JULY/AUGUST 2017

•SUN ’n FUN Photos THE RETURN OF •Newells’ Jewel VERTIGO Vintage Airplane STAFF EAA Publisher/Chairman of the Board ...... Jack J. Pelton

Editor ...... Jim Busha Ford Proudly Presents ...... [email protected] Barenaked Ladies in Concert: Opening-night concert on Message From the President Monday, next to the Ford Hangar on Boeing Plaza VAA Executive Administrator. Hannah Hupfer SUSAN DUSENBURY 920-426-6110...... [email protected] Fly-In Theater: Nightly at Camp Scholler, epic VAA PRESIDENT blockbuster movies and classic aviation-themed Art Director...... Olivia Phillip Trabbold films: • Sun: Flying the Feathered Edge: The Bob ADVERTISING: Hoover Project & Mission Control Vice President of Business Development • Mon: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Dave Chaimson. . . . . [email protected] • Tue: Sully • Wed: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Advertising Manager • Thu: Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation AirVenture 2017 Sue Anderson...... [email protected] • Fri: Hidden Figures • Sat: Strategic Air Command VAA, PO Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903 There will be fabulous presenters and Website: www.vintageaircraft.org free popcorn! It’s that time of year again when so many of us are making our Email: [email protected] Free Ice Cream: Watch for the Ford final plans for EAA AirVenture, and that is particularly true for Transit Ice Cream Van those of us who are diligently working as volunteers on the Vintage Uniquely Ford grounds at Oshkosh. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the VISIT Ford F-22 Raptor F-150: See this one- improvements that we have made in our “Vintage village.” Thanks to www.vintageaircraft.org of-a-kind build, specially designed in very generous donations from both the Biplane Association and VAA for the latest in information and news tribute to the remarkable F-22 stealth Chapter 10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we were able to restore the Red Barn and for the electronic newsletter: tactical fighter aircraft. To be auctioned Vintage AirMail at the Gathering of Eagles to benefit and build a new judges headquarters. (I might thankfully add that EAA’s youth education programs these organizations have a great deal of insight into the needs and Ford Front 40: Help us celebrate 40 years operation of the Vintage Aircraft Association and actually specified of truck sales leadership with the new 2018 how their donations were to be used.) The restoration of the Red VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION F-150, F-150 Raptor and Super Duty pickups Barn was both structural and cosmetic while adding square footage Current EAA members may join the Vintage 2018 Vehicles: Make sure to preview the new and a new west (mostly!) entrance to our flagship building. The new Aircraft Association and receive VINTAGE AIR- 2018 model vehicles, including the new Navigator, PLANE magazine for an additional $45/year. Expedition, Mustang, F-150 and the all-new addition is to be used as a display area that will include a brief his- EcoSport compact SUV tory of our Red Barn, some giant scale vintage models (on loan from EAA Membership, VINTAGE AIRPLANE magazine and one-year membership in the Model T Experience: Take a break and tour the grounds Vintage volunteer Tim Fox), and a display featuring our very own EAA Vintage Aircraft Association are available in a Model T ride, only at the Ford Hangar Vintage volunteers. Other displays will feature the Vintage Book- for $55 per year (SPORT AVIATION magazine not Family Fun Throughout the Week: Experience “The Boost” – store, Aeromart, and more. Fear not! We will still be serving popcorn the first time a ferris wheel has been near the flight line, climb the included). (Add $7 for International Postage.) Raptor Rock Wall and soar on the Tough Tumblers Bungee Trampolines. and lemonade in the Red Barn. As a footnote, we will be adding the Make a custom button or a 3D map of your face! Join us for many fun Vintage Hall of Fame inductees to the display area in 2018. FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS activities for the entire family Our talented maintenance team is busy installing a ceiling and Please submit your remittance with a Ford Autograph Headquarters: Autographs from celebrities, air show performers new lighting in the Vintage Bookstore so you’ll stay cool and comfy check or draft drawn on a United States and living legends while perusing through all of those really cool books. The idea of the bank payable in United States dollars. Add Merchandise Tent: Buy Ford GT and Raptor items and other exciting Ford branded merchandise Vintage Bookstore was conceived a few years ago with the premise required Foreign Postage amount for each Free Collectibles: Special Limited Edition “F-22 Raptor” hats provided daily that there are a large number of out of print and sought after avia- membership. Your Exclusive EAA Automotive Partner tion books that are looking for a new home. To keep those books Membership Service from being thrown away or given to an organization that does not PO Box 3086 We are pleased to offer EAA members special pricing on Ford and Lincoln vehicles through Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 Ford’s Partner Recognition Program and we are excited to provide EAA members an additional $750 understand their importance to the aviation community, we started Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM—6:00 PM CST toward their vehicle purchase or lease. Stop by the Ford display for details. a program where we would accept donated books (remember, we are Join/Renew 800-564-6322 classified as a nonprofit organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3), and [email protected] as such donations are tax-deductible) and sell them at a reasonable EAA AirVenture Oshkosh price to aviation people who really appreciate them. This year we re- www.eaa.org/airventure ceived a very large and generous donation of someone’s private 888-322-4636 continued on page 13 www.vintageaircraft.org 1

2017-July_Event_EAA_Divis_Ad-Final-Revised.indd 1 5/23/17 12:32 PM Vol. 45, No. 4 COLUMNS 1 Message From the President CONTENTS JULY/AUGUST 2017 AirVenture 2017 Susan Dusenbury 6 46 10 VAA News James S. ‘Jim’ Moss Bill Brennand 16 How to? 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Oshkosh aviator Using a tap tester tool Jim Cunningham Robert G. Lock 20 18 Good Old Days The Return of Vertigo 52 59 The Vintage Mechanic The Newells’ Jewel Teaching a nation how to fly, Part 4 COVERS Alvin Musser’s historic Clipped Cub FRONT COVER: Clipped Cub Vertigo Representing Taylorcraft’s four-place foray Robert G. Lock Budd Davisson over EAA Oshkosh. Photo by Tyson Sparky Barnes Sargent 63 VAA New Members Rininger. 28 64 Vintage Trader SUN ’n FUN 2017 Photos BACK COVER: Bill Brennand poses in front of “Buster” which he piloted to several first place finishes. Buster now proudly hangs in the Smithso- nian Air and Space museum.

