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Scrambling from the first Saturday through ThursshySTRAI GHTBy Brad Thomas day noon were Claude Gray Dale Gustafson George

AND LEVEL The 1980 Annual EAA International Convention was

a great success with increased attendance registered show aircraft and numbers of campers but what really makes this fantastic event such an overall sucshycess and jells the enthusiasm into a working group of volunteers who enjoy every minute of it Lets take a look through the eyes of your President as he looks back over those twelve days on the groups of Wittshyman Field during Oshkosh 80 and in particular our area of involvement the AntiqueClassic Division

Statistically the overall total number of show airshycraft in attendance rose 12 over 1979 and a new record was established at 1543 The tally of antique and classic aircraft showed an overall increase with antiques down in number but with classics up conshysiderably Preliminary totals show antiques at 157 and classics at 620

Our hats are off to Art Morgan and Bob Kesel veterans of parking and flightline safety who with their volunteers performed their duties in a most proshyfessional manner During a brief jaunt through our parking areas on the first Saturday we noted imshymediately that the show aircraft camping area was completely full that the show aircraft area north of our Headquarters barn was 90 filled and that the overflow parking area was rapidly filling By Sunday afternoon there were no open parking spots in any of the parking areas

We also wish to salute Jack Copeland and Ed Hulshybert who worked steadily throughout the week to recruit volunteers for parking flightline safety and security under the able direction of David Shaw Don Odell and Jack Huffman

Our Red Barn Headquarters was always aglow with the smiling faces of Kate Morgan Janet Kesel and those wonderful ladies who assisted them daily through the week While listening to many of the conversations I soon learned that our staff people dispensed sales items ran an information bureau became messenshygers and kept smiling the whole time

To watch and listen to AI and Lois Kelch function as our Division Press Relations was a delight Through the entire week they presented information to the media arranged for ph~to missions staged intershyviews described our Division activities to the Aviashytion Greats and continually promoted good public relations

York and Dale Wolford our Division Judging Chiefs Along with their fine group of capable assistants their selections of the award winners was the result of many hours of hard and devoted work that attests to the effectiveness of ou r judgi ng system

Among the many changes noted this year was the moving of the AntiqueClassic forums to the main forum area in the center of the Convention This made it possible for those who desired to attend sucshycessive forums in any of the tents Under the able direction and planning of Ron Fritz and Jack Winthrop our forums were again both popular and effective

Ollies Woods was the scene of welcome shade for EAAers on Tuesday evening following the air show when the annual Division picnic under the able direction of John Turgyan proved to be an outstandshying event AntiqueClassic Chapter 8 of Grand Rapids Michigan was in charge of food this year and it was great When all of the home-cooked food had been served we had fed over 450 members and guests Frankly we had underestimated the attendance and several who wanted seconds were disappointed This social gathering has become one of the most popular attractions for AntiqueClassic members attending the Convention

A new function in our area this year was the adshydition of a tent near the Red Barn for use of our memshybership and guests as a hospitality center OX5er Bob Wallace took it upon himself to see that this area was utilized to the utmost degree What a sight it was to see a group of over forty OXSers being photographed behind the 1911 Curtiss Pusher in front of the Red Barn The tales and stories exchanged recalled long lost memories for many in that unique group

Without a doubt the singular most popular area was a few yards north of the Red Barn where the replicas were parked namely Bill Turner s Gee Bee Jim Younkin s Travel Air Mystery Ship and the Canshynavos Spirit of St Louis During the early part of the Convention Paul Stephenson interviewed Bill Turner Jim Younkin and Steve and Dave Cannavo much to the delight of the crowd At other times interviews were held with the owners of other various antique and classic aircraft attending the Convention Of special interest was the 1911 replica of Dale and Dean Crites Placed in front of the Red Barn it drew crowds of interested persons and as soon as Paul began to interview Dale the Curtiss would disappear amid the dense group of interested and admiring guests

Aviation Great day was Thursday and each of the honored guests was introduced at both the afternoon and the evening programs on the EAA theatre stage To coincide with this event the AntiqueClassic Parade of Flight was flown on the same day Under the direcshytion of Phil Coulson and Willard Benedict a fantastic display of representative aircraft dating from the 1911 Curtiss Pusher up through classics of 1955 flew as a part of the afternoon air show Where else but at Oshshykosh would you be able to see three different trishymotored aircraft fly in formation a Ford Trimotor a Stinson Model A and a Junkers Ju52 The directors of the Parade of Flight had many anxious moments that day with the unsettled weather and other mixed signals The planning and effective presentation of the Parade of Flight deserves the full appreciation of our membership

In conclusion a few passing observations of what the EAA International Convention is all about

Tim and Barbara Bowers flying their 1979 Classic Grand Champion Luscombe 8E from California with Tim volunteering for a weeks work as a classic judge

Jim Gorman EAA Air Museum Trustee rolling up his pants legs and directing departing traffic through the water and mud in front of the show plane camping area

Seeing a smile from ear-to-ear on John Turgyan as he returned to the parking area after flying Jim Younkins Travel Air Mystery Ship in a solo fly-by preceeding the air show on the last day

Observing Charlie Schuck being completely covshyered with mud thanks to a propeller biting the wet ground as he was pushing a homebuilt through a soggy area

Watching the cooperation of visitors and photogshyraphers who as requested would move away from the Gee Bee and the Mystery Ship for uncluttered pictures

Arriving at the Red Barn Friday morning early to see the 1911 Curtiss sitting in the middle of a temshyporary lake

Realizing the significance of the major awards at the Theatre on Friday evening

And thrilled by the attitude and assistance of the volunteers who make the whole thing work

Summing it all up a quote from the Daily News overheard from an EAA volunteer Where else but Oshkosh can you take your weeks vacation spend $400 work from dawn to dusk go home dead tired and sore-footed and have a whole lot of fun

Editorial Staff

Publisher Paul H Poberezny

Editor Gene R Chase

(Photo by Gene Chase)

73 year old retired airline captain Lea Abbott flew his repli ca 1970 Curtiss Pusher to Oshkosh 80 from his home in Dallas Texas

Associate Editors H Glenn Buffington Edward D Williams Byron (Fred) Fredericksen Lionel Salisbury Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs Associate Editorships are assigned to those writers who submit five or more articles which are published in THE VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE during the current year Associates receive a bound volume of THE VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE and a free one-year membership in the Division or their efforts POliCY-Opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors Responsibility for accuracy in reporting rests entirely with the contributor Directors

PRESIDENT Ronald Fritz Robert Kesel 28 Roosevelt Street 455 Oakridge DriveW BRAD THOMAS JR

Conklin MI 49463 Rochester NY 14617301 DODSON MILL ROAD 716342-3170

PILOT MOUNTAIN NC 27041 Claude L Gray Ir

9191368-2875 Home 35 Sylvi a Avenue Arthur Morgan Northridge CA 91324 3744 North 51 Boulevard919368-2291 Office

213349-1338 Milwaukee WI 53216 414442-3631 VICEmiddotPRESIDENT

Dale A GustafsonJACK C WINTHROP 7724 Shady Hill Drive John R TurgyanROUTE 1 BOX 111 Indianapolis IN 46274 1530 Ku ser Road

ALLEN TX 75002 317293-4430 Trenlon NJ 08619 609585-27472141727-5649

AI Kelch 66 W 622 N Madison Avenue George York

Ceda rburg WI 53012 181 Sloboda Avenue SECRETARY

M C KELLY VIETS 414377-5886 Mansfield OH 44906 7745 W 183RD ST 419529-4378

STILWELL KS 66085 913681-2303 Home Advisors 9131782-6720 Office

TREASURER John S Copeland Slan Gomoll Gene Morris Nine Joan ne Drive 1042 90th Lane NE 27 C handelle DriveE E BUCK HILBERT

Westborough MA 01581 Mil1neapoijs MN 55434 Hamp shire I t 60140PO BOX 145 617366-7245 712784-1172 312683-3199

