Vintage Airplane - Apr 1992

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April1992 Vol. 20,No.4
CONTENTS
Contents
Straight& LeveVEspie"Butch" Joyce
2 AeroMail
3 AlC News
6 VintageLiteraturelDennis Parks
10 OfTigerMothsAnd Men/Bill Wright
16 WhatOur MembersAreRestor ing/
Norm Petersen
18 Honeymoon Fairchil d/Jim Ri cklefs
20 FamilyChamp/NormPetersen
24 PassIt ToBucklE.E."Buck"Hilbert
25 Snap-on'sHintsForRestorers
26 WelcomeNewMembers
27 Calendar
28 MysteryPlane/George Hardi e
30 VintageTrader
Page  10 
Page 20 
FRONT  COVER  ... Jim  Solbralske  enjoys  the  smoot h  a ir  over  Lake 
L .... Winnebago in  his  newly  restored Aeronca  7AC Champion.  Photo by 
Mike  St eineke.  shot  wi t h  a  Canon  EOS- 1 equipped  wi th  an  80-200 
lens.  1/500 sec.  at  f5.6.  EAA photo  plane flown by Buck Hilbert . 
BACK  COVER  ... AI  a nd  Bi lli e  Pemberton's  deHavilland DH 82a  Tiger 
Moth  took  "Best  in  Show"  honors  at t he  1991  Ca marillo  Fly-In.  Photo 
by Phillip Mankana ©.
Copyright  © 1992  by the  EMAntique/Classic Division  Inc.  All  rights reserved. 
VINTAGE AIRPLANE  (ISSN  0091-6943)  is  published  and  owned  exclusively  by  the  EM Antique/Classic  Division.  Inc.  of  the  Experimental 
Aircraft  Association  and  is  published  monthly  at  EAA  Aviation  Center.  3000  Poberezny  Rd..  P.O.  Box  3086. Oshkosh.  Wisconsin  54903-3086. 
Second  Class  Postage  paid  at  Oshkosh. Wisconsin  54901  and  at  additional  mailing  offices.  The  membership  rate  for  EM Antique/Classic 
Division. Inc. is $20.00 for current EM members for  12 month period of which $12.00 is for the  publication of VINTAGE AIRPLANE.  Membership 
is open to all who are interested in aviation. 
POSTMASTER: Send  address  changes  to  EM Antique/Classic  Division.  Inc.•  P.O. Box  3086. Oshkosh.  WI  54903-3086.  FOREIGN  AND APO 
ADDRESSES - Please allow at least two months for delivery of VINTAGE AIRPLANE to  foreign and APO addresses via surlace mail. 
ADVERTISING  - Antique/Classic  Division  does  not  guarantee  or  endorse  any  product  offered  through  the  advertising.  We  invite  constructive 
criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained  through  our advertiSing so that corrective measures can  betaken. 
EDITORIAL POLICY: Readers  are  encouraged  to  submit  stories  and  photographs.  Policy opinions  expressed  in  articles  are  solely those  of the 
authors.  Responsibility for accuracy in  reporting  rests entirely with the contributor. No renumeration is made. 
Material should be  sent to:  Editor, VINTAGE AIRPLANE, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WJ54903-3086.  Phone 4141426-4800. 
The  words  EAA, ULTRALIGHT, FLY  WITH  THE  FIRST  TEAM,  SPORT  AVIATION  and  the  logos  of  EAA, EAA  INTERNATIONAL 
CONVENTION, EM ANTIQUE/CLASSIC  DIVISION, INTERNATIONAL  AEROBATIC  CLUBS, WARBIRDS  OF  AMERICA  are  ®registered 
trademarKs.  THE  EM SKY  SHOPPE  and  logos of the  EM AVIATION  FOUNDATION  and  EM ULTRAUGHT CONVENTION  are  trademari<s 
of the above associations and their use by any person other than  the above association is strictly prohibited. 
EDITORIAL STAFF 
Publisher 
Tom Poberezny 
Vice-President, 
Marketing and Communications 
Dick Matt 
Editor-in-Chief 
Jack Cox 
Editor 
Henry G . Frautschy 
Managing Editor 
Golda Cox 
Art Director 
Mike Drucks 
Computer Graphic Specialist 
Olivia L.  Phillip 
Advertising 
Mary  Jones 
Assciate Editor 
Norm Petersen 
Feature Writers 
George Hardie, Jr.  Dennis Parks 
Staff Photographers 
Jim Koepnick  Mike Steineke 
Carl Schuppel  Donna Bushman 
Editorial Assistant 
Isabelle Wiske 
EAA ANTIQUE/ CLASSIC DIVISION, INC, 
OFFICERS 
President  Vice-President 
Espie "Butch' Joyce  Arthur Morgan 
604 Highway SI.  3744 North 51st Blvd. 
Madison. NC 27025  Milwaukee, WI  53216 
919/ 427-0216  414/ 422-3631 
Secretary  Treasurer 
Steven C. Nesse  E.E. ' Buck' Hilbert 
2009Highland Ave.  P.O.  Box 424 
Albert Leo, MN  w:lJ7  Union, IL 60180 
507/373-1674  815/923-4591 
DIRECTORS 
John Berndt  Robert C."Bob'  Brauer 
7645 Echo Point Rd.  9345 S.  Hoyne
Connon Falls. MN 55009 

507/ 263-2414  312/77  -2105 
Gene Chase  John S. Copeland 
2159 Carlton Rd. 
28-3  Wllliamsbu'8 Ct. 
Oshkosh , WI  54904  Shrewsbury, MA  1545 
414/231-5002  508/842-7867 
Phil Coulson 
Daubner 
28415 Springbrook Dr.  2448  ough Lone 
Lawton, MI 49065  Hartford. WI  53027 
616/ 624-6490  414/673-5885 
Charles Harris  Stan Gomoll 
3933 South Peoria  1042 90th Lone, NE 
P.O. Box 904038 
  MN 55434 
Tulsa. OK 74105  61  /784-1172 
919/742-7311 
Dole A. Gustatson  Jeannie Hill 
7724 Shady Hill  Dr.  P.O. Box 328 
Indianapolis. IN 46278  Harvard, IL 60033 
317/293-4430  815/943-7205 
Robert  Robert D. "Bob" Lumley 
1708 Boy Oaks  r.  1265 South  124th St . 
Albert Leo, MN  w:lJ7  Brookfield, WI  53005 
507/373-2922  414/782-2633 
Gene Morris  George York 
115C Steve Court, R.R. 2  181  Sloboda Av. 
Roanoke, TX  76262  Mansfield. OH 44906 
817/ 491-9110  419/ 529-4378 
S.H. OWes" Schmid 
2359 Lefeber Avenue 
Wauwatosa , WI  53213 
414/771-1545 
DIRECTOR  EMERITUS 
S.J. Willmon 
7200 S.E.  85th Lone 
Ocala , FL 32672 
904/245-7768 
ADVISORS 
Jimmy Rollison 
823 Carrion Circle 
Winters, CA 95694-1665 
916/795-4334 
Dean Richardson  Geoff Robison 
6701  Colony Dr.  1521  E.  MacGregor Dr. 
Madison, WI  53717  New Hoven. IN 46774 
608/833-1291  219/493-4724 
STRAIGHT  & LEVEL 
by Espie  "Butch"  Joyce 
As some of you are reading this issue
of VINTAGE AIRPLANE, there will be
a number of your officers, directors and
editorial staff at the Sun 'n Fun EAA
Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida to be of assis-
tance to the Sun 'n Fun crew, and also to
cover the event for future magazine
reports.
In the mail the other day, I received a
subscription solicitation from a well -
known aviation publication, with the 12
month subscription rate around $40.00. It
struck me that being a member of the
Antique/Classic Division for only $20.00
a year, we also receive our fine publication
VINTAGE AIRPLANE on a monthly
basis. VINTAGE improves every month,
and that can attributed to the articles sent
in by our membership. I encourage
everyone to continue sending them in,
particularly articles that deal with items of
a teclmical nature. These are very popular
with our members.
For those of you who do not know, your
Antique/Classic Division ofEAA actually
operated in the red for a number of years,
and was subsidized by the parent or-
ganization, the Experimental Aircraft As-
sociation. It is only in the past five or six
years that the Antique/Classic Division
has turned the comer and is now operating
in the black. This enables us to spend
more money on VINTAGE AIRPLANE
for color inserts and things of that nature.
Also, we are able now to help support the
Pioneer Airport operation and the EAA
Aviation Foundation. Hopefully we will
be able to participate more in this type of
support in the future on behalf of the An-
'" tique/Classic Division membership. The
  largest one thing that has contributed to us
  turning the comer and becoming solvent
"" is the increase in membership. Once we
  passed about 5,000 members, the mem-
bership fee has enabled us to hold our
heads above water, and do a bit of swim-
ming! As our membership continues to
grow (it is growing at a rate of about 14
percent), we will be able to offer better
service and better quality publications to
our members.
That's my pitch, and I would like to ask
that each individual member who has a
friend who is interested in our type of
aircraft (which now extends up through
1960), to become a member so that our
broader membership base will make us a
more solid organization.
While talking about VINTAGE
AIRPLANE, I would like to review a few
items. On the editorial staff, the publisher
of VINTAGE AIRPLANE is also the pub-
lisher of SPORT AVIATION, Tom
Poberezny. Editor-in-Chief of all EAA
publications is Jack Cox , SPORT
AVIATION's Editor. Jack does an excel-
lent job. Of course our own Editor is
Henry G. Frautschy. H.G. is really doing
a great job for us on the magazine. As an
Aeronca owner, his personal interest lies
with the antique/classic aircraft. Manag-
ing Editor is Golda Cox. Golda is Jack's
wife and does a great job keeping
everybody on schedule. I'm sure that she
gets uptight at me at times for being delin-
quent in turning in my Straight & Level
collllml, although she has never said any-
thing to me directly. I apologize, Golda.
Our Associate Editor is Nann Petersen
who writes articles for us. He works in the
office beside H.G. at Oshkosh. Nann is
very knowledgeable with antique and
classic aircraft. He owns a nice J-3 Cub
and loves float flying. We have great
feature writers George Hardie and Dennis
Parks, and EAA staff photographers Jim
Koepnick, Donna Bushman, Carl Schup-
pel and Mike Steineke. Our Editorial As-
sistant is Isabelle Wiske, who has been
with EAAa number of years and is always
there to help.
I would like to congratulate H.G. on
his article in the March issue of
VINTAGE AIRPLANE on aircraft res-
toration and the FAR 21.303. He did a
great deal of research and coordination
with the FAA, to put this issue into
perspective and draw a proper con-
clusion. Also in this past March issue of
VINTAGE AIRPLANE, the centerfold
with a Continental Airlines DC-3
reminded me that Piedmont Airlines
also restored a DC-3, with the interior
and everything else just immaculate. I
think this aircraft is now being operated
by Piedmont Aviation, Inc. It was my
good fortune to be able to get checked
out in this DC-3 at one point in time.
When I first got into this DC-3, I thought
it would really be a nice "fly-in"
airplane. Load up all your friends ,
(everyone could take their buckets of
chicken, and coolers) and look at all the
shade you would have under that large
wing! I was still thinking about this
when the line boys pulled up and we put
five gallons of oil in the left engine and
eight gallons of oil in the right engine -
and then he poured 350 gallons of fuel
in the tanks, just to fly around the pat-
tern. At this time I changed my mind
about whether it would have been an
affordable fly-in airplane or not. I think
not, at least for an individual, unless
they make quite a bit more money than
I do. It was really a fun flying aircraft
and I was surprised at how easy it was
to fly. I have to tell you that ease of
flying is one thing, but taxiing from the
ramp to the end of the runway presents
another problem. It was probably one of
the most difficult tail wheel airplanes I
have ever been tried to taxi . We did
have a strong crosswind that day though,
but once you put the power to it, it just
became a real docile aircraft.
I'd like to say again that I really want
to encourage everyone to be especially
careful bringing their aircraft off of winter
storage. It is the time of year when we see
quite a few minor accidents. Let's be
careful out there.
Let's all pull in the same direction for
the good of aviation. Remember, we
are better together. Join us and have it
all! ......
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 1
MAIL
YOUNG MEMBERS 
Dear Butch, 
As of this month I have been an AjC
member  for  a  year.  The  VINTAGE 
AIRPLANE is  read  many times  before 
it  goes on  the shelf.  Just recently I was 
able to purchase back issues from  '74 til 
present!  I am still reading those when I 
am not at the airport. 
I  work  four  days  a  week  at  North-
West  Regional  (formerly  Aero  Valley, 
started by  Edna Gardner Whyte).  Since 
my interest is in A/C aircraft, that's what 
I  work  on.  One  friend  that  I  work  for 
has  a Super Swift that I polish on so he 
can  fly  and  look  good.  We  are  also 
rebuilding  a  stock  Swift.  Another 
friend has a Howard DGA & Luscombe 
that  we  maintain.  They  laugh  because 
they  need  to  employ  someone  to  take 
care of their toys! 
Enclosed you will find pictures of my 
'46  Taylorcraft  BC-12D.  It  was  res-
tored in  '87 in  Dallas.  It has 105 hrs.  on 
the  engine  & has  a  unique  wood  head-
liner.  When  I  purchased  it  in  Nov.  of 
'91  I  found  in  its  logbooks  that it  was 
test  flown  on  6/22/46.  My  birthday  is 
6/22/73!  Yes,  that  means  I  am  18. 
2 APRIL 1992
Would that make me the  youngest A/C 
member that owns a Classic? 
Being  a  participant  in  the  EAA  Air 
Academy  '89  I  am  keeping  up  with 
Chuck  Larsen  &  his  T -craft  project. 
Watch  for  my  airplane  at  Sun-N-Fun. 
Hope I can meet you! 
Taylorcrafts Forever, 
Dan Linn  A/C#16196 
Now there's a challenge if we ever
read one! As Butch mentioned in his
column last month, we're going to have
a contest to find out who the youngest
aircraft owner is in the Antique/Classic
Division. Here's how you enter:
Send  a  copy  of  the  FAA  Aircraft 
Registration  certificate,  and  a  copy  of 
some  form  of  identification  showing 
both  the  member's  name and  birthdate 
(driver's  license,  Social  Security  card, 
etc.).  Make  sure  the  young  member's 
AntiquejClassic  number  is  written  on 
one of these two  copies.  Also,  a photo 
of the  young  lady  or  man  (preferably 
with the airplane)  is  to  be sent to: 
EAA Antique/Classic Division 
P.O. Box 3086 
Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 
ATTN: Youngest A/C  Owner 
Your entries must be postmarked no
later than May 10th. The winners will
be announced In the July issue of
VINTAGE AIRPLANE. The youngest
member who actually owns his or her
airplane will win afree years extension
of their AIC membership. AlC mer-
chandise will be awarded for second
and third places. Best ofluck, and send
in those entries! - HGF
MORE PHOTO INFORMATION 
Dear Mr.  Frautschy: 
VINTAGE  AIRPLANE  sometimes 
contains photographs relating  to  an ac-
companying story but including another 
noteworthy feature not mentioned in its 
caption.  This is the case with the picture 
at the bottom of page 6 in  the February 
issue.  Shown  are  officials  of the  Safe 
Airplane  Competition,  including  a  Lt. 
Stanley Umstead. 
Some  old-timers  might  recall  that  it 
was  (by  then)  Major  Stanley  M. 
Umstead who commanded the first  test 
flights  of  the  one-off  Douglas  XB-19 
very  heavy  bomber  in  June  1941.  Al-
though  this  airplane's  development 
time  precluded  its  series  production,  it 
did  provide  valuable  data  for  later  en-
gineering  of the  B-29  and  B-36  bom-
bers. 
Close  examination  of  photographs 
can often reveal  surprising and  histori-
cally  useful  details.  EAA  is  to  be  ap-
preciated  for  frequently  publishing 
pictures  which  are  uncommon, seldom 
if ever seen elsewhere.  This is an espe-
cially  valuable  service  to  those  of  us 
interested  in  the  obscure  minutiae  of 
aviation history. 
Cordially, 
Ed Peck (A/C  3225)  .... 
ship.  They  are:  Ralph  E. Orndorf,  of  chocked full  of rare photos and articles, 
Kettering,  OH,  David  W.  Claxon,  of  the  book  also  contains  the  race  results 
Rantoul,  IL,  and  John  J.  Yurosko,  of  for the National Air Races from the late 
(3I'WS 
compiled by  H.G.  Frautschy 
GEORGE HARDIE HONORED 
Our own George Hardie, (EAA 500) 
the  Antique/Classic  "Historian  Ex-
traodinaire"  who, month in and month 
out  supplies  us  with  "MYSTERY 
PLANE",  was  inducted  into  the  Wis-
consin  Aviation  Hall  of Fame this  past 
fall.  A long time EAA member, George 
has been active all his adult life in avia-
tion.  He  was  an  EAA  director  from 
1955  to  1960,  and  was  the  managing 
editor  of  SPORT  A VIA TION  from 
1958  until  1960. 
