure you let EAAs Young Eagles headquarters know about your flight rally plans and then after its over drop an e-mail to youngeagleseaaorg to let them know how it went

Cessna 172 Is Golden at EAA AirVenture

See Joe Nelsens 1956 Cessna 172 the first one off the line at EAA AirVenture this year

EAA AirVenture 2006 will salute the 50th anniversary of one of the general aviation fleets mainstays the Cessna 172 Skyhawk About 42500 have been built since its introduction in 1956 making the 172 the most plentiful genshyeral aviation aircraft in history

The Cessna 172 may not be the fastest or flashiest airplane on the flight line but perhaps more than any other airplane it has allowed people to realize their dream of flight said EAA President Tom Poshyberezny The Cessna 172 brings thousands of aviation enthusiasts to Oshkosh each year to what s known as aviations family reunion and this year we invite anyone who owns or has flown this workhorse aircraft to come to Oshkosh to celebrate its golden anniversary

Already confirmed to appear is Joe

Museum Events

A sure sign of spring

is the annual opening of

EAA Pioneer Airport takshy

ing place this year the

weekend of April 29-30

Reserve a flight in EAAs

1929 Ford Tri-Motor or other vintage aircraft Kids aged 8-17 can make their EAA

Young Eagles flight and join the long list of Pioneers Young Eagles (More than 1200

Young Eagles flew at Pioneer Airport last year alone)

The airport will be operational every weekend until mid-October and daily from Memoshy

rial Day through Labor Day Visit wwwpioneerairportorgfor more information

Nelsen of Gunter Texas who owns design engineer the first Cessna 172 built EAA is also bull An evening event at the EAA AirVenshyworking with Cessna Aircraft the ture Museum Cessna Pilots Association and other Look for final details of the various Cessna owner and pilot groups to rec- 172 celebrations as they are confirmed ognize the aircraft and their owners at wwwairventureorg during the event

Other Cessna 172 activities during Coupes and Cubs Fly-In EAA AirVenture include On May 13-14 EAA holds the anshybull Cessna 172s arriving and parking toshy nual Coupes and Cubs Fly-In at Pioshy

gether in EAA AirVentures North neer Airport Join the Wisconsin wings 40 aircraft camping area of the Ercoupe Owners and Piper

bull A display of notable Cessna 172s on Cub clubs along with the National AeroSheli Square including the first Aeronca Association for two days of and most recent models classic low-and-slow aircraft flight

bull A schedule of forums on the Cessna 172 Those flying in need to register conshybull A special exhibit of the artwork of tact Syd Cohen via e-mail at sydlois

Richard Van Eyck Cessnas consulting charter net or call 715-842-7814

Interesting Websites Log on to wwwLiveATCnet and you can stream live audio feeds from air

traffic control facilities all over the United States and Canada as well as many international feeds Its fascinating listening if you enjoy the action from the tower center or even UNICOM The audio will open in your favorite audio player program such as Apple Computers iTunes or Microsofts Windows Meshydia Player

Did you know the FAA has most of its publications available online and that much of its published materials are available as downloadable PDF files

The flying season for the northern half of the United States is just about to start and part of the list of materials a pilot should review before flight (and especially before a flight review) is the Aeronautical Information Manual You can view the AIM at wwwfaagovATPubsAIM

One of the most amazing downloadable applications Ive ever seen is Google Earth The application supplied by Google for your PC is fused with an online program in Google s servers that allows the user to zoom out or zoom in to a reshymarkable level of detail In urban areas detail in the aerial photomaps is much higher than in older mapping photos that covered more rural or smaller locashytions but its still neat to zoom in on your hometown airport and review the local area The age of the photos does vary widely depending on when the last aerial survey was done so I wouldnt count on it to show every new home in a subdivision To check it out log on to httpearthgooglecom

