VOL XXIX #3 1 December 2007 I n t e r n a t i o n a l F l e e t C l u b N E W S L E T T E R

Cover Photo 1929 Fleet 2 owned by George Glacius (L) and Frank Huttle (R), Zahns Field, LI, NY, 1947-48

From the Editor

Editor / Publisher A fresh oil change, a little rocker Best wishes for a happy, healthy holi- Jim Catalano grease, one last flight and the Fleet day and a great new year. 8 Westlin Lane moves to the back of the hangar to let the “warmer” craft have their day. At Jim Cornwall NY 12518 this time of year in upstate New York, a bit of solar gain from plexiglass and E-Mail the drafty clamshell doors of the old [email protected] Cub seem like a real luxury. A few notes of “thanks-giving” Telephone in keeping with the season: sincere 845 - 534 - 3947 thanks to all the members who have sent in news and photographs, ap- Fleet Web Site preciations and support of various web.mac.com/fleetclub kinds. And many thanks to Sandy Brown, Paul Siebert and John Som- Fleet Net merfield for taking leadership on sort- ing out the Type Certificate issue with groups.yahoo.com/ the FAA. Their work to understand group/fleetnet and monitor the progress of this mat- ter working its way through the bu- reaucracy, and to formulate a re- sponse on behalf of the Fleet Club, is Designer invaluable. Read more about the is- Frank Huttle after taking the controls of Jesse Catalano sue, as summarized by Sandy, below. 615S, 60 years later!

VOL XXIX #3 2 December 2007

FAA & TYPE CERTIFICATES windshield which was no really big deal, but troublesome. So I got the bright idea to make up a folding, flat windshield like the Nieuports and SE5s Up until the 1980s engineering data and used in WWI. All I had to go by were a few pic- drawings were available from the FAA. Then the tures, but government’s legal departments advised that all I got the such data which had been given to the FAA for the g e n e r a l purpose of obtaining certification was given as and idea and continues to be proprietary and not for distribution came up to the public. Since then The Fleet Club and other with the Type Clubs and individual restorers and maintain- one in the ers have not been able to get such information pictures. used to safely maintain older . When it is Over the past few years a fair amount of in the up pressure and requests for data have kept this issue position, on the FAA’s front burner. In early August FAA is- it is held sued a draft Order for public comment titled in place “MANAGING REVOKED, SUSPENDED, SURREN- by a flat plate that I welded on the back side of the DERED AND ABANDONED TCs AND STCs”. Em- fixed piece. When I want it out of the way, I fold it bodied in this Order is the possibility that if a TC forward and hold it down with a swivel fixture. It holder cannot be located, the TC’s data could be works great! available through the Freedom of Information Act. There is also the possibility that Type Clubs and other such organizations could participate as part- ners with the FAA in maintaining and managing the Tom Disher, Tillonsburg, ON, Canada data. If so, this could be a big breakthrough for the [email protected] Fleet Club’s “Fleet CD” project which is a primary Tom Disher confessed to being part of the “Silent source for data and drawings. Half...sitting on his ‘seat pack’” of IFC members, October 5, 2007 was the closing date for but made up for lost time with a donation and this comments and three months from then the final report: I was born and raised in Crystal Beach, Order will be issued. We are hopeful that many , Canada – about 10 miles west of the Fort others besides the Fleet Club responded with their Erie factory of the Fleet Aircraft Co. I believe that comments. A copy of this Order is available on the most of the 16Bs flying today were manufactured FAA’s web site. there. During WWII, Fleet’s Test Pilot Tommy Wil- The Fleet Club supports this order and sent a liams used to do his routine of test maneuvers letter to the FAA with suggested changes for clari- (stalls, tight turns, wing-overs, loops & rolls – but fication. For more information, contact Sandy no sustained inverted flying) testing each Finch in Brown, Paul Siebert or John Sommerfield. the sky out behind our home. In summers, I’d watch him 2 or 3 times a day. In addition to the 16Bs (Finch); I have per- MEMBERS WRITE sonal memories about other Fleet products: in- cluding the Fleet 20 or 21 (?) (the larger bi-plane, Buddy Wehman about the size and weight of a Stearman); the Fleet 60 (the tandem Trainer); the Fleet 50 (the flying [email protected] boxcar); and the . Some of my I thought that some of our club members might memories about the closing up of the Fleet factory find the attached photos interesting. I prefer to at the end of WWII – and the total clean-out and fly my Fleet from the back hole but the wind buffet sledgehammer destruction of literally thousands of was annoying so ... first, at the suggestion of a 16B parts and sub-assemblies (by the box-car friend, I took the front windshield off and it just load), including the burning of wings, etc. – already about eliminated the buffet. But when it came painted; alone with Fleet’s store of Kinner B-5 en- time to haul a passenger, I had to reattach the gines and parts – would make any Finch lover cry. VOL XXIX #3 3 December 2007