George has also been  involved in  the 
American A viation Historical Society -
he  served  on  their  board  of  directors 
from  1960  to  1968  and  was  the 
Society's president from  i961  to  1963. 
George  has  been  supplying  the 
MYSTERY PLANE for  over a decade, 
causing many of us to go running to our 
bookshelves  every  month  to  see  if  we 
could  figure  out  what  the  latest 
"mystery" was.  George has been active 
writing aviation articles, and is current-
ly  worJcjng  on  completing  a  decades 
long  research  project  on  the  Lawson 
airliner of 1919.  Our congratulations to 
George on this richly  deserved honor! 
WHICH SWITCH? 
EAA  member  Jay  Vieaux  of  park 
Forest ,  IL  has  pointed  out  that  the 
February,  1991  edition  of  the  FAA's 
AC-43-16  cautions  against  the  use  of 
Alternating  Current  (AC)  electrical 
switches in  homebuilts and vintage res-
torations.  Although the AC switch may 
be  cheaper,  it  is  possible  that  the  con-
tacts  of  an  AC  switch  may  weld  shut 
when  used  in  a  DC  circuit,  allowing 
current  to  flow  even  if  the  switch  had 
been  placed  in  the  OFF  position.  For 
safety'S  sake,  be  sure  to  use  only  DC 
rated  switches  in  your  circuit  when 
worJcjng  on your restorations. 
A/C  MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 
Last  fall's  Antique/Classic  member-
ship drive was a teriffic success, with our 
current membershi p now standing at just 
over  7600  members.  Three  members 
qualified for a free year of A/C member-
Nokomis,  FI.  Our  thanks  to  these 
gentlemen,  and  to  all  the  sponsors  that 
made this  drive the success that  it  was. 
ABS  CONVENTION 
For all the Classic and Contemporary 
owners of the Beechcraft Bonanza, just 
a  reminder  that the  American  Bonanza 
Society will hold their 24th annual con-
vention  in  St.  Paul,  MN,  June  3  - 7. 
Seminars  on  Bonanza  operations  and 
related  topics  will  be  held,  as  well  as 
some  top  notch  speakers,  and  tour  op-
portunities in  the Twin Cities area.  For 
more information, contact the American 
Bonanza  Society,  P.O.  Box  12888, 
Wichita,  KS  67277  or  phone  316/945-
6913. 
STAGGERWING #1  PROJECT 
UPDATE 
As  mentioned  in  the  January  issue, 
The first  Staggerwing  Beechcraft , SIN 
1,  is  being  restored  by  Jim  Younkin on 
behalf  of  the  Staggerwing  Museum 
Foundation.  With  a goal  of having  the 
airplane restored  in  time to display  it  at 
the  60th  anniversary  celebration  of 
Beechcraft,  a  substantial  amount  of 
money  is  still  needed  to  finish .  If you 
care to donate or pledge money towards 
this  project,  contact  the  Staggerwing 
Museum  Foundation,  P.O.  Box  550, 
Tullahoma,  TN  37388,  Attn:  John 
Parish. 
NEW RACING VIDEO 
SpeaJcjng  of  going  fast,  "Built  For 
Speed: The Golden Age of Air Racing" 
is  the title of the latest video to be made 
in the EAA's Paul Harvey Audio/Video 
Center.  A  chronicle  of what  was  once 
one of this country's most popular spec-
tator sports,  this  30 minute  video  takes 
you  back  to  the  National  Air  Races 
using  a  compilation  of  vintage  film 
footage,  clippings  and  magazine  ar-
ticles,  as  well  as comments from  many 
of those who were part of "The Golden 
Age of Air Racing". 
Built for  Speed: "The Golden Age of 
Air  Racing"  is  available  from  EAA, 
priced at  $19.95  (plus $3 shipping/han-
dling) .  Call EAA's toll-free Video Hot-
line at  1-800/843-3612. 
A great companion piece to the video 
is the newly-updated book, the "Golden 
Age  of  Air  Racing",  written  by  Wes 
Schmid and Truman Weaver.  A whop-
ping 550 pages, (it weighs 2.3 pounds!) 
'20's  through  1939,  as  well  as  other 
races held during that time.  The book is 
available  from  EAA  and  retails  for 
$29.95  (plus shipping/handling). 
OSHKOSH '92 YOUTH 
WORKSHOPS 
Hands-on  workshop  activity  for 
youth  will  be greatly expanded at Osh-
kosh  '92.  The  highly  successful 
wooden  rib  building  will  be  joined  by 
fabric  covering,  sheet  metal  and  other 
projects  teaching  basic  aircraft  con-
cepts.  We now need individuals and/or 
groups to  help prepare various  items to 
bring  these  exciting  activities  to  youth 
attending  EAA  Oshkosh  '92.  Specific 
projects include: 
Fabricating  1000+ small wooden 
frames  for  fabric  covering. 
MaJcjng  1000+ springs and wires and 
stenciled metal  blanks for  a vane-type 
airspeed indicator. 
MaJcjng  new, simplified rib jigs and 
prepare materials for  rib assembly. 
Prepare professional quality signs il-
lustrating step-by-step directions for 
each project. 
Each of these projects is designed and 
can be accomplished with the plans and 
procedures  provided  by  EAA  to  the 
volunteers  home site.  Materials are  to 
be  procured  locally,  with  reimburse-
ment  from  EAA.  Feel  free  to  split  up 
the project within your group.  Contact 
EAA Education Director Chuck Larsen 
at  414/426-4800  or  write  to  the  EAA 
Aviation  Foundation,  Inc.,  P.O.  Box 
3065, Oshkosh, WI  54903-3065.  Attn: 
EAA Education Office. 
EAA SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED 
A  full  range  of  scholarships  and 
awards  are  offered  through  the  EAA 
A viation  Foundation.  To  encourage, 
recognize and support excellence in stu-
dents  pursuing  the  knowledge  of  the 
technologies  and  skills  of aviation  are 
the  stated  goals  for  these  scholarship 
awards.  Scholarship  applications  may 
be made on the application provided by 
the  EAA  Education  Office at 414/426-
4888.  Applications must be received by 
May  1 to be considered.  A wards will be 
announced  at  the  EAA  OSHKOSH 
CONVENTION. For more information, 
contact  the  EAA  Education  Office  at 
414/426-4800  or  write  to  the  EAA 
Education Office, P.O. Box 3065, Osh-
kosh, WI  54903-3065. 
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 3
EAA AIR ADVENTURE DAYS
Is your chapter looking for a way to
reach young people, and show them an
alternative to long hours sitting in front
of the tube or "hanging out" at the mall?
How about sponsoring an EAA Air Ad-
venture Day? The EAA Air Adventure
Day is a one day intensive aviation ex-
perience offering an opportunity to
build a wooden wing rib and a balsa
glider. Many chapter members have
found the experience gratifying as they
share their aviation expertise with the
next generation.
We encourage chapters and their
members to secure the complete pack-
age of information about EAA Air Ad-
venture Days. For more information,
contact the EAA Education Office at
414/426-4800 or write to the EAA
Education Office, P.O. Box 3065, Osh-
kosh, WI 54903-3065.
EAA OSHKOSH '92 NEWS
This years theme for the 40th annual
Convention is "Gateway to Aviation".
Scheduled to begin on Friday, July 31,
it will continue through Thursday,
August 6,1992. "EAA OSHKOSH has
developed into an event that serves as a
gateway to aviation for many people
because of the number and variety of
both airplanes and activities," explained
Tom Poberezny. Several Convention
-week "Showcase Events" have already
been planned. The first will focus on
the 50th anniversary of the famed
"Doolittle Raid" on Japan. A number of
the surviving members of the "Doolittle
Raiders" are expected to attend. In ad-
dition, several B-25 "Mitchell" bom-
bers, the same type used on the raid, will
be on displ ay.
A delegation from the Common-
wealth of Independent States (formerly
the Soviet Union) is expected to arrive
in the worlds largest aircraft, the An-
tonov AN-225 "Mryia". The six-en-
gine jet will carry several homebuilt
aircraft from that country. A Sukhoi
Su-27 "Flanker" fighter jet is also tenta-
tively scheduled to appear. You may
have seen this fighter perform the
renowned "Cobra" maneuver during
European airshows.
Last year nearly 13,000 airplanes at-
tended the seven day long convention,
and over 815,000 people enjoyed the
varied activities that make up the EAA
Convention.
Of particular int e res t to Anti-
que/Classic members is the new Con-
temporary Class of vintage airplanes,
4 APRIL 1992
which will be on display in show plane
parking for the first time this year.
The 1992 Fly-In will culminate on
thursday, August 6, during evening
programs at Theater in the Woods. At
that time, major Convention awards will
be presented, including the Grand
Champion aircraft awards. In addtion,
Tom Poberezny will deliver EAA's
"State of the Association" message.
EAA ART CONTEST
From time to time, the back cover of
VINTAGE AIRPLANE has featured
the artwork submitted for the annual
EAA Sport Aviation Art Competition.
Sponsored by the EAA Aviation Foun-
dation, the contest is the longest-run-
ning aviation art competition in the
world.
This year, a new competition will be
open to young artists - the Youth Div-
sion, for artists under the age of 16.
"This division was created to encourage
young people to learn more about avia-
tion and to explore the many oppor-
tunities it offers for active participation.
We hope EAA art competition inspires
those young people who participate into
becoming designers, pilots, builders
and aviation enthusiasts of tommor-
row," said EAA Aviation Foundation
Tom Poberezny. "Sport aviation invol-
ves more than airplanes. It's also about
the people who fly, maintain and enjoy
watching them fly. It is this human
element that makes aviation so very spe-
cial," Poberezny continued.
To reflect that thought, the theme of
the 1992 EAA Sport Aviation Competi-
tion is "Thumbs up for Aviation." A
special "Par Excellence" award will be
presented to the artist whose work best
captures the excitement, fascination and
enjoyment people experience while en-
gaging in aviation activities. Other
awards will include "Par Excellence",
"Excellence" and "Merit" awards in
both the adult and youth divisions.
Entry deadline is May 6th, 1992. Ar-
tists are encouraged to contact EAA for
a complete set of guidelines. For more
information,write EAA Sport Aviation
Competition, P.O. Box 3065, Oshkosh,
WI 54903-3065. or call 414/426-4800.
IN PRODUCTION AGAIN?
From the "Coupe Capers" newsletter of
the Ercoupe Owners Club, and edited by
Ed Burkhead, we have word that a com-
pany called Eagleaire Aircraft Corporation
has been formed to produce a two-place
trainer based on the Mooney M-10 type
certificate. Eagleaire has purchased the
design and the type certificate, but not
the product name, evidently to start
fresh with no product liability tail to trip
on. Most members will recall that the
M-lO was the last derivation of the Erco
Ercoupe, with the twin rounded rudders
replaced with a single swept forward
fin, and squared off stabilizer and
elevator, ala other Mooney products.
The new "Eagleaire", as the airplane
will be called, will be powered by the
New Lycoming 2N2 engine. This new
engine by Lycoming has a lower com-
pression ratio to allow it to use the new
unleaded fuels that will be in the future
for aviation. This engine will use a
dynafocal mount, for less engine vibra-
tion. If all goes as planned, the old
Beechcraft factory in Liberal, Kansas
will be remodeled by June, at which
time the tooling will be moved in. It is
expected that the company will produce
approximately 80 airplanes in the flTSt
year of production. Eagleaire Aircraft
Corporation is being formed by Paragon
Capital Corp, a Dallas-based invest-
ment finn. Until Eagleaire sets up its
own office, it may be reached at 16475
Dallas Pkwy, Suite 300, Dallas TX
75248.
VINTAGE FIXES
A couple of items slipped by in the
last couple of issues, and I'd like to
correct them. First, on page 6 of the
March, 1992 issue, the airplane pictured
is the Curtiss Tanager, not the Handley-
Page as the caption says. Thanks to
Charley Hayes for pointing that one out.
Second, in the article by Jim Haynes
on the First Ford Reliability Tour, I
missed a couple of fixes that Jim re-
quested. The Ford/Stout airplane was
not the pathfinder airplane, as was
stated in the text. The Ford did visit
Moline prior to the tour, but not as the
pathfinder. Eddie Stinson did fly his
own ai rcraft, a Junkers si milar to the one
on the tour, as the pathfinder prior to the
tour.
Also, Jim is one of the acknow ledged
historians when referring to the Curtiss
Robin, and he was kind enough to pass
along a couple more tidbits concerning
door configurations on Robins. The
first prototype Robi n, X-5049, did not
have a front door, just two rear doors,
one on each side. That airplane flew on
the 1928 Ford Reliability Tour piloted
by Dan Robertson. It finished close to
last and was the only plane powered by
an OX5 engine.
Finally, it appears that Norm P. got
confused by a photo of Douglas
Corrigan's Robin - it never did have a
left side door, and does not to this
day, as it sits in a hangar in Haw-
thorne, CA.
Thanks to Jim and Charley for help-
ing me correct these items.
It seems that as each month goes by,
we lose a few more early aviation
pioneers. We are sad to say there are a
few more ...
ELDON CESSNA 1907 - 1992
Eldon W. Cessna, son of the late
Clyde V. Cessna, died February 22,
1992 in Inglewood, CA. He was
born on May 5th, 1907 near Rago,
Kansas. He majored in engineering
at Kansas State University, and im-
mediately following, became Chief
engineer for the Cessna Aircraft
Company in 1928. Eldon and his
father, in the aftermath of the Great
Depress ion, started C.V. Cessna
Aircraft Company in Wichita, and
designed and built several racers
which were very successful in races
around the country . His own
modified A W was a terror on the
small stock airplane class for several
years.
In 1935, Eldon and his family moved
to California, where he went to work for
the Northrop division of Douglas. His
career would later take him to North
American Aviation, where he became
the Supervisor of Planning. He worked
on projects from the P-51 to the X-IS
and the Apollo moon landing module.
He retired in 1969 after 31 years with
North American.
After retirement, many honors
came Eldon's way - he served on the
Board of Directors of the EAA Avia-
tion Foundation during the late 1970's
and '80s. He was inducted in the OX-
5 Pioneers Hall of Fame, and was
honored by the Experimental Test
Pilots Association for his work in
aviation research. He held a number
of offices in a number of aviation or-
ganization, including the Early Birds,
and the OX-5 Club.
At EAA OSHKOSH '91, he was one
of the featured speakers at the "Golden
Age Of Air Racing" program.
Eldon and his wife, the former Helen
Parcels of Hiawatha, KS recently
celebrated their 60th wedding anniver-
sary. He is survived by his wife, and his
children, Clair of Riverside, CA and
Janice Clarke of Reno, as well as 5
grandchildren.
From author Ann Cooper, we have
this ...
IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE
OF EDNA GARDNER WHYTE
In 1986, Tim Young reported for duty
at Mather Air Force base, California.
He wrote to Edna Gardner Whyte, the
84-year-old, spirited woman who had
been his flight instructor in Texas. In
part his letter said, "There are a lot of
women pilots out here. Some of them
are flying T-37s or T-43s. When I saw
them, I thought of you and was glad that
the opportunities for women are open-
ing up in the Air Force. Now, if the
airlines will only follow their example.
You may not have had the opportunity
to be an airline pilot, but the Lord has
given you the strength to accumulate
more hours than those male airline
pilots ever dreamed of. Besides, you
shared your knowledge with others.
The only person I want to receive flying
lessons from is you. You are the best
there is."
Edna Marvel Gardner was born in Blue
Earth Country, Minnesota, November 2,
1902, the year before Orville and Wilbur
Wright made their celebrated powered
flight. The first of three children born to
Walter and Myrtle Brush Gardner, little
could her parents anticipate the fervor
with which their baby daughter would one
day take to the sky.
Born to a 'man's world,' dis-
crimination sparked Edna's deter-
mination. It wasn'l until she was 18
years old that American women final-
ly earned the right to vote. Imbued
with more than her share of competi-
tive spirit, Edna formed a lifelong
desire to prove unequivocally that a
woman should be entitled to every op-
portunity and advantage accorded a
man. Inspired by newspaper articles
that described the exploits of
courageous Katherine and Marjorie
Stinson, pilots and flight instructors
for the male aviators of World War I,
Edna yearned to similarly prove her
worth and the worth of women.