ANY COMMENTS? For missing or replacement magazines, or any other Send your thoughts to the membership-related questions, ERIN BRUEGEN Vintage Editor at: jbusha@ please call EAA Member Services eaa.org at 800-JOIN-EAA (564-6322). 2 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 3 TM Donor Special Access to A “6-pack” Two Passes Breakfast at Tri-Motor OR Two Tickets Close Special Two Appreciation FORB Air-Conditioned of Cold to VAA Tall Pines Helicopter to VAA Picnic Auto Air Show Weekly CONTRIBUTION Certificate Badge Volunteer Bottled Volunteer Café Ride Parking Seating Wristbands Friends of the LEVELS ↓ Center Water! Party Certificate DIAMOND PLUS 2 people, 2 tickets Full week 2 people, 2 people, X X X X X X $1,500 & higher full week full week full week DIAMOND 2 people, 2 tickets Full week 2 people, RED BARN X X X X X X $1,000 - $1,499 full week 1 day PLATINUM 2 people, 1 ticket 2 days Friends of the Red Barn program is our only annual fundraiser to support the VAA members, X X X X X X volunteers, and Vintage hospitality at Oshkosh. The VAA Red Barn is the centerpiece, the $750 - $999 full week GOLD 1 person, 1 ticket central gathering place for virtually all Vintage members during EAA Oshkosh each year. The X X X X X Red Barn is where we meet our friends, get our questions answered, sit on the front porch to $500 - $749 full week SILVER rest a bit, drink lemonade, and thoroughly enjoy our aviation friends and the spectacular events X X X X X of the day. We never meet a stranger at the Red Barn; everyone is on cloud nine just to be $250 - $499 enjoying being in a place we so thoroughly enjoy and appreciate. But the Red Barn as we know BRONZE PLUS X X X X it today did not just happen. In 2000-2001, Vintage found itself attempting to provide a proper, $150 - $249 acceptable facility to meet, greet, and accommodate its members. The Red Barn was old. We had BRONZE X X X used it since 1973 and it was used long before that as a real barn. It was tired and not in keeping $100 - $149 with EAA and Vintage standards in terms of condition and acceptability. Vintage had no money LOYAL to improve it; our dues were pitifully small and completely insufficient to assist in any way. We SUPPORTER X had to remedy an unacceptable situation . . . and we did. $99 and under We created the Friends of the Red Barn program in 2001. We kicked off our first campaign in early 2002. Our goal was to interest a small number of dedicated Vintage members to financially support the physical improvement of the Red Barn and, far more important, upgrade and support it to the point where it became an inviting, pleasant place to meet, greet, relax, and simply enjoy the magic and magnificence that is Oshkosh each summer. TheFriends of the Red Barn has become a wonderfully successful support program for Vintage members and guests during the convention. 2017 will be its 16th year, and you will be amazed to know that the majority of the Barn’s loyal supporters have been a part of the group since the very first year. Vintage is extremely proud of this dedicated group of members. Their names are listed annually at the Barn and in the pages of Vintage Airplane. These donors have made the Red Barn and its gracious hospitality what you enjoy today . . . and we are just beginning. The Barn is upwards of 80-90 years old. Every year it receives countless physical and cosmetic upgrades, but like many STEVE MOYER of us, one of these days soon the old girl is going to have to undergo big-time reconstruction. When that day comes Friends of the Red Barn will be there to do our part. We hope each Vintage member realizes what a treasure we have in our own facility to serve all of us each summer, and also know that it is member-created and member-maintained, principally through our Friends. Vintage is privileged to provide some very neat thank-yous # when you become a Friend in return for your contribution. It is a win-win for all. Vintage is the Choose your level of participation: very finest such organization in the world. We attract visitors from all over the world to the Red o Diamond Plus ($1,500 or more) Barn and our newly expanded Vintage airplane area each summer. We have grown from one 2016 TM o Diamond ($1,000-$1,499) lone, abandoned barn to an entire complex replicating a small country airport. With your help, o Platinum ($750-$999) Name: ______EAA #:______VAA #:______every year we will provide more enhanced hospitality for all. o Gold ($500-$749) Please stand tall and join with us in Friends of the Red Barn; you will be forever proud and o Silver ($250-$499) happy that you did. Address:______o Bronze Plus ($150-$249) Charlie Harris, Director Emeritus o Bronze ($100-$149) EAA Life Member 96978, VAA Life Member 2158 o Loyal Supporter ($99 or less) City: ______State:______ZIP:______

Badge Information (for Bronze Level and above) Phone:______E-mail:______o Yes, prepare my name badge to read: o Payment enclosed (Make checks payable to Vintage Aircraft Association) ______(Please print name) o Please charge my credit card for the amount of: $ o No, I do not need a badge this year. Credit Card Number: Certificates Expiration Date: o Yes, I would like a certificate. Signature: o No, I do not need a certificate for this year.

Vintage Aircraft Association | 3000 Poberezny Rd., Oshkosh, WI 54902 | 920.426.6110 | EAAVintage.org The Vintage Aircraft Association is a non-profit educational organization under IRS 501c3 rules. Under Federal Law, the deduction from Federal Income tax for charitable contributions is limited to the amount by which any money (and the value of any property other than money) contributed exceeds the value of the goods or services provided in exchange for the contribution. An appropriate receipt acknowledging your gift will be sent to you for IRS gift reporting reasons.

4 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 5 Super Solution never left his mind. He returned to Os- Jim’s Q.E.D. II was slightly larger, had double hkosh in January 1998 to photograph and study the the power, and was trimmed in his signature red- airplane. He decided that he had to have an airplane and-white paint scheme, but it retained every bit of like that … he had to create … to build such an airplane. the original’s look, as well as the muscular style of James S. ‘Jim’ Moss Jim looked to The Smithsonian for information and Granville Brothers’ last design. It would be one big hard data and consulted Freddie Quinn, who was still airplane. He was fully aware that he was undertaking Vintage Aircraft Association announces its alive at the time. Freddie had done all the woodwork a monstrous, nearly superhuman, and ultra-lengthy on the original airplane while Matty supervised. Jim endeavor, but he could never have envisioned the gathered all the information, details, plans, and ma- Q.E.D. becoming the final 11-year adventure of his terials that he could find from any and every source. remarkably productive years working on vintage air- 2017 Hall of Fame inductee From early 1998 to July 2000, a little over two years, craft. It’s impossible to explain, but somehow during by Charles W. Harris he somehow constructed, assembled, covered, and the Q.E.D.’s lengthy build time, Jim found the “spare” Vintage Director Emeritus, EAA Lifetime 96978, VAA Lifetime 2158 painted a complete airplane. moments to totally rebuild, fully reconstruct, and It was trailered to Oshkosh for the EAA fly-in con- completely customize his highly original 1930 Great vention because it still lacked a few fairings here and Lakes open-cockpit biplane. Onto this antique air- there and had yet to be flown. One had to look very, frame he attached a smoothly gorgeously cowled and very carefully even to realize that a few fairings had faired into place a big-power, 270-hp Russian M-14 James S. “Jim” Moss of Buckley, Washington, has Mullicoupes. Then there were the highly innovative D yet to be formed and fitted. The Jim Moss airplane on radial engine swinging a broad, two-blade composite been posthumously named the Vintage Aircraft As- Staggerwings, which he upgraded into near G Mod- static display in July 2000 at Oshkosh was far more prop, complete with an impressive spinner. This sociation’s Hall of Fame honoree for 2017. els, or his impressive work with Mitchell autopilot/ than impressive; it was the personification of an im- super-customized, fully faired Great Lakes — with its The VAA began its prestigious annual Hall of Fame TruTrak electronics. All of this tested the bounds pact airplane. It had not yet even flown in the summer massive wheelpants; low profile; long, low-angle, rak- honors program in 1993. Over the past 24 years, 32 of what was possible in aviation at the time, and it of 2000, but even as a static-display airplane it was ish racing windshields; and Jim’s signature red-and- outstanding men and women have been inducted showed a level of originality and creativity that was magnificent to behold. It was smallish in size, short in white paint scheme — was easily the finest custom into this select group of aviation achievers. Only two unmatched by anyone. wingspan at 21 feet upper and 18 feet lower, and short antique in the Red Barn area of Wittman field at EAA members of this exclusive group have reached legend- Into this realm of aviation magic came retired in length at only 19 feet 6 inches, yet the huge front Oshkosh 2009. ary status — EAA Founder Paul Poberezny and the Northwest 747 captain and West Coast air-show end housing the big, perfectly cowled, nine-cylinder Jim Moss envisioned and created four historical famed “Resident Genius of Springdale, Arkansas” Jim headliner Jim Moss, who in 1994 had his sights set 450-hp Pratt & Whitney engine and the mammoth flying treasures. All four airplanes stopped onlookers Younkin. These gentlemen’s contributions to vintage on rebuilding a tiny 1937 Tex Rankin-era, single-seat, wheelpants gave it the look of a massive fireplug — the at the Big Show in Oshkosh. Like Jim Younkin, Jim aviation are clearly in a class by themselves. round-engine biplane, which after nearly 60 years of look of a “Mr. World” with bulging muscles of sheer Moss —in his own way and his own time — vividly This year these highly accomplished aviation person- passing through countless owners was for all intents steel-like strength. The look of the airplane was simply demonstrated what God-given talent and the creative alities are joined by Moss, whose remarkable achieve- and purposes a skeletal pile of junk. Only two years overwhelming — staggering. The oohs and aahs were human mind can accomplish when a proper venue ments have earned him not only a place in the VAA later, the skeletal remains had been transformed never-ending, and the airplane was not quite finished. like EAA AirVenture Oshkosh provides the ideal Hall of Fame but also well-deserved legendary status. into a magnificent, fully airworthy MG-2 that was It returned home in August 2000 and flew on Decem- showcase facilities. People with Paul Poberezny’s aviation leadership the smash hit of the Vintage area at EAA Oshkosh ber 6, 2000 — with Jim at the controls, naturally. It The massive Moss Q.E.D. II was flown to Oshkosh and organizational skills come along perhaps once 1997. Jim’s abilities were beyond exceptional, and the flew like a dream … and just maybe the great Doolittle and the VAA Red Barn display area by Moss’ friend in a lifetime, while the creative aviation talents of MG-2 project had stoked his ambitions. was whispering in Jim’s ear. and associate Rich Alldredge in July 2014. It was someone like Jim Younkin come along perhaps once While Jim had long since built and flown his gor- After completing the Super Solution, which now even more of an impact airplane in 2014 than the in every two or even three generations. Moss’ creative geous Starduster and was lovingly flying his Bücker graces Kermit Weeks’ wondrous collection in Polk Super Solution had been in 2002. The Q.E.D. simply, aviation talents and achievements are in the same Jungmeister, the 24-karat gold MG-2 and its mid- City, Florida, Jim started work in 2002 on his person- clearly, and properly dominated EAA AirVenture Osh- league as those of Younkin. 1930s look, coupled with its nostalgic connection to alized version of the last Gee Bee design ever created. kosh in 2014. Younkin brought EAA and Vintage airworthy avia- Tex Rankin, opened a whole new world of concepts It would be known as the “Moss Q.E.D. II.” The huge, Jim’s aviation legacy will live on for years to come. He tion treasures that could have never been imagined. for him and his talents. Further, he was so impressed overpowering original 1934 Gee Bee Q.E.D. R6H was lived the 11 years it took to see his Moss Q.E.D. II mas- His authentic, full-scale copy of Benny and Maxine by the ultra-warm reception he had received at Os- created for the legendary Jackie Cochran to fly in the terpiece completed and taxied, and it flew shortly after Howard’s 1935 Bendix Trophy- and Thompson Tro- hkosh in the summer of 1997, he decided to build 1934 MacRobertson Trophy Air Race from London Jim departed earth for heaven on September 1, 2013. phy-winning Howard DGA-6, Mr. Mulligan, followed on his aeronautical ambitions. While at Oshkosh in to Melbourne. The original airplane was an aft- It is with the greatest honor that the Vintage by his copy of the first-ever 1929 Thompson Trophy 1997, he visited the EAA AirVenture Museum and fuselage-seating, tandem, two-place, sliding-canopy, Aircraft Association announces that it will posthu- Race-winning Travel Air Mystery Ship both stopped saw the EAA’s full-scale replica of the 1931 Matty 6,500-pound-gross-weight machine powered by a mously induct James S. “Jim” Moss into the EAA Vin- Oshkosh cold when they appeared completely unan- Laird/Jimmy Doolittle Super Solution. He was im- 675-hp, nine-cylinder Pratt & Whitney engine turn- tage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame on the evening nounced in the late 1970s. These were followed by the pressed; the airplane made an indelible impact on him ing a two-blade Hamilton Standard propeller. Jim’s of November 9, 2017, at the EAA Aviation Center in whimsical Mystery Pacer and the huge, overpowering, — it grabbed him. airplane would ultimately boast a larger 1820 Wright Oshkosh. Jim’s wife, Judy, who has been a major part Gulfhawk-like custom Goliath biplane, and these pure Jim returned home to Buckley in his MG-2, but producing 1,425 hp and turning a Hamilton Standard of all of Jim’s re-creation and restoration endeavors, wonders were closely followed by the breathtaking the overpowering image of the Bendix Race-winning three-blade prop. will accept the honor on Jim’s behalf. 6 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 7 CALL FOR VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION

Nominate your favorite vintage aviatorNominations for the EAA Vin- the present day. His or her contribution can be in the areas tage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame. A great honor could be of flying, design, mechanical or aerodynamic developments, bestowed upon that man or woman working next to you on administration, writing, some other vital and relevant field, your airplane, sitting next to you in the chapter meeting, or or any combination of fields that support aviation.The per- walking next to you at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Think about son you nominate must be or have been a member of the the people in your circle of aviation friends: the mechanic, Vintage Aircraft Association or the Antique/Classic Divi- historian, photographer, or pilot who has shared innumerable sion of EAA, and preference is given to those whose ac- tips with you and with many others. They could be the next tions have contributed to the VAA in some way, perhaps VAA Hall of Fame inductee — but only if they are nominated. as a volunteer, a restorer who shares his expertise with The person you nominate can be a citizen of any coun- others, a writer, a photographer, or a pilot sharing sto- try and may be living or deceased; his or her involvement ries, preserving aviation history, and encouraging new in vintage aviation must have occurred between 1950 and pilots and enthusiasts.

To nominate someone is easy. It just takes a little time and a little reminiscing on your part. •Think of a person; think of his or her contributions to vintage aviation. •Write those contributions in the various categories of the nomination form. •Write a simple letter highlighting these attributes and contributions. Make copies of newspaper or magazine articles that may substantiate your view. •If at all possible, have another individual (or more) complete a form or write a letter about this person, confirming why the person is a good candidate for induction.

We would like to take this opportunity to mention that if you have nominated someone for the VAA Hall of Fame, nominations for the honor are kept on file for three years, after which the nomination must be resubmitted. Mail nominating materials to: VAA Hall of Fame, c/o Charles W. Harris, Transportation Leasing Corp. PO Box 470350 Tulsa, OK 74147 E-mail: [email protected] Remember, your “contemporary” may be a candidate; nominate someone today! Find the nomination form at www.VintageAircraft.org, or call the VAA office for a copy (920-426-6110), or on your own sheet of paper, simply include the following information: •Date submitted. •Name of person nominated. •Address and phone number of nominee. •E-mail address of nominee. •Date of birth of nominee. If deceased, date of death. •Name and relationship of nominee’s closest living relative. •Address and phone of nominee’s closest living relative. •VAA and EAA number, if known. (Nominee must have been or is a VAA member.) •Time span (dates) of the nominee’s contributions to vintage aviation. (Must be between 1950 to present day.) •Area(s) of contributions to aviation. •Describe the event(s) or nature of activities the nominee has undertaken in aviation to be worthy of induction into the VAA Hall of Fame. •Describe achievements the nominee has made in other related fields in aviation. •Has the nominee already been honored for his or her involvement in aviation and/or the contribution you are stating in this petition? If yes, please explain the nature of the honor and/or award the nominee has received. •Any additional supporting information. •Submitter’s address and phone number, plus e-mail address. •Include any supporting material with your petition.