VINTAGE AI RPLANE 3

Friends of the Red Barn Campaign Many services are provided to vintage aircraft enshy

thusiasts at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh From parking airplanes to feeding people at the Tall Pines Cafe and Red Barn more than 400 volunteers do it all Some may ask If volunteers are providing the services where is the expense

Glad you asked The scooters for the flightline crew need repair and batteries and the Red Barn needs paint new windowsills updated wiring and other sundry repairs plus we love to care for our volunteers with special recognition caps and a pizza party The list really could go on and on but no matter how many expenses we can point out the need remains constant The Friends of the Red Barn fund he lps pay for the VAA expenses at EAA AirVenture and is a crushycial part of the Vintage Aircraft Association budget

Please help the VAA and our 400-plus dedicated volunteers make this an unforgettable experience for our many EAA AirVenture guests Weve made it even more fun to give this year with more giving levels to fit each persons budget and more interesting activishyties for donors to be a part of

Your contribution now really does make a differshyence There are six levels of gifts and gift recognition Thank you for whatever you can do

Here are some of the many activities the Friends of the Red Barn fund underwrites

bull Red Barn Information Desk Supplies

bull Participant Plaques and Supplies

bull Tonis Red Carpet Express Repairs and Radios

bull Caps for VAA Volunteers

bull Pizza Party for VAA Volunteers

bull Flightline Parking Scooters and Supplies

bull Breakfast for Past Grand Champions

bull Volunteer Booth Administrative Supplies

bull Membership Booth Administrative Supplies

bull Signs Throughout the Vintage Area

e Red Barn and Other Buildings Maintenance

e And More

ThankmiddotYou Items by Level

Name Listed Vintage Web amp Sign at Red Barn

Donor Appreciation Certificate

Access to Volunteer Center

Special FORB Badge

Two Passes to VAA Volunteer Party

Special FORB Cap

Breakfast at Tall Pines Cafe

Tri-Motor Ride Certificate

Two Tickets to VAA Picnic

Close Auto Parking

Diamond $1000 X X X X X X 2 PeopleFull Wk 2 Tickets X Full Week

Platinum $750 X X X X X X 2 People Full Wk 2 Tickets X 2 Days

Gold $500 X X X X X X 1 Person Full Wk 1 Ticket

Silver $250 X X X X X X

Bronze $100 X X X X

Loyal Supporter $99 amp Under

X X

-~ VAA Friends of the Red Barn Name__________________________EAA ____ VAA ____ Address___________________________________________________________________________________

CityStateZip____________________________________ Phone__________________________________________E-Mail_____________________________________ _

Please choose your level of participation __ Diamond Level Gift - $100000 __ Silver Level Gift - $25000 __ Platinum Level Gift - $75000 __ Bronze Level Gift - $10000 __ Gold Level Gift - $50000 __ Loyal Supporter Gift - ($9900 or under) Your Support $ __

D Payment Enclosed (Make checks payable to Vintage Aircraft Assoc) D Please Charge my credit card (below) Mail your contribution to

EAA VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCCredit Card Number ________________________ Expiration Date ___ PO Box 3086Signa ture _________________________________ _ OSHKOSH WI 54903middot3086 00 you or your spouse work for a matching gift company If so this gift may qualify for ------------------ a matching donation Please ask your Human Resources department for the appropriate form

Nan1eofCompany~~~----~~~~~--~~--~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tile Villtage Aircraft Association is a non-profit edllcational organization under IRS SOlc3 rules Under Federal Law tile deductioll tram Federalincollle tax tor cliaritable contriblltions is limited to the amount b) wl1icl1 an) money (and the vallie atan) property otl1er tllan money) coltribllted exceeds tl1e vallie ottlle goods or services provided il exciJange tor tile contribution An appropriate receipt acknowledging )0111 gift will be sent to )01 tor IRS gift reportilg reasons

APRIL 2006 4

tfa I e next mornshyhOlJes of reac JOg orlandlo by nlllsfted oif the runway at

I Iightp anes ing some SO-p uS the land of the sun Chattanooga headed for in Valdosta Georgia Landshy