Edna Gardner Whyte obtained her
Private Pilot license in 1931, learning in
a Swallow TP. During her lifetime, she
counted thousands of flight hours and
taught a host of flight students, among
them the men who would fly for the
military in World War II and men and
women who would pilot commercial
airliners that she hoped to fly. She mar-
ried George Murphy Gardner in 1946,
after returning to the U.S. after a stint in
the Phillipines as an Army nurse. With
indomitable spirit, she managed three
airports, won over 126 trophies in more
than 300 air races, was elected to four
Halls of Fame and received countless
awards and honors. Honored with the
Charles Lindbergh Lifetime Achieve-
ment A ward, Edna was selected as an
Honorary member of the Order of
Daedalians, received the prestigious
Godfrey L. Cabot Award, and was a past
President of the Ninety-Nines, the Inter-
national Organization of Women Pilots.
A member of the OX-5, the United
Flying Octogenarians and the Interna-
tional Women's Air and Space
Museum, Edna was the 10th woman to
earn a helicopter license and was a
member of the Whirly-Girls. In June
1992, she was to have been one of the
select, and "Eagle," at the annual
Gathering of Eagles, Air Command and
Staff College, Montgomery, Alabama.
The walls of her home bear silver,
pewter, gold and wooden trophies that
attest to her piloting expertise. Moun-
tains of newspaper and magazine clip-
pings and an extensive list of speaking
engagements attest to her experience
and popularity. Sought as a flight in-
structor, Edna continued to teach stu-
dents until she lost her medical at age
87. She taught flying, racing and
aerobatics to the grandchildren of her
first students.
Featured in Charles Planck's Woman
With Wings, in Charles Kuralt's On The
Road With Charles Kuralt, her
autobiography, RISING ABOVE IT, as
told to Ann Cooper, was published in
October, 1991, and Edna had a few
months in which to savor the attention
it generated, the adulation that she right-
fully deserved.
Edna Gardner Whyte died February
15, 1992 after a prolonged illness. If
desired, contributions can be made to
the American Cancer Society or the
American Heart Association in her
memory. It was fitting and touching
that a Missing Comrade formation was
flown in her honor. Her pink Cherokee
pulled up and away from a formation
that included two Stinsons and a Cessna
175 in a final salute to Edna Gardner
Whyte. We celebrate her life.
Our condolences to the family and
friends of both Eldon Cessna and Edna
Gardner Whyte from all of us in the
Antique/Classic community. ......
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5
by [)ennis V a r   k s ~
~ Libr-ar-y  / A.r-chives [)ir-ect()r-
Guggenheim Safe Aircraft 
Competition 
(Part 3) 
The  Safe  Aircraft  Competition  of 
1929 had the effect of stimulating inter-
est  in  the  development  of  the 
"foolproof' aircraft.  The major designs 
of the competition centered their atten-
tion  around  changes  in  wing  design  or 
the  use  of  supplemental  aerodynamic 
devices. 
The two  leading aircraft  of the  com-
petition,  the  Curtiss  Tanager  and  the 
Handley-Page,  used  slots  and  flaps  to 
obtain  greater  efficiency.  These 
devices  also  seemed  the  most 
reasonable  to  add  to  conventional 
aircraft designs, especially as compared 
to  such  ideas  as  the  variable  camber 
wing as tried by  some entrants. 
In  the  next  few  installments  of this 
series on the competition we will  take a 
closer  look  at  some  of  the  aircraft 
entered in  the competition.  This month 
the winner is  featured. 
CURTISS TANAGER 
The Curtiss  entry in the Safe Aircraft 
Competition was designed and built by 
the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Com-
pany at its experimental plant at Garden 
City, Long Island, New York.  The chief 
engineer  on  the  project  was  Robert  R.
Osborn who later would be responsible 
for  the  Stinson  Voyager,  the  first  mass 
production lightplane to use fixed slots. 
SAFETY DEVICES 
Basically,  the  Tanager  was  a  three 
place  cabin  biplane  of  conventional 
design with the exception of three safety 
devices.  These  were;  first,  a new  type 
of aileron  which  had  never  been  used 
before in  its form;  second, leading edge 
slots; and third, controllable wing flaps. 
The new ailerons, known as the float-
ing type, differed in that they at all times 
automatically assume a position parallel 
to  the  relative  wind  set  up  by  the  mo-
tions  of  the  aircraft  in  flight.  At  the 
6APRIL 1992
same time they could be moved relative 
to  each other by  the  pilot  in  maneuver-
ing  the  plane.  They  were  mounted 
separately  outboard  of the  lower  wing 
tip. 
The  ai lerons  were  symmetrical 
double  cambered  surfaces  and  did  not 
contribute  to  the  lift  area  of the  wings. 
When  the  aileron  control  was  moved, 
the two ailerons were displaced relative 
to each other.  Their effect was to  give 
control  in  a stall  as  well  as  high speed; 
to  reduce yawing and  spinning tenden-
cies, and to make rudder correction and 
control  unnecessary.  Mounted  on  the 
ti ps of the lower wings, they operated in 
air  undisturbed  by  the  wings  and  their 
operation  did  not  disturb  the  lifting 
characteristics of the  wings. 
These  ailerons  float  or  "weather-
cock" at all  times into the wind created 
by the plane's moti on, whether the con-
trols are being used or not.  They stay in 
zero  angle  of attack  regardless  of the 
attitude  of  the  aircraft.  When  the 
aileron  control  was  used  in  the  usual 
way, the ailerons displaced with respect 
to themselves and not with respect to the 
airplane and their action  was equal and 
opposite. 
As  the  ailerons  flap  in  the  wind  and 
follow  the  flight  path  of the  ship  at  all 
times  regardless  of  the  attitude  of  the 
ship, the control was the same at the stall 
as  at  high  speed  and  no  rudder  was 
required  throughout  the  speed  range. 
The  Tanager  could  be  flown  in  direct 
vertical  banks  and  through  all  normal 
maneuvers  without  control  of the  rud-
der,  using  entirely  ailerons  and 
elevators; and when completely stalled, 
the ship could be rolled from one side to 
the  other  with  only  slight  yawing  ten-
dencies, which were in the proper direc-
tion. 
Nearly the entire spans of both upper 
and lower wings were fitted at the lead-
ing edge with automatic wing slots. The 
slot mechanism  was  adjustable and the 
movable  airfoil  could  be  regulated  so 
that all slots opened at the same time or 
at different angles of attack.  They could 
be adjusted  to start opening at an angle 
of attack of 12 degrees and be fully open 
at  16  degrees .  Rubber  pads  were 
provided which cushioned the shock of 
opening and closing should the airplane 
change its attitude suddenly. 
The entire trailing edges for the wings 
were  provided  with  manually  operated 
Robert R. Osborn, designer, and T.P. Wright, chief engineer of Curtiss Aeroplane & 
Motor Company standing before the Curtiss Tanager.
flaps. These had a small slot at all times
just in front of them. The flaps were
operated by a crank in the pilot's cock-
pit, full motion of the flaps being given
by 10 turns of the crank. The ends of
the flaps were provided with cloth
shields which came into operation when
the flaps were down, reducing tip vortices.
The combination of the wing slots
and the controllable flaps gave an in-
crease of about 100 percent above that
of the standard airfoil of similar dimen-
sions. They provided stability at high
angles of attack and there was no ten-
dency to fall off on either wing. All
controls were also effective throughout
all angles of attack.
PILOT REPORT
In the February 8, 1930 issue of
AVIATION, Robert Osborn, designer
of the Tanager, discussed some of the
flying characteristics of the craft.
"First, the airplane cannot be spun
accidentally. I use the term "accidental-
ly" advisedly as it is entirely possible
that someday an expert pilot may get the
machine in some unusual condition -
on its back for instance - and subject it
to some violent maneuver which might
develop a peculiar and probably
dangerous autorotation.
"However, Mr. Paul Boyd, Curtiss
test pilot, tried unsuccessfully all known
methods of putting a plane into a spin,
and Lt. Stanley Umstead subjected it to
the rigorous tests required in the Gug-
genheim flight test manual, several of
which tests were designed to develop
spinning tendencies if there were any.
"The Tanager has developed no spin-
ning tendencies thus far, although it has
been given a thorough trial by a number
of other expert pilots also. Therefore it
cannot be spun accidentally by anyone,
and possibly not purposely by anyone.
"In making this statement I am not
hiding some other unusual condition,
such as an uncontrolled nose dive, as this
does not occur either. The plane natural-
ly flies slower, power on, than in the
power off condition, and if the power is
suddenly cut when the machine is com-
pletely stalled, full throttle, the nose will
drop until the higher speed and the at-
titude which accompanies it are attained.
"However, the nose does not drop so
much that if it were accomplished close to
the ground, anything dangerous would
result. This test was made during the com-
petition several times and the Tanager
made two point landings in each case with
the skid about a foot and a half high."
The rugged structure of the Tanager fuselage and wing. Note the beefy tubing in the
cabin area.
The  unu8ually  long  stabilizer  travel  is  8hown 
in  the  skf'tcn  uf  tht>  ollernting   
Skf"t('h of  a  portion  ot the unC"o'"f" rt":1
wlnt;'" .!iIhowlng operating    
tor  floating  ailf"ron 
as
.<i

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Ready for the Guggenheim tests, the Curtiss Tanager waits
forthe trials to begin. The "floating" ailerons outboard otthe
lower wings show quite plainly in this shot. The three-view
below incorrectly shows them with a constant chord, when
in fact they have a taper to them.
CONSTRUCTION
FUSELAGE
The fuselage of the Tanager was con-
structed of Duralumin and steel tubing
with a Duralumin engine mount. War-
ren type tru ss bracing was used
throughout the structure. Two seats
were provided for the pilot and the ob-
server, each of whom had their own
doors. There was also space for a third
seat. Metal cowling was used around
the engine, while fabric covered the rest
of the fuselage.
• __________-1, _________ _
___________,1-----------
WINGS
The wing spars were of wooden box
construction with flanges and webs of
varying thickness depending on the
stresses involved. Compression struts
between spars were of similar construc-
tion. Ribs were of wood construction
and the wings fabric covered.
The interplane struts were made of
streamlined dual tubes with streamlined
wires for bracing. The trailing edge
flaps were constructed of Duralumin,
the structure consisting of a beam and a
Warren type truss bracing which served
as the ribs. The flaps were also fabric
covered. The floating ai lerons were of
similar construction. The ailerons also
had their own set of dual struts mounted
at the hinge line which were connected
to the top wing.
I
  ___.·---
____". Three view (lrawi n g
of the C u rtiss
"Tanager"
S APRIL 1992
The Curtiss Challenger installation on the Tanager. It looks a bit tight inside that cowl!
TAIL and the other in the bottom of the edge slots would not be used for a
The ribs of both horizontal and verti-
cal stabilizers were of A1clad, while the
elevators and rudder were of welded
steel tubing. All surfaces were fabric
covered and joined to the fuselage by
streamlined tie rods. The stabilizer was
adjustable at the leading edge from the
the pilot's cockpit.
LANDING GEAR
Another of the interesting innova-
tions used on the Tanager was the oleo
struts of very long travel. Considering
that test landings would be made at ver-
tical velocities approaching 16 feet per
second, a rugged gear and long travel
oleo struts were necessary. A latch was
provided which would allow the wheels
to be held in the up position after
takeoff. When ready to land, the latch
was tripped and the wheels dropped to
normal position for landing.
POWERPLANT
The engine used on the Tanager was
a six cylinder radial air-cooled Curtiss
Challenger. It was rated at 176 horse-
power at 1830 rpm. The propeller was
a wooden two-bladed Hamilton.
Two fuel tanks were used. One lo-
cated on the right side of the fuselage
fuselage. The capacity of the two tanks
was 53 gallons.
NEW TECHNOLOGY
In writing about the Tanager in the
February 8, 1930 issue of AVIATION,
Edward Warner alluded to the idea that
the advances were a technology that
could be transferred to other aircraft:
"In writing of the qualities of the
Tanager, I have considered it as an ex-
emplification of certain aerodynamic
principles and design practices, not in
any sense as a commercial, immediately
usable type of airplane.
"The essential features of the design
could readily be adapted elsewhere.
They should not be considered
restricted to the Tanager. It should not
be supposed that the results of the com-
petition lose their practical force be-
cause the winning machine was
designed solely for the purpose of the
competition. "
It was announced by Curtiss that they
would produce an aircraft that utilized
the features of the Tanager but this did
not happen. Floating ailerons were
never used again, flaps would only be
used on large or high performance
aircraft until the late 1940s, and leading
decade.
The only technology demonstrated by
the Tanager that would become standard
on production aircraft was the pneumatic
shock strut. This was used on several of
the entrants in the competition.
The 1931 issue of AIRCRAFT
YEARBOOK noted the lack of adop-
tion of the devices demonstrated in the
competition:
"Slots, flaps and floating ailerons,
fundamental changes in wing design
which received marked attention during
1929 in the Guggenheim Safe Aircraft
Competition, were conspicuous by their
absence from models during 1930. Only
one commercial model in production of-
fered the purchaser slots as optional
equipment. The Curtiss Company con-
sidered adapting its floating aileron to
standard commercial models early in the
year, but held up plans due to the neces-
sity of conserving resources.
"Some designers considered these
devices 'just so many more gadgets to
be kept in working order,' while others
felt they offered a distinct aerodynamic
advantage which would be realized at a
future time when manufacturers are in-
spired by a more ready market for their
products." .....
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Of Tiger Moths And Men 
The Reincarnation of Al  and Billie 
Pemberton's de  Havilland DH82a 
While the debate over human reincar-
nation is still open, one glance at Al and
Billie Pemberton's newly restored de
Havilland Tiger Moth settles the matter
as far as vintage airplanes are con-
cerned.
In the spring of 1940, seven year old
AI, who admits to only one life, was
engrossed in "The Adventures of Dick
and Jane" and single digit addition in
Bakersfield, California. Across the At-
lantic, a de Havilland Tiger Moth
DHS2a, with an upside-down Gipsy
Major engine, a swiveling tailskid and
an "air screw" that turned "the wrong
way," rolled off the assembly line at the
Morris Motors' plant in Cow ley,
England.
Half a century later, the Tiger Moth,
with past lives in Australia, Singapore,
India, Canada and the U. S., was a dis-
assembled, decaying carcass that had
been cocooned for 17 years, and AI was
a premier auto restorer who had
breathed life into a fleet of Model "A"
Fords. A chance conversation brought
Moth and man together in January,
1990. The result is a pristine, eye pop-
ping resurrection of the endangered
species that flutters with ghostly aban-
don on the whimsical thermals of
California's lower San Joaquin Valley
at about MACH .12
(90 mph) and shows
like the museum
quality restoration it
IS.
AI mentioned to
friend Nick Baker, a
Fed Ex pilot who has
his own Moth-in-
waiting, that he was
looking for a C-lSO
project. A ware of
the award winning
Model "As," Nick
suggested AI's time
and talents might be
better spent on a
Tiger Moth he knew
about a couple of
hours south of
10 APRIL 1992
by Bill Wright (EAA 224308)
Bakersfield. Al asked what a Tiger
Moth was, and a few days later the pair
were standing in Dan Nelson's hangar
cocoon at Torrance Airport so Al could
see for himself. "What I saw," he says,
"was a pile of junk." But the hook was
set.
After two price cutting phone calls,
Nick and AI, with friend Dick Plyler,
were back in the Nelson tomb. With the
care of archaeologists unwrapping a
mummy, they loaded the steel tubed
skeleton, wooden appendages and the
assorted innards of a nearly complete
Tiger Moth into a borrowed horse
trailer. The innards included a 130 hp
Gipsy Major lC engine that in former
life of its own had been installed in the
Moth's torso for two weeks in 1952; all
of the original instruments; a heavily
painted prop; and a unique first aid kit
once buried in the fuselage.
The resurrection of the tandem seat,
open cockpit biplane started the next
day. Just 11 months later the reborn,
better than new Tiger Moth was "ac-
cidentally" flown off a runup ramp. In-
between were some 4,000 man-hours of
work, many belonging to Ai's wife Bil-
lie (woman-hours) and two
craftsmen/friend/volunteers, Leo Pike
and Mike Collins.
The Tiger Moth Genealogy
AI and Billie's Tiger Moth, of course,
is a descendant of the Moth lineage
developed in the mid-1920s by Geof-
frey de Havilland, an amateur en-
tomologist (insect bug) - hence the
Moth family name. Its ancestors in-
clude the DH51 born at England's Stag
Lane Aerodrome in 1924, the famous
and record setting Cirrus and Gypsy
Moths, and two limited production
models, the Metal Moth and Moth
Trainer.
Like many early "aeroplanes" of the
day, the Tiger Moth evolved from
economics. The patriarch DH51,
whose distinctive genes are readily ap-
parent in the Moth line, was a tandem,
open cockpit biplane powered by a war
surplus, air-cooled VS engine rated at
90 hp which was soon abandoned be-
cause of its outdated single ignition sys-
tem. The replacement, a surplus
air-cooled VS Airdisco motor of
Renault blood rated at 120 hp, was too
expensive, so only five DH51s were
built. Allegedly, you can see the last of
the DH51 clan (VP-KAA) the next time
you're in Nairobi, Kenya.