8 JULY/AUGUST 2017 Pre-Convention restorers of many beautiful and unique vintage Volunteers are at work preparing for our airplanes beginning at 11 a.m. Monday through VAA News members and guests. If you can give some time, Friday. please visit Gerry, Debbie, Denise, and Lynn Noon - 5 p.m. — Type club representatives will at the Volunteer Center located at the corner of be available in the Vintage Hangar Monday Wittman Road and Vern Avenue outside the Red through Friday. The VAA hosts representatives Barn. We have jobs for all skill and experience levels. of many aircraft type clubs. They can answer Become an active part of the Vintage experience at questions about specific vintage aircraft such as AirVenture. Aeroncas, Bellancas, Cubs, Cessnas, Navions, Pip- Tall Pines Café, our permanent facility on Witt- ers, Wacos, and many others. man Road by the Ultralight runway, will be open for Hand-Propping Demonstrations: “Prop It Right both breakfast and supper the Saturday and Sunday and Save a Life” — Greg and Cindy Heckman before the convention — breakfast only the rest of will demonstrate the safe and legal way to hand the week. Tall Pines is operated 100 percent by Vin- prop an aircraft engine. Many vintage aircraft EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 tage volunteers to serve our members and guests. must be started by hand propping since they have Check with Steve Nesse at Tall Pines if you can give no electric starter. We have taught more than a some volunteer hours. thousand visitors how to safely hand prop engines here at Oshkosh over the past years since Dale AirVenture Schedule Gustafson suggested and conducted the first dem- Our AirVenture calendar is constantly being up- onstrations. Gus has gone west, and we miss him! NEW for 2017 — dated. Visit our website often at EAAVintage.org or Metal-Shaping Demonstrations — See metal Expanded and Remodeled VAA Red Barn during the convention check the postings at the VAA shaping of aircraft cowlings and other compound Our VAA Red Barn Hospitality Center was badly Red Barn, Vintage Hangar, and Tall Pines Café for surfaces performed by experts Dave and Maxwell in need of repair. Through the generosity of the more details and the latest information. Wenglarz. Watch closely and you may be given a National Biplane Association and Vintage Chapter chance to try your hand at it. Located outside on 10, both of Tulsa, Oklahoma, we have been able to Events Repeating Monday Through Friday the south side of the Vintage Hangar. restore the original barn and nearly double its size. Vintage Forums sponsored by B&C Specialty Paul’s Vintage Workshop in the northeast corner While still under construction, we plan to be fully Products are held in the Vintage Hangar Monday of the Vintage Hangar. A&Ps Jim Hamilton and operational in time for a formal re-dedication and through Friday between 8 a.m. and noon. Don Bartlett will demonstrate a variety of work- ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Reminder: Type club exhibit tables will be open shop activities each day. See the schedule in the July 24. Please join us for this ceremony with fellow- in the Vintage Hangar Monday through Friday only hangar for specific times for each activity. ship following. CONNOR MADISON from noon to 5 p.m. and will be closed during fo- Red Barn Hospitality and Information — Sandy rum hours. and Barry Perlman host the hospitality area in our Expanded Vintage Bookstore. Located just completely refurbished Red Barn. They have in- south of the Vintage Hangar in the Vintage Plaza, the formation, emergency phone numbers, schedules Vintage Bookstore has accumulated a large and varied of events, popcorn, and lemonade. They can also inventory of used and/or out-of-print aviation books. arrange some transportation on and off the field. Susan Dusenbury and Jim Cunningham invite you You can pick up your participant plaque if you to come and buy a book, browse, or just take a break. flew an aircraft into the Vintage area, or purchase Come and read a while on our covered front porch. tickets for the Vintage Picnic held on Wednesday The Vintage Bookstore will accept donated books at 6:30 p.m. in Tall Pines Café. All of this they do during AirVenture as well. Donated books can be tax- with a big smile. deductible since VAA is a 501(C)(3) corporation.

ERIN BRUEGEN NOTE: Specific daily forums, times, and other 10:45 a.m. — Engine Run-Ups at Interview special events will be added as they are con- Circle firmed. Check our Daily Events schedules Back this year by popular demand will be Dave throughout the Vintage area. Hedgecock kicking off each program by starting and running the 1915 OX-5 90-hp engine. This Monday, July 24 engine was used in many Curtiss JN-4 airplanes 8 a.m.-noon — Forums in the Vintage Hangar and also others. 8 a.m. — Bob Kachergrus, Stromberg Carburetor Tom Fey will be demonstrating his 1943 Righter Maintenance 2-GS-17 World War II drone engine. 9 a.m. — Vintage Town Hall Meeting, Susan Dusen- 11 a.m. — Vintage in Review at Interview bury, VAA president Circle in the Rose Plaza just east of the Vintage 10 a.m. — Ask the AME, John Patterson, M.D. Hangar. Ray Johnson interviews the owners and 11 a.m. — Workshop Demonstrations, Poly-Fiber, ERIN BRUEGEN 10 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 11 welding, safety wire, etc. 11 a.m. — Vintage in Review at Interview Circle. 11 a.m. — Vintage in Review at Interview Circle. Ray Judy Birchler, founder of www.LadiesLoveTaildrag- Needed — Youth Aviation Programs Message from the President Johnson interviews the owners and restorers of gers.com. Do you have a youth aviation program in continued from page 1 many beautiful and unique vintage airplanes. Ann Pellegreno remembers duplicating Amelia Ear- Mike Mowers from JAARS will present its Helio hart’s around-the-world flight in a Lockheed 10A. place now? Courier. This airplane is a well-known Oshkosh Sarah Dickerson, 1946 Cessna 120. The EAA Vintage Aircraft Association (VAA) favorite, having demonstrated STOL flying char- would like to promote more youth aviation collection. The books are fabulous! If you like acteristics at many EAA conventions. Friday, July 28 programs around the country by becoming books, I do not think you will be disappointed. The 8 a.m.-noon — Forums in the Vintage Hangar a clearinghouse and letting other bookstore is located just behind the Bill & Myrt Tuesday, July 25 9 a.m. — NTSB Forum, get firsthand info on aircraft interested parties share your experiences Rose Memorial Park. 8 a.m.-noon — Forums in the Vintage Hangar incidents and safety and the activities that have made your This year we have expanded our programs/fo- 8 a.m. — Syd Cohen, Ercoupes Forum 10 a.m. — Earl Nicholas, Communicating With the program successful. rums in the Vintage Hangar with programs be- 9 a.m. — Clyde Smith (the Cub Doctor), Pipers: J-2 VAA (high and low tech) The late Ron Alexander, a VAA board ginning at 8 a.m. and running through noon. The to Tri-Pacers 11 a.m. — Vintage in Review at Interview Circle. Ray member and founder of the Candler Field subject matter is broad in scope, but to give you an 10 a.m. — Bill Pancake, Aeroncas: Choosing & Tack- Johnson interviews the owners and restorers of Youth Program in Georgia, and I had been idea of what will be presented, here are some of the ling a Restoration Project many beautiful and unique vintage airplanes. formulating a plan that would involve the forums that will be available to you. Programs in- 11 a.m. — Future Aircraft Restorers, tool use, clude “Stromberg Carburetor Maintenance,” “Pipers youths (8-14 years old). Parents, bring your young Saturday, July 29 EAA Vintage Aircraft Association becoming a folks and your cameras. 6 p.m. — Vintage Lindy Awards Ceremony in the resource of information and have a listing, From J-2s to Tri-Pacers,” “Choosing and Tackling 11 a.m. — Vintage in Review at Interview Circle. Ray Vintage Hangar, all are welcome free of charge on our website, of all of the a Restoration Project,” and “Ask the AME,” as well Johnson interviews the owners and restorers of 9-10 p.m. — Evening Air Show and Fireworks Dis- youth aviation programs that we could as workshop demonstrations in fabric-covering many beautiful and unique vintage airplanes. play identify, available to any aviation group techniques, welding and other technical skills, and that might want to start a youth program. much, much more. We will be installing an overhead Wednesday, July 26 — Vintage Youth Day Sunday, July 20 We want to encourage other groups, TV in the workshop area so that all can hear and see 8 a.m.-noon — Forums in the Vintage Hangar 5 p.m. — Convention closes. If you are not departing chapters, clubs, churches, etc. to develop a the technical demonstrations. On Monday at 9 a.m. 8 a.m. — Tom Hogan, the WACO Forum: All things immediately, consider giving some Vintage volun- youth program of their own. We could use the Vintage officers and directors will host a town WACO spoken here teer time on this day to help take down, clean up, your promotional material, organizational hall meeting. That will be the perfect opportunity 9 a.m. — Gene Adkins, Cessna 120/140 Club and put away. There’s always lots to do. structure information, scope of activities, for you to ask questions and express your thoughts 10 a.m. — Youth Forum, the Youth of Vintage: For- volunteers used, etc. about our organization. I look forward to seeing mulation of a Plan you there. 11 a.m. — Vintage in Review at Interview Circle, We will send interested parties the Young VAA Pilots Day information you send us or have them As we upgrade the Vintage area at Oshkosh, we Luke Lachendro, flying in and presenting a rare 1932 contact you directly if that is your choice. are moving into the video and digital signage world Fairchild 22C7B, powered by a 125-hp Menasco The EAA Vintage Aircraft Association will to better serve our members and guests. We are now C4 Pirate engine. host the third annual Youth Forum during in the process of programming and installing elec- Jesse Clement, 1946 J-3 Cub (85 hp) AirVenture 2017 in Oshkosh on Wednesday, tronic billboards and videos at some strategic loca- 5 p.m. — Vintage annual general membership July 26, at 10 a.m. We invite you all to tions. Look for them at the Red Barn, the Tall Pines meeting at Tall Pines Cafe. All VAA members and attend this forum to help promote aviation Café, and the Vintage Hangar. If you have upgraded friends are invited to attend. to the youth of America. your flat screen to the new 4K standard and are won- 6:30 p.m. — Annual Vintage Picnic at Tall Pines Please e-mail information or questions dering just what to do with your old (and still work- Cafe. Tickets are available for purchase at the In- to our administrator, Hannah Hupfer ing) flat screen, the solution may be to donate it to formation Center in the Red Barn. You must pur- ([email protected]), to share the Vintage to help speed up our transition to the digi- chase your tickets in advance, and they often sell VINTAGE NEEDS YOUR OLD FLAT-SCREEN TV tal world. (Again, remember that we are a 501(c)(3) out early in the week. Have you upgraded your flat screen to the information, advice, and encouragement 9-10 p.m. — Evening Air Show and Fireworks Dis- new 4K standard? Wondering what to do to other groups who could benefit from nonprofit organization, and as such your donations play with your old flat screen? One solution is to your enthusiastic, dedicated, youth may be deductible for income tax purposes.) activities. “Vintage Day” will be held on Wednesday during donate your old (still working) flat-screen TV Thursday, July 27 — We would also be happy to provide you the convention. The Tall Pines Café will be serving Ladies Love Taildraggers Day to Vintage. As we upgrade the Vintage area with a listing of the programs we know hot dogs and apple pie for lunch. Ice cream will be 8 a.m.-noon — Forums in the Vintage Hangar at Oshkosh, we are moving into the video of at this time. Your information can be available! Later that afternoon Vintage will be hold- 8 a.m. — Bob Szego, Aeronca Aviators Club and digital signage world to better serve our a major force in helping to bring more ing our annual membership meeting followed by 9 a.m. — Larry Nelson, Cessna 195 Club members and guests. We will gladly accept young people into our wonderful world of the Vintage Picnic. Food, fellowship, and fun! (Not 10 a.m. — Ask the AME, John Patterson, M.D. your old TV if you can get it to Oshkosh. As aviation. necessarily in that order.) I hope to see you there. 11 a.m. — Future Aircraft Restorers, tool use, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, your donation may be Thanks for your help. And lastly, let me say that I’ll be “out and about” youths (8-14 years old). Parents, bring your young Dave Clark, VAA Vice President during AirVenture and am looking forward to visit- folks and your cameras. deductible for income tax purposes. ing with you. 12 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 13 VAA Welcomes New Director Jon Goldenbaum