All went well untIl reach t1~at the cold front was now ing at Valdosta we learn~d II of north Florida with celishya warm front that covere a 00 feet with driZZle and fog

g from zero to 2 ings varym t until the next day and no improvemen

Ill answer the other quesshytion in January 2006-the wallow at the end of Nick

Rezichs last article It seems to be a Hisso-Swallow cn 1-R [10283] The registrashytion comes from the photo

d hmiddot h an some searc mg m t e registrations of Aerofiles

com to complete the parshytially blanked-out 8 and the cn from Aerofiles too-pershyhaps indicating some modificashytions by Big Nick himself The aileron interconnect is a strut here rather than the wire on the

hotos in Juptners Vol 1 (ATC SO) for the Hisso-powered

allow and other Swallows

~~~~~~~~~~~~so the headres t seems to

SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO

VAA LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PO BOX 3086 OSHKOSH WI 54903-3086

o~ ~ _ poundrSmiddot~~-~I1~~~~i$

l~IgtS

~bullbullbullbullbullbullbull~~JII continu e farther back toward the tail I have reshyally enjoyed your reprinting of Big Nicks articles I learned a great deal from them espeshycially about the Howard Airshycraft days Wonderful material

Best regards

Jack Erickson

OR YOU CAN E-MAIL THEM TO VINTAGEAIRCRAFTEAAORG

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5

- -+

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Likemiddot their owners aItld pilotsA A fI ~

general aiatiqp aircraft today are getting older and by 2020 the avshyerage single-engine airplane will be SO years old With age come new ailments the result of wear care and necessary repairs Pilots have it better than airplanes because they can take immediate advantage of the latest tests drugs and replaceshyment parts Production airplanes on the other hand by regulation must be maintained to their origshyinal condition using the parts and processes in place at their birth-even if that was a halfshycentury ago

What makes maintaining an airshyplanes health (or restoring it) even more challenging is acquiring the necessary data-the engineering drawings and specifications mainshytenance procedures and related information-from the manufacshyturer or the person or company that now owns the airplanes type certificate Over the past decade the critical need for this data has grown and it has been the subject of continual discussions between EAA and the FAA at their semianshynual issue and solution summits and at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh among industry groups and type clubs

Unfortunately for all involved there has been precious little moveshyment on the issue For many reashysons liability chief among them many of those who own the type certificate data have decided not to release it even though they havent produced the airplane-or parts for it-for decades Without the data owners of these aging aircraft can-

APRIL 2006

bullI

not have new parts made because current government regulationS eshyquire them to be derived from the aircrafts original TC data or hire an engineer to re-create the data If a third-party part FAA approved by a parts manufacturing authority and supplemental type certificate does not exist-the airplane owner is stuck on the ground

THE SOLUTION

IS SIMPLE

IF YOU CANNOT

ACQUIRE THE

INFORMATION NEEDED

TO MEET THE CURRENT

REQUIREMENTS FOR

MAINTAINING REPAIRING

AND RESTORING AGING

AIRCRAFT-CHANGE

THE REQUIREMENTS

To overcome this situation for the past several years the FAA and industry including EAA and its dishyvision the Vintage Aircraft Assoshyciation have worked together on the Aging Aircraft Ad Hoc Comshymittee to make replacement parts more available and approval for bashysic repairs easier to obtain With the publishing of Best Practices Guide for Maintaining Aging General Aviation Airplanes the committees efforts reached a point where their contrishy

bution to_safety jlHd Gontmiddot~nued air ~orthiness is small compared to the

resources Ieeded_to qchieve them To earn a type certificate manshy

ufacturers had to give the governshyment much of the data we now need In the past EAA and the FAA have attempted collectively to creshyate an avenue by which the agency can release it But recently DOT atshy

torneys have made it clear that the FAA cannot release the data which is intellectual property without the permission of the TCs owner They even hold to that rule even if the TC owner cannot be tracked down or if it can be proven that the company has no corporate heirs Even if the lawyers approved there are questions about how much data actually resides in the governshyments archives Especially for the aircraft born during aviashytions golden age it may not exshyist in any form and if it did the data would only benefit a small number of aircraft

EAA will continue to investishygate and propose ways that will allow the FAA to release the