Unable to find a reliable but inexpen-
sive engine, the unflappable de Havil-
land set out to build his own. His idea
was simple. In-
stead of designing
and building a
completely new
engine, he opted to
"split" the still
plentiful WWI
surplus Airdisco
in half by mount-
ing four of its eight
cylinders, pistons
and valves on a
new crankcase
with the automo-
ti ve carburetors
g and magnetos of
  the day. The end
  product, a 60 hp
  engine called the
  "Cirrus," was in-
stalled on a scaled down version of the
DH51. Thus, the "Cirrus Moth," the
Tiger's grandfather, was born.
Whil e the Cirrus Moth DH60 in-
herited the DH51's plywood box
fuselage, its straight unstaggered wings
and the familiar airfoil shaped fuel tank
directly over the front cockpit, several
changes emerged. The single axle un-
dercarriage was split and fitted with
telescoping legs containing compressed
rubber - an obvious improvement over
one axle wrapped with elastic cord. The
front seat locker bay was also relocated
in the fuselage, on the right and aft of
the rear cockpit. More importantly, the
Cirrus Moth had the first differential
aileron control linkage, a system
patented by de Havilland that has since
been used in virtually every aircraft
design. The prototype Cirrus Moth,
factory number 168, first flew from Stag
Lane on February 23, 1925 with de
Havilland himself at the controls.
As the supply of surplus Airdisco en-
gines dwindled, de Havilland was
forced to design and build a new engine
from scratch. With Frank Halford, who
had headed the Cirrus project, he
decided to build and test a 135 hp engine
on a monoplane racer (the DH71) and
then derate it to 100 hp for depend-
ability. The Halford genius resulted in
a four-cylinder, 5.23 liter, 5.5 to 1 com-
pression ratio inline engine that
developed 135 hp at 2,650 rpm and
weighed only 14 pounds more than the
Cirrus, which had 75 less horses.
On August 24, 1927, the experimen-
tal DH71 racer, powered by the new
Gipsy I engine, reset the World Class III
closed circuit speed record at 186.47
mph. The first Gipsy I engines, which
sprouted upright cylinders and valves in
the pilot's forward line of vision, were
delivered in June, 1928. By the end of
the year, the Gypsy Moth DH60G was
rolling off the production line at a rate
of 20 a week, no doubt spurred by the
Lindbergh flight a year earlier.
Like its Cirrus relative, the Gypsy
Moth was soon setting and breaking
records around the world. In the U. S.,
Gladys Ingalls looped one 344 consecu-
tive times. Amy Johnson also made her
famous 1930 solo flight from England
to Australia in a Gipsy Moth named
"Jason."
While the Gypsy Moth was busy set-
ting records, de Havilland was develop-
ing a steel tubed fuselage model (the
Metal Moth, DH60M) that weighed just
62 pounds more than its wooden ances-
tor. An improved version of the Gipsy
I engine, the Gipsy II developing 120
hp, was fitted on later models of the
Metal Moth, but still in the upright line
of sight position.
In earl y 1931 the Metal Moth became
the DH60T Moth Trainer, a model cal-
cul ated to turn the milit ary eye.
Airframe-wise, the exhaust pipes and
flying wires were moved forward, doors
were fitted to each side of both cockpits,
and the wings were strengthened to hold
practice bombs, cameras and other
potential military hardware, including
wireless telegraphy.
Meanwhile, de Havilland was ex-
perimenting again. This time with an
inverted revision of the Gipsy II engine
that would relocate the cylinders and
valves at the bottom of the engine com-
partment and greatly improve forward
visibility. Called the Gipsy III, it was
f irst install ed in a high-wing enclosed
cabin monoplane (the DH80A "Puss
Moth") which fl ew successfully in Sep-
tember 1929 and ent ered limited
production.
Although the Moth Trainer was fitted
with the new "upside-down" Gipsy
Maj o r II engine, it re taine d its
ancestors' straight, unstaggered wings
and airfoi l shaped fuel tank above the
front cockpit. However, with only 24
inches or so between the top of the
fuselage and the bottom of the upper
wing, it was next to impossible for a
pilot with parachute to struggle from the
front cockpit in a life or death emergen-
cy. The RAF, which was by now inter-
ested in the newest of the Moth line (and
its pilots' welfare), asked de Havi lland
to solve the problem. He did, and the
first Tiger Moth, designated the DH82,
was born.
By trial and error, and apparently
without engineering drawings, the de
Havi ll and staff moved the fuel tank and
the top wing center section forward
about 22 inches, thus staggering top and
bottom wings. However, to maintain
c.g. balance, it was necessary to sweep
the wings back, which dictated shorten-
ing the rear spars on all four wings.
A snag developed. With both wings
now raked back, the tips of the lower
ones were too close to the ground in the
tail down position. No problem. The
outside interplane struts were simply
shortened, raising the tips of the lower
wings and giving the Tiger Moth its now
classic and familiar dihedral.
The first of the Tiger Moth breed
(Works No. 1733) flew from
Martlesham Heath on October 26, 1931
with the new upside-down Gipsy III
engine. With the switch to the upgraded
130 hp Gipsy Major I engine in 1932
and curved plywood replacing the
stringers on top of the fuselage, the his-
toric biplane was redesignated the
DH82a and, by the RAF, as the "Tiger
Moth II." More than 8,800 others, in-
cluding 3,506 from Morris Motors, fol -
lowed before production ended in
August, 1945.
Having been built in seven countries
from Norway to New Zealand, it is like-
ly that, except for the DC-3, the durable
Tiger Moth has spread its wings over
more remote parts of the world than any
flying machine of its time.
The Past Lives of a Moth
The Pemberton Tiger Moth rolled out
the door of the Morris plant on May 7,
1940 as Works No. 83230 in the grey-
brown-green camouflage attire of the
war era. The Royal Air Force obscurely
dubbed it "T-5525" and, with 49 others,
shipped it "down under" to the Royal
Australian Air Force. (Tiger Moths
weren't built in Australia or New
Zealand until June, 1940.)
Other than it somehow survived a
storm that destroyed much of the tied
down shipment shortly after arrival in
Narranda, New South Wales, AI has not
been able to uncover much about T-
5525's Australian life (the RAAF logs
are missing). While a few Tiger Moths
were fitted with bomb racks, used as
recon spies in the sky and converted for
ambulance duty in Burma and India, he
did learn T-5525 spent at least most of
its first life of 12 years as a primary
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
trainer at two of the 13 RAAF Elemen-
tary Flight Training Schools (Nos. 8 and
10) that were scattered across the sub-
continent between 1939 and 1945.
The Royal Singapore Flying Club,
based at Kallang Airport, purchased T-
5525 from the RAAF with about 2,200
hours on the airframe in 1952, the same
year Al finished Bakersfield High.
Upon arrival in Singapore, it was
registered as "VR-SDP" and used brief-
ly as a test bed for Gipsy Major lC
engine (No. 927), which was manufac-
tured in 1943 under license by General
Motors-Holdens. (It was not put into
service until 1949.) According to the
logs, the engine was removed two
weeks later and "put in storage." After
2,301 hours IT and several lives of its
own, which included mating with four
other Tiger Moths (9M-ALJ, VR-SCX,
VR-SCY and GM-ALJ), the still young
and snappy engine would be reunited
with T -5525 in the Pemberton hangar 38
years later.
The Royal Singapore Flying Club
used T-5525 for member flight instruc-
tion and to drop payrolls and nonbreak-
able ·\:iupplies to nearby jungle
plantations that lacked a landing strip,
so it has been used as a bomber of sorts.
In later 1957, while Al was a seaplane
tender in the Navy, the Tiger Moth was
sold to the Delhi Flying Club, Ltd.,
based at the Saldarjang Aerodrome in
India, where it was assigned civilian ID
letters "VT-CSZ." Apparently the
Tiger was too much Moth for the mem-
bers of the Delhi Flying Club, because
it was resold to the Madras Flying Club
based at Civil Aerodrome No. 27 in
southeastern India less than six months
later with just 2,846 IT on the airframe.
Life with the Madras Club members
was, to say the least, rigorous. The
Club's meticulous logs record that T-
5525 survived a nUl(lber of crashes,
several "heavy" landi'ng accidents and
frequent rebuilds during its 3,700 hour,
14 year stay in Madras. During one
rebuild in Bombay it was fitted with an
auxiliary fuel tank holding 10 Imperial
gallons, reportedly so it could be flown
nonstop between Madras and New
Delhi.
A weight and balance form prepared
12 APRIL 1992
for the Madras Club shortly before T-
5525 was sold to a Canadian with 6,580
hours on the airframe cautions, "The
above schedule does not include pas-
senger amenities such as rugs, pillows,
magazines, etc." Sure, try reading a
magazine in an open cockpit biplane,
even if it is pillowed.
The "Sewing Machine," as those in-
volved in the latest resurrection call it,
was reassembled in Canada in early
1972 and registered as "CF-EIQ." The
Canadian put less than 50 hours on the
charmed life plane before it ended up in
the hands of Mike Russell of Lakewood,
Colorado as N6463, and then Walter
Ruehle of Denver. It last flew on Sep-
tember 9, 1973 and wound up hibernat-
ing in Nelson's Torrance hangar
waiting rebirth with the Gipsy Major
engine, which found its own way to
Torrance. Al reports another Tiger
Moth and a half still languish there.
Meanwhile, Back in Bakersfield ...
Young AI and older brother Bob, who
was the personal chopper pilot for the
Shah of Iran and is now an FAA desig-
nated MD 80 inspector in Shanghai,
grew up in an aviation rich environ-
ment. Their father, Roy (a spry 90 who
retired in 1969), was taught to fly in
1922 in Imperial, California by
barnstormer Norman A. Goddard. He
holds DOC (Department of Commerce)
pilot's license number 3226, commer-
cial and air transport tickets and three
glider/sailplane ratings personally
signed by Orville Wright as President of
The National Aeronautic Association,
the USA representative of the Federa-
tion Aeronautique Internationale.
Roy logged over 30,000 hours. He
instructed at the now defunct Air Tech
Flight School in San Diego, flew mail in
an Eagle Rock biplane between
Bakersfield and Lake Isabella (tucked
in the nearby Sierras), and operated the
Civilian Pilot Training School at Lone
Pine, California during WWII. How-
ever, the flight Roy recalls best is his
solo. Al tells the tale with a straight face
and sober tongue: "Dad, who had yet to
solo, and his instructor flew to Yuma in
a Jenny and landed in a farmer's field.
The instructor left Dad with the plane
while he went to town for a brief tryst
with his (or someone's) girlfriend. A
short time later an angry farmer showed
up with a shotgun and told Dad to 'git
that dang aeroplane off my field -
now!' Dad tried to explain he didn't
know how to fly; but seeing no one else
around, the justly skeptical farmer
replied, 'Well, son, yur gonna learn or
git shot.' No dummy, Dad tied the
Jenny to a tree, propped it, and soloed to
a nearby field without incident. The
surprised instructor, when he found
Dad, signed him off."
Roy moved the Pemberton family to
Bakersfield from California's Imperial
Valley in 1937 to take a job with high-
school pal Cecil Meadows who then
managed the Bakersfield airport that
now bears his name. Roy also opened
and operated "Pemberton Flying Ser-
vice" in 1937, instructed, and sold avia-
tion fuel under the defunct "Stanavo"
banner until retiring. He sold out to Al
who, with Billie, now operates it as
Pemberton Aircraft Fuel Service, Inc.
At 53 years, it is the oldest, continuous
Standard Oil/Chevron dealership in the
world. Yes, they have 80 octane.
During the post-WWII years, Roy
was, in alphabetical order, the only
Aeronca -Beechcraft -Bellanca -Cessna
-Globe dealer in Bakersfield, and
Ray, "the Pemberton Patriarch", waits for
the fuselage to be completed and his first
ride since 1972.
probably the world. AI feigns a grimace
you won't swallow when he recounts
his several boyhood rides in factory new
65 hp "Airknockers" and C-120s that
Roy ferried west to Bakersfield from
Springfield and Wichita for resale.
Although AI denies being even gent-
ly pushed into aviation, he earned a
private SEL license (the only rating he
holds), from Bakersfield instructor Bill
Scott in 1956. Scott, who was taught to
fly by AI's dad many years earlier, is
now teaching Billie in the family C-185.
Before Model "A" Fords caught his eye
in 1975-76, AI logged some 4,300 VFR
hours and "a minute or two in the other
stuff. "
Between 1976 and 1987, AI restored
more than 30 Model "As" to showroom
plus condition. Once he had 14 under
restoration at the same time. Although
he didn't realize it then, his "Model A
years" were the training ground for the
eventual rebirth of T-5525.
After exhausting the supply of 1927-
31 Fords, the Bakersfield "King of
Model As" drifted back to flying in
1987 and purchased the C-185 which,
incidentally, he had ferried from Kansas
in 1965 when it was new. Three years
and some 300 flying hours later, and
bored without a wrench in his hand, he
casually told friend and Fed Ex jockey
Nick Baker that .. .
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Saving The Tiger
AI is the first to admit he knew little
about restoring airplanes and even less
about Tiger Moths when he backed the
loaded trailer into his 40 foot by 50 foot
hangar. Baker helped AI arrange the
puzzling parts on the floor in their ap-
proximate and ultimate relationship to
each other and explained "what went
where." Still bewildered, AI just dug in.
Except for a short fishing trip, he put in
five to six hours a day on the project
while also running the fuel service, and
"dawn to dusk plus" was the schedule
on weekends.
I witnessed the Moth's metamor-
phosis several times while refueling at
Meadows Field. Not even a Mayo
Clinic CAT scan can find any rust or
corrosion on this rebuild. Every piece
of tubing had been impeccably blasted,
replaced as required, zinc chroma ted,
and primed and reprimed before cover-
ing.
Despite finding a fossilized rat's nest
in a lower wing where the spar joins the
metal tip, all of the spars and ribs were
free of dry rot and "in excellent shape."
The trailing edges did not fair so well.
Friend Pete Plumb made new ones from
fresh Sitka spruce while AI, as neces-
sary, removed, reglued and renailed the
ribs. Billie, AI boasts, made the Stits
envelopes.
Meanwhile, two volunteers signed
on. One, Leo Pike, an engine wizard
who had retired from Bakersfield Avia-
tion three years earlier, wandered by
and became fascinated with the Gipsy
Major lC engine hanging in a comer of
the hangar. It had only 2,301 hours TT
and 477 since overhaul. For a 1932
design, it has a remarkable TBO of
1,500 hours. Nevertheless, Leo volun-
teered to major it. Who could tum down
an offer like that?
The Gipsy Major Ie, of course, is an
inline, 4-cylinder air-cooled, left
swinger. It has 4.646 inch bore, 374
cubic inches, and a compression ratio of
6.0 to l. Mounted upside-down, there
was never one made that hasn't leaked
at least some oil. It's part of the mysti-
que. Bearings were the only new parts
required during Leo's major. It
originally fired KLG-RVI23 plugs,
which have been replaced with the KLG
RL-50R obtained from England.
The other volunteer is Bakersfield
A&E Mike Collins who works on King
Air, Gulfstream and Saberliner
airframes for a living. At age 14 Mike
bought a ragged Taylorcraft BL65 to
restore with his Dad. But two years
later, before it was finished, he dis-
covered girls and needed "wheels." So
long, Taylorcraft. That was 22 years
ago. Now, here was another chance at
restoration.
Mike, who helped with the airframe
restoration and assembly, recalls the
only glitch on the project. After the
initial rigging, he moved the stick left
and both ailerons popped up. Speed
brakes are not a Moth necessity, so he
converted them back to ailerons.
AI counted eight layers of paint on the
interplane struts, which were sanded to
their natural finish, stained, rubbed and
spar varnished to the lustre of fine fur-
niture. The mahogany, brass edged
prop (a Gipsy Major) was also clad in
black paint. It was carefully stripped,
even more carefully inspected, then
sanded and refinished in its layered,
natural tones.
All of the panel cockpit wood is new,
as is the flooring, which was several feet
short. To hide deep scratches and scars
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
The fuselage of the Tiger Moth nears completion. The 12 Imperial gallon aux tank
installed in Bombay is located between the firewall and the front panel.
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The "upside down" Gipsy Major IC overhauled by leo Pike. It The wing is being held by A & P Mike Collins, who appears to
is shown in the upright position.
on the turtledeck, Al covered it with
flannel and sprayed it with water for
shrinkage prior to covering with Stits.
The interior seating and the prominent,
cushioned crash pads above each panel
are genuine, top grade leather. What
else?