Over the years I have owned only 2 Fleets: Stephen Wood, Whitewater, CA a 16B (Can. Reg. CF-EKB), away back in 1951, and a beautiful Fleet 80 Canuck (Can. Reg. CF- Stephen Wood wrote after receiving the July ‘07 DQM), 2002-03. I could go on and on about Fleets newsletter and reading it “with relish, as is my cus- and wind-driven generators to power Finch electri- tom.” I do not own a Fleet and only had one brief cal systems, manifold cabin heaters, etc., etc. – chance to fly one – it was Richard Bach’s airplane but enough for now. I’d be glad to answer any at Blakesburg in summer of 1977. I recall that it questions if I can. was well-mannered and a great performer, espe- cially in the climb rate department. I’ve been flying old tail-draggers for about 35 years. Current flag- Clayton Murphy ship is a Beech D-18S. Also keep a C-180, Lus- combe 8A and pre-war T-craft which all get fre- 607-739-0242 quent exercise. [email protected] I’m a retired test pilot for Grumman/Schweizer Ag- Cats, Schweizer DMIR for Ag-Cats, Gliders, Schweizer Soaring School Instructor, Tow Pilot. Worked as an Instructor, Instrument Instructor, Civil Air Patrol Check Pilot, Mission Pilot, Squad- ron Commander, Group Commander. Ran Kirkville AirPark near Syracuse from 1952 until 1968 where Joe Murray rebuilt his fleet. Flew his Fleet at El- mira during an Airshow (not in the show). Retired from Schweizer in 1995 and do not own any air- Erling Johannesson, Iceland craft at this time. [email protected] My Fleet TF-KAN is still in restoration and very lit- Larry Holmes tle work has been done so far, but I hope to be able to give it some time now that I am retired. [email protected] Next August 1 it will be 11 years since its last These pictures were taken at Boeing Field, Seattle flight. I acquired it in 1960 and finished restoring it WA on July 7, 2007 The Museum of Flight held a in 1961 and I have flown it several hundred hours. Bi-Plane Fly-In. Nine planes showed up. I flew in It was doing great until 1996 when it was in dire with David Howie in his Model 7, (sn 155, N432K). need of a new coat. Had a great time. There were two Fleets and sev- I also have a Stearman TF-KAU which has eral Wacos and Travel-Airs. The big guy is Boe- taken a lot of my time. I retired January 1 after 30 ing's Dreamlifter for transporting 787 components years as an airline captain, and since then I have from around the world to assemble at their facility been doing a lot of maintenance work, both busi- in Everett WA. Questions ? Let me know. ness and pleasure. Next time there is a break I will get to the Fleet. I miss the Fleet – it was so much easier to handle on the ramp and the Stearman is quite heavy. Also the Fleet is better suited for our climate here in Iceland as it has the canopy.

William Knox, Woodstock, GA Back in ’68 my partner and I bought a Fleet 7, NC63, ser # 402 in Stroud, OK. After flying and en- joying it for over a year, my partner wanted to sell it and buy a German WWII trainer. My mistake was that I didn’t buy his half. We sold it to a fellow from VOL XXIX #3 4 December 2007

Arizona. Years later we found that the airplane is Mike & Mary White, Vero Beach, FL now in Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, PA. Of [email protected] all the airplanes I owned and flew, the Fleet was The Whites sent a progress report on their 1930 the most enjoyable. With the R-55 engine it got Consolidated PT-6A Fleet. With any luck we may into the air quickly and was great for short field have it in the air around the end of the year, al- operation. I also owned a Fleet 2 with an R-55 that though I’ve said that for the last 2 or 3 years. I was rebuilding (NC240H) but sold it to Rudolph Wohn in Easley, SC. P.S. I am 88 years old. Tom Lavino, Southampton, NY My 16B is in North Carolina, slowing being re- stored by Ed Saurenman. It’s painfully slow at the start, but he feels it should speed up some once the fuselage is on its gear. Unfortunately there was quite a bit of damage I’m sure will keep him busy.