UNION IL 60180 815q21-4591

THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) is owned exclusively by EAA Ant iqueClassic Division Inc and is published monthly at Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 Second class Postage paid at Hales Corners Post Office Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 and additional mailing offices Membersh ip rates for EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc are $1400 per 12 month period of wh ich $1000 is for the publication of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation

Tti~ VI~TA(3~ AII2VLA~~ OFFICIAL MAGAZINE

E4A ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC

of THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130

CopyrightCgt 1980 EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc All Rights Reserved

OCTOBER 1980 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 10

(On The Cover Oshkosh 80 Grand Champion Class ic Aeronca Seda n Photo by Ted Koston )

(On The Back Cover Buhl Bull Pup Grand Champion Antique at Oshkosh 80 Photo by Ray Procha)

TABLE OF CONTENTS Straight and Level by Brad Thomas 2 AIC News Compiled by Gene Chase 4 Oshkosh 80 by Gene Chase 5 The Laird Super Solution At Oshkosh 80 by Gene Chase 11 Aeronca Sedan Grand Champion Classic by Gene Chase 14 Grand Champion Antique by Gene Chase 20 The Luscombe Built To Take It by A T Stretch 22 Letters 26 Calendar Of Events 27

EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION MEMBERSHIP o NON-EAA MEMBER - $2200 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique

Classic Division 12 monthly issues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE one year memo bersh ip in the Experimental Aircraft Association and separate membership cards SPORT AVIATION magazine not included

o EAA MEMBER - $1400 Includes one year membership in the EM AntiqueClassic Division 12 monthly issues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE AND MEMBERSHIP CARD (Applicant must be current EM member and must give EAA membership number)

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AiJews d by Gene Chase C=plte

ELECTION OF OFFICERS At the annual business meeting for members of the

AntiqueClassic Division held on August 9 1980 at the EAA Convention Oshkosh Wisconsin the reshysults of the election were announced The followshying incumbents were re-elected for another term Brad Thomas President Kelly Viets Secretary and Directors AI Kelch Morton Lester and Art Morgan

During the Division Board of Directors meeting on the same date the total number of directors was inshycreased to ten with the naming of Ronald Fritz Robert E Kesel and George S York as new Directors These three men had previously served as Advisors to the Board of Directors and thus bring with them valushyable experience to aid in conducting the business of the Division

AVIATION GASOLINE The Associated Press reported that Shell Oil was

going out of the aviation gasoline business In checkshying with this oil company it developed that Shells official policy was to curtail its marketing of all grades of aviation gasoline and turbine fuel by stopshyping supplying most of their small dealers as of the end of 1980 By June of 1981 they expected to be supplying aviation gasoline and turbine fuel to only a few selected dealers and we assume these would be FBOs at the larger airports such as Page Airways and Butler Aviation Shell will continue to produce aviation gasoline and turbine fuel for these dealers and for the military services

In the meantime Shell said it would urge former dealers to find alternate sources of aviation fuel and would help out those dealers temporarily with aviashytion gasoline who were having difficulty in finding other sources of fuel

According to Shell this marketing policy was anshynounced over 2 years ago and applies to both 80 and 100 octane gasoline Contrary to one report the restricshytion in marketing is not confined to the East Coast but applies nationwide

From Dave Scotts Washington Report

AAA CONVENTION AT BLAKESBURG The Annual Convention of the Antique Airplane

Association was held the last week of August at Blakesshyburg Iowa About 350 antique and classic aircraft were in attendance and the event was blessed by good weather The only rainfall occurred at night on the last Saturday and Sunday

The two big award winners were both new restorashytions The Grand Championship trophy went to the Stinson SR-8 owned by Roy Redman Kilkenny Minshynesota LeRoy Brown of Zellwood Florida took home the Sweepstakes trophy with his Butler Blackhawk

4th NATIONAL STINSON CLUB FlV-IN From the National Stinson Club Newsletter by

Jonsey Paul Cypress Texas we learn that this event held annually at Minden Nebraska was a huge sucshycess It was held July 18 - 20 with 42 Stinsons in atshytendance one from as far away as Nova Scotia

Inclement weather in other areas reduced the atshytendance including three newly restored Reliants from Minnesota whose owners had planned to be there

KUDOS FOR FAA (From the Schellville Antique Escadrille Gazette

edited by AI Wheeler EAA 64433 AC 5519 EI Sobrante CA) We sometimes read or hear complaints for amashyteu r builders concerning the frustrations and delays experienced in getting timely service from FAA pershysonnel for pre-cover inspections preflight examinashytions annual airworthiness renewal etc I would like to place a comment in the other side of the ledger one commending the Oakland California GADO ofshyfice personnel on the excellent and timely service they have provided the amateur builders in this area To cite a recent example on Thursday July 17 1980 Jeannie Williams advised the Oakland office that her Charger Bill Ewertz s Great Lakes and your editors Pitts Special were due for annual airworthiness reshynewal On Tuesday July 22 just three working days later Mr Dell Ott of the Oakland office arrived at Schellville at 745 in the morning with the reqUired paperwork prepared ready to look at the three airshycraft Now I call that a big plus in anybody s ledger

CLUB FIFTY An announcement has been received at EAA Headshy

quarters of the formation of Club Fifty open to all those who have flown 50 consecutive years A numshyber of people have flown for 50 years or more but few have an uninterrupted record of this duration For further information please contact Mr MLL

Short 1776 North Lakewood Drive Lexington KY 40502 Telephone 606269-2525

PHOTOS FOR EAA PUBLICATION If you plan to take photos for possible use in any

of the EAA publications your chances will be inshycreased if you use Plus-X film for black and white and Kodachrome 64 slide film for color Black and white prints 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 in size may be subshymitted and in the case of color shots we must have the original slide to work with If requested all mashyterials received by us will be returned to the sender

The above is just a guideline as we can use prints of different sizes but please don t send color prints

BORDEN AEROPLANE POSTERS This series of posters by the Borden and Thompson

companies depicting aircraft of the 1930s will be disshycontinued beginning with this issue of The VINTA G E AIRPLANE

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By Gene ChaseOSHKOSH 80 Peopl e and planes turned out in reco rd numbers

again at Oshkosh The 28th Annual EAA Convention was a rou sing success with 1547 show planes regisshytered This includ ed 777 antique and classic aircraft The total number of classics was up over last years event whi le th e count of antiques was down slightly

The Convention was a soggy one with th e amount of rain th at fell during th e week equal to twi ce the normal amount for the entire m o nth of August In spite of th e weather the dail y air shows went on as schedul ed and peopl e stayed on in grea ter numbers throughout th e week than at past Convention s

There were many outstanding events during the week but th e highlight was Aviati o n G rea ts Day on Thursday fea turing Matty Laird and Jimmy Doolittle Many other aviation notables were present who were involved in air racing during th e 1930s

Al so featured o n thi s day was the first public preshy

(Photos By The Author Unless Otherwise Noted)

sentation of th e EAA Air Museum Found ati o n s replica Laird Super Soluti on The aircraft w as no t quite finshyished but th e lack of some of th e wing and landing gear fairings did not deter th e ca mera buffs from havshying a fi eld day especia ll y when Laird and Doolittl e posed for pictures in and around the p lane

Other vintage racing aircraft on display were Steve Wittmans Bonzo Bill Turner s replica Gee Bee Model Z and Jim Younkin s repli ca Trave l Air Mystery Ship

Th e AntiqueClassic Divi sion s Parade of Flight was also featured o n Aviation Greats Day as a part of the afte rn oon air show This aerial ex travaga nza becomes more popular each year evoking favorable comment from both pilots and the genera l public

Speaking of th e general public thi s yea r for the first time th ey were able to attend AntiqueClassic forums Thi s was made possible by re locat in g th e forum tent from th e Red Barn area o n the flight lin e to the general publi c area with th e other forum tents

GRAND CHAMPION WINNERS

Each year the job of judging aircraft at O shkosh beshycomes in creasingly difficult as more and more p lanes sh ow up with fantastic workmanship and authenti city The Grand Champi o n Antique Award went to a 1931 Buhl Bull Pup owned by Captain Dan Neuman of Minneapolis Minnesota Th e Grand Champion Class ic Awa rd was won by Jim Thompson Roberts Illino is for hi s 1951 Aeronca Seda n