Gallantry, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal. Jon was promoted early to lieutenant colonel and colonel. He commanded an F-15 fighter squadron, served in a variety of command positions. He ac- tively flew and instructed in the following aircraft: A-1 Skyraider, OV-10 Bronco, T-38, T-39, F-111, F-5E, and F-15. Jon decided to leave active duty and retired as a lieutenant colonel after 17 years of active duty in the Air Force. He maintained and op- erated general aviation aircraft throughout his Air Force career. As a pilot and instructor for Delta Air Lines, Jon flew a variety of aircraft, including a Boeing 727, 737, 757, Lockheed L-1011, and McDonnell Douglas MD-11. In 1990, he became a managing partner of Jon Goldenbaum Alexander Aeroplane, a general aviation parts dis- tributor, after retiring early from Delta. Since 1990, Jon has served as president of Con- solidated Aircraft Coatings of Riverside, California, With 50 years general aviation experience, Jon a manufacturer of FAA-approved covering systems, Goldenbaum is highly experienced in all facets of paints, and primers for aviation. In 2004, he became commercial and military aviation. He has a 20-year a trustee at the Tom Wathen Center, Flabob Airport, career as a fighter pilot and commander in the U.S. Riverside, California, a nonprofit charity dedicated Air Force, with 161 combat missions in Vietnam. to bringing challenged young people into aviation During the 1980s and 90s, he was an airline pilot careers, becoming its chairman in 2013. He’s an ac- and instructor with Delta Air Lines and has 25 years tive classroom and flight instructor while continu- of experience in running successful aviation manu- ing to run a successful business. facturing businesses. Jon has owned a Piper J-3 Cub, Taylorcraft BC- Jon’s aviation career began in 1963, when he 12D, Stinson 108-3, Beech Queen Air, Beech V35 served as a line boy and mechanic’s assistant for Bonanza, Navy N3N in the Antique/Classic aircraft Guinn Flying Service, Pearland, Texas. He earned category. He actively flies a Navy N3N-3, DC-3, his private pilot certificate by exchanging manual C-47, C-53, T-28, Bonanza, Champ, and Cub, and labor for flying time. After graduating in 1964 from is an active instructor in all. Jon holds ratings in Stephen F. Austin High School, Houston, Texas, he an ATP, DC-3, MD-11, B-737. CFI, CFII, MEI, with attended the University of Texas, where he contin- 11,500 hours total with 3,000 hours of tailwheel. ued to exchange work for flying time to attain com- The VAA is proud to welcome our new director, mercial, instrument, and flight instructor ratings as Jon Goldenbaum! he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1968, Jon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a distinguished graduate of both officer training school and pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He became a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a combat fighter pilot in the Vietnam War and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Air Medals, the Vietnam Cross of 14 JULY/AUGUST 2017 How to? Univair Has Classic Piper Parts

ROBERT G. LOCK

We have thousands of quality FAA/PMA approved and original Piper parts specifically for the Piper J-3, J-4, J-5, PA-11, PA-12, PA-14, PA-15, PA-16, PA-17, PA-18, PA-20, PA-22, and PA-25. Univair has the largest inventory of parts in the world for these aircraft. We also have distributor Using a tap tester tool parts such as tires, batteries, tailwheels, and much more. Call or visit our website to request your free catalog with over 16,000 parts (foreign orders pay postage). With the advent of advanced composites, that has internal corrosion and thinned walls, and it tap testing became the most widely used method to will have a “dead” sound. This process is just another Toll Free Sales: 1-888-433-5433 determine delaminations and disbonds near the sur- way, but not the only way, to detect internal corro- 2500 Himalaya Road • Aurora, CO • 80011 face of a part. Tapping and listening to the resulting sion in structural tubing. Info Phone ...... 303-375-8882 sound gave the mechanic a sense of where a disbond So what does the composite tap testing tool look Fax ...... 800-457-7811 or 303-375-8888 or delamination was located. I have experimented like? Well, it’s a very simple tool, and one that can be Email ...... [email protected] AIRCRAFT CORPORATION Website ...... www.univair.com using this technique (which I taught at the college) made using a short piece of welding rod and a swage Photo 2 ALL MERCHANDISE IS SOLD F.O.B., AURORA, CO • PRICE AND and adapted it to a steel tube structure. In my shop ball end used on a cable assembly. Photo 1 shows a AVAILABILITY SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE • 5-1-17 is an old Command-Aire fuselage frame, and the ex- typical tap testing tool. longerons are all rusted out on the inside to a point perimenting took place on it because I know where Tap testing should begin at the tail post of the lower where holes have eaten through the tubing and are bad tubing is located. Chromoly tubing can rust from longerons and proceed forward, tapping on the bottom visible to the naked eye. This longeron was a good the inside, thus thinning the wall and making the of the longerons. Tap a diagonal or cross tube and lis- practice piece to work on my tap testing of steel tube unairworthy. The practice is to tap on a tube you ten to the sound it makes, then tap along those longe- tubing. Start by taking a new section of 4130 tube TM know is good and then tap on a tube you know is bad, rons and the lower tail post. If there ever was moisture and tap using this special tool. Listen to the sound listening intently to the resulting sound. Take a new from condensation, that is where it usually settles. it makes, then go to the fuselage frame and tap on piece of tubing and tap it with the tool, and the re- Photo 1 shows tap testing an 83-year old longe- top longerons, cross and diagonal tubes, and lis- sulting sound will be a “metallic ring.” Tap on a tube ron on a Command-Aire fuselage frame. The lower ten to the sound. If it sounds like the new tube, it is good. If it sounds dull or it does not have a good “ringy” sound, it’s probably bad on the inside. Lo- cate the areas where the sound is dead and cut open with a hacksaw to observe the inside. This is As you plan for AirVenture 2017, good practice to learn how to use the tap tester. Once you’ve mastered using the tool it is amazing consider donating to the what you can accomplish in a short period of time. Once dull or dead areas are mapped out, take a permanent dining pavilion small center punch and a small ball-peen hammer and tap in those areas. If the wall is thin, the punch fund for the Tall Pine Cafe. will go right through and you’ll know immediately. I always complete my testing by using the punch/ball- Help make VAA a prosperous peen hammer routine. Photo 2 above shows the left lower aft longeron and exciting organization. with my trusty punch stick through the tube, indi- cating that the inside has corroded and there is very little wall left. Photo 1 This is how you do it. 16 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 17 Good Old Days

