VA Vol 36 No 9 Sept 2008

GEOFF ROB ISON PRESIDENT, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATON What is EAA to you? It's often difficult for me to put into many friends you have met through it is a perfectly fair assessment of EAA's print my perspective on what EAA EAA, whether it's an Oshkosh friend annual convention. means to me. I'll bet the same is true or a local chapter friend. How many Many EAA members have stated for you. Because it means so much to fewer friends would you personally before that it is truly impossible to us, and it's about so many things, it's have? For me it would certainly have properly describe in total the event hard to get your head around it. It's meant not having had the opportu with mere words. EAA continues to such a large part of my life, yet trying nity to meet so many great people improve our web sites with videos and to quantify it is hard. The challenge like Steve Wittman, or John Miller, or stories of what goes on at these events, to communicate the emotion and the Pobereznys. Maybe my life would and even those individuals who pore passion I personally feel for this orga have been a little less fast paced, but it over all of these offerings will not be nization is daunting. So, why is this for certain would have had a lot less totally prepared for what they will guy from the Vintage Aircraft Asso excitement in it! eventually witness when they attend ciation singing the praises of EAA? It's their first AirVenture. simple; first and foremost, I'm an EAA Do you see yourself I really enjoy talking to the youth member. Everything else I choose to who attend this event for the first engage in, including the VAA and the as part of a time. They are typically completely B-17 tour, is an important part of the overwhelmed with the magnitude of whole package. larger organization , the event, and they will talk in run-on A long time ago, when I was al sentences as they describe what they lowed to engage myself deeper and one whose goal is to observed and participated in on that deeper into the soul of EAA, I came to first day. Their day may have included realize that all of the residual fun and further the causes a ride in (on?) a Breezy or a flight in entertaining aspects of my member the Ford Tri-Motor, or maybe they ship had to be measured as secondary, of recreational were just hanging around KidVen for it was the broader mission of the aviation and expose it ture, or perhaps they had the chance organization that locked me in. to "high-five" Sean D. Tucker. It's just So many doors were opened for to as many fol ks so fun to listen to these first-time im me along the way, it hardly seemed pressions. One would swear that their possible, but getting involved was as possible? smile is forever frozen to their face . often as simple as knocking on that What a sweet pleasure to witness, and door. What if that door never ex I am unable to fathom what the im then I stop and think about the fact isted? What if Paul and Audrey Po pact would have been to my life with that I had the opportunity to person berezny and their family and friends out EAA. This line of thought then gets ally playa small part in their experi had never pursued their passion and me to ruminating about the great pil ences. How much more fortunate in created EAA for us? I am reasonably grimage to central Wisconsin to attend life can one be? That's EAA! certain that my life would have likely The World's Greatest Aviation Cele How about you? Do you see your never known the joys and pleasures bration. World's greatest? Sounds a lit self as part of a larger organization, of aviation. The opportunities I have tle boastful to those of you who have one whose goal is to further the grasped along the way have had a never made this pilgrimage, doesn't it? causes of recreational aviation and large impact on my life, so it is diffi Am I right? I would bet that every EAA expose it to as many folks as possi cult for me to envision where I would member who has attended Oshkosh ble? Think about it the next time you be today without EAA playing such a would consider that seemingly boast have an open seat. Call that friend large part in my life. ful statement for mere seconds before from church or work you've been Just think for a moment about the they would wholeheartedly agree that continued on page 39 G N E SEPTEMBER VOL. 36, NO.9 2008 CONTENTS I Fe Straight & Level What is EAA to you? by Geoff Robison 2 News 5 2008 EAA Aircraft Award 6 The Robin Alights at Sun In Fun An early cabin-class monoplane from 1929 by Sparky Barnes Sargent 14 Carolinas-Virginia VAA Chapter 3 Fly-In Alamance County Airport by Jack Cox 18 Light Plane Heritage Remember the Klemm Part III, The Young Baron's Great Adventure by Bob Whittier 24 The Vintage Mechanic Part One: Maintenance and troubleshooting ignition systems by Robert G. Lock 28 Restoration of Porterfield LP-65 Serial Number 842, NC32412 by Randall Krystosek 32 The Vintage Instructor Maintaining proficiency by Doug Stewart 34 Mystery Plane STAFF by H.G. Frautschy EAA Publisher Tom Poberezny Director of EAA Publications David Hipschman 36 Wanna Be Famous? Executive Director/Editor H.G. Frautschy Write an article for Vintage Airplane EAA Art Director Olivia P. Trabbold by H.G. Frautschy and Scott Spangler News Editor Ric Reynolds Photography Jim Koepnick 38 Calendar Bonnie Kratz Advertising Coordinator Sue Anderson 38 Classified Ads Classified Ad Coordinator Daphene VanHullum Copy Editor Colleen Walsh COVERS Director of Advertising Katrina Bradshaw FRONT COVER: The Curtiss Robin is one of antique aviation's most recognizable airplanes. The Display Advertising Representatives: Robin helped move the business of aviation from helmet and goggles to a suit and hat. Rich- Northeast and Southeast: Chester Baumgartner ard Epton's Robin is the only C-1 model ftying, now powered by a Wright J6-5. See the article by Phone 727-S32-4640, FAX 727·532·4630, e-mail: [email protected] Sparky Barnes Sargent starting on page 6. EAA photo by Jim Koepnick. Central: Gary Worden BACK COVER: The Pemberton family's magnificent restoration of their Boeing 40 was chosen Phone 800-444-9932, FAX 816-74 1·6458, e-mail: [email protected] as this year's Grand Champion Antique at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The big biplane will also Mountain", Pacific: John Gibson take part in the Transcontinental Air mail reenactment ftight from New York to San Francisco in Phone 916-784-9593, e-mail: [email protected] mid-September. We'll have much more on the Boeing in an upcoming issue of Vintage Airplane. Europe: Willi Tacke H.G . Frautschy photo. Phone +498969340213, FAX +498969340214, e-mail: willi@f/ying·pages.com VINTAGE AIRPLANE 2008 EAA Sweepstakes Winners AeroShell Square was abuzz with anticipation as the cement mixer with sweepstakes entries rolled into place for the EAA Share the Spirit Sweepstakes drawing. And the win ners were: First grand prize: A new Cir rus SR20 with a year's supply of fuel-Greg Thompson, EAA 652822, Fairfax, Virginia Second grand prize: A Rotor Way A600 Talon kit-Mike Schoenmann, EAA 656186, St. Clair, Michigan Honda ST1300A motorcycle: John Thibout, EAA 374572, Na poleonville, Louisiana AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 John Deere Select Series X700 In the months prior to the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008, Ultimate tractor: Martin Ger EAA President Tom Poberezny said he was asked one question nearly hard, Chandler, Arizona every day: "Will anyone come to the fly-in convention with high fuel Bose Wave radio/CD system: prices and a struggling economy?/I Steve Hill, EAA 583395, DeWitt, To paraphrase the movie Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will Illinois come./I EAA developed the deepest and broadest lineup of events, an Canon EOS 40D camera: nouncements, flight demonstrations, entertainment, and happenings Edward Leddy, EAA 14448, than ever before. And as a result, people did come and created one of Maryville, Tennessee the most event-filled, memorable conventions on record. Tickets for the 2009 EAA Share "The idea was to provide more value for the members and at the Spirit Sweepstakes aircraft-a tendees than ever before,/I Poberezny said. "Attendance at this year's new Flight Design MC light-sport event, coupled with the fuel and economic issues, validates the aircraft-will become available later unique relationship between the EAA members and Oshkosh, be this fall. tween the aviation community and Oshkosh, and between govern ment officials and Oshkosh. Pelton Receives "All EAA members should be proud of the results and, more impor EAA's Higbest Honor tantly, the impact their event has on the entire aviation community./I Numbers were up for homebuilts, warbirds, and vintage planes on the field. The North 40 was full much of the week. A record 23,000 youths visited KidVenture. Theater in the Woods saw its largest crowd ever on Wednesday night-an estimated 10,000 people-when come dian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham appeared courtesy of RotorWay International. That same night, another 6,000 were at the EAA Fly-in Theater, presented by Ford Motor Co.

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