Other Grand Champ ion Awards were Warbird Kalamazoo Aviatio n History Museums FG-1D Co rshysa ir Custombuilt Fred Kell e r Anchorage Alaska for hi s VariEze Rotorcraft an Avenger Gyrop lane by Frank Marchetti of Chicago Il li nois and for th e first tim e at Osh kosh an Ultrali ght Grand Champion Award for the Fledpe II by Gary Evans of Waukegan Illinois

EAA was honored to have th ese Aviation Grea ts attend the 1980 Conven tion at Oshkosh Left to right E M Matty Laird Blanche Noyes Harold Neuman Bob H all Eldon Cessna Eddie Fisher General James Dooshylittle H arold Johnson Tony LeVier Cliff Henderson Steve Wittman Leon A twood AI Mena sco and Roger Don Rae Th e man on the ex treme right is Charles McClure one of Doolittle s 8-25 pilots on th e WW Tokyo bombing raid

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OTHER AWARDS FOR ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC AIRCRAFT

ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT

Reserve Grand Champion

DeHavilland DH 82C Tiger Moth C-FCTN Tom Di etri ch and Frank Evans Kitchener Ontario Canada

Silver Age (1928 - 1932)

CHAMPION Waco ASO NC6930 Dean and Dale Crites Waukesha WI

RUNNER-UP Taylor E-2 Cub N12607 Robert H Taylor Tipp City OH

OUTSTANDING OPEN COCKPIT MONOPLANE Corben Model B NX5148 Rick Demond Family Whitmore Lake MI

Contemporary Age (1933 - 1945)

CHAMPION Porterfield LP-65 N32372 EAA Chapte r 304 Jackson MI

RUNNER-UP Ryan PT-22 N49674 Donald D Johnson Rockford IL

OUTSTANDING OPEN COCKPIT BIPLANE Stearman E75N1 N9078H F R and Jeannie Griffin Minnetonka Beach MN

OUTSTANDING CLOSED COCKPIT BIPLANE Waco EGC-8 NC2334 Gordon Bourland Jr Ft Worth TX

OUTSTANDING OPEN COCKPIT MONOPLANE Aeronca C-3 NC13556 E E H ilbert Union IL

OUTSTANDING CLOSED COCKPIT MONOPLANE Fairchi ld 24 NC25323 Edward C Wegner Plymouth WI

Customized Aircraft

CHAMPION - Stampe SV4C N73NS Neal R Sutherland Birmingham MI

RUNNER-UP - Spartan C-3 NC705N Edward C Wegner Plymouth WI

OUTSTANDING - Stearman A75Nl N69654 Dick Fritz and Jerry Wettelring Willmar MN

REPLICA AIRCRAFT

CHAMPION - Ryan NYP N211NX Dave and Steve Ca~navo Lester PA

TRANSPORT CLASS - MULTI-ENGINE

CHAMPION - Stinson Model A NC15165 Eugene D Coppock Algonquin IL

(Photo by Ted Kaston)

This imma culate deHavi lland DH82C Tiger Moth from Canada was named Reserve Grand Champion Antiqu e Owners are Tom Dietrich (in front cockpit) and Fra nk Evans Kitchener Ontario

CLASSIC AIRCRAFT

Reserve Grand Champion Cessna 180 N9428C Douglas and Barbara Trager Riverside CA

CLASS I (0 - 80 hp) Aeronca Chief NC85829 Elymos L Nase Rehoboth Beach DE

CLASS II (81 - 150 hp) Rawdon T-l N5160 May Belle Chastain Creve Coeur MO

CLASS III (151 hp and higher) Cessna 195 N4477C Raybourne Thompson Jr Houston TX

CUSTOM CLASS A (0 - 80 hp) Taylorcraft BC-12D N96438 Larry W Haas La Cygne KS

CUSTOM CLASS B (81 - 150 hp) Cessna 140A N5380C William H Copp Jr Lexington MA

CUSTOM CLASS C (151 hp and higher) Globe Swift GC-1B N80715 The International Swift Museum Foundation Athens TN

OUTSTANDING IN TYPE

Aeronca Champ - Aeronca 7AC N83607 James W Monsion Clio MI

This beautifu l Cess na 180 N9428C ea rned th e Reserve Grand Champion Classic award It is owned by Douglas and Barbara Trager of Riverside Ca lifornia It was one of the gems parked in th e Show Plane Ca mping Area

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Beechcraft - Beechcraft BE-3SB NCS186C Georgene and Do nald M cDonough Palos Hill s IL

Bellan ca - Bellan ca 14-13-2 N74431 Charl es J Schultz Davi s CA

Cess na 120140 - Cess na 140 NC4135N Rich and Kathi e Paige San M ateo CA

Cessna 1701180 - Cess na 170 N3442C James c Kirby Mullila Hill NJ

Cessna 19011 95 - Cess na 195B N2161 C John J Fier Bourbonnai s IL

Ercoupe - Ercoupe 41 5-G N3675H LaVern N Brown St Paul MN

Lu scombe - Lu scombe 8-A N1850B Steven and Deborah Lund Flu shing MI

Navion - Ryan Navion A N4180K l C McClain Amarillo 1)(

Piper J-3 - Piper J-3 Cub NC3368 Donald Jensen Alb ert Lea MN

Piper - O th ers - Piper PA- 15 Vagabo nd N4334H Keith Swa lheim Stoughton WI

Stinson - Stinson 108-3 N6793M James M Fulford Appl e Vall ey MN

Swift - Globe Sw ift GC-1A N80905 Charl es F Hoover Jr St Paul MN

Taylorcraft - Taylo rcraft BC-12D NC44493 John W M cDo nald Windom KS

Limited Production - Mooney M-18L Mite N118C A A Terr igno Bu ena Park CA

Most Unique Classic - Super Aero 45 N145SA Jon Svendsen Waterloo IA

In additi on to th e award winn ers th ere were many ou tstanding v i ntage ai rcraft at Oshkosh Several of th em were parked in th e Show Plane Ca mpi ng Area and visi to rs wh o d id not stro ll up and down th ose lin es mi ssed see in g some hand some machines

Th e EAA Custo m Built and Vintage Aircraft Judges Guidebook has become a very popular pu b li cati on and many co pi es have b een sent ou t f ro m EAA H eadshyquarters sin ce it was first publi shed severa l years ago It is a guidebook for judges builders restorers exhibitors and competito rs and it contains th e rul es objectives and standard s fo r judging at Oshkos h

I ts quite obvious that many resto rers have been referring to the Guidebook while grooming their aircraft for competition as the quality of workmanshyship and high degree of authenticity has been steadily ri sing at th e Annu al Conventi ons at Oshkos h Fo r those inter es t ed in obtaining th is p ub li ca ti on it ca n b e ordered f rom EAA Headquarters fo r $1 30 postpaid

(Photo by Ted Koston)

This very accurate replica of Lindbergh s Rvan NYP won the Champion Replica Award for owners D ave and Steve Cannavo Les ter Penns ylvania


1940 Porterfield CP-65 Collegiate restored by EAA Chapshyter 304 Jackson Michigan flies over Lake Winnebago during the Convention This beautiful restoration won the Contemporary Age Champion award

Happy Chapter 304 members Bill Meadowcroft and Earl Scoll head (or home in the Chapters award winning Porterfield


The Outstanding Open Cockpit Monoplan e award went to this Aeronca C-3 owned by E E Buck Hilbert Union Illinois

The Outstaming Aeronca Champ award was g iven to this Model 7AC owned by James W Monsion Clio MI

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Dean and Dale Crites Waco ASO was named the Silver Age Champion The Crites twins live in Waukesha Wisshyconsin

(Photo by Ted Kostoni

Cordon Bourlands Waco fCC-8 NC2334 Cordons from Ft Worth Texas and his beautiful Waco won the Outshystanding Closed Cockpit Biplane award


Customized aircraft are recognized at Oshkosh This Stampe SV4C owned by Neal R Sutherland Birmingshyham Michigan was named Champion Antique in this category

Outstanding Beech was this 1950 Bonanza Owners Ceorgene and Donald McDonough live in Palos Hills Illinois

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This Ryan Navion Model A garnered the outstanding Navion trophy for its owner L C McClain Amarillo Texas

These Taylor Cubs are first cousins The f-2 (on the lefl) is owned by Robert H Taylor Tipp City Ohio and the J-2 belongs to Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard Illinois Robert is the son of C G Taylor designer of both airshycraft

Making its first appearance ever at an fAA International (Photo by Ted Kaston)

Convention this 1955 Czechoslovakian Super Aero 45 A most unusual sight - probably the only time in historyMore Oshkosh 80 Photos Continue On Page 19 won the Most Unique Classic Award for its owner Jon that three such trimotors flew in formation - Martin

Svendsen Wateroo Iowa Ca idin s Ju 52 Island Airlines Ford Trimr and Gene Coppocks Stinson A

10

the haird Super Solution at--shyby Gene Chase

Photos by Author The Laird Super Solution powered by a 450 hp P amp W R-985 engine Landing gear and wing fairings and other detail work have yet to be completed

11

The Laird Super Solution replica owned by the EAA Air Museum Foundation made its public debut at the Convention and the Foundation was honored to have on hand the designer and builder of the original plane E M Matty Laird and the pilot who won the 1931 Bendix Race and set a transcontinental speed record in the Laird General James H Doolittle

The Museums Laird a faithful reproduction of the original was started as a construction project by a group of Florida EAAers headed by Ed Escallon Matty Laird was close at hand and provided much technical assistance throughout the project

The replica gradually took shape as the result of many volunteers donating their time and talents in addition to materials and money In June of 1979 the project was transported to the Museum shop in Frankshylin Wisconsin for completion

A more detailed account of the building of the replica and information concerning the original airshycraft will be forthcoming in a booklet being prepared by George Hardie of the Museum staff The availability of this booklet will be announced in EAA publications including Th e VINTAGE AIRPLANE

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Matty Laird (left) and Jimmy Doolittle recreate the scene captured originally in a 1931 photo

When Matty Laird saw the Super Solution at Oshshykosh he immediately put his stamp of approval on it So did other members of the Laird family includshying Mattys wife Elsie their son E M Laird III Mattys brother Harold laird and his nephew Chuck Laird

Also on hand to admire the Laird were many EAAers who had played some part in the construction project and especially those from Florida who virtually lived with the plane for some five years

12

The Laird was on display at the Mini Museum tent along with several other Museum aircraft all under the watchful eyes of the Chairman of the Museum Exhibits Kelly Viets his wife Edna George Pattison Herb Ford and many other Kansas City Chapter 200 volunteers

Some of the Laird family left to right E M Laird I (Matty and Elsies son) E M Matty Laird Marilyn Laird (Mrs E M Laird II) Elsie (Mattys wife) Esther Laird Jeannie Laird Wieland (daughter of Esther and Harold) and Harold L Laird (brother of Matty)

Mattys nephew Charles L Chuck Laird II Charles L Laird IV (Chucks grandson) and R E Westlake of Costa Mesa California who donated a highly detailed sca le model of Don Taylors world record setting Thorp T- 18 to the Museum

As this is being written the final touches are being added to the Laird Super Solution in the Museum shop and it will be placed on display in the Museum along with Jim Younkins Travel Air Mystery Ship and Bill Turners Gee Bee Model Z These three replicas will join Morton Lesters original Keith Rider R-S Jack

Rabbit in a most unusual exhibit of vintage racing aircraft

Elsie and Matty Laird pose happily beside the Laird Super Solution

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by Gene Chase FJ~~reg~ct~ $~~l~ GRAND CHAMPION CLASSI C

Jim Thompson Box 102 Roberts IL 60962 had flown his Aeronca 15AC Sedan N1491H to Oshkosh in previous years but the only people who knew were those who parked near him in the transient aircraft parking area Jim was well aware that he had a bonashyfied classic aircraft and one with an unusual backshyground at that but until it was worthy of being judged he chose to keep it out of the show plane area

Jim s Model 15AC was not only the last Sedan built by Aeronca but also the last aircraft manufactured by them It was completed on October 23 1951 which was actually 7 months after the production line was shut down It seems that enough spares still existed at the plant to assemble two more airframes resultshying in the creation of N1490H and N1491H N1490H is no longer on the FAA registry and its fate is unknown

(Pharo by Ted Kaston)

Jim Thompson poses his Aeronca Sedan This aircraft N 14 91 H was th e final machine off Aeroncas production line

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The Aeronca Sedan originated from a salesengishyneering specification completed in June 1947 The construction was to be conventional tube and fabric and the powerplant a Continental C-125 The proshyposed selling price was $4500

Every effort was made to plan and design the Model 15AC (15th type 1st model powered by Continental) around existing material inventory and in the least amount of time

The engine layout and cowling was developed from the installation on the highly successful Model 7AC Champion The Model 7AC cabin door was to be used on the right side only as on the Champ

The all metal wing with the single lift strut was conshyfigured to facilitate the design of folding provisions on future models

Competition with other four place aircraft of the period made it necessary to increase the engine size to the C-145 This also avoided the possibility of undershypowering the airframe which grossed at 2050 pounds

The prototype NX39801 was first flown in January 1948 with subsequent test flights in February Acshycelerated service tests were conducted in mid-March consisting of 313 landings in less than one week at

This Aeronca factory photo is captioned Aeronca Flyshying Club Findlay Ohio June 1953 The Sedan is N1461H

40 different locations The Model S15AC seaplane vershysion began acceptance testing in May and the Model 15 was approved under type certificate A-802 on Sepshytember 23 1948

The Sedan was produced from mid-1948 through March 1951 at which time light aircraft assembly was terminated at Aeronca s Middletown Ohio plant Including the two examples completed in October 1951 a total of 561 Sedans were built These ranged from N1000H through N1491H and included many which were exported throughout the world Currently the FAA register lists 197 of the model and it is beshylieved that about 100 exist in Canada

Three principal paint schemes were used The 1948 models left the factory painted red with straw trim and unpainted natural aluminum wings In 1949 red paint was also applied to the wings The 1950 variant was medium blue with straw trim in a revised pattern Exceptions did exist however such as the two bright orange and green examples sent to Canada in 1949

Aeronca is currently engaged in the aerospace inshydustry but they still hold the type certificate for the Model 15AC and their files still contain the design drawings and reports as well as some pieces of sales data

Jim Thompsons pride and joy is serial number 561 and he has owned it since January 1967 when he purshychased it from Aeronca Remember we said that this plane had an unusual background Aeronca had reshytained title to N1491H for more than 15 years during which time it was used by company officials and a company flying club It was also used as an instrushyment flight trainer as a full IFR panel had been inshystalled

When Jim decided to restore his Sedan he had two choices He could restore it to the configuration in which it actually left the factory in 1967 with the IFR panel and all or he could duplicate the configuration of the plane on the date it was manufactured in 1951 Ji m chose the latter

Restoration of the plane was started on April 8 1978 when it was disassembled and taken to a friends 40 x 24 garage where there was ample room to work The owner of the garage Don Alexander lived in Elshyliott Illinois 14 miles from Jims home Jim worked on the project nearly every night and weekend for 2 years and figures he spent $2000 for auto gas alone

Jim speaks very highly of Don Alexander s skill especially in the area of sheet metal work and paintshying Don had rebuilt several aircraft previously and

(Aeronca Factory Photo)

Late model Sedan panel with optional Bendix PATR-l0 radio

(Photo by Ted Koston) (Photo by Ted Koston)

Jim Jimm y and Bett y Thompson pose proudly beside Jim removes that speck of dust their Grand Champion Classic Award winner

(Photos by Jim Thompson)

The Sedan looked like this when Jim bought it from Aeronca Colors were white and red Full IFR panel is shown in upper photo

(Photo b y Ted Kas ton)

Th e ins trum e nt pane l res tored back to o rig inal The modern radio hides behind the left glove box door Note th e interesting comparison of th e control wh eels with those in the factory photo All production Sedans used Aeronca Chie f control wheels but none were available when th e las t two planes were built so special wheels were handcraft ed at the factory as shown here

16

was working on a Culver Cadet when work was started on the Sedan

The fuselage landing gear and tail surfaces were stripped down and sandblasted Necessary repairs were made such as replacing 14 of both lower longerons at the tailpost All tubing was then primed with a dark green two part epoxy

New formers and T type stringers were made of mahogany and pine then coated with three applicashytions of a polyethylene varnish All formers were reinforced with aluminum angles for added strength

(Ph oto by Jim Thompson)

All new w ood on th e fuselage Note th e aluminum angle stiffeners on the formers

(ph oto b y Jim Thompson)

Betty Thompson did a very profess ional-looking job of (Ph oto by Ted Koston) installing th e headliner Th e Grand Champion Class ic in flight over flat Wisconsin farm land

17


This was th e second prototype Sedan Colors w ere red and straw with unp ainted metal wings Not e how the paint scheme differs from later models

Jim credits his wife Betty for the beautiful interior She sewed all the panels including the headliner

The materials for the interior were ordered from dealers who advertise in antique automobile publicashytions Jim requested samples of their products then compared them with pieces of unfaded fabric slipped out from under the baggage compartment Thus he was able to accurately match the original materials

The woolen fabric for the headliner came from a company in Massachusetts and the hog hair type floor covering came from Bill Hirsch in Newark New Jersey Both of these items were also exact duplicashytions of the origi nal

A stroke of luck occurred when Jim learned that Jerry Jackson of Tucker Georgia owned a Sedan conshytaining the magnetic compass still sporting the original factory paint The original control wheels were also finished in this same color and Jerry offered to have paint mixed for Jim by having it matched to the color of the compass Jerry also provided Jim with the proper paint for the door frames and exposed tubing in the cabin of N1491H

The restoration of the interior included new idenshytification plates for the electrical switches fuel shut off and trim tab indicator The glove box doors ash tray faces and the fascia panels around the instrushyments and stall warning light were stripped and reshypainted with the appropriate wrinkle finish

When Jim decided not to restore the fully instrushymented version of the Sedan he immediately created a problem for himself He needed a new instrument panel with about half as many holes for gauges and radio equipment As luck would have it a friend Mike Womack of Rescue California had the exact panel needed for Jim s 1951 Sedan It even sported the original wrinkle paint finish and had never been on an airplane

Mike and Jim had been corresponding with each other for quite some time as Mike was restoring the first production model of the Sedan N1000H Mike

also needed an instrument panel for his earlier model Aeronca and Jim happened to have this rare item Needless to say an exchange was made which beneshyfitted both parties Jim sadly added that Mike Womack passed away before the restoration of N1000H was completed

The wheels were completely rebuilt with new brake shoes drums cylinders 0 rings and wheel bolts Most of the engine cowling was either newly fabrishycated or repl aced with new factory pieces

A new windshield was installed This required more effort than what might be expected when new nuts had to be manufactured from 716 hex stock for the bolts securing the windshield Jim had been unable to locate the proper size nuts

Back in 1972 a wind storm blew away the hangar which housed N1491H resulting in damage to the left wing leading edge and tip The tip was repaired at that time by John Marsh of Springfield Illinois but the leading edge wasnt replaced until the recent restoration Here again Don Alexander used his sheet metal wizardry to make the wing panel like new A new landing light lens was also made to be installed later

The fuel cells were sent to Goodyear who originally manufactured them where they were re-lined had new nipples installed and were pressure tested

The fuselage tail surfaces ailerons and landing gear legs were covered with ceconite Ji m chose to overlap all edges rather than to sew up envelopes All tapes were pinked grade A cotton and where the edges of two tapes were flush the pinked edges were dovetailed to create a smooth junction An example of this is where the tapes coveri ng the screws on the tail surfaces meet the trailing edge tapes

For the finish two coats of clear nitrate dope were brushed on followed by 26 coats of butyrate applied with a spray gun About every third coat of butyrate was completely rubbed out using 600 sandpaper

A coat of insignia white was applied to the entire aircraft as a common base coat for both the enamel and color dope All of the Sedans manufactured from late 1950 on were painted blue with cream trim Aeronca referred to the cream color as straw These are the colors of Jim s plane and the paint scheme is authentic as well

Bill Pancake of Keyser West Virginia overhauled the Continental C-145 engine and it looks super sharp painted in its original colors with black cylinders and gray case Bill delivered and installed the engine on the Sedan Bill owns an Aeronca Champ and is the person who restored Dave Long s Aeronca 11CC Super Chief which won Best of Type at Oshkosh 7B

To add to the authenticity of N1491H Jim applied the original-style McCauley decals on the propeller and all hardware in the plane was replaced with new of the exact type as ca ll ed for in the part s manual and drawings Where there were discrepancies Jim called on hi s friend John Houser a service engineer with Aeronca for help

John has been with Aeronca since before the Sedans were manufactured and has a wealth of knowledge of Aeronca aircraft John was a big help throughout this project especia lly because of his personal knowlshyedge and experience with Sedans in general and with N1491H specifically John also supplied much of the historical data as presented in this article for which the author is greatly indebted

As with many restoration projects credit should be given to several people who become involved For example Tom Johnson of Paxton Illinois helped with the re-wiring of the Sedan including the clever installation of some modern equipment which in no way detracts from the original appearance of the plane Many people have inspected the aircraft withshyout realizing that it is equipped with a 720 channel Edo-Aire RT-563A radio a Hush-A-Com and Whelen wing tip strobe light system

Some of the items which were no longer serviceshyable or available were re-manufactured by Bob Barnes and his father Woody of Gibson City Illinois and Bob Young of Oakwood Illinoi s Dick Welsh of Isshysaquah Washington manufactures fuel sight gauges for Aeronca Sedans and also publishes a newsletter for Aeronca Sedan Club members Dick found the instrument and stall warning light fascia panels for N1491H

During the two and a half year project one person who lent a helping hand and kept a close eye on what was going on was Jim Ross of Paxton Illinois Jim is the LA who signed off the Sedan and this occurred just in time for Jim Thompson to make two 30 minute test flights on Sunday the second day of Oshkosh BO

On th e followi ng morni ng Ji m Betty and son Ji mmy made the two hour flight to Oshkosh landing with a total of three hours on the new restoration Jim has always enjoyed flying his Sedan but now that its an Oshkosh Grand Champion his enthusiasm for the plane knows no bounds

Lets hope that some of that enthusiasm will be saved for hi s second restoration project which is another Aeronca Yes this was Jim Thompson s first rebuild project and if he does as well with his next one he may take home a Grand Champion Antique award for his 1936 low wing Aeronca LC

18

OSHKOSH 80 (Continued From Poge 10)

(Photo by Dick Stouffer)

Corben Model B owned by the Rick Demond Family Whitmore Lake Michigan This craft won the Outstandshying Open Cockpit Monoplane award at Oshkosh 80


Newly restored Stinson SR-10 owned by Bob Lickteig Albert Lea Minnesota This aircraft was the last civilian gullwing Stinson built It was manufactured on January 8 1941


Gene Morris Hampshire Illinoi s in his mint Cu lv er Cadet over a Wisconsin farm near Oshkosh


Stan Gomoll and Pauline Winthrop display a quilt made by Mrs Gomoll and donated to the AntiqueClassic Divishysion as first prize in a sweepstakes contest at Oshkosh 80 This has been a popular fund raising event for th e past several years at Oshkosh 19

lGRAND CHAMPION ANTIQUE bycn~~~-ilill

On March 29 1927 a plane manufactured by the Buhl-Verville Aircraft Company later reorganized into the Buhl Aircraft Company was awarded ATC Numshyber 1 Four years later this company produced a sprightly little monoplane which was totally unlike the large biplanes which previously bore the company name