From pages of what was . . . Take a quick look through history by enjoying images pulled from publications past.

www.vintageaircraft.org 19 The Return of

Alvin Musser’s historic Clipped Cub by Budd Davisson

“Paul asked me if I wanted remember his scratchbuilt Ne- to join this new association he smith Cougar that won awards was starting,” said Van White, in ’59. However, many more 91, of Shallowater, Texas. “It will remember him as perform- would be called the Experimen- ing graceful aerobatics during tal Aircraft Association and my the 1980s Oshkosh air shows membership number would be in his highly modified Clipped under 10.” But I didn’t have the Cub, Vertigo. $5, so my EAA number is 155. Van had a whole string of The EAA and sport aviation Clipped Cubs, the first bought community is very conscious on Trade-A-Plane in the early of its history and its heroes. It ’50s — the purchase of which likes to look back and remem- allowed Paul Poberezny to ber those who were there at track him down and invite him the beginning and had a hand into the EAA. Then Van began in founding the organization building a series of them, the that many of us call home. Van last one being Vertigo II, which was one of those. In fact, he carried the Clipped Cub theme was on the EAA board of direc- to its logical extension as an air VertigoTYSON RININGER tors for years. A few might even show airplane. 20 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 21 The original, certified Reed Clipped Wing Cub conversion is not an STC, as is often thought. In fact, technically, it isn’t even a conversion because it is spelled out in the FAA’s Type Certificate Data Sheet, No. A-691 (Item 625). It is “almost” as if it’s a factory- approved mod that doesn’t change its certification status. So, techni- cally, it can be signed off as a log- book entry by an A&P mechanic. The conversion includes removing 40-1/2 inches from the root of JIM KOEPNICK each wing, which is two bays, leav- In side view, the Super Cub influence of the nose and wind- ing only one narrow bay between the root of the aileron and the fu- shield are obvious. selage. Other details to be included are heavier strut fittings and the A. The cute Cub logo belies the airplane’s ability to dance. addition of a small vertical stiff- ener between the upper strut bolt The servo tabs in the B. Some of the funky attributes that make a Cub, a Cub. and the spar because the lift struts ailerons greatly lighten no longer line up with the existing control pressures. C. The nose bowel is Super Cub, as is the windshield and panel. strut-fitting attachments on the

TYSON RININGER D. The bungees do their best to spar. The additional member is to hide behind streamlined covers. carry the asymmetric loads. The complete details are called out in a number of sources, including the Lippert-Reed conversion pamphlet sold by Wag-Aero. This conversion keeps the newborn Clipped Cub in the standard category. How- ever, Van White wasn’t looking for “standard” anything. He was look- ing for an excellent-performing Van White and Vertigo at Oshkosh where they performed five times. aerobatic airplane in which to per- form at air shows around the lower West and Midwest, with an occa- sional foray north to Wisconsin. A. B. As he began building Vertigo, he

JIM KOEPNICK PHOTOS knew he was going to license it in the experimental air show/exhibi- tion category so he could do pretty much anything he wanted. This included doubling up the number of ribs so the spacing between was halved. He also put servos on the ailerons, which made them lighter and more responsive. Then, cut- ting right to the heart of aerobatic capabilities, he beefed up the front of the fuselage, and in place of C. D the always-reliable-but-wheezing Sandra and Van White relaxing between flights at an airshow in the 80s. 22 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 23 It was to be Alvin’s first air- else to do.” plane project, but he’d been part Alvin’s brother-in-law had a of the aviation tribe longer than furniture manufacturing plant, so most. He said, “I’m still living on he looked at buying into that and the farm where I was raised and “settling” down. A deal was struck, my runway is there. There was an but Alvin worked a few more sea- ag operator nearby, and growing sons before hanging up his ag pilot up I was totally fascinated with goggles. “I haven’t sprayed the last what he did. So I started hanging few seasons.” he said. “I want to around him, and at the age of 19 spend time with my family.” was hired by Wood’s Flying Service That, however, didn’t mean he to do mechanical and service stuff. wouldn’t be flying. Then Jim Wood borrowed a Super “I wanted an aerobatic airplane,” Cub and taught me to fly with the he said, “and Harve Applegate goal of putting me to work flying pointed out the wrecked Clipped his sprayers. I got my PPL at 20 Cub that Van White had for sale. and started spraying the following I’m not an A&P, but I know air- year. Right now I have 6,000 hours planes fairly well from working and 90 percent of that is doing ag on the ag planes and thought this work. Unfortunately, most of that was something I could not only af- was in central Iowa where I would ford but would be fun to do. The spend my entire summers. I had airplane was unique in a lot of ways gotten married and knew I didn’t and was also historic. So, Harve The 40 1/2” clipped from each wing root are obvious want to miss my kids growing up, Applegate, Leonard Musser, and in this view. so I started looking for something I made the 16-hour trip to Texas,

TYSON RININGER

65-hp Continental A-65, hung a years, including doing at least five wheeled) in an after-dark landing fire-breathing, 150-hp Lycoming shows at Oshkosh in the 1980s. on an unlit runway. Van repaired IO-320 with a full inverted system Then he was seduced by the Bücker the fuselage tubing damage but de- (both fuel and oil). It was no longer Jungmann, and Vertigo went to an- cided to put the crumpled remains your grandfather’s Piper Cub! It other owner. However, it eventu- up for sale, and this brought Alvin was Clipped Cub 2.0. ally wound up back in Van’s stable Musser of Memphis, Missouri, into Van campaigned Vertigo for but was then badly injured (cart- the equation.

JIM KOEPNICK JIM KOEPNICK PHOTOS JIM KOEPNICK Hardly what you expect in the nose of a J-3: 150- The 800 x 4 tires and wheels hp Lycoming. Alvin reports that Vertigo is a pussycat to land. literally say “Cub.” 24 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 25 The doubled-up ribs (half the Cub. So I am often cruising around Jim Morgan for rib stitching; Gene normal spacing) are clearly vis- at reduced power, just enjoying and Brian Fox for painting; and the ible from this angle, as is the that ‘something’ that makes Cubs many others who have given their narrow space between the root so special. Then, of course, if I want time. Without them, the project of the aileron and the fuselage. to do some acro, it’s all right there would never have been completed. in my left hand. That much power “There were two real high points makes loops incredibly easy, and for me in reconstructing Vertigo. the servo tabs that Van put on the The first was receiving the award for ailerons make rolls so nicely it’s Outstanding Closed Cockpit Mono- hard to believe. plane–Vintage at AirVenture ’16. I “The airplane is simply one of the didn’t build the airplane for awards. best balanced, most fun airplanes In fact, throughout the whole pro- I’ve ever flown, and I have a lot of cess, I just wanted to get it done and people to thank for that, the first, flying. If I had [been] building for of course, being Van White. And awards, it still wouldn’t be finished. then there is my wife, Loretta, who “The second high point was when both allows and enjoys my passion. I had the airplane at an antique fly- However, I do remember her once in in Iowa. Van and Sandra White saying, ‘I should have been an air- drove all the way up from Texas to plane.’ She is great about it. see it, and Van said, ‘I’m so glad to “I also have to thank Harve see it back in the air. It was worth Applegate for getting it all started; the trip to see it.’ That meant a lot Leo Fox for all those hours he put to me. A lot!” in and keeping it going; Lenny Yar- Nothing else needs be said. Ver- ita, Leonard Musser for their help; tigo is back.

