A Columbia Aviator and His Stinson Detroiter Remembered Paul Rinaldo Redfern

VOL. 30, No. 7 JULY 2002 STRAIGHT & LEVELlButchJoyce 2 VAA NEWS/H.G. Frautschy 4 MYSTERY PLANE/H.G. Frautschy 6 PAUL RINALDO REDFERN THE FIRST AVIATOR TO FLY SOLO ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN SEA/ Thomas Savage & Ron Shelton 10 JOHN MILLER RECALLS ... AVIATION IN THE 1920s/John M. Miller 13 HE SAID ...SHE SAID/Ken Morris 17 NEW LINDBERGH EXHIBIT MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S EXPANDED EXHIBITION SHOWCASES THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF CHARLES A. LINDBERGH! H.G. Frautschy 21 PASS IT TO BUCK/Buck Hilbert 22 CALENDAR 28 CLASSIFIED ADS 30 VAA MERCHANDISE WWW.VINTAGEAIRCRAFT.ORG Publisher TOM POBEREZNY Edltor-In-Chlef scon SPANGLER Executive mrector, Editor HENRY G. FRAUTSCHY VAA Administrative Assistant THERESA BOOKS Exeo.tive Editor MIKE DIFRISCO Contributing Editors JOHN UNDERWOOD BUDD DAVISSON Graphic Designer OLIVIA L. PHILLIP Photography Staff JIM KOEPNICK LEEANN ABRAMS Advertisblg!Edltorfal Assistant ISABELLE WISKE STRAIGHT Be LEVEL BY ESPIE "BUTCH" JOYCE PRESIDENT, VINTAGE ASSOCIATION EAA AirVenture's a Comin' s I write this there's about a of the field are not present during month to go before many of the midday and often make other Aus will gather in Oshkosh for arrangements for their evening EAA AirVenture. There's plenty to meal. We realize that may very do as we get ready. Like many of well be a /I chicken and egg" syn formation on this year's event. you, Norma and I will have to work drome and that there may be a On a more serious note, I've no a little harder and get quite a bit ac need for other meals, so we'll ticed that we've seen an increase in complished before we can take two closely monitor comments to re the accident rate for tailwheel weeks off to work and enjoy EAA fine our operation. VAA Director equipped airplanes, primarily AirVenture. We'll see you there! John Berndt is the chairman for during the landing phase of flight. Let me take just a few lines to ex the Tall Pines Cafe, and he'll be It seems that some folks have let press my appreciation to those of operating it entirely with volun their feet fall asleep over the winter you who were able to contribute to teer help. We hope the Tall Pines months. All of us can benefit from the 2002 VAA Friends of the Red Cafe will become a morning gath a little dual instruction every year, Barn campaign. Your generosity will ering spot for members in much even when we feel we're at the top enable the VAA to better serve VAA the same way the Red Barn's porch of our game. Little bad habits can members during the convention. is on the north end of our area. creep into our flying, and having In the past, we've chosen to pro One of the reasons the Red Barn an instructor along is cheaper insur vide services to both members and is so popular can be summed up in ance than paying the deductible the general public that, for what one word-hospitality. And the and increased rates after an acci ever reason, were needs that were chairperson who personifies hospi dent claim following a ground loop. not being currently addressed. tality is VAA Host/Activities Also, be sure to keep your air Here's a prime example: the VAA Chairman Jeannie Hill. Believe me, craft tied down when you're Tall Pines Cafe. For many years the that short title doesn't completely hand-propping an aircraft. Be sure association has asked for a greater describe all of the things Jeannie your buddy knows this, too. Sur level of food service on the south does. Like many of us, she wears a prisingly, a number of accidents end of the airport, and unfortu bunch of different hats, organizing that have occurred due to inatten nately, the needs of our members the VAA picnic, VAA information, tive hand propping occurred when and our fellow EAA fly-in campers media relations, the VAA fly-out, a buddy of the owner was flying were not being met. and a few other odds and ends that the airplane. I've always been extra Now, with an opening on that always seem to come across the in cautious when flying someone end of the field made available to formation desk in the Red Barn. If else's airplane, but I guess that isn't us, we will be starting a food serv you need to find someone or some always so. It probably would be ice in the mornings. To be certain thing on the field, stop in and prudent to assume your friend we're meeting the immediate ask-if the volunteers there don't does not know as much about needs of members in that area, know, it's a pretty good bet they propping the aircraft as you do, so we're going to be pretty conserva can find out. take the time to explain how to tive with regard to its initial This year's convention, the 50th treat your airplane. If he's really a operations . The VAA Tall Pines such event for EAA members, is friend, he won't be offended. In Cafe, located to the south of the shaping up to be a great time, both fact, taking the time now may save ultralight area runway, will operate in the vintage area and around the your friendship. only in the morning, serving entire convention grounds. There's Let's all pull in the same direc breakfast from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. plenty to see and do, so plan on tion for the good of aviation. It's been our observation that most spending an extra day or two. Take Remember, we are better together. people camping on the south end a look at www.airventure.org for in Join us and have it all. ...... VINTAGE AIRPLANE YAA NEWS COMPILED BY H.G. FRAUTSCHY EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH R.W. "Buzz" Kaplan VAA MESSAGE CENTER 2002 HIGHLIGHTS Just as this issue was going to If you would like to leave a message This is the 50th gathering of press, we learned of the death of one for people you know who frequent the EAA members for their annual of antique aviation's staunchest sup VAA Red Barn, stop by the information convention, and EAA AirVenture porters, EAA President's Council desk. You can write them a message in promises to be a great event, with member R.W. "Buzz" Kaplan. Buzz our "notebook on a string," and we'll plenty to do and see. Each day was killed in the crash of his recently post their name on the marker board so has its own special theme: completed Curtiss Jenny. Mechanic they'll know there's a message waiting • Members' 50th Celebration Brent Langer was critically injured in for them. Sure, cellular phones and Day: Tuesday, July 23 the crash. walkie-talkie radios are great, but some • Countdown to Kitty Hawk Day: Buzz, of course, has been an active times nothing works better than a Wednesday, July 24 VAA member and vintage airplane hand-scribbled note! . Sounds of Speed Day: Thursday, enthusiast for decades, often bring July 25 ing some of the most unusual aircraft LINDBERGH'S • Recreational Aviation Day: Fri we've ever seen at an EAA conven 75th ANNIVERSARY day, July 26 tion, including the Savoia-Marchetti This year we commemorate the • Salute to American Airpower S-56 amphibian and the Curtiss 75th anniversary of Charles Lind Weekend: Saturday, July 27 Robin on floats, not to mention his bergh's solo flight across the Atlantic. • Salute to American Airpower epic collaboration with Sam Johnson We'll have a special celebration at Weekend: Sunday, July 28 to create a pair of Sikorsky S-38 am the VAA Red Barn, sponsored by His . Kids' Day: Monday, July 29 phibions. Our deepest condolences toric Aviation. We'll remember Each day is chock-full of activi to his family and many friends. Lindbergh's epic flight the morning ties and events, so be sure to see the of Friday, July 26. Check in at the full schedule of events for each Red Barn for the exact time. day's theme at www.airventure.org. ARE YOU AFRIEND OF You'll also find each day detailed in THE RED BARN? FRONT COVER: The roar of a radial, the lines that are pure 1930's Art Deco, the your copy of the official EAA Air If so, be sure to check in at the infor Spartan Executive is a rare, highly sought Venture Oshkosh 2002 program. mation desk at the VAA Red Bam. There, after aeronautical treasure. Ken and we'll issue you your special name badge, Lorraine Morris bought their dream airplane in pretty rough shape, and have put an VAA PICNIC and we'll let you know what the sched exceptional amount of work into the airplane Tickets for the Wednesday, July ule is for our tram tours of the VAA area. to bring it up to showplane condition. Photo 24, annual VAA picnic held at the We can also point out the location for by Don Parsons, shot on 100 ASA Fuji slide film. Photo plane flown by Lorraine Morris. Nature Center will be available for the Ford Tri-Motor rides. If you have sale at the Red Barn for $8. Note any questions, feel free to ask for Theresa BACK COVER: Freedom Formation-From the earlier date. Tickets must be Books, the VAA administrative assistant.

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