needed data At the same time howshyever EAA has proposed a solution that will enable owners to restore repair and maintain their vintage airplanes in a safe airworthy condishytion now It is based on a number of initiatives EAA pursued to lessen the weight of the regulations and allow owners to install some equipment that improves safety like shoulder harnesses without TC data

The solution is simple If you canshynot acquire the information needed

6

to meet the current requirements for maintaining repairing and reshystoring aging aircraft-change the requirements The issue at hand is simple How do we make it possible for an aircraft owner and his certifishycated mechanic to safely maintain a vintage airplane which includes the use of new technology for imshyproved safety without current roadblocks that now hinder the imshyprovement and continuing airworshythiness of vintage aircraft

There are a number of ways to do this and the first priority of each of them is the same safety After studying the pros and cons of each EAA derived an option allow the use of accepted data without the requirement that it be accompashynied by type-approved data

Accepted data represents the body of all aviation knowledge Its the pool from which the typeshyapproved was created Todays engineers are just as capable of creshyating a wing spar for an airplane built in the 1950s as the engineers were in that era maybe even more so because todays professiona ls are working with greater knowlshyedge and newer resources and mashyterials And any AampP worth his or her certificate knows how to use the pragmatic form fit and funcshytion tests to replace cable-actuated expanding shoe brakes with new hydraulic disks

Implementing such a solution creates another issue because using modern parts not approved for the airplane by STC or field approval in effect voids the type certifishycate because they dont comply with the airplanes approved data and in this is a solution

In simple terms approved data exists to protect the safety of the flying public whether they bought an airline ticket hailed an air taxi or rented an airplane from the loshycal FBO In exchange for the ability to maintain a vintage aircraft usshying accepted data the owner gives up any current or future commershycial use of the airplane Once an

owner makes this decision which stays with the airplane no matter who owns it there would be no turning back No matter how big or how small how simple or how complex the airplane can never again be used to carry persons or property for hire Ever

If an owner d ec ides to optshyout and maintain his or her vinshytage airplane under the proposed solution an AampP must maintain and inspect the airplane in accorshydance with Part 43 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

EAA proposed this solution to the FAA at their winter recreshyational aviation summit in Oshshykosh this past January where it

was received with words of enshycouragement and a request to conshytinue to refine the proposal

What the final solution will look like depends on many variables soshylutions to minute details of such a plan One of them will be keeping track of and identifying vintage airshycraft that have traded commercial operation for the new maintenance opportunities (and an easy solution would be to give the airplanes new Vintage category airworthiness certificate)

Regardless the issues however EAA will continue to work with the FAA to find solutions that will keep vintage airplanes affordably airworshythy-and flying safely

approved

-Would be a one-way recertification CABIH HpoundATE~ 8LAHKET~

-Aircraft would still be maintained per Part 43 1 -shy-Documentation of all repairs andor alterations would-still be accomplis

-Aerobatics would be prohibited ~64 2 bull STREAM~ Ppound Rf

-The carriage 0 people andor PlltO~ would be nm 1 it bull 3 I-AtR Itf - ~ltJ 5 6 f bullbull t

-Changes to type of powerplant OJ airfqils would 161 )r-~-I-~

- c6ud allow the installati~f afi~ne arts or componeq ~ pmplied with iiTC PMA or other airera standard even if not approved for that -

aircraft model Examples~~rtelS batteries alternators fuel pumpsr

-Couldallow for cha nge of ~-mge$aJiillpr-ptopeliers as long as the composhynents met TC and oraccepted aircraft industry standards and were within

b Tf T l shy

+-10 percent of the original horse~wer and +10-30 percent of the weight

-Could allow for installation of new seats in older aircraft

-Could allow the manufacture of new spars with new materials that have the same fit form and function of the old spar

-Aircraft would not be limited in size or complexity

-This is not a new Experimental category Part 43 airworthiness regulations would still apply

-The installation of parts and items that are not PMA or TSO compliant would be allowed

-Transfer to the new category would mean the loss of any privileges to carry persons or property for hire