TYSON RININGER Let’s Talk

placed a bunch of before selling it, Alvin was still left and Alvin did the same. This is eas- WWW.BANDC.AERO them. A lot of the with the job of going through the ily seen in the interior where the Longevity wing parts were engine and building new cowling usual inner layer of fabric, which still usable, but and sheet metal. functions as upholstery in a Cub, Together we can update your Piper. when the airplane “We used a Super Cub nosebowl,” is missing. However, the tradi- Tell us about your classic at 316-283-8000. cartwheeled, it he said, “but had to build the rest tional canvas-sling back seat that crushed just about of the cowling and the boot cowl. is always seen in Cubs has been everything, and of At the same time, we installed a replaced by a Van White–built lat- JIM KOEPNICK KOEPNICK JIM course, it needed Super Cub windshield and instru- ticework structure of welded strips Although Vertigo was Alvin Musser’s (left) new leading ment panel. So it looks very much of steel that was designed with first airplane project, he reports his early edges. I had new, like a Super Cub up front, but you pulling g’s in mind. work on ag planes prepared him. full-wraparound still solo it from the back seat. With the airplane finished and skins made by Brian Standsbury of “The engine itself, which is a in the air, Alvin said, “It just wants inspected it, and bought it. Moulten, Iowa. Also, when we did fuel-injected O-320, only had 90 to fly. It has a lot of power for The BC400 Alternator system for “The basic fuselage structure was the struts, we not only went with hours on it since overhaul, but I such a little airplane, so it takes pretty much finished, but the wings the heavier clevises but ran a round sent it up to Bud Farr in Wisconsin off instantly. Anytime you want to Lycoming engines ... with NO change of oil were a mess. Most of the spars piece of tubing down the inside of to be broken down and inspected climb, you just pull the nose up and cooler location required! were damaged or broken, but since the strut. And rosette welded it in and repaired as necessary. In the let it go. It’s wonderful! I also had a strong background in place, making it stronger for in- process, he replaced the crank and “I can flight plan it at 110 mph, woodwork, I simply bought new verted flight.” freshened everything up.” but I don’t usually run it that fast. 316-283-8000 spars and repaired the metal ribs Although Van had repaired all From the beginning, Van had You have to remember that it is BandC.aero A-1155 that could be repaired but re- of the structural fuselage damage tried to keep the airplane light still a Cub and I want it to feel like a 26 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 27 SUN ’n 2017FUN PHOTOS

ERIN BRUEGEN

CHRIS MILLER

JIM BUSHA

DAVID K. WITTY DAVID K. WITTY CHRIS MILLER 28 JULY/AUGUST 2017 DAVID K. WITTY

ERIN BRUEGEN

CHRIS MILLER CHRIS MILLER CHRIS ERIN BRUEGEN

JIM BUSHA DAVID K. WITTY

30 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 31 ERIN BRUEGEN ERIN BRUEGEN ERIN BRUEGEN CHRIS MILLER

ERIN BRUEGEN

CHRIS MILLER ERIN BRUEGEN ERIN BRUEGEN

34 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 35 A Family Tradition DAVID K WITTY Since 1953

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has always been the place where the EAA family gathers to celebrate and create lasting memories and traditions. Come home and be a part of the world’s largest family reunion.

July 24-31 | EAA.org/Tradition World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration ®

CHRIS MILLER

36 JULY/AUGUST 2017 ERIN BRUEGEN

ERIN BRUEGEN

ERIN BRUEGEN

CHRIS MILLER ERIN BRUEGEN

ERIN BRUEGEN ERIN BRUEGEN CHRIS MILLER

38 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 39 DAVID K. WITTY DAVID K. WITTY

CHRIS MILLER

CHRIS MILLER CHRIS MILLER

DAVID K. WITTY

ERIN BRUEGEN CHRIS MILLER

40 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 41 ERIN BRUEGEN

JIM BUSHA

ERIN BRUEGEN

CHRIS MILLER DAVID K. WITTY

42 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 43 ERIN BRUEGEN DAVID K. WITTY

CHRIS MILLER

DAVID K. WITTY CHRIS MILLER

Port Clinton, Oh June 29-July 4 St. Cloud, MN* July 6-9 Rochester, MN* July 13-16 Rockford, IL July 13-16 Oshkosh, WI July 24-30 JIM BUSHA CHRIS MILLER EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Port Clinton, OH* August 3-7 Willoughby, OH* August 10-12 Middlefield, Oh* August 13 Lancaster, PA* August 24-27

*Indicates liberty tri-motor

Visit flytheford.org or call 1-877-952-5395 to reserve your flight. ERIN BRUEGEN ERIN BRUEGEN

44 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 45 time, probably to prove that he was man enough to do so, but never again. Bill, meanwhile, couldn’t get enough of flying it and taught himself aerobatics from a book after scaring himself to varying degrees (a training technique he always told others to avoid). As Bill learned the details of flying aerobatics, the Professional Race Pilots Association came up with a new class of race aircraft for the rejuvenated National Air Races. The class was limited to Oshkosh aviator lightweight airplanes with 85-hp engines, and they became known by Jim Cunningham as “midgets,” or “Goodyear racers,” after the sponsors of the class. The idea was to create a category ecades before the 1930s, he followed air racing with money changed hands. He soloed wreck of the famed Chief Oshkosh re-covered an old set of wings, and harkening back to the golden age of ground at the south great interest. He imagined what in a Taylorcraft, N36046 (still hanging from the rafters of the modified the cockpit and canopy. air racing in the 1930s, when pilots end of Wittman it would be like to fly in an air race, flying today), in Oshkosh after hangar. The aircraft was sidelined The initial new cowling was crude often designed and built their own Regional Airport thinking it was only a fantasy. He nine hours of dual. The examiner before WWII after its engine failed and won no awards, but the simple airplanes — a practice that became part of never would have believed that in for the checkride that followed on and it crashed in a race in Oakland, airplane flew. was lost with the introduction of one of the world’s a few years he would not only be April 18, 1944, was none other California. He loved hearing “It was one scared, busy little fast warbird-derived raceplanes. busiest airfields every July, a flying with Wittman but would than Wittman himself. As work Wittman reminisce about racing guy that pushed the throttle in,” Wittman realized that with a little Dteenage boy worked the land as also become a champion air race with the military’s pilot training and flying it. When Wittman Bill recalled of his first flight in the refinement, the modified Chief part of his family farm. He weighed pilot himself. program wound down, Bill casually and perhaps not seriously airplane. “After about two seconds Oshkosh would make an excellent less than a hundred pounds, After deciding that college became the only other employee suggested that they should rebuild in the thing, my appreciation of contestant. Word got out, and suffered from hay fever, and hated wasn’t for him and receiving an at Wittman Flying Service. He and it after the war just to have it to Steve Wittman’s ability as a pilot several pilots asked Wittman if farming. He would look up in envy occupational deferment during Wittman grew close. Later, Bill play with, Bill jumped at the idea went up about 200 percent! It they could race it. He turned them as legendary air race pilot Steve World War II so he could work became a flight instructor, and and never let Wittman forget about gave me the impression of walking all down without hesitation. He Wittman flashedBill overhead not theBrennand family farm after his brother when people came to the airport it. Eventually Wittman relented, on a tight wire.” Wittman’s other knew who he wanted to fly the much higher than the few trees was drafted, he went to work for wanting to fly with Wittman, he telling Bill it was something for instructor was upset that Bill got to race: Bill Brennand. scattered about, which he used as Wittman. Technically he wasn’t would typically refer them to Bill, him to get killed in. Bill never fly it first, and when his turn came Bill was happy to be selected. simulated race pylons. allowed to do this since he was telling them that Bill was a better forgot those words whenever he he firewalled the throttle, went Though he always told everyone The young Bill Brennand supposed to work only on the instructor than he was. flew the airplane. The two removed nearly vertical, put the power to that Wittman chose him simply knew all about Wittman and the farm, but he received flight Throughout his time working for the 150-hp Menasco engine and idle, and came back for a landing. because, at just 100 pounds, airplanes; like many people in the training in return for his work; no Wittman, Bill would gaze up at the replaced it with a Continental C85, The next day he flew it one more his weight gave him a dramatic