Dan Martinez, San Antonio, TX I sold my last Fleet to Ken Moir after owning it for 29 years; it was like part of the family. And like Buck said, I ‘m sorry I sold it. In fact, I sold Buck his 10F. I’ve owned about 16 Fleets, most projects, and got four flying. Hasta La Vista! [Editor’s note: I had a nice conversation with Dan this fall. He sent out the last box of small Fleet parts he had on hand. Thanks, Dan, for all these years of dedicated service to the Fleet community. You kept a lot of Geoffrey Geisz, Linden, MI these airplanes flying!] I love the rag [the newsletter, we presume]. I was the second owner of a 1930 Model 1 (638M). The engine was in good shape but the fabric was ab- Jeffrey Barnett, Calyton, IN solutely rotten. I took it apart and recovered it my- [email protected] self. The mouse nest in the wing corroded two ribs I’ve enjoyed the Fleet publication over the years. I which I rebuilt. The original heel brakes were a dis- don’t own one yet, but hope to some day. I have a aster. I got a drawing of the system the factory project right now. used in later models. The system I took out was the brainchild of the first owner. I built and installed new heel brakes. The airplane flew well and I loved Clay, Baxter, Coburg, OR giving rides in it. I miss it! Clay Baxter was getting ready to fly the Fleet (1929 Model 7C) to the annual Northwest Antique Fly-in, held the third weekend in August at McMinnville, OR. Jim Clark, Salmon Arm, BC, Canada There are two 16Bs in our province – both beautiful machines. I owned a share in a Stearman last year William Madden, Las Cruces, NM and enjoyed flying it. Now focused on rebuilding Took the bird to the 2006 Cactus Fly-in at Casa my Cessna 140. I would like to have my name on a Grande, AZ and was awarded the AAA Headquar- Fleet sometime. They look so good – like an air- ters Choice Award by Brent Taylor. Nice trip over- plane should! all. [Congratulations, William!] VOL XXIX #3 5 December 2007

Ray Richard, Battle Ground, WA Sandy Brown, Marlborough, CT The editor reports: Lesley and I stopped in to see [email protected] Sandy and Jean Brown last spring and saw his Battle Ground, WA says: I have about 220 hours beautiful, nearly-completed Waco (“heresy” as he now in 18M (1929 Model 2). She is always a de- described it.) At least it has a Kinner on the front! light! The A/C is a 1931 Waco INF. Reg #NC618Y, S/N 3352. Restoration started in 1998 with the project accumulating over 800 drawings from the Smith- Bob Lang, Goleta, CA sonian collection. Currently the project is down to a long Punch List of little items to finish up and the Bob Lang author of the book “Fly’n The Fleet” plan is to have her airborne in the spring of 2008. checked in. He doesn’t own a Fleet, but plans to buy one.

Jim Bumgarner, Warrensburg, MO On his 1931 Model 8: It’s the only Model 8 flying [the other is in the New York State Museum in Al- bany, NY], one of two known to exist. Has original Heywood starter. Works every time but I don’t use the fuel mixing portion of the starter, which elimi- nates the fire hazard of the starter. [Editor’s note: Check out the January 2008 issue of Smith- sonian’s Air & Space Magazine for a wonderful ar- ticle on the “Prairie Queen”. It tells the illustrious history of the airplane, its inglorious demise – and Jim’s heroic – and successful – efforts to bring it back to life.] FOR SALE

1929 Fleet Model I, Warner 125 hp. New fabric and Dave Munger, Canby, OR leather seats. Spare 0-time Warner engine. Taking offers. John A Bubel ([email protected]), I sold my last share of NC8618 to Dale Weir about Okeechobee FL, 863 697-3626 or Dan Johnson a year ago. We were partners for about 2 years. ([email protected]) Dale will keep it flying – which is good, much bet- ter than what happened to my first Fleet NC13933. 1930 Model 7 Deluxe to be sold as a project with It ended up in Mach A.F.B. Museum as a static low-time R-55 Kinner. Great deal – Low price: display, never to fly again. $22,000 gets the works! Call harold Field (806) 372-3313 for details or e-mail [email protected].

DEFECTORS & HERETICS 1941 Fleet 16B. Complete restoration, a 6-year project by 4 owners: Tom Malek, John Getz, Mar- Al Ball, Santa Paula, CA tin Weiss, David Bettencourt. 30 hours total. For inquiries call (860) 774-9500 or 933-1609. Still keeping very hard at work with the good old Kinners. I am a defector!! My latest toy: a brand NEED RIBS? John Barker is trying to determine new (28 hrs t.t.) 1965 Air & Space 18-A that I whether to set up for a small production run of bought out of New Jersey and am restoring. You wing ribs. If you’re interested, contact him in can see it at www.gyroplane.aero. Fly safe! Quechee, VT at (802) 295-9079.