This newest member of the Buhl family was called the Bull Pup with a model designation LA-1 It was

a single place shoulder wing craft powered with the 45 hp 3 cylinder Szekely engine The antique receivshying the highest judging score at Oshkosh 80 was a beautifully restored and extremely authentic 49 year old Bull Pup This Grand Champion award winner was restored by Captain Daniel F Neuman and his wife of Minneapolis Minnesota

With a big smile Dan smugly admits that he can t lay claim to having restored the Buhl from a basket

(Photo by Logan Coombs)

Th e Grand Champion Antique a t Oshkosh 30 Dan N eushyman s 19J I Buh l B ull Pup LA- I NC3 43Y Serial Num shyber 137

case because the plane had never degenerated to that condition This well-preserved antique spent most of its life in the Washington DC area and it still sports the original factory insta ll ed engine The total time on the airframe and engine is only 250 hours The engine has been overhauled three times

20

Early production Bull Pups could be purchased with a choice of three wing sizes short for racing long for airports at high elevations and the standard 30 panels Dans Buhl has the 30 wing as did most of the machines

Dan is the fou rth owner of the plane having pu rshychased it from the widow of the third owner in Virshyginia Dan had found out through his friend Ken Hyde of Warrenton Virginia that the plane was available

The restoration of the Bull Pup included new cotshyton fabric covering with Super Flite dope and Super Flite synthetic enamel for the final finish

Another factory option was the wheel size and Dans plane was equipped with the 700 x 4 size As owners of Taylor E-2 and J-2 Cubs American Eaglets etc know 700 x 4 ti res are vi rtually impossible to fi nd so Dan opted for the 12 disc wheel which could be fitted

(Photo by Jack Cox)

with modern small motorcycle tires Through some shrewd detective work Dan located an original pair of 12 Bull Pup wheels on a wheelbarrow owned by farmer David Vernor of Alpena Michigan

The restoration was completed in the summer of 1978 and Dan flew the Buhl to the National AAA FlyshyIn at Blakesburg Iowa that year where it was awarded the Sweepstakes trophy

Dan has flown the Pup very little as he and his wife are busily engaged in the restoration (for the second time) of their Curtiss Jenny They hope to fly the Jenny to selected fly-ins in 1981

Dan has a special feeling for his Buhl Bull Pup as it brings back memories of another Buhl he owned in 1940 This was a Model CA-6 Airsedan which will be described in a future article in The VINTAGE AIRPLANE

(Photo by Dan Neuman)

Instrument panel in the Bull Pup

21

THE LUSCOMBE

BUILT TO TAKE IT

by A T Stretch EAA 86368 AIC 3524

Pres ident Airtex Products In c 259 Lower Morrisville Road

Fallsington PA 19054

Photos from the Authors Collection

The Luscombe Silva ire in flight

22

Twent y-one people p erched on th e Luscombe wing atshytests to th e nega ti ve load streng th Th e wing was deshysigned to take a positive load of 8 V2 times th e force of gravit y without distortion

Back in the early thirties Don Luscombe an expert in sales and publicity work redirected his many talshyents to design the venerable 90 hp fabric covered Monocoupe He then designed the first lightplane with a metal monocoque fuselage and formed the Lusshycombe Airplane Gorp with a factory at Trenton New Jersey to produce it

The initial model was the Luscombe 90 with a radial engine This was followed by the Luscombe Phantom a two place high wing monoplane powered with a 145 hp engine This high performance plane was a bit ahead of its time and only a few were made but it paved the way for the Silvaire Model 8 series

The first to go into successful production was the 1937 Model 8 with a 50 hp engine This was followed by the 1939 sixty-five horsepower Model 8A most of which were made in 1946 The wings were a super strong metal structure covered with fabric to save weight Luscombe used a photo in its advertising showing twenty-one people sitting on the wings This was the equivalent of almost 3 G s negative load at gross

The 8A had no electrical system nor navigation lights and had to be hand propped V wing struts with

Th e Luscombe Silva ire front office

jury struts were employed but in later models single non-welded struts were used A gravity fed 14 gallon fuel tank was mounted in the top of the fu selage over the baggage compartment giving a 350 mile range at a claimed cruise speed of 105 mph Thi s was an opshytimistic figure which in fact was nearer 95 mph It had a gross weight of 1260 Ibs and an empty weight of 720 Ibs Wing loading was 86 Ibs and power loadshying was 194lbs per horsepower Everything was metal covered except the wings

The 1946 Model 8A listed for $2995 00 FAF and the Model 8E sold for $3995 00 The Model 8E was a great improvement with its 85 hp Continental C-85-12 enshygine which gave the 8E about ten miles per hour more speed However the landing speed was 52 mph against 37 mph for the 8A and the stall speed was 48 mph against 37 for the 8A Rate of climb was 575 fpm against the 8A rate of 900 ft With 24 gallons of gas in the wing tanks the range was about 500 miles The 8E Model sported wheel pants full electrical system with circuit breakers and starter and was entirely metal covered

The 8E wing tanks were higher than the single tank of the 8A which eliminated fuel starvation that ocshy

curred in the BA during take-off acceleration or in a steep climb when there was less than 5 gallons of fuel in the tank The BA had a scoop of sorts on the gas cap that was supposed to pressurize the tank but if you put the cap on backwards you were in real trouble

Testing of the first Luscombe B was done at Mercer Airport in Trenton where the factory was located Dick Washburn ran the taxi tests and h e tell s th e story of how he accidentally let th e speed build up a little too much and it lifted off the ground The temptation was too great so he took it arou nd the pattern as a lark thu s becoming the first man to fly the Lu scombe B Later as Sales Manager he put in several thousand hours flying Lu scombes all over the United States setting up deal erships

Before the sales of aircraft fell off in 1949 2463 Lu scombe B Series planes were sold By thi s time the factory had been moved to Dallas Texas

When the all-metal Luscombe went into producshytion there were very few mechani cs experienced in metal construction To alleviate thi s problem Lu sshycombe established the Luscombe School of Aeroshynautics to train personnel in metal work Most gradushyates went on to other aircraft factories or to work for the airlines but Lucombe hired the cream of th e crop as they were needed to work on the Luscombe No students worked on the produ ction line contrary to common belief at the time

The writer was the proud owner of a 1946 Lu scombe 8A which I purchased used in 1949 for the sum of only $70000 I flew it for over a thou sand hours Knowshying its rugged strength I was never afraid of tearing off a wing and ventured into turbulent conditions which I would not dare to do in any other aircraft I loved to do aerobatics in that old bird

I added a self-contained battery in the baggage comshypartment and wired it for navigatio n lights retractab le landing light radio and instrument lights For radios I had an Airboy LF receiver with a 100 ft trailing anshytenna a VHF receiver and a RCA panel mounted VHF transmitter I also added a tu rn and bank sensitive altimeter and gyro compass so I could do a 1BO in bad weather I mounted a wind driven generator on the landing gear strut clu ster for power

The Luscombe could be flown hands-off ju st with the rudder and aside from the rather cramped cabi n for my six foot two size it was a pleasure to fly Her only fault was in cross wind landings it was a mu st to touch down the up-wind wheel first or you could swerve off the runway and possibly ground loop There was no flexibility in the landing gear to absorb side

Finished Luscombes awaiting deliver y

loads on the down-wind wheel so it was possib le to w ea rin g the bra c ket holes Otherwise it wa s not shear th e attach bolt at the fuselage in an improperly costly to maintain After all th ese years an AD reshyexecuted cross wind landing cently came out calling for inspection andor replaceshy

Maintenance was minimal Periodic replacem ent of ment of the vertical stabili zer attach fitting I guess the U shaped hinge brackets of the rudd er was som ething had to happen after 34 yea rs of servi ce necessa ry to eliminate play du e to the hinge pin s Why can t they make planes like that any more

24

THE NEW LUSCOMBE 50 A primary training and private owner two-p lace cabin ship being produced to sell in the $1 500 price range This airp lane is without competition in th e metal field Without formal advertising announcement over 300 of these ships were ordered within a thirty day period It is believed that one thousand of this model could be sold in 1938