The Moth also has a new firewall
("the old one was paper thin flanked by
asbestos"), Cleveland brakes, Goodyear
6:00 x 6 tires, new flying wires, stainless
steel cables, and a custom-built forked
tail wheel assembly designed by Tiger
Moth guru Ed Clark of Hawthorne,
California. It incorporates most of the
original swiveling tail skid parts that
came with the plane. (Steel skids don't
mix well with concrete.) Al cleaned,
refaced and repainted all of the dual
instruments and had them profes-
sionally checked and calibrated.
Billie's major contribution was in the
fabric stitching and shrinking, which
some say is a good reason to own a
Spam can or monoplane. The Stits
covering was initially sprayed with
three coats of clear Polybrush, separated
by the traditional but arduous sanding.
While refusing sanding help requires
will power, Al did all of the dirty work
himself to avoid the sand -throughs of
heavy hands. Next came five coats of
silver Polyspray, each separated by
more sanding, raw fingers and aching
biceps. Finally, three coats of urethane
color (Cub Yellow) were added during
have been on his knees a time or two during this restoration.
the still Bakersfield dawns.
With an assist from Mike, Al did all
of the layout and template work, mask-
ing and detail painting, including num-
bers, letters and the famous British
roundel target. He selected RAF war
paint, primarily because a detailed color
photo of the plane in that scheme during
its brief Singapore life came with the
basket.
The final product is so expertly
painted that some sections, such as the
turtledeck and the tapered antispin
strakes (more on those later), look as if
they have been fiberglassed. In fact, Al
is repeatedly asked if they are. They
aren't.
The Pemberton's were fortunate in
that the trailer of parts was 99 percent
complete. Seller Dan Nelson later came
up with some tapered pins needed for
the top wings, and Ed Clark loaned Al
molds for the hub caps, which had to be
made. The logo decals on the interplane
struts came from the Tiger Moth Club
in England.
The only concession to modern tech-
nology (and the FAA) is a portable,
hand held Icom radio (with VOR). It
works well when attached to a station-
ary, three foot antenna that is discreetly
concealed in the fuselage interior, left
and aft of the rear cockpit.
With the little war bird finally as-
sembled, Al and the friendly cohorts to
whom the Pembertons concede they are
indebted, decided to do some taxi trials
and check for oil leaks at high rpm. It
was too much for Al and T-5525, both
eager to fly. Unable to restrain themsel -
for both Moth and man.
The Tiger's Stripes
The Tiger Moth is loaded with fea-
tures and gadgets that were blase in its
era but are now quite unique, if not
fascinating.
Perhaps the most readily apparent is
a mechanical spring loaded airspeed in-
dicator attached near the top of the left
forward interplane strut. It vaguely
resembles a pie shaped sundial. Opera-
tion is basic. The rush of air as the plane
moves forward depresses a small metal
tab attached to the spring. As the spring
is compressed, it activates a long needle
that swings across an arc shaped brass
scale that reads from 40 to 120 mph-
that is, if you don't need glasses.
The rear cockpit, which for solo
operation must be occupied for c.g.
weight reasons - not the fact that it
contains the only ignition switch - is
dominated by a large, brass compass
(the P8) that is horizontally inset, bot-
tom center. The needle always points to
magnetic north, so changes in heading
must be followed by twisting the brass
read-out dial so "N" is always aligned
with the head of the needle. Although
highly polished and handsome, it seems
out of place in a flying machine and
better suited to a sailing one.
Cockpit instrumentation is frugal, but
adequate. Both panels contain rpm, oil
temperature gauge, a Reid & Sigrist turn
and skid needle (sorry, no ball), a con-
ventional airspeed dial, and a height
indicator (altimeter). Now unique, the
face of the "altimeter" rotates while the
ves, they "accidentally" jumped off the indicator needle itself remains fixed. Al
ramp at Meadows Field December 30, says the British used "unisex" in-
~
1990. In a sense it was a reincarnation strumentation during WWII, so the
14APRIL1992                 =       ~
t
__.....L__
Billie and AI Pemberton proudly show off the Camarillo Fly-In "Best In Show" speed of 43 mph. The
trophy. "never exceed" red
same dials were employed in most other
RAF war birds of the day. Indeed,
two large coils of unnecessary and
un-shortenable Spitfire oil pressure
line hang just behind the firewall. A
stem fuel gauge is located at the rear
of the wing tank, just above the
pilot's eyes.
The Bombay installed aux. fuel tank,
which now gives T -5525 a total capacity
of 35 U. S. gallons and a reserve range
of about 350 miles, is located between
the firewall and forward panel. Fuel is
,"drawn" to the main tank for eventual
gravity feed on the pull stroke of a pistol
gripped pump handle located in the rear
cockpit at the right knee, near a large,
sprocketed lever that
operates the wing
slots (a.k.a. "slats").
Another feature
that jumps out is the
sleek antispin strakes
located at the rear of
the fuselage top
where it joins the ver-
tical stabilizer.
While early Tiger
Moths possessed un-
failing spin recovery,
the addition of wing
weight over time at
the request of the
RAF resulted in a
flywheel effect that
made spin recovery
in later Moths dif-
ficult, if not down-
right dangerous. To
solve the problem,
previously installed aileron mass
balance weights were removed, and the
antispin strakes, designed to slow the
rate of spin, were included on new
Moths made after 1941 and retrofitted
on those made before, including
T-5525.
The throttle, which Al suggests is
similar to that in a Model "A" (and he
should know), has a spark advance
which, when fully retarded, makes the
idling Gipsy MajorlC sound more like
a tractor than a plane. In the idle posi-
tion AI swears he can count the blade
turns; well, almost.
With the cowling doors up and the
inline cylinders and valves pointing
down, one sees a cavernous space that
suggests a lot of engine is missing. It
isn't. There's room for maintenance
work; a mechanic's dream, Wichita!
There is also an alternate linkage arm
on the Claudel-Hobson A1.48 car-
buretor that is stamped "20,000 feet,"
but AI isn't about to "give it a bloody
go."
On the left side of the fuselage, mid-
way between the rear cockpit and the
rudder, are the red stenciled words
"FIRST AID." Reportedly, some war
Moths were equipped with an 8x5x8
inch first aid kit imbedded inside the
steel tube fuselage. The downed pilot
or passenger, in need of medical sup-
plies, was supposed to cut through the
fabric around the stenciled words to
reach it.
Despite the antics of the Madras
flyers, the medical kit that came with
T-5525, although maybe replaced a
time or two, has never been used.
Among the many contents are Band
Aids and bandage wraps "Made in India
by Johnson & Johnson" and a miracle
product called "Deltal Antiseptic," also
made in India (but not by J&J). Accord-
ing to the label, it is good for "Cuts and
wounds, insect bites, scratches, snake
bite, insect sting, mouthwash, gargle,
dandruff, bathing, douching - and sur-
gical-medical midwifery."
For specification buffs, the wing span
on the Tiger Moth is 29 feet, 4 inches;
overall length is 23 feet 11 inches; and
it stands 8 feet 9.5 inches. The chord on
both wings is 4 feet 4 and 3/8 inches
with an incidence of 4 degrees. The
dihedral on the top wing is 2 degrees 45
minutes, while on the distinctive bottom
one it is 4 degrees 30 minutes. The "tail
plane," as horizontal stabilizers were
called, measures 9 feet 10 inches across,
and the wheel base is 5 feet three inches.
While the Tiger Moth may not have
been the most graceful looking aircraft
of its day, which now spans 60 years and
more than two-thirds the entire history
of aviation, there is no disputing that,
with a folklore background, it remains
one of the most durable and interesting.
Flying The Tiger
Fairness suggests that Tiger Moth
performance should be judged by the
standards of 1931 when it first flew,
rather than by those of today or 1945
when it was last built. The original Hat-
field "Manual," which is still with T-
5525, lists the
Pemberton DH82a at
a gross weight of
1,825 pounds for nor-
mal category opera-
tion and at 1,770 for
aerobatics. AI and
Billie's has an empty
weight of 1,231
pounds.
The "Book" claims
a max. speed of 106
mph at 5,000 feet,
2,350 turns and 1,650
pounds; a sea-level
g climb rate of798 FPM
o
§ (let's round it to 800);
  a service ceiling of
  15,800 feet (absolute
...J@ is 18,000); and a stall
line is is 160. One
paragraph reads, "In order to avoid
extravagance in petrol and unnecessary
wear, the air screw should be operated
between 1900 and 2350 rpm;" words of
wisdom still true.
Time to climb from sea level to 5,000
feet is listed at 7.5 minutes. It carried
two gallons of oil and 19 Imperial gal-
lons of petrol in the main tank; range at
max. weight and 2,050 rpms was
reported as 300 miles.
Al is more candid. While he con-
firms the new flying wires will sing only
at about 100 mph indicated, normal
cruise is about 90 mph; but he says, "It'll
never see 15,000 feet unless it's carried
to the top of Mt. Whitney on a mule"
(even then it would be 506 feet short).
On the plus side, "It still flies at 40." AI
estimates full stall comes closer to 35
mph.
(Continued on Page 26)
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
wmT ()UI2  
veter-sen 
HM-14  "FLYING FLEA"
This photo of a "Flying Flea" was
sent in by Bill Nelson (EAA 164560) of
Chesterfield, MO, in response to the
photo of the Crosley "Flying Flea" in
SPORT AVIATION, September '9l.
Bill took the picture during a 1989 visit
to the Sopwith Museum, Old Warden
Airfield, Bedfordshire, England.
Constructed by K. W. Owen of
Southampton, England in 1936, the
Henri Mignet designed homebuilt was
registered G-AEBB and was powered
with a 25 hp Scott "Flying Squirrel"
engine. The tandem-winged machine
was restored for museum display in 1968
and taxied under its own power, but not
flown, before being placed on display.
STINSON L-5 "Trailblazer"
This nearly 50-year-old photo of a
special Stinson L-5 (brand new) was
brought in by Alvin (Boots) Geiger
(EAA 45764, A/C 2512) of Lewiston,
MI. Taken in 1944, the photo shows
how the war effort was helped along by
designating an aircraft sponsored by the
local high school students. The inscrip-
tion on the cowl reads: "Trailblazer,
sponsored by the students of Central
High School, Detroit, Michigan."
The cool, 22-year-old man by the L-5
is "Boots" Geiger himself, who worked
at the Stinson Division of Consolidated
Vultee Aircraft Corporation at Wayne
County Airport, Michigan. Note the
Ray-Ban sun glass case on the belt and
the substantial wooden propeller on the
Lycoming 0-435 engine of 190 hp.
32 hp Bristol
pronouncing that name with a
full of peanut butter!)
The unusual looking aircraft in the
background, registered G-ABXL, is a
Granger Archaeopteryx powered with a
Cherub engine. (Try
mouth
Jeannie Hill's Taylor E-2 "Cub"
on skis
Outside enjoying the "cool" near
Harvard, IL, is Antique/Classic Director
Jeannie Hill (EAA 56626, A/C 629) and
her 1933 Taylor E-2 "Cub", NC13179,
SIN 60, mounted on a set of Heath
tubular skis. Although the E-2 is not a
"tiger" on a warm summer day with its
Continental A-40 engine of 37 hp, the
cool winter air makes the neat two-
placer come alive, performing very well
on the antique metal tube skis. Jeannie
and her husband, retired NW A Captain
Dick Hill, also fly a Piper J-2 "Cub" on
skis from their rural grass landing strip
near Harvard, IL.
Otto Stender's Grass Strip
A literal hotbed of antique/classic
flying activity is Otto Stender's (EAA
295383) grass landing strip near Wal-
cott, IA. This photo, taken by Nancy
Levsen and sent in by Leonard Lemon,
of a typical day at Otto's neatly mowed
strip, shows six aircraft parked in a
"dress right, dress" formation. From the
left: 1940 Aeronca Defender, N31791,
SIN 6600T, Glen Desplinter, Sherrard,
IL 1941 Porterfield, N37855, SIN 1002,
Otto Stender, Walcott, IA 1947 Cessna
140, N4014N, SIN 13472, Chuck Lev-
sen, Donahue, IA 1950 Cessna 170A,
N5562C, SIN 19615, Chuck Levsen,
Donahue, IA 1958 Champion Tri-
Traveler, N7544E, SIN 7FC-249,
Leonard Lemon (EAA 108247, A/C
13272) Rock Island, IL 1946 Piper J-3
Cub, N3650K, SIN 22344, John Spiegel
(EAA 17024, AjC 4978) Viola, IL
Our thanks to Nancy Levsen for
taking the picture and to Leonard
Lemon for sending it to EAA head-
quarters for inclusion in VINTAGE
AIRPLANE. All of these airplanes, ex-
cept the J-3 Cub, are based at Otto
Stender's strip.
Richard Grigsby's Waco VEC
Posing on the ramp at Ashland, OR,
prior to leaving for Oshkosh is Waco
UEC, NC18613, SIN 3684, owned by
Richard Grigsby (EAA 309645) of
Pacific Palisades, CA. Originally built
in 1932 using a Continental R-670 en-
gine of 210 hp, this particular Waco
UEC went into service with the Bureau
of Air Commerce and was registered
NS-38. It was then changed to NC16
when the CAA came into being. This
registration was later changed to
NC18613. Note the square insignia on
the side of the fuselage which reads: U.
S. Department of Commerce, Civil
Aeronatics Administration, just as it
looked in the 1930's in governmental
service.
This bright orange Waco cabin was
awarded an Outstanding Silver Age
trophy at EAA Oshkosh '88 in the An-
tique/Classic Division. In 1991, Dick
Grigsby again brought the Waco to
EAA Oshkosh '91 and garnered the
Outstanding Closed Cockpit Biplane
award in the Silver Age bracket. On this
trip, his co-pilot (and navigator) from
Greeley, CO and return was John Roche
(EAA 386997) - age 10! (This ener-
getic young man has already been
awarded a scholarship to the EAA Air
Academy when he reaches the required
age.)
Dick Grigsby acquired the Waco in
1980 and has been upgrading the
aircraft ever since. Much of the rebuild-
ing has been accomplished by Steve
Green in Ashland, Oregon. The wheel-
pants and ring cowl were made by Jack
Richards in Lancaster, CA, who put a
great deal of effort into the Waco after
it sustained substantial damage in a
1965 accident.
In 1989, Dick donated the Waco to
the Donald Douglas Museum of Flying
in Santa Monica, CA, where he main-
tains the airplane in an airworthy condi-
tion (as an active volunteer) and also
gets to fly the airplane when needed.
Dick's personal logbook presently
shows over 31,500 hours! 01'
NC18613 is one of eight Waco UEC
aircraft remaining on the U. S. register.
...
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 17
Honeymoon Airplane 
The 27th annual Watsonville West
Coast Antique Fly-in held May 24-26,
1991 sponsored by the Northern
California Antique Aircraft Association
set a new record ofsorts. Jim Ricklefs'
1935 Fairchild 24C8C, NC15921 won
the Grand Champion award. This es-
tablished Ricklefs as the first three-time
Grand Champion winner in the 27 year
history of the event. Ricklefs' previous
winners were a 1916 Spad VII in 1974
and a 1933 Fairchild 24C8A in 1980.
There are two two-time Grand Cham-
pion winners: Flora and Ted Homan
with an American Eagle in 1966 and a
Hisso powered Travel air 3000 in 1981;
Jim Nissen with his 1917 Thomas
Morse S4C Scout in 1965 and his 1918
Curtiss JN4D in 1976.
Ricklefs called his airplane "The
Honeymoon Airplane" as he and his
first wife flew on their honeymoon in
this airplane in June 1936. Jim's first
wife, Nadine, died in 1953 and the
airplane has been restored in her
memory. The airplane was a wedding
present from the bride's father, W. H.
Davis of Los Altos, California. Jim was
just finishing his education at Stanford
so the airplane had to be in Stanford's
colors, white with red trim. It was com-
mon in 1936 to personalize your
airplane with a name and insignia. The
airplane bore the name "Pegasus" and a
18 APRil 1992
by Jim Ricklefs (A/C 964)
logo on each side of the airplane showed
a woman riding a winged horse with a
helmeted man holding onto the tail and
a dog running alongside. Beneath the
logo were the words "NAD AND
RICKI." Ricklefs had the original 1936
pictures of the logo which artist Bob
Sterling duplicated.
Jim and Nadine flew to Monterey to
spend a few honeymoon days before
going to Hawaii for the summer. At that
point of time Monterey did not have an
airport so Jim landed the plane inside
the county racetrack, tied the airplane to
the fence, spent several days at the Del
Monte Lodge, came back to the airplane
and flew away. Nobody said boo. Im-
agine if you did that today!
After Nadine and Jim sold the
airplane it went through a series of
owners, ending up in a hay bam in San
Jose, California as a basket case. It was
discovered nine years ago by Jim's
friend John Eney of Doylestown, Pen-
nsylvania. It had no logs or paperwork
so John sent to the FAA and obtained
microfiche records which showed Jim
and Nadine Ricklefs to be the original
owners. John, being a nice guy, called
Jim and said ''I'll buy this if you don't
want it, but I think you should have it."