-Transfer to the new category would be a one-way process

-Transfer to this new category would not be mandatory

- EAA is not proposing another Experimental category

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7

Current Editors Note This issue of Vintage Airplane contains the first in a series of nine articles pertaining to the restoration of antique and classic airplanes They were originally written in the mid-1980s by directors of the then-named AntiqueClassic Division of EAA but they are still relevant for todays vintage aircraft enthusiasts The late George York a longtime volshyunteer judge and chairman of classic aircraft judging for many years wrote our first article Our members have years of experience and a tremendous amount of talent however its likely everyone will learn something new from each article Please let us hear from you write to HG Frautschy Edishytor Vintage Airplane PO Box 3086 Oshkosh WI 54903-3086 or e-mail vintageaircrafteaaorg-HGF

Original EditorS Note (abridged) The officers and directors of the AnshytiqueClassic Division have accepted the responsibility for many of the artishycles but contributions will be provided by others as well The subject matter will range from selecting a project to test flying the finished product

As the series progresses if readshyers wish to share their ideas techshyniques etc they are encouraged to do so Just because a subject has been presented doesnt mean the matter is closed We plan to publish supplemental information on the varishyous subjects and we look forward to reader input

Some of the material presented may be old hat to those who have been in the vintage airplane hobby or business for many years but newshycomers have to start at ground zero and this information could be the bashysis for a manual of sorts that could be referred to for years to come

- Gene Chase

BY GEORGE YORK EAA 11310 Ale 1085

Aircraft Selection After a potential restorerreshy

builder has determined that he or she is going to do an airplane the most important consideration is the blessing of the family or at least its tolerance of the situation The next most important item will be the selection of the aircraft make and model

There are many many considshyerations nearly as many as there are prospective rebuilders Do you want an aircraft for utility one that you will use for transportation or do you already own such an aircraft and want to restore an antique that you will consider a showpiece

There are two classes of restorable aircraft-one is the classic (postshyWorld War II) which is a serviceshyable airplane that can be used as a modern means of transportation and still attend fly-ins and compete in show competitions A few anshytiques also meet this qualification but most of the antiques were built up to the end of 1945 (prewar and wartime) and are more show than transportation aircraft

There are of course exceptions to every rule In the antique cateshygory are such aircraft as the wartime Stinsons Fairchild 24s Staggerwing Beeches Howard DGAs and the Waco Cabins to name a few Howshyever most of these airplanes burn more fuel and are slower than their classic passenger-hauling countershyparts Here were referring to the Cessnas and Beech Bonanzas from the period prior to 1955 (Weve since added the Contemporary cateshygory 1955-1967-HGF)

Once you have determined whether you want an antique or classic aircraft there are still many variations as to which you would

choose Nostalgia for the first-time restorerrebuilder can playa big part in that first selection Oftenshytimes individuals want the airplane they soloed or pOSSibly had a first ride in In some cases they figure they can buy a rebuildable airplane of the kind theyve always wanted or couldnt afford Thus by doing their own work the lower purchase price will afford the opportunity to meet this lifetime longing

One selection for restorersreshybuilders is further controlled by what is available and how much money can be afforded initially You have to consider not only the initial cost but also if the available airplane is fairly well complete and if not whether the parts are availshyable One has to take a good look in the mirror and evaluate his or her ability talent previous restoshyration experience the difficulty of the project decided upon and of course the nagging question-will this satisfy the family

All of this is further complicated by where you are going to do this project Is the airplane too big for that one- two- or three-car garage Do you have the weather environshyment that will allow you to work in that big building behind the house (if there is such a structure) or is this a project that has to be done at a local airport

Should it turn out to be a project that must be done at the local airshyport you must remember you will have the expenses of hangar rent electric power and heat and always the need for tools

