February 1982 Volume 10 Number 2
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STRAIGHT AND LEVEL By Brad Thomas The bitter winter cold arrived with a bang in early President January and not only stopped motorists but schools, Antique/Classic Division businesses and commercial air travel in many areas of the country. Those of us in the process of restorations do have something to accomplish if we have an avail able working area that can be heated, and those with out heat will just have to wait until spring arrives. Even with a heated working area you must be careful of sudden changes in temperatures when moving your projects around. We well remember a few years back when Steve Wittman was heading to Florida for the Sun 'N Fun Convention when it was being held in January. It was quite cold outside and when Steve rolled his Tail wind out of the heated hangar and into the sudden temperature change, he was amazed to watch his wind son, now designated a national monument. The only shield disintegrate before his eyes. The extreme im methods of travel to Fort Jefferson are by boat or sea mediate temperature change was too much for the syn plane, and naturally with our love of flying and mini thetic material. Eager to get into the warmer climates, mum time available, we chose the seaplane. Departing Steve merely pushed the aircraft back into his shop, Key West in a Cessna 206 floatplane we toured the brought out "Old Faithful" and away he went. route at an altitude of about 500 feet, enjoying the Our antiques pretty well remain dormant during sights along the way. Returning at an altitude of 2500 the winter months if we reside anywhere but the sunny feet we admired the Key West area and its historical Southwest or the deep south. Now is the time to begin sights, fishing vessels and charter boats. the routine maintenance of these aircraft and have Having attended every Sun 'N Fun Fly-In at Lake them ready for spring. Many of our classics are equipped land, Florida, we always look forward to the trip south to fly comfortably in the winter months, but we caution for this annual affair. The dates this year are March you to be careful of possible icing conditions and to 14-20, and we again count the days before departure. monitor the operational temperatures of your engines. Those of us who have attended previously are aware Restoration projects have always fascinated us when of this excellent event. Those who have never attended visiting with the restorer and observing the work in should consider a wonderful vacation to include Sun 'N progress. Having a D17R Staggerwing under restora Fun. A relaxed fly-in and the accessibility of many of tion, Division Advisor Butch Joyce and yours truly Florida's tourist attractions are a definite asset when were invited to Aurora, Illinois on our return from considering driving, camping or flying to Lakeland. Oshkosh after attending the fall Board meetings. Dr. We see many of our Division members during Sun 'N Bernard Yocke (A/C 60), Vice President of the Stagger Fun and we would like to see those of you who have wing Club, took us to his house where we viewed the not attended before. restoration of the oldest Model D Staggerwing, SIN It is noted with pride and enthusiasm that Senator 147, manufactured in the spring of 1937. Beginning Barry Goldwater has accepted the Chairmanship of the with a basket case, Bernard has done a fantastic job National Steering Committee of the EAA Aviation with his restoration. The quality of workmanship and Foundation Capital Campaign. Interesting background expertise exemplifies the dedication of a quality restora information on Senator Goldwater was presented in tion. The EAA Antique/Classic Division is proud to the December issue of SPORT AVIATION. His interest have Bernard Yocke and the many other dedicated and involvement in aviation is outstanding. An indi restorers who actively pursue their favorite hobby. vidual who has always exhibited a determined and pro Repeating our post-Christmas holidy of last year, gressive approach toward any project, will surely be we were invited to spend a few days with friends in an accountable asset to the Foundation Capital Cam Key West, Florida. With IFR weather at home and also paign. Although I've never actually met the Senator, in northern Florida we had to file for the flight, both I have had the privilege of speaking with him via ama the first leg to St. Augustine and the final leg to Key teur radio. His diligence and drive for a cause has been West. Since the PATCO strike and the resulting changes evident in the past by his effort to protect amateur in IFR filing procedures, we may have been slightly radio through his association with the ARRL (American inconvenienced but we recognized immediately the over Radio Relay League). Very similar to EAA, the ARRL all outstanding attitude and expertise