Don Luscombe designed and built th e Monocoupe Airshyplanes Before building metal airp lanes he wa s ViceshyPres ident and Genera l Manager of Monocoupe Corporashytion and Pres ident of Lambert Aircraft Engine Company Approximately one thousand ships w ere built and sold under his supervision H e has an unusual knowledge of the civi l market and has retained a worldwide acquaintshyanceship and clientel

Li

THE PHANTOM 145 - FOR SUPER SPORT This airplane is purchased b y th ose who take pride in a fine materi al possess ion It is one o( th e (as tes t airplanes in th e world (or its horsepower Equipped with the apshypointments and designed to ca rr y th e accessories (ound on the most exp ens ive airliners Price $6000

Photos and Text on This Page Are From a

1938 Luscombe Sales Brochure

THE LUSCOMBE 90 - TWO-PLACE CAB IN AIRPLANE This airplane is ex tremely easy to fl y has unusual comshyfort and v isibilit y and although it cru ises 120 miles an hour it may be put into th e hands of th e amateur It 0(shy

fers a 700 mile range and gives twenty miles to th e ga lshyIon of gaso line Price is $3 975

25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs

This is in answer to your qu es ti on con cerning id enti shyfi ca tion of engin e in th e Travel Air o n back cover of August issue The VINTAGE AIRPLANE I beli eve i t is the seven cylinder Axelson a 11 5-1 50 hp engin e that Travel Air used in their A-4000 M od el Th e enshygine looks a lot like th e earl y m odel Warn er but th e nea t installation pictured he re sure lo oks like th e Axelson installati on see U S Civil Aircraft Vo l 2

Enclosed is a photo I thou ght you m ight like to have its th e Travel Air M odel A-6000 Thi s photo was mad e a few months ago here in Al as ka and o ld N9966 is still earning h er keep with no m achin ery available that can reall y replace her N9966 is al so featured in th e above mentioned Vol 2

Sure did enjoy your J O Dockery Story you ran in the last two issues of the magazine Doc was sort of an old comp etitor of mine down th ere in Arkansas The last time I saw him he gave me a dem on shystration ride in a new Bellan ca Viking and I mu st say Doc held fast to his crop du sting mode

Si ncerely you rs Roy G Cagl e 8525 Jennifer Drive Ju neau AK 99801

Dea r Gene

Thank you so ve ry mu ch fo r running my sto ry and pi ctures in th e July i ssu e o f Th e VINTA G E AIRPLANE If it is poss ibl e could you send m e at leas t th ree m ore copies of that iss u e

I have ju st f ini sh ed paintin g and p utting togeth er a Super Ac ro Spo rt Ho pe to f ly it soo n M y nex t p ro ject w ill b e a 1943 Staggerw ing Beech Thi s plane be lo ngs to Mr John M ecom wh o o wn s Th e New Orl ea n s Sa ints foo tball t eam Thi s w as th e se ni or Mr Mecom s first p lane and th ey wa nt it res to red to like new condition

A very unu sual thing happened to my son Wayne recentl y H e and I w ere fl yin g my T- Craft late o ne af ternoo n and as w e passed over our ho use at about 1000 feet I throttl ed back and h e stu ck hi s head out th e window to ye ll at my wifeWh en h e did hi s sun shyglasses bl ew o ff Th ey landed in th e ya rd across th e stree t between two trees and w ere no t hu rt excep t fo r the ea r pi ece being bent

Wish we could make it to th e Conventi o n but can shyno t this yea r M aybe nex t year in th e Staggerwin g

Yours trul y Bob M oore 916 South 12 Street Nederl and TX 77627

Dear Mr Chase

W e w ere both surpri sed and pl eased to hea r fro m fri end s in Mi chi ga n and he re in Fl o ri da th at our W aco UPF-7 w as o n th e back cover of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE July issu e

Th en ano th er surprise three complimentary copi es We do thank you very mu ch

As you may o r may no t kn ow w e w ere fo rm erl y fro m Milan Mi chi gan and our bu sin ess was kn own th ere as Custo m Air craft We moved every thing to Flo rida in November o f 1977 In Janu ary o f thi s yea r we moved o n to prop erty purchased so uth of O ca la In Jun e w e m oved our bu siness into a new hanga r shop th at is al so located o n th e property al o ng with a pri va te strip whi ch is shared with two o th er famishyli es It is located b etween 475A and 1-75 It borders th e north bound Rest Area o n 1-75 and is 4900 feet long O ur hanga r is gold and ca n t be mi ssed f ro m th e air

W e w o uld like to ex tend an invitati o n to you and your fri ends to stop in wh en you are in the area As

mos t o f our w o rk is o n antiqu es w e fee l you would fin d it worth you r tim e to do so Th e welcom e mat is always out to ou r f ri ends and fe llow f lye rs

Thank you agai n for the comp lim enta ry copi es o f Th e VINTA GE AIRPLA NE It s always good to see o nes ai rcraf t in p rin t

Sin ce rely A rno ld Nieman CUSTO M A IRCRAFT RESTORATION IN C 3504 S W 85 St reet Ocala FL 32671

Dea r Sirs

I att ended thi s yea r s EAA In te rn ati o nal Co nventi o n for th e ve ry f irst tim e I f lew my 1947 Cess na 120 C-FDM X fr om Hali fax Nova Sco ti a Canada and regisshyt ered o n A ugust 5 I w as th ere fo r three days and th oroughly enjoyed every moment o f i t

Sin ce returnin g ho m e several peo pl e have as ked if th ere w ere any oth er class ics registered th at fl ew furth er fro m th e eas t than I di d I have not hea rd of anyone else but I w ould appreciate it if you coul d confirm wh eth er o r not my Cessna 120 can lay cl aim to having f lo wn th e furth es t fr om th e eas t to Oshkos h in 1980

Yours very trul y Larry Keddy M emb er Chapter 305 Dartm outh 41 Woodward Cres Halifax Nova Scoti a B3M 1J6 Ca nada

Dea r Vintage Airpl ane Read ers I rea ll y enjoyed reading J O Dockerys mem oirs

There should be mo re like him Wh i le cl ea ning out th e offi ce here I found a not e

stating th at a guy named Ray Tarr was here abo ut a yea r ago and sa id th at bac k in 1932 he own ed th e Ca liforni a Cub factory H e didn t say wh ere in Cali shyfo rni a and he didn t have any ph o tos of th e aircraft H e lives h ere in Vancouver Canada and I have hi s pho ne and address if anyone wants i t

D oes anyo ne have an y pi ctu res o r m em o ri es of thi s ai rc raf t If so let s w ri t e it up in the magazin e and surpri se th e o ld guy

A ll th e b est To ny Sw ain ex-Waco and now T-6 (Harva rd ) driver TO NY SWAIN PRO DU CTI O NS 2435 Burrard Street Vancouver BC V6J 3]3 Canada

26

CALENDAR OF EVENTS OCTOBER 11 - DAYTON OHIO - 2nd Annual Tour through the

U S Air Force Museum at Wright Field sponsored by EAA Chapter 610 For furt her information please contact Col Bob Taylor 5855 St Rt 40 Tipp City O H 45371

OCTOBER 16-19 - NEWTON KANSAS - 4th Annual Internati onal Cessna 120140 Association Convention For further information please contact Tom Norton 8117 Hemingway Aveanue S Cot shytage Grove MN 55016 Telephone 612 459-1423

OCTOBER 17-19 - CAMDEN SOUTH CAROLINA - Fly- In For further information please contact Geneva McKiernan 5301 Finsbury Place Charlotte NC 28211

NOVEMBER 8 - LANTANA FLORIDA - 2nd Annual Dixi e Fly-In inshycluding a bar-b-q and many exciting events For further informashytion please contact Sam McKeever Chairman 16 Canton Road Lake Worth FL 33463 Telephone 305965-4575

NOVEMBER 22-23 - MIAMI FLORIDA - Antique Classic and Cusshytom Built Exh ibit and Fly-I n at th e Fifth Annual Harvest at the Dade County Youth Fairgrounds For further information please conshytact Elizabeth Bookout 305823-1837 or Luci e Cogswell at the Histori ca l Association of Southern Fl orida 854-3289

AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES The VINTAGE AIRPLANE

1973 - March through December 1974 - All Are Available 1975 - All Are Available 1976 - january March April May August October

November December 1977 - All Are Available 1978 - january March through june August Ocshy

tober November 1979 - February through December 1980 - january through September

The above mentioned back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid


Classic aircraft judges hard

at work at Oshkosh 80

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27

Scrambling from the first Saturday through ThursshySTRAI GHTBy Brad Thomas day noon were Claude Gray Dale Gustafson George

AND LEVEL The 1980 Annual EAA International Convention was

a great success with increased attendance registered show aircraft and numbers of campers but what really makes this fantastic event such an overall sucshycess and jells the enthusiasm into a working group of volunteers who enjoy every minute of it Lets take a look through the eyes of your President as he looks back over those twelve days on the groups of Wittshyman Field during Oshkosh 80 and in particular our area of involvement the AntiqueClassic Division

Statistically the overall total number of show airshycraft in attendance rose 12 over 1979 and a new record was established at 1543 The tally of antique and classic aircraft showed an overall increase with antiques down in number but with classics up conshysiderably Preliminary totals show antiques at 157 and classics at 620

Our hats are off to Art Morgan and Bob Kesel veterans of parking and flightline safety who with their volunteers performed their duties in a most proshyfessional manner During a brief jaunt through our parking areas on the first Saturday we noted imshymediately that the show aircraft camping area was completely full that the show aircraft area north of our Headquarters barn was 90 filled and that the overflow parking area was rapidly filling By Sunday afternoon there were no open parking spots in any of the parking areas

We also wish to salute Jack Copeland and Ed Hulshybert who worked steadily throughout the week to recruit volunteers for parking flightline safety and security under the able direction of David Shaw Don Odell and Jack Huffman

Our Red Barn Headquarters was always aglow with the smiling faces of Kate Morgan Janet Kesel and those wonderful ladies who assisted them daily through the week While listening to many of the conversations I soon learned that our staff people dispensed sales items ran an information bureau became messenshygers and kept smiling the whole time

To watch and listen to AI and Lois Kelch function as our Division Press Relations was a delight Through the entire week they presented information to the media arranged for ph~to missions staged intershyviews described our Division activities to the Aviashytion Greats and continually promoted good public relations

York and Dale Wolford our Division Judging Chiefs Along with their fine group of capable assistants their selections of the award winners was the result of many hours of hard and devoted work that attests to the effectiveness of ou r judgi ng system

Among the many changes noted this year was the moving of the AntiqueClassic forums to the main forum area in the center of the Convention This made it possible for those who desired to attend sucshycessive forums in any of the tents Under the able direction and planning of Ron Fritz and Jack Winthrop our forums were again both popular and effective

Ollies Woods was the scene of welcome shade for EAAers on Tuesday evening following the air show when the annual Division picnic under the able direction of John Turgyan proved to be an outstandshying event AntiqueClassic Chapter 8 of Grand Rapids Michigan was in charge of food this year and it was great When all of the home-cooked food had been served we had fed over 450 members and guests Frankly we had underestimated the attendance and several who wanted seconds were disappointed This social gathering has become one of the most popular attractions for AntiqueClassic members attending the Convention

A new function in our area this year was the adshydition of a tent near the Red Barn for use of our memshybership and guests as a hospitality center OX5er Bob Wallace took it upon himself to see that this area was utilized to the utmost degree What a sight it was to see a group of over forty OXSers being photographed behind the 1911 Curtiss Pusher in front of the Red Barn The tales and stories exchanged recalled long lost memories for many in that unique group

Without a doubt the singular most popular area was a few yards north of the Red Barn where the replicas were parked namely Bill Turner s Gee Bee Jim Younkin s Travel Air Mystery Ship and the Canshynavos Spirit of St Louis During the early part of the Convention Paul Stephenson interviewed Bill Turner Jim Younkin and Steve and Dave Cannavo much to the delight of the crowd At other times interviews were held with the owners of other various antique and classic aircraft attending the Convention Of special interest was the 1911 replica of Dale and Dean Crites Placed in front of the Red Barn it drew crowds of interested persons and as soon as Paul began to interview Dale the Curtiss would disappear amid the dense group of interested and admiring guests

Aviation Great day was Thursday and each of the honored guests was introduced at both the afternoon and the evening programs on the EAA theatre stage To coincide with this event the AntiqueClassic Parade of Flight was flown on the same day Under the direcshytion of Phil Coulson and Willard Benedict a fantastic display of representative aircraft dating from the 1911 Curtiss Pusher up through classics of 1955 flew as a part of the afternoon air show Where else but at Oshshykosh would you be able to see three different trishymotored aircraft fly in formation a Ford Trimotor a Stinson Model A and a Junkers Ju52 The directors of the Parade of Flight had many anxious moments that day with the unsettled weather and other mixed signals The planning and effective presentation of the Parade of Flight deserves the full appreciation of our membership

In conclusion a few passing observations of what the EAA International Convention is all about

Tim and Barbara Bowers flying their 1979 Classic Grand Champion Luscombe 8E from California with Tim volunteering for a weeks work as a classic judge

Jim Gorman EAA Air Museum Trustee rolling up his pants legs and directing departing traffic through the water and mud in front of the show plane camping area

Seeing a smile from ear-to-ear on John Turgyan as he returned to the parking area after flying Jim Younkins Travel Air Mystery Ship in a solo fly-by preceeding the air show on the last day

Observing Charlie Schuck being completely covshyered with mud thanks to a propeller biting the wet ground as he was pushing a homebuilt through a soggy area

Watching the cooperation of visitors and photogshyraphers who as requested would move away from the Gee Bee and the Mystery Ship for uncluttered pictures

Arriving at the Red Barn Friday morning early to see the 1911 Curtiss sitting in the middle of a temshyporary lake

Realizing the significance of the major awards at the Theatre on Friday evening

And thrilled by the attitude and assistance of the volunteers who make the whole thing work

Summing it all up a quote from the Daily News overheard from an EAA volunteer Where else but Oshkosh can you take your weeks vacation spend $400 work from dawn to dusk go home dead tired and sore-footed and have a whole lot of fun

Editorial Staff


Editor Gene R Chase

















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Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








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Editorial Staff


Editor Gene R Chase

















UNION IL 60180 815q21-4591













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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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WITH A NEW









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ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT



Silver Age (1928 - 1932)











Customized Aircraft




REPLICA AIRCRAFT






CLASSIC AIRCRAFT








OUTSTANDING IN TYPE



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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT



Silver Age (1928 - 1932)











Customized Aircraft




REPLICA AIRCRAFT






CLASSIC AIRCRAFT








OUTSTANDING IN TYPE



6



























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THE LUSCOMBE

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Li






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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27


ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT



Silver Age (1928 - 1932)











Customized Aircraft




REPLICA AIRCRAFT






CLASSIC AIRCRAFT








OUTSTANDING IN TYPE



6



























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Li






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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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Li






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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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THE LUSCOMBE

BUILT TO TAKE IT






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Li






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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









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1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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BUILT TO TAKE IT






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LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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BUILT TO TAKE IT






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Li






25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27


















20





(Photo by Jack Cox)







21

THE LUSCOMBE

BUILT TO TAKE IT






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Li






25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27





(Photo by Jack Cox)







21

THE LUSCOMBE

BUILT TO TAKE IT






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Li






25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27

THE LUSCOMBE

BUILT TO TAKE IT






22




















24



Li






25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27




















24



Li






25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27



Li






25

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27

LETTERS Dea r Sirs





Dea r Gene






Dear Mr Chase








Dea r Sirs









26















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









i

27















CLASSIFIED ADS




1929 1930 1931 19321933





DOG DRESS IT UP

WITH A NEW









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-I () omembers.eaavintage.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/VA-Vol... · 1980-10-10 · Northridge, CA...

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Transcript of -I () omembers.eaavintage.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/VA-Vol... · 1980-10-10 · Northridge, CA...