Under the discussion of tools when you took that long look in the mirror you should have detershymined if youre a metal person with the background for bending brak-

Reprinted from Vintage Airplane February 1986

APRIL 2006 8

ing riveting and working with metal or if yours is a background of tube and cloth Do you have sufshyficient equipment or do you have to buy equipment (tools) What friends can be of assistance even if only to offer a slap on the back when you find the going is a little tougher than anticipated

Further to all of the above do you have the blessing of your loshycal airframe and powerplant meshychanic (AampP) Hopefully he also has an inspection authoshyrization If youre going the antique route does he lean toward cloth-covered machines If he is going to assist you in working with your airplane this is an important consideration particularly if youre going to get into one of the more complicated airplanes

In the selection of the aircraft hopefully you have considered the area where you are living My reason for rebuildingFAllaY VLt CO~P~T and will be building as this particular plane was beshythought should be given cause I learned to fly and to climatic conditions for soloed one in the WWII doping and painting Civilian Pilot Training Proshy

Money was mentioned gram for naval VS aviashyabove This is always an tion cadets in the spring of important consideration 1943 Am I ever glad that however the writer looks upon the restoration of aircraft as a hobby For me it is not meant as a livelihood and as most restorers know (other than the professional rebuilders who very well know what theyre doing) the rebuilding of an aircraft is by no means a monshyeymaking venture The low value return on your labor will probshyably surprise you As an example one could consider the time spent standing around thinking about how to do something as being lost

I like to tell that the Beech Stagshygerwing has more than 6000 rib stitches holding the fabric Since the knots are buried under the fabshyric and spaced 1 inch apart I defy anyone to layout the rib stitching punch the holes and rib stitch the

cloth onto the airplane faster than one knot every three minutes This computes out to be 20 rib stitches per hour and figuring labor at $20 per hour (1986 dollarsf-HGF) it does not take a mathematical geshynius to figure out that each rib stitch is costing $1 This means that just sewing the cloth to the airshyframe costs $6OOO Hence it is my suggestion that first-time restorers choose a much simpler aircraft for their first project

In selecting a first-time projshyect it is recommended (not just a thought) that you start with someshything like an Aeronca Piper Cub Taylorcraft Porterfield Luscombe or Cessna For the restorer who has had a lot of experience or who has been a helper or partner and is going on his or her own with the blessing of a qualified AampP mechanic whos there when needed then go with the more difficult airplane

After youve had several projects under your belt and have found it to be a most enjoyable hobby then its time to look at the more comshyplicated airplanes The entire selecshytion process depends on honesty You have to be honest with yourself as to your talents and ability famshy

i1y support available monies and financial condition to say nothshying of your ability to handle (fly) the aircraft once you have finished your showpiece

If you are not honest then you are in a position where you probshyably will never get the project done Then you should be willing to humble yourself or find some kind of alibi as to why the projshyect isnt finished and then sell it There are many people out there

who have bitten off more than they can chew and their projects lie dormant rusting or rotting away beshycause they are too proud to admit the truth

The restoring of an airshycraft is a self-rewarding acshycomplishment and can become as complex and as complicated as the aircraft you select to rebuild

The first aircraft I rebuilt was a 1941 Aeronca Chief

my nostalgia didnt deshymand a Howard DGA or Staggershywing Beech

After years of working on vintage airplanes as a hobby I have gradushyated and soon will be finishing a Staggerwing Beech But ladies and gentlemen after 12 years of partshytime work this complicated aircraft would never have been close to beshying finished if it had been my first project So if nostalgia is the reason for your selection and the plane is complicated store it and find a less difficult aircraft within your workshying and flying envelopes to rebuild as your first project

Do not get caught in the trap of striving for too much too soon You apparently have seen many aircraft of th e grassroots light-

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9