VOL XXIX #3 6 December 2007

R-56 Cylinder head, with rocker covers. Good Need source for stainless steel exhaust flanges for condition. Without Valves, springs, or rockers. For new exhaust on all 5 positions. George King more info: Jim Uber ([email protected]) 716- ([email protected]), (716) 866-3635 or 731-9740 (585) 805-0329.

B-5 KINNER engine: complete low-time, torn down for rebuilt. Best offer. Russ Sharpe ([email protected]), (337) 201-9943 FREE

Cleaning out my shop. Have left-over parts for model 1/2/7 as follows (all Fleet manufacture ex- cept as noted) These parts are free - you pay packing and shipping from 95476 or pick up.

Paul Seibert ([email protected]) PO Box 184, Vineberg, CA 95487, Sonoma, CA WANTED (707) 939-7491.

To Trade: I‘ve been looking at Fleets for a long time Cowl parts - originally V's with fabric or ?; and have a Ranger powered Great Lakes I'd be from a Model II. Rough Front instrument panel - willing to trade. Know of anyone who'd be willing but usable for patterns or shop made - covered with to entertain the notion? Looking for a Fleet 2 or 7, ?; pad - one instrument hole- but beggars can't get choosy. Have a spare en- Lower cowl; rough; gine that would go with the deal. The Lakes only Cowl door R - w/ hinge; Bulkhead above front has 450 hours total time on it, the engine is 75-100 Upper cowl; seat- rough; hours SMOH. Let me know if you hear of any- Cabane cowl; Windshield – front, shop thing. Charley Humphrey ([email protected]) Lower cowl - new - shop made, curved plexiglass - made- formed and 3 1/2" high, 21" wide with Compensator assembly or parts for Pioneer 383 trimmed for a Model 1 - attach strip; Compass. Any leads would be appreciated. Paul never finished; Instrument panel head Seibert ([email protected]), Sonoma, CA. Firewall with pedal pock- bumper pad assembly - ets from Model 1. Shop wood block is very rough; Curtiss Reed 55501 Fixed pitch prop for my made, one piece alumi- Baggage compartment bi-plane. Ideally I'd like to find one that is less num, with (l) wood support parts: Forward bulkhead - than the 99" requirement. My plane is experimen- for round oil tank; rough but could be used; tal and I doubt I could afford one that is in spec. Fuel lines - tank to shutoff Top - modified - in three Daniel Johnson ([email protected]). valve - copper - may be pieces - center section original or shop made – hinged to open with head- 16B or Model 2. Michael Rutledge rough; rest, Top - with RH door ([email protected]) wrote from the “beautiful Tachometer cable with and door hinge - original flowing desert of Afghanistan” in August: I’m an housing - shop made - blue paint inside – usable, Army helicopter pilot (MH-47 Chinook) and cur- long - for tach in rear Headrest with pad - Small rently own a J-3 but desperately searching for a cockpit - usable; - not per Fleet drawing - nice 16B or Model 2. I'm just a little wary of the Main landing gear oleo 23" long, 5" high –usable; Kinner B5 in lieu of an R-56. I'm looking for an taxi springs (2); Wing rib cap strips; have economical, bi-plane to do a small-scale scenic Shop made wood blocks many - rough - usable for flight business here in Olympia, WA. for top of MLG oleos (2) - repairs, Full- upper and replace original formed lower, Nose - upper and Tail section parts and a Warner 145 or 165 for a aluminum bulkheads - lower. 1930 Fleet Model 1. Richard Parr, Pittsboro, NC, could be used if covering (919) 545-0475. VOL XXIX #3 7 December 2007

face for the spring to rest on and therefore allows the spring to stick as it modulates back and forth.

RESOURCES

The Resources section – a listing of professionals and providers of Fleet expertise and parts – has remained fairly stable for many years. In order to have space for other items of interest, it will not be printed with every Newsletter. Instead, we will post and update the Resources section on our website, and will print it occasionally when space allows A rare sight, George King (N678M) and Jim Uber and/or substantial changes are needed. If you (N8600) over Strykersville, NY need a printed list, contact the Editor. Vendors, please review your listing, and send any correc- tions or editions to the editor at [email protected] SEEN ON FLEETNET CLUB INFORMATION Jay from NZ wrote: Just wondering if anyone out there could advise me what the oil pressure limits for the Kinner R-55 (160hp) are. The only thing I can find is a reference Electronic or Paper Editions of the News- to ensuring that the cruising oil pressure is at least letter 75 psi. At 100F our engine indicates 85 psi at idle and 135 psi at 1500RPM, both of which I feel are a With the increasing cost of paper and postage, bit high! The pressure gets up to around 180psi on and concerns about the environment, we want to start with cold oil which is also too high. Any ad- make sure that we’re not wasting resources. If you vice here would be most appreciated. would prefer NOT to receive the paper version of Responses: the newsletter by US Post Office mail, and would prefer to read it on the website and view photos in From Alejandro Mochkovsky, Argentina, LV-XBC; Around 90 to 100 psi at cruise is ok, it’s easy to living color, please let us know ASAP via e-mail: calibrate the release valve of the oil pump. [email protected].