The restoration took longer than
usual due to circumstances that would
not be of great interest to readers. The
majority of the restoration was done by
Air Fab of Hollister, California with
some of the work done by Jim's son-in-
law, Ray Johnson.
The first test flight flown by retired
VAL pilot and test pilot Frank Egbert,
another of Jim's good friends, was less
than successful as power loss was ex-
perienced. Frank barely made it back to
the runway. The engine had to be
removed and gone over before flying
was again resumed. As of this writing
there are about 10 hours on the airplane
since restoration.
As Frank was checking Jim out in the
airplane, Jim made a series of five bad
landings, a far cry from the good three-
pointers he was making in 1936. Dis-
gusted with himself, Jim turned to Frank
and asked Frank to take it around the
pattern and show him how to do it.
Frank did this and made an equally bad
landing, bouncing and cavorting all
over the runway. At the end of the
landing roll, Frank turned to Jim and
said, "See, you've got this runway so
screwed up nobody can land on it!"
A lot airplane restorers miss the boat
by not making a display sign for their
restoration. It should give the airplane's
history as well as its specifications.
(left) Jim Ricklefs and
Nadine Davis/Ricklefs
beside their Fairchild
"Honeymoon" airplane
at the Palo Alto airport.
The airplane was a wed-
ding gift from the bride's
father, William H. Davis
of Toyon Farm, los Altos,
CA. The wedding was
held June 18, 1936.
The "Honeymoon" airplane is
rediscovered and reclaimed
amid hay bales after 46 years.
Just look at the dust and dirt all
over this "find". What a thrill it
was to find this long-lost piece
of Jim Ricklefs past.
At the Hollister, CA airport, here's the airplane's crew, from left to right: Test pilot Frank
Egbert, technical advisor and backup pilot Jim Nissen, Jim Ricklefs, and Air Fab owner
Bob Hall.
The restored "Honeymoon" airplane, a 1935 Fairchild 24C8C, sin 2724 equipped with
a 145 hp Warner ready for a test flight. What a pretty sight!
Here is the sign made up for the Fair-
child:
THE HONEYMOON AIRPLANE
3-PLACE 1935 FAIRCHILD 24C8C,
SIN 2724
7-CYL. 145 HP @ 2050 RPM
WARNER SUPER SCARAB
Jim Ricklefs and his bride Nadine Davis
(deceased 1953) flew on their honeymoon
in this airplane in 1936. The plane was a
wedding gift from Nadine's father. It was
rediscovered as a basket case in a hay bam
near San Jose nine years ago and has been
under restoration since. It was test flown
April 1991 by Frank Egbert.
RESTORED IN LOVING MEMORY
OF NADINE DAVIS RICKLEFS
Empty Weight: 1587 pounds
Max. Speed: 137 mph
Cruise: 118 mph
Gross Weight: 2400 pounds
Span: 36 feet 4 inches
Length: 23 feet 9 inches
Land no flaps: 49 mph
Land w/flaps: 43 mph
Airfoil : N-22 Chord: 66 inches
Climb: 700 fpm
Servo Ceiling: 15,500 feet
Fuel: 40 gallons Range: 490 miles
Oil: 3 gallons
Cost: $7,200
TOTAL PRODUCTION 130. MFD.
BY KREIDER REISNER
DIVN ./FAIRCHILD
RESTORED BY AIR FAB OF
HOLLISTER, CA
OWNER: JIM RICKLEFS,
SAN CARLOS , CA
It is interesting to note that today' s
signs are not hand painted. They are
done on a computer whi ch generates
stick on tape letters of any size and
shape you wish and are far superior to
the old hand painted signs.
Jim Ri cklefs spent most of his work-
ing years in the helicopter business and
is the retired president of Rick Helicop-
ters, Inc. and Alaska Heli copters, Inc.
In retirement he has been restoring
airplanes and helicopters as a hobby.
His airpl anes: 1916 Sopwith "Pup,"
1916 Spad VII, 1933 Fairchild 24C8A,
1935 Fai rchild 24C8C. His helicopters:
1944 Sikorsky R-4B, (2) 1943 Sikorsky
R-6As, (2) 1960 Hiller XROE- l Rotor-
cycles, 1958 Hiller YH32 Ram Jet. In
additi on to the aircraft, Ricklefs has res-
tored a number ofWWI engines includ-
ing Le Rhone and Gnome rotari es.
Most of the aircraft have been sold and
reside in museums around the country.
Rickl efs , at age 77, says that the 1935
Fairchild will be his last restoration. He
intends to keep it until he dies. And
what be tt e r final e than THE
HONEYMOON AIRPLANE! ..
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
FAMILY CHAMP.
• • 
Few  things  in  this  life  are  more  fun 
than  walking  the  lines  of airplanes  at 
Oshkosh, drooling  over the  almost un-
believeable  workmanship  exhibited, 
and  pausing  to  think  how  you  would 
enjoy  each  and  every  machine  - if  it 
were  yours.  (We  can  all  dream,  can't 
we?) 
While  making  the  rounds  at  EAA 
Oshkosh  ' 91,  I  was  pleased  to  come 
across a very nice looking Aeronca 7 AC 
"Champ"  that  brought  back  memories 
of January  and  February,  1956, when I 
was  learning  to  fly  in  a 7 AC  (N84168) 
at  nineteen  below  zero  in  Minnesota! 
My  careening takeoffs, using the entire 
runway  width from side to side, and the 
final, desperate leap over a snowbank in 
a  full  stall,  was  enough  to  make  my 
instructor in the back seat develop beads 
of sweat  on  his  forehead!  His  was  not 
an  easy task. 
Among all  the airplanes at  Oshkosh, 
this  particular  "Champ"  had  an  almost 
familiar  look  to  it,  as  if  I  had  seen  it 
before.  Perhaps the "N" number rang a 
bell,  way  in  the  background.  The next 
20 APRIL 1992
by Norm Petersen 
morning,  I had the  pleasure of meeting 
the  young  man  who  flew  the  "c\assic" 
into  Oshkosh.  When  he  introduced 
himself as Jim Sobralske (EAA 301264, 
AIC 15894) of Graham, North Carolina, 
the light suddenly came on.  Just a few 
years ago, I had parked my J-3 Cub next 
to  this  very  "Champ"  N83933,  SIN
7AC-2601, at his parent's landing strip, 
aptly named "Broken Prop Aerodrome" 
at Berlin, Wisconsin.  Mystery  solved. 
Jim' s  father,  Walter  Sobralske,  had 
learned  to  fly  from  the  master,  Steve 
Wittman, at Oshkosh, WI in  1946, solo-
ing  in  a  J-3  Cub.  Years  later,  in  1969, 
he  located  an  Aeronca  "Champ"  that 
was for sale at Capitol Drive Airport  in 
Milwaukee.  It had about 500 hours total 
time  on  the  airplane  and  had  been 
recently  recovered.  The  price  was 
$1400.  Walt  bought  the  Champ  from 
Homer Islam and two others and flew  it 
home  to  a  nearby  strip at  Red  Granite, 
WI.  A check of the  logbooks  revealed 
01' N83933  had  spent  its  life  in  Osh-
kosh,  West  Bend  and  Milwaukee,  WI. 
Walt's son, Jim,  was  only  11  years  old 
at the time, but he remembers the event 
vividly. 
The  next  summer  (1970)  a  landing 
strip  was  built just west  of the home at 
Berlin  and  the  name,  Broken  Prop 
Aerodrome,  was  placed  on  the  end  of 
the new hangar.  By the time Jim was a 
16-year-old Berlin High School student, 
he  was  taking  lessons  in  the  Champ, 
making his solo flight in the family bird 
in  1974.  By  the  time  Jim  graduated 
from  high  school,  he  had  his  Private 
license  and  was  off to  North  Carolina 
State University at Raleigh, NC to study 
textile engineering. 
A five year stint in the textile business 
for Jim  was  followed  by  a job with the 
Federal  Systems  Division  of  AT&T, 
which has kept Jim busy for the last five 
years.  His  longing for  01'  N83933, the 
Sobralske  family  Champ,  was  soothed 
when his father flew  the  Aeronca from 
Wisconsin  to  North Carolina in August 
of 1987 and said, "Have at it!" 
Jim  and his  wife, Margaret, flew  the 
Champ around the entire area during the 
ensuing  year,  making  several  longer 
Jim Sobrolske
trips to really see the country. How-
ever, by the time for Annual Inspection
in August of '88, the old girl was ready
for a complete rebuild. It had been in
the Sobralske family for nearly twenty
years and perhaps deserved a rejuvina-
tion. Jim promptly took the Champ
down to the bare airframe and dis-
covered a few items.
The horizontal stabilizer was rusted
through in spots and had to be replaced,
however, the all-important longerons
were in excellent shape. The wooden
stringers and bulkheads on the fuselage
were noticeably warped out of shape
from the pull of the fabric over all the
years. All were replaced with new
wood. New epoxy primer on the
fuselage tubing started the rebuild as
parts and pieces were added to the inte-
rior, each piece cleaned and painted as
required. A new Airtex interior was
installed with the headliner being done
in a particularly neat manner. It is ob-
vious that Jim has put forth his best
effort in the entire rebuild.
Covering was done with the Stits
process through silver (Polyspray)
which was carefully sanded before the
final finish of Amerflint Polyurethane
was applied by a friend of Jim's. The
beige and maroon colors were matched
from chips found during the rebuild.
All new glass was installed in the side
windows and door, however, Jim's
thoughts of re-using the old windshield
were dashed when he noticed a tiny
crack had expanded and gone right
across the center of the plexiglass! A
new windshield solved the problem.
Matching floor carpets were part of
the Airtex interior and when the thick,
upholstered seats were installed, the
feeling of lUXury began to spring forth.
Even the long trips aren't quite as un-
comfortable as they formerly were with
the quieter interior and soft seats ac-
cording to Jim.
The original Continental A65 engine,
which had a total of 1500 hours on it,
was completely majored with new pis-
tons, rings, valves, guides, springs and
a re-lobed camshaft. The crankshaft
was reground .010 under and new bear-
ings were fitted. The original Fiottorp
wooden propeller was sent out for over-
haul and was returned with a red tag on
it! Not Airworthy! Dry rot had gotten
to the wood. A new Sensenich wooden
prop was ordered.
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
(Above) The plush interior of the Sobralske
Champ, complete with handheld radio in-
stallation and padded side panels.
(Right) The clean engine installation in the
Champ, including a shielded ignition harness
to cut ignition interference in the radio.
(Below) Here's a neat trick! The cables for the
brakes normally ride in a Bowden cable
housing, but Jim has these two pulleys set up
to reduce friction in the brake system.
The "Family Champ" as it looked at the Sobralske's strip, "Broken Prop Aerodrome" in
1985.
The original metal nosebowl was
carefully refinished while Tony Daw-
son of Greensboro, NC, a real pro at
sheet metal, made a new boot cowl to
replace the old, tired one. (It is really
amazing how much better an airplane
looks when the sheet metal is new.)
When the engine was installed with all
its accessories, the cowling was added
to the front end of the Champ and it
really began to look like a first class
airplane, in spite of being built forty-
five years ago. Jim carefully cut out the
row of Wisconsin registration stickers
from the old fabric and sent them to his
parents in Wisconsin - where he knew
they would be appreciated. New
Aeronca logos were obtained from
Wag-Aero to add that "touch" to the
side of the fin.
A pair of Aeronca wheel hub caps
(with "Aeronca" punched into them)
were located in Minnesota and fit nicely
on the Cleveland wheels which replaced
the original VanSickle wheels. Jim
feels the Cleveland brakes are a
worthwhile investment, especially
when you need them - bad!
The area that Jim flies in around
Graham is rather heavy with traffic and
a two-way radio is a must. Jim uses a
hand held radio attached to an outside
antenna mounted above the center
cabin, just behind the windshield. This
arrangement works very nicely (with
earphones) and allows Jim to communi-
cate with all facilities.
Once the rebuild was completed and
all the paperwork finished, Jim took the
"new" bird for its first flight. He readily
admits it is like flying a new airplane.
Even the 65 Continental gets up and
goes with more authority following the
major overhaul. In April of '91, Jim's
father, Walt, came down to North
Carolina and the two of them flew the
sparkling Champ to Sun 'N Fun, a treat
indeed. They also made a flight to
Savannah, GA, to visit Jim's sister.
Everybody agrees the Sobralske family
airplane is a most unique aircraft and a
credit to those who have taken such
good care of her over these many years.
Jim and Margaret have a beautiful
two-year-old daughter named Victoria
Lee (who goes by the name of Lee) and
who enjoys flying in the airplane. Her
grandfather, Walter, said it best, "I sure-
ly hope that one day Lee will solo in
N83933 and make it a three generation
family airplane."
As the ad on TV says, "This is as good
as it gets!" ...
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
PASS IT TO
--1Juck 
An information exchange column with input from readers.
Some Thoughts About Membership 
At  the  last  board  meeting  of  your 
Antique/Classic Division, our editor of 
VINTAGE, H.G.  Frautschy, and I were 
talking  about  our foreign  membership. 
H.G.  punched  the  computer  and  came 
up  with  some  numbers  that  were  very 
interesting.  He  tells  me  slightly  under 
ten  percent  (9.8  %,  to  be exact)  of our 
membership  resides  outside  of  the 
United States.  I don't consider Canada 
as  being  a  foreign  country,  excluding 
Quebec,  of course,  and  so  I  tended  to 
consider  these  people  as  part  of  the 
"local"  family .  We  have  a  BUNCH, 
believe  me!  And  they  are  even  more 
prevalent  in  the  homebuilder  ranks. 
Some very innovative designs are com-
ing  out of Canada as  far as  light  planes 
and custom-builts are concerned.  There 
is  a  real  core  of  seaplane  enthusiasts 
there as well, and there are some beauti-
fully  restored  antique  workhorse  bush 
type  antiques  doing  yeoman  duty  on 
forestry  patrol,  fisherman  fly-outs  and 
just plain transportation.  There are also 
a  goodly  number  of  antiques  that  are 
flown  for just fun.  I hate to  mention it, 
but there are some beautiful warbirds as 
well. 
But all this is leading up to our mem-
bership.  I asked H.G.  for a print-out so 
I could just see who and where our 7400 
copies are mailed to each month.  That's 
right!  7400  copies  are  mailed  each 
month! 
I  scanned  the  print-out.  At  first 
glance there are about 200 copies that I 
call "friendly persuasion" copies.  They 
go  to  all  the  various  State  Aeronautics 
Divisions  or  Departments  in  the  U.  S., 
some public libraries,  Federal Aviation 
FISDOs,  FAA  offices  in  Washington, 
and many of the aviation publications or 
their editors.  These are complimentary. 
Many  years  ago  when Jack Cox  and 
24 APRIL 1992
I were trying to get the word out that we 
had a Division devoted entirely to anti-
ques and classics, we felt that we had to 
let  the  world  know  about  it.  Even 
though  we  couldn't  really  afford  it,  we 
put all  these people on our complimen-
tary mailing list.  It has paid off!  When 
you  go  to  the  local  FAA  offices  and 
mention  you  are  EAA's  Antique/Clas-
sic Division, because the magazines are 
in  their  reading  file,  they  immediately 
know where you  are coming from.  No 
explanation  is  necessary!  You  may 
have to  answer a question or two about 
what  your  opinion  is  about  a  certain 
airplane  or  event,  but  you  are  con-
sidered a friend. 
This is going to be especially benefi-
cial  to  our  "Contemporary"  group  as 
they  come  on  board  as  we  share  ex-
periences  in  print  and  make  the  "new" 
breed of FAA people familiar  with  our 
Antique/Classic Division and our mem-
bership. 
Back  to  the  membership.  We  have 
some  names  on  that  list  that  generate 
real  excitement  on  my  part.  I  see 
authors,  astronauts,  editors,  military 
notables,  association  presidents  (are 
you  reading  me,  Bob  Taylor?),  airline 
presidents,  high  government  officials, 
aircraft  manufacturers,  parts  suppliers, 
designers  and  many  unsung  heroes, 
guys  like  you,  whom  I  have  come  in 
contact  with  over  the  years.  I  am 
humbled  to  realize  as  I  look  over  the 
many,  many  pages  that  there  are three 
or  four,  sometimes  a  whole  bunch  on 
every  page, whom I have come in con-
tact with over the past 20 years. 
Yes!  Twenty years!  I haven't really 
given it much thought, but I have had 20 
years  of pleasant  relationships  with  all 
these  people  who  have  the  same  inter-
ests I have.  How about that?  Who else 
can claim that he has enjoyed a relation-
by Buck Hilbert
(EAA  21,  AIC 5)
P. O. Box 424 
Union, IL 60180 
ship like that? 