weight variety that literally have been brought back from basket case starter kits to become grand chamshypions at Oshkosh If memory serves me correctly two Aeronca Champs a Cessna 140 and a Piper Vagashybond have received this top award so its not necessary that you have the biggest most complex airplane with which to compete

Good luck on your selection

Locating a Restorable Rebuildable Airplane

Once a person has selected the make and model for a project he or she can begin the search Locatshying a rebuildable airplane often deshypends on your selection and your flexibility as to what you are willing to accept for a project Unless you have positively absolutely detershymined that you have to have a parshyticular make and model (oftentimes impossible to locate) your selecshytion will vary according to the locashytion of the airplane

An example would be the selecshytion of a rare version of an Aeronca Chief and the only aircraft you could find of this particular make and model is located in a remote section of Alaska On the other hand only 50 miles from you is an equivalent airplane another sideshyby-side aircraft-a Taylorcraft The cost and problems of securing one over the other can be sufficient reashyson to change your selection That is why a certain amount of flexibilshyity is desirable in selecting a projshyect If you are really determined to have the aircraft that is difficult to bring home and money is no obshyject then of course youre headed for Alaska

With the above logical reasonshying in mind a person sets out to loshycate an aircraft and there are many ways this can be accomplished If you are strictly going by convenshytional methods you will study Trade-A-Plane and other airplane advertisements and of course spread the word among your trustshyworthy friends

10 APRIL 2006

I would like to describe a few methods I have used in locating airshycraft from 1959 through the presshyent No one particular method will apply to everyone but certain varishyations may be the answer

In 1959 I decided I wanted a 1940 Aeronca Chief First I told my budshydies In those days there were sevshyeral Chiefs around However I also contacted the AOPA and talked to a cooperative gentleman by the name of Col Little Little advised that the AOPA had a service whereby it could provide a computer printshyout of all aircraft registered with the FAA of a particular make and model The AOPA computer printshyout contained an aircraft I later found to be listed in the FAA Civil Aircraft Register book The aircraft was identified by the code number 0190902 This was the FAAs numshyber for an Aeronca Chief

(Nowadays you can obtain that information using a personal comshyputer and access to the Internet You can search the FAA database within the FAAs own website or use the database search engine available at wwwlandingscom Scroll to the bottom of that sites home page and click on Databases There youll find a variety of ways you can search the aircraft and airshymen records-HGF)

At that time there were 1030 of those units registered On receipt of this information I enthusiastically started checking each one of them Each aircraft listing included serial number N number engine and city and state Also listed was the last license date If the aircraft was out of license for a great number of years this was also noted

There were many 1940 and 1941 Aeronca Chiefs in the state of Ohio and I proceeded to write or telephone each of the owners Many of my letters were returned and many of the addresses were inactive but with a little detective work the people were located The detective work began by knowing that an individual had an airplane

in a particular town county or area By checking with the police or sheriffs department or the city hall I usually found a person who was cooperative In some cases I checked with the local Chamber of Commerce

In any event I can honestly say that barring a death with no surshyvivors I usually ended up locating the person I was looking for Oftenshytimes the airplanes were stored and I obtained some ridiculous prices as in 1959 and 1960 there was not the demand for old planes there presently is

If a person is trying to locate a rare airplane more effort must be expended I always purchased a copy of the FAAs US Civil Aircraft Register I obtained copies consecshyutively from 1959 until the FAA quit making them available The volumes came out twice a year and were about 3 inches thick The inshyformation is no longer available in book form but it is obtainable (See our note above regarding searching the database-HGF) The listings are available by N number make and model or owners name

Another searching technique is going to the FAA headquarters in Oklahoma City and personally searching through the records An alternative is hiring one of the inshydependent title searching businesses in Oklahoma City Many inactive airplanes are no longer in the active files in Oklahoma City but the inshyformation is stored in other sections of the country with the FAA For a small fee and a decent waiting time this information can be obtained