From Cam Harrod: My Fleet 16R with the R55 also is around 90-110 psi at cruise

From John Machamer: If you are unable to adjust the pressure to the correct level, check to make sure that you are running a late model by- pass valve assembly. We had trouble adjusting Gene Breiner's K5 last year with the old style as- sembly. The pressure would jump from 80 psi to 180 with power application. The late model as- sembly has four "wings" that cup the springs for about 3/4 of an inch where the spring rests on the Your Photos for the Newsletter/Website adjustment and is contained, this makes for smoother action as the ball floats back and forth to We love including your photographs in the news- let more or less oil by. The old style has a flat sur- letter and on the website. If at all possible, digital VOL XXIX #3 8 December 2007 photographs are ideal. We can also scan good PLEASE make checks payable to Jim Catalano; it quality photographic prints and will return them if is no longer possible to open a separate bank ac- you indicate that’s your preference. Generally, pho- count for the club without a lot more paperwork, tocopies of photographs don’t reproduce well tax ID#s, etc., given new banking security regula- enough to include. tions initiated since 2001. I now have a simple new account in my name, dedicated to newsletter activities, but in order to deposit checks, they How to Read Your Mailing Label must be addressed to me. To facilitate internatio- There are 5 pieces of information on the first line, nal donations, members can wire funds directly to each separated by a slash [/]: the account; please e-mail Editor for instructions. Model # / Serial # / Registration # / Status of Air- craft / year of your last donation to the newsletter. If there is a question mark [?] instead of a year, we have no donation record. If you see two slashes together, that data is missing and we would like to hear from you about it. No data between the slashes means there is no record of you owning an aircraft. Also note regardless of how many aircraft you own, there is only space on the label to note one. The label information is provided because we really need your help in updating the whereabouts of all the Fleets.

Recent Donations Another view of Jim Uber’s N8600. Many thanks to the following members who made donations to the newsletter fund since February 2007: Archives Do you have any photos, ads, data that we can Al Ball, Antique Aero Robert J. Lang add to the Fleet Club archives? Please send a co- Engines Thomas P. Lavinio py or scan and send electronically to help enrich Jeffrey S. Barnett William L. Madden Clay J. Baxter Dan Martinez our historical materials. Terence A. Bolger Richard Parr James Bumgarner John M. Patterson Jim Clark Charles Pearcy Membership Information Form Thomas Disher Raymond J. Perszyk Use this form to become a member of the club and Harold Field Richard Ray become part of our database, or to change any Geoffrey Geisz Charles H. Smith information in your existing file (e.g. change of Frank J. Huttle David Snare address or telephone number), or to report the Erlin Johannesson Mark L. White purchase or sale of a Fleet. Terry R. Judge Robert J. Willis Geoge King Stephen K. Wood William R. Knox

Making Donations There are no dues required for Fleet Club member- ship. Donations of any size are welcome and most appreciated, however, to support the produc- tion and mailing of the newsletter and website. VOL XXIX #3 9 December 2007

Members’ Information Form

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[ ] New Member [ ] Discontinue Print Newsletter, [ ] Continuing Member Electronic Newletter only [ ] Change Information [ ] Donation Enclosed $ ______

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Comments

NEWSLETTER RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER The International Fleet Club Newsletter is a hobby type, recreational, sport flying publication and is an amateur production intended only for the edification and entertainment of its subscribers. If you have questions about ideas or suggestions from the newsletter, it is suggested that you cross check the information prior to its use. The social events and fly-ins reported in the newsletter are only suggestions, and because of location, type of airport, surrounding terrain, etc., all events reported may not be suitable for attendance by all members. Prior to attendance of any event reported in the newsletter, each member should review the proposed site of the event and in light of that, and in the light of the flying experience of the pilot/subscriber, assess the capability of the pilot to successfully and safely attend the events. The International Fleet Club Newsletter assumes no responsibility or liability for the contents of the newsletter, or for damages resulting from attendance at events reported in the newsletter.

VOL XXIX #3 10 December 2007

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r r a e H u o Y n a C

I n t e r n a t i o n a l F l e e t C l u b N E W S L E T T E R

J i m C a t a l a n o 8 W e s t l i n L a n e Cornwall NY, 12518

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