I  think  back to  the  first  30  or 40  of 
you,  and  you  know  who YOU are, and 
how  we  struggled  to  park  airplanes  at 
the  conventions.  How  the  few  volun-
teers  GREW  to  larger  attendance  each 
year.  How,  with  the  help  of  "seed 
money" and advice from  Paul Poberez-
ny and EAA, we were gearing up at the 
rate of about 20 percent a year.  When I 
took over from Dave Jameson, our first 
Antique/Classic Division president, we 
had about 80 or so members.  In the next 
five years we went to just over 1800.  J. 
R. Nielander took over and  we  went to 
2500.  Brad Thomas brought in a bunch 
more;  Bob Lickteig  - God bless  him! 
- really  tackled  membership  increase 
with a fervor,  brought us up over 6,000. 
And  now  with  "Butch"  Joyce  we  are 
over 7,000, 
What I am getting  to,  I guess,  is  that 
our membership is  very diversified and 
filled with enthusiasts from all walks of 
life.  We  have  a  wealth  of experience 
and variety within our organization that 
is  astounding.  YOU,  fellow  member, 
are  kin  to  a  fraternity  of aviation  en-
thusiasts sharing an interest that knows 
no  boundaries,  borders,  religions  or 
race!  Although  we  might  be  Russian, 
Argentinean,  German,  Mexican, 
Japanese, American or New Zealander, 
we  all  share  this  common  interest. 
What a wonderful world we have in our 
Antique/Classic Division. 
Let's  welcome  our  "Contemporary" 
group,  the  new  kids  on the  block,  with 
the  same  enthusiasm  and  comradeship 
that  we  have  enjoyed  these  past  21 
years.  Within  this  group  are  more 
"names"  in  aviation,  people  who  can 
and will contribute to the Antique/Clas-
sic  Division.  Welcome them  and  their 
airplanes,  and  the  expertise  of  those 
who will join us. 
Over to you,  .... 
BARGAIN TUBING  BENDER 
By George F.  Ruth 
EAA 129219 
176 Westside Lane 
Torrington, CT 06790 
After  sandblasting  the  horizontal 
stabili zers  of my  PA-12,  I  discovered 
that  th e  leadin g  e dge  tubes  had 
numerous  holes  in  t hem.  I  had  the 
option  of  replacing  the  stabi li zers  at 
$252  each  or  repl acing  the  leading 
edge  tubes  at  $11.60  each.  I  chose 
the latter. 
After  the  original  leading  edge 
tubes  we re  r e moved,  th e 
problem  was  .  .. how  to  bend 
1"  diameter  tubes  to  conform 
to  the  proper  leading  edge 
shape.  I  checked  several 
catalogs  which  sell  commercial 
benders,  and  I  discovered  that 
one can  spend  several hundred 
dollars  for  a  bender,  and  none 
t hat  I  saw  was  des igned  to 
be nd  a  1"  diame ter  tube. 
Therefore,  [  decided  to  make 
my  own.  The bender was  made 
from  a  16"  diameter,  2"  thick 
mapl e  chai r  seat ,  discarde d  by  a 
nearby  cha ir  manufacture r .  I 
screwed  a  face  plate  on  one  side  and 
mount ed  it  on  the  end  of  my  wood 
lathe.  To  obtain  a  pe rfect  1 " 
diamet er  groove  in  the  periphery  of 
the  seat,  I  made  a  cutting  tool  by 
grinding  the  e nd  of  a  fi le  to  a  1 " 
diameter.  With  it,  I  cut  a  groove  1-
1/8"  deep  around  the  edge  of  the 
sea t.  A  stay  block  was  made  by 
cutting  out  a  3"  section  of  the  seat 
and  attaching  it  to  the  seat  with  steel 
straps  and  a  bolt.  I  drill ed  several 
hol es  in  the  straps ,  a ll owing  th e 
adjustment  of  the  stay  block  with 
respect  to  the  seat.  Moving  the  stay 
block  in  or out or fore  and  aft altered 
the  pressure  location  on  the  tube, 
and  thi s  affected  the  radius  of  the 
be nd .  The  compl eted  bender 
asse mbl y  was  then  h e ld  in  a  vise 
during the  bending operation. 
In  the  photo ,  a  tube  is  shown 
partially bent.  Before  bending,  it was 
fi ll e d  with  #00  sa nd  and  t he  ends 
plugged  with  wooden dowels.  4130  is 
tough ,  an d  I  fo und  that  slightl y 
heat in g  the  tube  made 
bending  easier.  Because  the 
radius of the desired bend was 
not  constant,  I  had  to  move 
the  tube  fore  and  aft  over the 
bender  during  the  bending 
operati on,  but  the  fi nal  for m 
was perfect. 
This  tube  bender didn' t  cost 
me  a  cent ,  a nd  in stead  of 
paying  $504  for  two  new 
stabili zers,  I  spent  $23.20  for 
th e  tubes  a nd  bent  th e m 
myself. 
Readers are invited to submit entries to EAA, Hints For Homebuilders, Att: Golda Cox, EAA Aviation Center, P.O. Box 3086,
Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of EAA judges. Readers whose hints are published in any EAA
magazine will be awarded one of three monthly prizes by Snap-on Tools - a 3/8" Drive Socket Wrench Set, a 1/4" Drive
Socket Wrench Set or a Nine-
piece Long-Handle Combination
Wrench Set. Members are also
invited to submit hints of an elec-
trical nature. Any electrical hint
used will receive a Fluke Model
23-2 Multimeter with Holster
from the John Fluke Mfg. Co.,
Inc. The contest will run from
August through July of each year
with a Grand Prize of a Snap-on
Tools KR657 Roll Cab and KR637
Top Chest being awarded the
best entry for the year. A Grand
Prize will also be awarded by the
John Fluke Mfg. Co . These
awards will be presented during
the EAA Convention. Our thanks
go to Snap-on Tools and John
Fluke Mfg . Co . for providing
these awards.
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25
Of Tiger Moths and Men
(Continued From Page 15)
The Pemberton's first cross-country
trip in the notoriously cold and breezy
craft with miniature windscreens (about
85 crow miles south to Camarillo) took
place last May. At 6,500 feet over the
Los Padres Nati onal Forest the "Sewing
Machine," as brother Bob dubbed it,
skipped a few stitches. AI' s not sure
whether it was carburetor ice (Moths
have no carb heat), thi n leaning, or
"automati c rough;" the latt er being
generally reserved for VFR, single en-
gine ni ght fl ights over mountainous ter-
rain into IMC by non-IFR pil ots. The
problem, "whatever it was, took care of
itself and hasn' t returned."
The crosswind component for the
Tiger Moth is about 12 knots, which is
precisely what Al discovered was blow-
ing across Camari llo's runway 26 at 90
degrees on his arrival. Winking, he
claims "No sweat," but considering the
impeccable quality of his painstaking
restorat ion, one suspects otherwise.
Al says the vintage war bi rd "flies
true to its name." Translat ing, he says,
"It seldom fli es long in the same direc-
tion or at the same altitude. It 's a hands-
on, feet on airplane." That makes
setting the P8 compass (which takes two
hands) a mi ld advent ure in two knee
dexterity.
Ray Roy, who hasn' t been in a plane
since 1972, and never in a Tiger Moth,
is waiting for warmer weather and a
front seat ride with leather helmet, gog-
gles and a white scarf at the ready. No
doubt it will be hi s second mos t
memorable ri de.
Al has already answered the "What's
next?" question. In-between sorting out
the many fly- in invitati ons received
since the Camari ll o EAA bash last May
("Best of Show"), he and Mike have
started on a 1941 Ryan PT-22 they hope
to have flyi ng this summer. A derelict
1935 BT-9, the small er, fixed leg ances-
tor of the more famous T -6, waits in the
wings.
And if Al and Billie can plot a realis-
tic every three hour or so 80 octane
course (lOOLL eats brass valve seats),
you just might see a yell ow, war painted
"Sewing Machine" from a bygone era
at Oshkosh. Remember, it's not a ghost,
but a reincarnation. ...
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 
James A. Abbott Winona, MN
William R. Adams
Mississauga, Ont, Canada
Donald R. Andersen Orlando, FL
Alan H. Anderson Madison, AL
J. Scott Becker Chicago, IL
Steven J. Beckman Aurora, CO
Robert Benson, Jr. Slidell, LA
Frederick W. Berken Olympia, WA
Baylas Bright Bristol , IN
Eugene M. Brim Mansfi eld, OH
Richard Caldwell Norwell, MA
Mark S. Calhoun Little Rock, AR
Marshall N. Carter Cambridge, MA
Richard L. Carter Salt Lake City, UT
Michael M. Charles Memphis, TN
Michael S. Cheslik Columbus, OH
Gene Cook Colorado Springs, CO
Homer M. Cox, Jr. Grapevine, TX
Sam DiCiocco Poland, OH
Kenneth V. Dobson
Warner Robbins, GA
Tyrone Elias Tulsa, OK
Warren Erickson Edina, MN
Delbert L. Fern Belton, MO
Joseph M. Fischer Upl and, CA
Joe Fulton Huntington Beach, CA
Joseph Gaines Fayetteville, NC
Leroy Goodwin Leipsic, OH
Joseph C. Goolsby Chandler, AZ
Charles J. Gustafson Ft. Worth, TX
Hugh Hackett Evanston, IL
Kenneth D. Hastey Bloomington, MN
L.R. Heinig St. Paul , MN
Greg Hier Crete, NE
Tommy Hill Hunstville, AL
Craig D. Hinton
White Bear Lake, MN
Albert M. Holman Grand Forks, ND
Jack Hooker Freeport, IL
Melinda Hum Mesa, AZ
Kenneth Johnson Rockford, IL
Fred W. Karn Valley City, ND
Glenn C. Kinney Coupeville, W A
George G. Kissel Angier, NC
Laurie Koronowski Mt. Pleasant, P A
Maj. R.J. Krogseng Soldotna, AK
Michael G. Lavelle Issaquah, W A
Larry Lyons Hyden, KY
Dean L. Mackey Dromana, Australia
Michael A. McCartt Akron, OH
David A McCreery Chicago, IL
Virgil R. McDonald Alvin, TX
Donald K. Morrow Santa Ana, CA
Raleigh Morrow Lodi , CA
David A. Nuss New Haven, MI
R.H. Osborne Colorado Springs, CO
Roy E. Palmer, Jr.
Mercer Island, W A
Dennis H. Parks Oshkosh, WI
Harlet B. Pickett Odenville, AL
Thomas M. Posey Billings, MT
J. Robert Pratt Williston, FI
Louis O. Ray Westchester, PA
Daniel Redfern Milpitas, CA
Robert E. Ross Pahoa, HI
Mark D. Sanders Miffl inburg, PA
Donald G. Schindler
Woodland Hills, CA
Roger L. Smith Los Alamos, NM
Herbert M. Spector Rock Island, IL
Joseph Stancil, Jr. Placerville, CA
Rodney L. Staub New Oxford, PA
J. Steiner Aurora, CO
John Surrency A von Park, FI
Warren F. Travis Germantown, TN
William H. Turner Riverside, CA
Dennis Van Swol Los Angeles, CA
Brian Van Wagnen Jackson, MI
Robert K. Vander Beek Plainfield, IL
Martin R. Walker Pueblo, CO
Howard Warren Middletown, NY
RandolfB. Webb, Jr. Sherman, CT
Bart W. Wellenkotter Aliquippa, PA
Jack Wells Tulsa, OK
Hubart C. Williams New Market, V A
Randy Wiliams Big Island, V A
Georgia Wood Sim, NC
John E. Wood Harrisonburg, VA
William A. Woods Martinsburg, WV
Grant R. Wrathall Aptos, CA
Steven Zeller Al pharetta, GA
Howard Zimmerman
Summerl and Key, FI
26 APRIL 1992
The following list of coming events is
furnished to our readers as a matter of
information only and does not constitute
approval, sponsorship, involvement,
control or direction of any such event. If
you would like to have your aviation event
(fly-in, seminars, fly market, etc.) listed,
please send the information to EAA, Att :
Golda Cox, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI
53093-3086. Information should be
received four months prior to the event
date.
April 25 Levelland, TX - EAA Chapter
19 Fly-In Breakfast at Levelland Municipal
Airport. Call 806/793-7889 for more infor-
mation.
May 1 - 3 Burlington, NC Annual EAA
Fly-in for Antique, Classic and Contem-
porary Aeroplanes, sponsored by EAA AjC
Chapter 3. Major speaker, vintage films,
good EAA fellowship; awards in all
categories. Contact: R. Bottom, Jr., 103
Powhatan Parkway, Hampton, VA 23661
May 1 - 3 Camarillo, CA - EAA Chap-
ter 723 and CAF Wing 12th Annual Fly-In
and aircraft exhibit. Homebuilts, classics,
antiques, warbirds and more. Pancake
breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, Dinner
Friday and Saturday with a band, seminars
and more. Contacts: Bob Koeblitz
310/443-8056 or Larry Hayes, 805/496-
3750
May 2 - 3 Winchester, V A - Winchester
Regional EAA Spring Fly-In. Trophies for
winning showplanes. Pancake breakfast
Sunday. Concessions and exhibitors. All
welcome. Contact AI or Judy Sparks, EAA
Chapter 186. Call 703/590-9112.
May 3 Moraine, OH - 29th Annual EAA
Chapter 48 Funday Sunday Fly-In at
Moraine Airpark. Awards, Breakfast, Flea
Market. Lots of Wacos! Contact Jennie
Dyke 513-878-9832 or Michael Williams
513-859-8967.
May 3 Bloomington, IL - Fly-In, Drive-
In pancake and sausage breakfast sponsored
by the Prairie Aviation Museum and Clark
Aviation. 8:00am til 12:00pm in the Clark
Aviation hangar. Contact: P.O. Box 856,
Bloomington, II 61702 or phone 309-663-
7632.
May 3 Rockford, IL - EAA Chapter 22
Annual Fly-In Breakfast. Mark Clark's
Courtesy Aircraft, Greater Rockford Air-
port. 7am til noon. Atis 126.7. For more
information call Wallace Hunt, 815/332-
4708.
May 15 -16 Colorado Springs, CO 3rd
Annual C.A.L./NX-211 Collectors Society
Symposium. Hied at the Pioneers Museum.
Contact: Dick Hoerle, 727 Y oUll-Kin Pkwy.
South, Columbus, OH 614/497-9517.
May 16 Mt. - Vernon, TX EAA Chapter
834 Spring Fly Market at Franklin County
Airport. Event will be held rain or shine.
Contcat: Jim Mankins, 903/725-6674, Ted
Newsome, 903/856-5992 or the Franklin
County Airport, 903/537-2711.
May 15-17 Columbia, SC - EAA
Chapter 242 2nd AIUmal Spring Fly-In at
Owens Field. Contact: Feaster Coleman,
803/779-6562 or 657-5864, or John
Gardner 803/796-2400 or 796-5808.
May 17 - Benton Harbor, MI - EAA
Chapter 585 6th Annual pancake breakfast
Fly-In at Ross Field. Classic car show,avia-
tion art and equipment exhibits. Contact: AI
Todd, 616/429-8518 or Randy Hunt ,
616/428-2837.
May 22-24 - Watsonville, CA 28th An-
nual West Coast Antique Fly-In and Air-
show. Contact: Gene Cox, 408/263-1616
or Susan Weil, 408/735-8238
May 22-24 - Atchison, KS - 26th Annual
Fly-In of the Kansas Ci ty Chapter of the
AAA. Contact: Stephen Lawlor, 816/238-
2161 or Gerald Gippner, 913/764/8512.
May 23-24 - Decatur, AL (DCU) -
EAA Chapter 941 and Decatur-Athens
Aero Service's fourth aJUlual Reunion and
Fly-In. Homebuilts, Classics, Antiques,
Warbirds and all GA aircraft welcome. Bal-
loon launch at dawn. Camping on field,
hotel shuttle avai lable. Contact: Decatur-
Athens Aero Service, 205/355-5770.
June 5 - 6, Bartlesville, OK - Frank
Phillips Field, Sixth Annual National
Biplane Convention and Expo. "Old Time
Airshow", forums, seminars, workshops.
Biplanes and NBA members free; all others
pay admi ssion fee. Contact: Charlie Harris,
918/742-7311 or Virgil Gaede, 918/336-
3976.
June 6 - Hot Springs, AR 25th Annual
Arkansas Air Derby. Contact Doug Mc-
Dowall, 5700 Granby Rd, North Little
Rock, AR 72118, phone 501/791-2626 or
501/758-1668 for registration information.
June 6 - St. Ignace, MI - EAA Chapter
560 2nd Annual Steak Cookout. Contact:
Sharon Travis, 616/627 -6409.
June 7 - DeKalb, IL - EAA Chapter 241
28th AIUmal Breakfast Fly-In at DeKalb-
Taylor Municipal Airport. Contact :
815/895-3888.