of the FAA con represents those persons whose interest lies within the trollers. The cooperation and assistance experienced boundaries of amateur communications and the protec on these flights made my trip much more enjoyable, ac tion of frequency allocation, both in the U .S.A. and curate and time-saving. worldwide. Senator Goldwater's acceptance as Chair While in the Key West area we experienced another man of the National Steering Committee, along with first for us. About 75 miles due west of Key West is a other appointed individuals dedicated to promote and group of small islands called the Dry Tortugas, and develop aviation, will enhance the Foundation's Capital located on one of these is the remains of Fort Jeffer- Campaign. PUBLICATION OF THE ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION, INC. OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION, INC. P.O. BOX 229, HALES CORNERS, WI 53130 COPYRIGHT © 1982 EM ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FEBRUARY 1982 VOLUME 10 NUMBER 2 OFFICERS President Vice-President W. Brad Thomas, Jr. Jack C. Winthrop 301 Dodson Mill Road Route 1, Box 111 Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 Allen, TX 75002 919/368-2875 Home 214/727-5649 919/368-2291 Office secretary Treasurer M. C. "Kelly" Viets E. E. "Buck" Hilbert 7745 W. 183rd St. P.O. Box 145 Stilwell, KS 66085 Union, IL 60180 913/681-2303 Home 815/923-4591 FRONT COVER ... Robert H. Van Vran BACK COVER ... The original North 913/782-6720 Office ken (A/ C 2201), 2025 Twin Sisters Rd ., rop Flying Wing with 90 hp Menasco Suisun, CA 94585 owns this beautiful is on the left in its tractor configura· DIRECTORS N3N. N45042, SI N 2582. In 1980 he flew tion. The Northrop Alpha on the right this plane to the East Coast and back, is most likely the prototype (A.T.C. Ronald Fritz Morton W. Lester including a stop at Oshkosh '81 where #381 issued 11·22-30). Photo taken 15401 Sparta Avenue P.O. Box 3747 the N3N received a Special Warbird in April 1930 at the Burbank Airport, Kent City, MI 49330 Martinsville. VA 24112 Award. California. 616/678-5012 703/632-4839 (Photo by Ted Koston) (Roy Russell Photo Collection) Claude L. Gray. Jr. Arthur R. Morgan 9635 Sylvia Avenue 3744 North 51st Blvd . Northridge. CA 91324 Milwaukee. WI 53216 213/349-1338 414/442-3631 TABLE OF CONTENTS Dale A. Gustafson John R. Turgyan 7724 Shady Hill Drive 1530 Kuser Road Straight and Level ... 2 Indianapolis. IN 46274 Trenton, NJ 08619 by Brad Thomas . .. 317/293-4430 609/585-2747 AlC News . co mpiled by Gene Chase... ...... .. 4 Kids and a Vagabond ... by Gene Chase . .. 5 AI Kelch S. J. Wittman Driggs Skylark Rover Engine 66 W. 622 N. Madison Avenue Box 2672 Cedarburg , WI 53012 Oshkosh , WI 5490 1 . by Bill Meadowcroft. 7 414/377-5886 414/235-1265 Building the Lincoln Biplane- Part 1 . ... ... ... 10 When Pilots Were Pilots ... by Bob Mixon .. .. 16 Robert E. Kesel George S. York Members Projects . ... .. .. .............. .... 16 455 Oakridge Drive 181 Sloboda Ave. Rochester, NY 14617 Mansfield, OH 44906 Calendar of Events .. ... .... .. .. ... .. ..... 17 716/342-3170 419/529-4378 Letters to Editor . ... .. ... ....... .... ...... 17 Mystery Plane . 17 ADVISORS Ed Burns Stan Gomoll Gene Morris 1550 Mt. Prospect Road 1042 90th Lane, NE 27 Chandelle Drive Des Plaines, IL 60018 Minneapolis, MN 55434 Hampshire, IL 60140 3121298-7811 6121784-1172 3121683-3199 John S. Copeland Espie M. Joyce, Jr. S. H. " Wes" Schmid 9 Joanne Drive Box 468 2359 Lefeber Road Westborough, MA 01581 Madison, NC 27025 Wauwatosa, WI 53213 617/366-7245 919/427-0216 414/771-1545 PUBLICATION STAFF PUBLISHER EDITOR Paul H. Poberezny Gene R. Chase Page 5 Page 7 Page 10 ASSOC. EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS George A. Hardie, Jr. Norman Petersen Pat Etter 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. Material should be sent to: Gene A. Chase, Editor, The VINTAGE AIR PLANE, P.O. Box 229, Hales Corners, WI 53130. Associate Editorships are assigned to those writers who submit five or more articles which are published in THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE during the current year. Associates receive a bound volume of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE and a free one-year membership in the Division for their effort. THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091 -6943) is owned exclusively by EM Antique/Classic Division, Inc., and is published monthly at Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130. Second Class Postage paid at Hales Corners Post Office. Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130, and additional mailing offices. Mem bership rates for EM AntiquelClassic Division, Inc., are $14.00 for current EM members per 12 month period of which $10.00 is for the publication of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE.