NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1975 . -' "­ . J.t" • . .,. EDITORIAL By Paul H. Poberezny President EAA The Officers and Directors of the EAA Antique and Classic Aircraft Association and EAA Head­ quarters staff would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a tion, a part of our organization or our individual Happy and Prosperous 1976. association, such as the Antique and Classic or All in all, we believe that we had a very fine Warbirds. year. Enthusiasm for all phases of sport/general In reality, out of our over 45,000 active member­ aviation is on the increase and 1975 was very kind ship at the present time, less than 4,000 belong to to all of us. We had many aviation events in which the three groups under the EAA's umbrella. A very so many of us cooperated and participated, regard­ small number of people when one considers the less of the type of aircraft we happen to favor at number of letters received generating a great the moment. amount of work for these activities as compared to Sitting here and giving a little thought to what the total number in our membership. I have learned in my association with the fine Some expect a publication the size of SPORT people of aviation these past 23 years with EAA has AVIA TlON and anyone in association work realizes given me a great education and many observations. that a small number of people in anyone of our We are a very unique group of people - we, affiliates really does not produce sufficient revenue who own and fly aircraft. Many times we are very to publish much more than we have, (Vintage Air­ divided and sometimes short-sighted. We pick a plane) let alone contribute to heat, light, use of of­ segment of aviation and we give it our all, our love, fice equipment and even much of our staff time to understanding and participation. Quite often many stay in business. There is strength in numbers. of us look at other segments of the same sport/ The EAA Antique and Classic Aircraft Associa­ general aviation as if they were not there - all tion - I don't like to use the word "Division" aren't important and are not needed. because it divides. It makes one not feel a part of In reality, we have a caste system. The purest what was founded for the basic purpose of provid­ antiquer, the purest homebuilder, the purest war­ ing and augmenting help here to our EAA Head­ bird, or just the same individual in the above men­ quarters staff, especially in putting on the Annual tioned category who is not so pure and doesn't International Convention. It was felt that by har­ mind making a few changes to his aircraft. We feel nessing the enthusiasm and the love within our that each segment that we happen to participate EAA membership of those individuals who liked in is the only one. We're elite, sometimes aloof, antique and classic aircraft, that we could better sometimes not wanting to associate with others. It serve our members attending the Annual Conven­ occurred to me a long time ago that if EAA was tion handling such things as aircraft parking, only for homebuilders, only for antiquers, for educational forums, flying activities, judging, rotary-wing, warbirds or aerobatic pilots, neither awards and the many, many tasks too numerous to one of these would have the financial success need­ mention that makes one feel at home. Unfortunate­ ed to put out more than a four or six page piece of ly, our correspondence indicates that by far, the paper called a publication. majority are more than happy, while some 1% to Our fly-ins and flying activities would certainly 2% leave in disgust and want more from you vol­ be diminished because it all gets down to volume unteers than we, as humans, are able to afford. and who does the work. Most times you will find Often we hear that the Annual event in Oshkosh at your chapter fly-in or your group's activities or is too large - too big. I have heard the question even our National Convention, that the majority often, even when we held the event back in Mil­ of the help comes from those who are not directly waukee and you could have taken the total num­ involved in owning, restoring or building an air­ ber of people and aircraft and buried them, un­ craft, but comes from those who you have moti­ noticed, in a corner of Wittman Field. Would you. vated to associate with you because of your sin­ tell any member of his or her organization to stay cerity and hard work in producing one or two home? Would you tell anyone of the over 2,000 models or restoring any particular type aircraft. aviation enthusiasts that were attracted to your Our strength in accomplishment is through num­ Convention that joined EAA as a result of seeing bers, both financially and at a local, state and what you have accomplished that they cannot federal level. This is why I would like to stress the attend? Would you tell the aviation enthusiast continuing need for understanding of each other, that he is not wanted? I will not tell them to go accepting those who would like to be a part of avia­ (Continued on Page 19) I~f ~ ~IAbf ARPlA~f COVER PHOTO (Photo Courtesy Kelly Viets) The DeHavil/and D.H. 4 was first built in 1916 as a two seat day bomber for the R.A.F. and by the end of World War I hundreds had seen operational service. D.H. 45 were powered with a variety of engines in the 200 to 400 horsepower range. American built versions used the 400 h.p. Uberty V-1 2. After the war the D.H. 4 embarked on a new career that would make it more famous than had its military use. In Europe a number of air Jines began service using modified D.H. 45 and in the U.S. mail wa s carried in the lumbering but dependable old birds as late as 1927. Several U.S. aircraft manufacturers, including Bellanca, got their start building replacement wings for D.H. 4s employing newly developed high lift airfoils. TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial . .. Paul H. Poberezny . ..... .. .. ... ... , ....... ....... ...... .. .... .. ... ... .... 2 DC-3 . Ed Williams . ....... , ...... , , , . ... .. ..... .. , , ... ..... ..... .. .. ... ..... ........ , 4 Staggerwings ... Richard D. River. .. 7 Ryan STA - The Unruly Sweetheart ... Bill Dodd .. .. .. .. .. ..... ... .. ........ .. .... 8 A 1933 Homebuilt ... J. A. Blackbourne . ....... ..... ...... .. ... ... ... ........ .. ... .... ... 11 Wings of Spruce . , . Norm Ginn ........ .. " . " . ... " .... ... " .. .. .... ...... ........ 13 Portland, Maine Husband and Wife Are Concerned About Air Safety ...... .... .... ... .. .... 14 Little Round Engines ... Ken Williams . ... ... .... ... .... .. .. ... ...... .. ....... ....... .. 16 Letters To The Editor ... ..... ......... .. ..... .. , ........ .. ... ..... .. ..... .. .... .. .. 20 EDITORIAL STAFF Publisher & Editor ­ Paul H. Poberezny Assistant Editor ­ Jack Cox Assistant Editor ­ Gene Chase Assistant Editor - Golda Cox ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC DIVISION OFFICERS PRESIDENT ­ VICE PRESIDENT E. E. HILBERT J . R. NIELANDER . JR. 8102 LEECH RD . P O BOX 2464 UNION . ILLINOIS 60180 FT. LAUDERDAL E. FLA. 33303 SECRETARY TREASURER RI C HARD WAGNER GAR W . WILLIAMS, JR. BOX 181 g S 135 AERO DR., RT. 1 LYONS. WIS . 53 148 NAPERVILLE , ILL. 60540 DIRECTORS EVANDER BRITI JIM HORNE MORTON LESTER KELLY VIETS P. O. Box 458 3850 Coronation Rd . P. O. Box 3747 RR " Bo x 151 Lumberton, N. C. 28358 Eagan, Minn. 551 22 Martinsville, Va. 24112 Stilwell, Kansas 66085 CLAUDE L. GRAY. JR. AL KELCH GEORGE STUBBS JACK WINTHROP 9635 Sylvia Ave. 7018 W. Bonniwell Rd . Box 113 3536 Wh itehall Dr. Northridge, Calif. 91324 Mequon, Wisc. 53092 Braunsburg. Ind. 46112 Dallas, Texas 75229 DIVISION EXECUTIVE SECRETARY DOROTHY CHASE. EAA HEADOUARTERS THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE is owned exclusively by Antique Classic Aircraft, Inc . and is published monthly at Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130. Second Class Postage paid at Hales Corners Post Office, Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130 and Random Lake Post Office, Random Lake, Wisconsin 53075. Membership rates for Antique Classic Aircraft, Inc. are $10.00 per 12 month period of which $7.00 is for the subscription to THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE. Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Antique Classic Aircraft, Inc., Box 229, Hales Corners. Wisconsin 53130 Copyright © 1975 Antique Classic Aircraft, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3 f)C'3 By Edward D. Williams (EAA 51010) 713 Eastman Drive Mt. Prospect, III. 60056 (Photo by Ed Williams) It is said that life begins at 40, but that applies to historic DC-3 of all, North Central Airlines' N21278 ­ people, not airplanes. However, the fact that an airplane "Old 728" - a few months ago was donated to the Henry is still alive and hard at work at 40 is a great tribute to Ford Museum at Dearborn, Mich. "Old 728" was the the men who gave it birth. flyingest plane in aviation history, with 84,875 total hours This is the case with one of the most beloved air­ at the time its career ended. (The Vintage Airplane, planes of all time, the Douglas DC-3, which will mark its May, 1975). 40th birthday on Dec. 17, 1975, four eventful decades Symbolic of the DC-3s that have worked hard and after its maiden flight at Santa Monica, Calif. long is the one which has served the Federal Aviation As the historic anniversary appears, hundreds of Administration faithfully since 1948 in the checking on DC-3s are still flying, performing jobs that its creators Airport ILS and other equipment. Unfortunately, the never dreamed of. FAA has announced that the old bird will be phased out A recent survey by Flight International magazine of next year and will be replaced by a Sabreliner jet.