June 7 - LaCrosse, WI - LaCrosse Area
Flyers Club Annual Pancake Breakfast,
7am to llam. P.I.c. free. Check Notams.
June 7 - Wautoma, WI - EAA Chapter
252 Fly-In/Drive-In Picnic. Starts at llam.
Call 414/787-3030 for more information.
June 7 - Lebanon, TN - EAA Chapter
863 3rd Annual Fly-In/Drive-In. Call
615/452-1205 for more information.
June 13 Newport News, VA - EAA
Chapter 156 20th Annual Colonial Fly-In at
Newport News/Williamsburg International
Airport. Contact: Bob Hamill, 123 Robin-
son Rd., Hampton, VA 23661, 804/928-
0107
June 13 - 14 Coldwater, MI - NOTE
THE DATE CHANGE 8th Annual Fair-
child Fly-In. Branch County Memorial Field.
Contact: Mike Kelly, 22 Cardinal Dr.,
Coldwater, MI 49036, or call 517/278-7654
June 27 - 28 Orange, MA - New
England Regional Fly-In with antique
steam and gas engine show, flea market,
food. Trophies both days for Homebuilts,
antiques, classics warbirds. Chapter 726,
Orange Municipal Airport, Orange, MA
01364.
June 25 - 28 Mount Vernon, OH - 33rd
Annual National Waco Reunion Fly-In
Wynkoop Airport. Make your reservations
at the Curtis Motor Hotel 1-800-828-7847
or (in Ohio) 1-800-634-6835. For addition-
al information, contact the National Waco
Club, 700 Hill Av., Hamilton, OH 45015 or
call 513/868-0084.
June 28 - Anderson, IN - EAA Chapter
26 Annual Fly-In breakfast. Call 317/759-
5231 for more information.
July 3-5 Gainesville, GA - 24th Annual
Cracker Fly-In, EAA Chapter 611. Call
404/532-7119 or 404/967-2144 for more
information.
July 8-12 Arlington, WA - Northwest
EAA Fly-In. Info: 206-435-5857.
July 10 -12 Minden, NE - 14th Arumal
National Stinson Fly-In and meeting.
Pioneer Village Airport, Minden, NE. Call
303/744-8048 for more information.
July 11-12 Emmetsburg, IA - Fourth
AlUlual Aeronca Fly-In sponsored by the
Tail Dragger Club. Camping, Flight Break-
fast on Sunday, with free breakfast for pilot
and copilot. Serving 6:30am til 12:30pm.
Contact: Keith Hamden, Box 285, Em-
metsburg, IA 50536.
July 12 - Michigan City, IN - EAA
Chapter 966 Pancake Breakfast. Michigan
City Municipal Airport. Call 219/872-5248
for more information.
July 25 -26 New Berlin, IL - Flying
"S" Farm. Midwest gathering of
Taylorcrafts. Contact: AI and Mary Smith,
217/478-2671.
July 25 -26 Bemidji, MN - Bemidji-
Beltrami County Airshow, Alltiques and
Classics welcome. Fish fry, Hangar parties,
Sunday breakfast and aerial demonstra-
tions. Contact: LeRoy JolUlson, 1-800/458-
2223 or 218/751-5423.
July 26 - 31 Marion, IA - 24111 Arumal
International Cessna 170 Association Con-
vention. Contact Lee Reedy, 319/322-0665.
July 31-Aug. 6 Oshkosh, WI - 40th
Annual EAA Fly-In and Sport Aviation
Convention. Wittman Regional Airport.
Contact John Burton, EAA Aviation Cen-
ter, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086, 414/426-
4800.
August 1-2 Shiocton, WI - Annual Fly-
In. Food served daily. Free camping to
EAA members. Contact: Joyce Baggot,
414/986-3547.
August 22-23 Bloomington, IL -
Eighth AlUlual Air Show sponsored by the
Prairie Aviation Museum. Contact: P.O.
Box 856, Bloomington, II 61702 or phone
309-663-7632.
September 5 - 7, Lake Guntersville,
AL - Aerodrome '92. Worlds largest WW I
Aviation Fly-In Convention. Contact :
Ryder International Corp., 205/586-1580.
September 19 - 20, Rock Falls, IL - 6th
Annual North Centra l EAA "Old-
Fashioned" Fly-In. Workshops, forums,
exhibits, swap meet, and awards. Pancake
breakfast on Sunday. Contact Gregg Erik-
son, 708/513-0642 or Dave Christianson,
815/625-6556. .....
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 27
MYSTERY PLANE 
by  George Hardie 
Here's one for the lightplane experts.
Note the high aspect ratio wings. This
photo was submitted by Dan Hagedorn,
Archives Division, National Air and
Space Museum, Washington, DC.
Answers will be published in the July,
1992 issue of VINTAGE AIRPLANE.
The deadline for that issue is May, 20,
1992.
Steve McNicoll of Geneva, Illinois
correctly identified the January Mystery
Plane. He writes:
"It is James McDonnell's
'Doodlebug'. McDonnell built it in
Milwaukee while he was Chief En-
28 APRIL 1992
gineer for the Hamilton Aero Manufac-
turing Company. The purpose of the
design was to win the $100,000 prize of
the Guggenheim Safe Aircraft Com-
petition.
"The 'Doodlebug' was a tandem,
two-place of tubing, wood and fabric
construction. Projected top speed was
110 mph, while its wing slots and flaps
allowed it to land very slowly and in a
short distance.
"The plane made its first flight on
November 15, 1929 at Milwaukee
County airport. The 'Doodlebug' per-
formed well in its initial flight at the
Guggenheim trials, held at Long
Island's Mitchell Field. But on its
second flight, the horizontal stabilizer
broke and the right wheel was knocked
off in the resulting landing.
"The Guggenheim committee
granted McDonnell time to make the
necessary repairs, but on its return flight
to Mitchell Field an engine failure
forced the plane down and a gear strut
was broken. This time, there would be
no extension, and the Guggenheim prize
went to the Curtiss 'Tanager'.
"McDonnell toured the country with
the 'Doodlebug' for a year seeking
fmancing to put the plane in production.
But in the spring of 1931 very little risk
capital was available.
"The 'Doodlebug' was sold to the
NACA for aeronautical research and
James McDonnell became an engineer
and test pilot with Great Lakes Aircraft
Corporation in Cleveland. In 1933, he
joined the Glenn L. Martin Co. in Bal-
timore. He stayed with Martin six
years, until forming the McDonnell
Aircraft Corporation in July, 1939 in St.
Louis."
Willis Kunz of Chesterfield, MO
adds this:
"The "Doodlebug' or 'Flying
Flivver' was designed and built by J.S .
McDonnell & Associates in Mil-
waukee, Wisconsin. The two other as-
sociates in the firm were James C.
Cowling and Constantine Leoyavich
Zakhartchenko. The aircraft was
designed to compete in the Guggenheim
Safe Aircraft A ward contest but it also
took part in the All-American Air Races
at Miami .
"Of course this is the 'Mr. Mac' who
founded the very successful McDonnell
Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis.
'Zakh' became chief engineer for the
Helicopter Engineering Division."
Charly Hayes of Park Forest, Illinois
note the resemblance of the "Dood-
lebug" to the Ryan X-I designed by Don
Hall. In comparing the stories on the
two airplanes, it appears they were two
separate designs. Both were intended
as entries in the Guggenheim contest,
but were apparently independent
projects. Design of the X-I was started
in November, 1927 and the first flight
was made in September, 1928. Design
of the "Doodlebug" started in early
1928 and first flight was made Novem-
ber 15, 1929. The X-I project was
abandoned in mid-1929 - its license NO.
was X-7521. The "Doodlebug", license
No. 157N, was flown around the
country by McDonnell a total of 26,000
miles before it was sold to NACA in the
Spring of 1931.
References: Popular Aviation, May,
1931; Air Classics, February, 1973;
NACA Report 482 and NACA Notes
398 and 460.
Other answers were received from
Wayne van Valkenburg, Jasper, GA;
Larry Wilson, NASM, Washington,
DC.; James Borden, Menahga, MN;
Terry Bowden, Waco, TX; Robert
Pauley, Farmington Hills, MI; H. Glenn
Buffington, El Dorado, AR; Marty
Eisenmann, Garrettsville, OH; Lynn
Towns, Brooklyn, MI; Gene Horsman,
Golden, CO ...
J. S. McDonnell Jr. &Associates "Doodlebug"
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 29
Where  The  Sellers  and  Buyers  Meet... 
35¢ per word, $5.00 minimum charge. Send  your ad  to 
The Vintage Trader, EAA Aviation Center, P.O.  Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI  54903-2591. 
AIRCRAFT 
" Now It's a Classic" Meyers 200A - Mfg.  Dec. 1959. 820 hrs. n, 545 hrs. 
on zero time engine. 15 hrs. on zero prop. Beautifully maintained. IFR plus lots 
of extras.  Call 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 414/336-2356. (5-3) 
Dream Machine -1937 Waco YKS-7. Totally rebuilt 1980. Stits process. 740 
SMOH.  Leather  interior.  Clean  and  sharp.  Flyaway  - $87K.  208/683-3105. 
(4-1) 
MISCELLANEOUS: 
CURnss JN4-D MEMORABILIA - You can  now own memorabilia from the 
famous  "Jenny",  as  seen  on  'TREASURES  FROM  THE  PAST".  We  have 
posters,  postcards,  videos,  pins,  airmail  cachets,  etc.  We  also  have  R/C 
documentation  exclusive  to  this  historic  aircraft.  Sale  of  these  items  support 
operating  expense  to  keep  this  "Jenny"  flying  for  the  aviation  public.  We 
appreciate your help. Write for your free price list. Virginia Aviation Co., RDv-8, 
Box 294, Warrenton, VA 22186.  (c/5/92) 
SUPER CUB PA-18 FUSELAGES - New manufacture, STC-PMA-d, 4130 
chrome-moly  tubing  throughout,  also  complete  fuselage  repair.  ROCKY 
MOUNTAIN  AIRFRAME  INC.  (J.  E.  Soares,  Pres.) ,  7093  Dry  Creek  Rd., 
Belgrade,  Montana.  406-388-6069.  FAX  406/388-0170.  Repair  station  No. 
QK5R148N. 
Parachutes - Toll Free 1-800-526-2822, New & Used Parachutes. We take 
trade-ins,  5-year  repair  or  replacement  warranty,  many  styles  in  stock. 
Parachute  Associates,  Inc.,  62  Main  Street,  Suite A,  Vincentown,  NJ  08088, 
609/859-3397.  (c/7/92) 
VINTAGE  AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES - Out-of-print literature: history; res-
toration; manuals; etc. Unique list of 2,000+ scarce items, $3.00. JOHN ROBY, 
3703V Nassau, San Diego, CA 92115. (Established 1960) (c-10/92) 
C-26 Champion Spark Plugs - New and reconditioned. New - $14.75, recon-
ditioned - $5.75 to $9.75. New wire ends, $4.75. Eagle Air, 2920 Emerald Drive, 
Jonesboro, GA 30236, 404/478-2310.  (c-10/92) 
GEE BEE R-2,  MONOCOUPE 110 Spl., Hall " BULLDOG", top scale rated 
model  PLANS  used  by Replica  Builders.  Plus  others  by Vem  Clements, 
EAA 9297,308 Palo Alto, Caldwell, ID 83605.  Extensive Catalog $3.00. (6-3) 
ox-s  Parts  and  Service  - Free  ads  to  subscribers.  Subscription  $18.00 
yearly. P.O.  Box 134, Troy, OH 45373. (7-6) 
1930's  Kollsman  "Bubbleface"  compass,  have  several,  N.O.S.,  $225  each. 
Many other vintage items - 44-page catalog, $5. Jon Aldrich, Airport Box 706, 
Groveland, CA 95321,209/962-6121 . (c-12/92) 
Aeronca Champ/Chief wings, fully covered and painted, with Grimes lights and 
aux. Fuel tank. $2400 for the  pair. 414/727-9632. 
PLANS: 
Great Lakes Trainer Guru - Harvey Swack will help you buy or sell a Great 
Lakes  Trainer  or  a  Baby  Lakes.  The  only  source  for  CORRECTED  and 
UPDATED ORIGINAL Great Lakes  drawings. Welded  parts available.  Write 
to  P.O. Box 228, Needham, MA 02192 or call days 617/444-5480. (c-10/92) 
ENGINES: 
Continental  -1349 n. 549 SMOH. Ground  run time since extensive 
top  overhaul.  New plugs,  harness, will  exchange. Continental  A·65 • 480 n, 
oSMOH.  Now being overhauled. Call for details on  above engines. 303/536-
4253 evenings. (4-1) 
Technical  Data  of  Construction  and  Erection  of  N2S,  N3N,  and  all 
military models  of the  Piper Cub.  $1 .25  per data sheet plus  postage and 
handling.  Send  part  number to:  RLS  •  Hangar 15,  305  Kinney  Street,  EI 
Cajon,  CA 92020,  619/562-3219.  (5-2) 
Cleaning our hangar - Wright R540 Carb,  $325; E-150 12V starter, $490; 
Wright  R975  Master  Rod  (new)  $300;  British  air  speed  0·320  mph  $120; 
Pioneer  Bubble  Eye  Compass,  $290;  2"  Pioneer  Brass  Venturi , $85;  water 
temp  gage, $40; 4"  Jones Tachometer faces  plus  more. Send .75  in  stamps 
for  list. Jerry, 4925 Wilma Way, San Jose, Ca 95124 
Traildragger Dragger - Now move you favorite aircraft singlehandedly and 
never lean on (or even  touch)  the  airframe!  Just say "Hello Dolly" • "Goodbye 
aching back".  Guaranteed! For information, 1-800·535·8640. (7-4) 
30  APRIL 1992 
AVIAtION 



Antique Aircraft Auction 
Saturday, April 25, 1992 
Starting at 9:00 A.M. 
BILL HILL's ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT 
COLLECTION 
Hartlee Airfield - Denton, Texas 
(Located N. E.  side of Denton, Texas) 
Sale  Site  Phone:  817-565-9125  Motel  Headquarters: 
Holiday  Inn,  1500  Dallas  Drive,  Denton,  Texas  Phone: 
817-387-3511 
ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT 
1929 Waco ATO Taperwing 
Has  Wright  J-5  Engine,  35  H  S.M.O.H.  Total  Ground 
Up  Restoration  in  1989.  New  wings,  center  section,  N, 
cabane and aileron struts, New 65  Gal.  main tank,  18  Gal. 
Center  Section  Tanks,  6  Gal.  Oil  Tank,  30"  x  5  Wheels 
w/Hyd  Brakes,  Locking Tail  Wheel,  New  Interior,  Seats 
&  Floorboards,  Stits  HS  90X Cover Finished  w/Butyrate 
Dope  in  1929  Factory  Colors. 1989  AAA  Grand  Cham-
pion.  This  restoration  is  absolutely  flawless!!!  Grand 
Champion Quality. 
1937 Beechcraft D-17S Staggerwing 
NC-18575  SIN  179  (5th  Pratt  &  Whitney  R-985  450 
Hp Staggerwing Built) Ground Up Restoration 1989. Long 
range tanks, KX-165 w/Slaved HSI, Foster loran, KT-76A 
transponder,  new  style  electric  gyros,  Cleveland  10" 
wheels and brakes, "G" model one piece windshield.  Stits 
103 cover, European polyurathane paint (paint job cost in 
excess  of $20,000)  No  cost  was  spared  in  restoring  this 
aircraft.  Is stated to be the finest Staggerwing in existence 
as  per Staggerwing Newsletter. 
1941  UPF-7 Waco Biplane 
N-32153. 300 S.M.O.H. on R-670-6 Engine Curtiss-Reed 
Propeller.  Ground-up restoration  in  1979.  Covered w/Grade 
"A" cotton (Butyrate dope)  Very  nice stock UPF-7. 
1946 BC 12D Taylorcraft 
N20V.  Totally  Restored  in  1983.  50  S.M.O.H.  Con-
tinental A-65. Stits covering.  Really nice Taylorcraft. 
AUTOMOBILES 
1931  Model A Ford Sport Coupe Deluxe 
1979 Triumph TR-7 
1956 Dodge Air Force Fuel Truck 
Daihatsu Hi-Jet Lift PiCk/Tipper 
Shop equipment - Hand tools - Waco inventory-
Wright R-760 - E2 engines &  inventory - Wright J-5 
engines and inventory - Instruments - Accessories -
Hamilton Standard props and parts -
Misc. other inventory. 
Note:  This  is  only  a  Partial  List.  Call  For  complete 
color brochure. This sale offers some of the finest antique 
aircraft &  parts in existence.  Do not miss this auction! 
BROS.2J 
AUCTIONS INC. 
!2&0  Roy. l      HE  ba l 28 
14021 592 Iq33
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