Back when I was actively lookshying for airplanes I took vacations that ended up in Oklahoma City spending two or three days porshying over records of the particular airplane I was seeking Its imporshytant to know the registration numshyber of the plane when it was last registered This provides the data needed to obtain from the records the last reported information to the FAA Armed with this one

traces back to the city to try to loshycate the individual or family Its almost like looking for a lost pershyson in some cases

Heres another method I used for years when I learned of a plane Id like to have I would trace it down through the FAA AOPA and the US Civil Airshycraft Register book When I found it had been out of service for a while but was last located in Pin Hook USA I would use my amshyateur radio operator facilishyties With call letters K8MFZ I would get on the radio and talk to my friends I would work with those who were in or around Pin Hook USA and would bring up the subshyject of old airplanes and people who were interested in them Then I would ask if anyone knew a Joe Doshyakes who had died 10 years ago or knew of his family Ninety-five percent of the time I would get an answer and many times I would be given a phone patch to some relation or heir It wasnt unusual to hear My gosh cousin Charlies got Uncle Eddies airplane in his barn It s not always that simple but at times the radio did help

Im only sorry that I do not have my amateur radio working today I have since devoted more time to other things and allowed my lishycense to lapse but this did work back in the middle 60s up to the early 70s

Another method of locating an old airplane after youve narrowed it down to the general area and youve found no information at the courthouse is to go to the county home or nursing homes and spend a Sunday afternoon with some of the old-timers They will really enshyjoy it and can give you a lot of inshyformation I have had enjoyable times running across old-timers inshyvolved with aviation They are not all senile and many of them can be

very helpful Besides they will enshyjoy talking with you and you will feel better for having visited them especially if you do not go there with the 100 percent ulterior moshytive of finding an airplane

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A fine way of locating airplanes other than the easy method of usshying Trade-A-Plane and watching for ads in other publications is to beshycome involved in aviation in your area Join the local aviation group then give of your time and be of assistance to other people Someshyday someone will come to you and say I know of an old airplane and Ill tell you about it This is also true when airport hopping in your classic or antique airplane Many people want to tell you that they too know something about vinshytage aircraft and Uncle Joe has one of those but its been stored for 30 years I once located a Steashyrman that had been stored for 15 years after the crop dusterowner passed away and his young grandshyson wished to impress me with a Stearman being in their shed

(The Internet can also be a big help in that regard there are a number of

ways to locate people on the Net inshycluding using Netscapes White Pages at httpwpnetscapecomnetcenter whitepageshtml -HGF)

As a working member of the Stagshygerwing Club people contact me

wanting to know the presshyent location of the same airshyplane they once owned The more you become involved the more people will conshytact you I have noticed that those who have are thoseshywho have been willing to help Communication is ofshyten the secret to success

A sure way to have peoshyple tighten up and not be helpful is to be more knowledgeable than they are in discussions Take adshyvantage of being a good lisshytener And never violate the unwritten rule of not buyshying a plane out from undershyneath a confidante Believe me you will no longer have help from this person or any of his or her friends on future projects Many peoshyple will sacrifice to help a

friend locate an airplane If I know of an aircraft that I

feel I cannot afford nor see my way clear to purchase in the near future I will pass the information on to a person who is qualified to restore it and who wants that particular model Resurrecting old airplanes is a necessary function of keeping this hobby of ours goshying When vintage airplanes fall into the hands of collectors and thus are removed from circulashytion the growth of our hobby is retarded Its reminiscent of a quote I once saw on a barn wall which incidentally housed an old Aeronca Defender This quote was in an ad paid for by Mail Pouch toshybacco For what has a man gained if he owns the entire world and has lost his own soul It can be paraphrased For what has a man gained if he owns all the old airshyplanes and has no friends

VINTAGE AI RPLANE 11