46 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 47 than Cleveland. Partway through States and Canada. The company began doing airplane maintenance his first lap he noticed something sent him to American Flyers in Texas and flight instruction. The unusual about Buster’s shadow. to earn an instrument rating, and introduction of jet airliners meant “There was only one shadow, but he began flying the Beech IFR and that a much longer runway was there was something very wrong at night using the four-course radio needed if Oshkosh wanted to with it — it had two sets of wings, range. Bill oversaw the conversion retain its airline service, and the and Buster was not a biplane,” Bill of Marathon’s next airplane, a Brennand farm was right where recalled. “Gawd! Somebody was Lockheed Lodestar, into an executive the airport wanted to build a new close — damned close — but who transport, but he objected to the and larger runway, the current was it, and where was he? How luxury interior, which along with 18-36. The airport offered him close were we to colliding and fuel and passengers put the aircraft space into which he could move advantage in a light raceplane, surprising given that Bill had been saw the faces of racing legends he plummeting to the ground at almost over maximum gross weight and out his business, but it required him the fact of the matter was that out of the state only a few times. had read about while growing up: 200 mph?” It was racer Bob Downey. of CG. His protests fell on deaf ears. to duplicate all the services of Wittman probably knew in He was a proverbial farm boy who Tony LeVier, Fish Salmon, and many Bill expected him to pass over him, “Obviously,” Bill said, after flying it the existing FBO, something advance what others came to learn was in no way prepared for the others. “I started thinking, ‘What but Downey kept trying to pass low a while, “the captain wasn’t going that wasn’t economically viable. with experience: that Bill was an attention he was about to receive. the hell am I doing here?’ Everything and inside … and close. The two to leave, so I did. I said, ‘This is too Relations quickly deteriorated outstanding pilot who would be Initial pre-race efforts went well, hit me at once — my inexperience, went around the course that way, dangerous for me.’ That statement between Bill and the airport board, tough to beat on the racecourse. until Bill’s prop shed most of one the competition, the publicity, the dangerously low and dangerously surprised people, considering that which was by then headed by his In the months before the air races, blade while he was on a qualifying prospect of screwing up in front close. The judges disqualified them my previous job had been flying in air former captain from Marathon’s Wittman, Bill, and their team race run. He went vertical as he of my friends and a few hundred both the next day for low flying. Bill races and air shows, neither of which airplane, which probably didn’t designed and built a new set of was taught and shut the engine thousand others, what this would always maintained that the ruling was an especially safe occupation. help. “I don’t need your airport,” wings and a new cowling, added down before it shook Buster mean for my future — it all became was unfair because Downey had Nonetheless, it was true.” Bill told them. “I’m not going to required instrumentation, and apart. He was then alarmed to a twisted knot in my stomach.” Then been crowding him and trying to Next, Bill set up a grass strip and put up with people lying. I can go added brakes, which the racing note that the only potential spot the flag dropped, and there wasn’t pass inside, all of which was illegal. hangar on the family farm that was out and build my own airport, and rules required. “However,” Bill for an emergency landing was on time to think anymore. Others, including Wittman, called then just south of the airport and at the end of 20 years I’ll still own remembered, “the rules didn’t the other side of the grandstands Bill got off the ground first and Bill’s flying low and tight to prevent say they had to work. And these that he was told never to fly over took the lead. He won, never coming Downey’s attempt to pass illegally didn’t.” That fact would come back under any circumstances. “We’ll close to losing. Next up was the big “the wrong stance to take.” to haunt him later in Cleveland. argue about it tomorrow, but at race on Labor Day. More confident Brennand and Wittman also The airplane, now renamed Buster, least I’ll be around to argue!” he after his victory the day before, Bill teamed up as an air-show act was pronounced ready to compete remembered thinking at the time. again took the lead. “They had put 10 flying Buster and Bonzo around the a mere 10 days before the race. Grandstand notwithstanding, his tape strips on the instrument panel,” country, sometimes teaming up with Bill got to fly it for only about landing on a small concrete pad Bill said. “When you completed famed aerobatic pilot Betty Skelton 30 minutes before the trip to downwind — with brakes that one lap you were supposed to pull in her Pitts Special Little Stinker. The Cleveland. “And, of course, it was didn’t work — was uneventful. one off; the number of strips on midget racers gave Brennand and a totally different flying airplane After a fast repair job on the the panel was supposed to be the Wittman an opportunity to perform than it had been before,” Bill cowling and the installation of a number of remaining laps you had shows featuring more vertical remembered. “In fact, it flew new prop — one that Bill said to fly. I was so busy concentrating maneuvers than most other aircraft much nicer. The airplane gave me looked like it was pitched for a on flying that I lost track.” It didn’t could fly at the time. confidence. I was never afraid of it, J-3 Cub and was far from what he matter — he knew he was in first Although Bill found his success and that’s something that most of would have liked for Buster — the place and pulling farther away on as an air-show and race pilot the race pilots couldn’t say about airplane was ready to go. By this each lap. “If the race had been a few satisfying, he knew that neither their airplanes.” time, Bill was under considerable laps longer, I would have lapped occupation made for a stable career Landing at Cleveland for the stress, unable to even keep food Tony LeVier.” or provided a reliable source of race, Bill thought he was in some down. “They got me some Pepto- Taking the top position at the income. More importantly, he saw kind of trouble, as a crowd of Bismol, and I was better by the National Air Races was one hell of a too many accidents and lost too people surrounded his airplane next morning,” he recalled. way to enter the sport, but it wasn’t many friends. Not wishing to join when he taxied in. In fact, they He got little sleep but made it out a fluke. Bill entered many air races them, he changed careers. The only wanted to see the competition to the flightline for the heat race. over the next few years and ended Marathon Paper Corp. had a Beech — the plane and pilot they had to Looking around him as the planes up in the winner’s circle at least half 18 based at Oshkosh, and before beat. The plane they knew — the sat with their engines running the time. In 1949, the National Air long he was flying it as first officer pilot they didn’t. This was hardly ready to charge off into the air, Bill Races were held in Detroit rather to various locations in the United 48 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 49 it and it will have doubled in value.” One day in 1970, Bill’s airplane then the Tri-Motor in 1999. His last And so he did. A friend had a grass salesman “Freddy” Fredericksen airplane, a Cessna 150, followed strip to the north of Oshkosh and came into the office waving around not too long afterward. “I was not Bill leased the property, put in a a copy of Trade-A-Plane and talking one to just ride around the patch paved runway, and added buildings about a “basket case” Stinson very much; the flight had to have a for an FBO, complete with a flight Tri-Motor for sale in Alaska. The purpose. I guess 65 years of flying school and maintenance shop. airplane, built in the 1920s, had was enough.” His timing was perfect, and in the been left sitting outside for about 40 Bill continued to get involved heyday of general aviation during years. It was little more than a hulk, with aviation in new ways as he the 1960s and ’70s, he and his staff but it could be rebuilt. Theoretically. entered his eighth decade, traveling could barely keep up as his business Bill and some friends purchased it and talking with the Society of Air became the largest used airplane and had the disassembled project Race Historians, EAA chapters, dealer in Wisconsin. Soon Bill trucked back to Wisconsin. and other groups. He was inducted realized that he didn’t really need to Rebuilding the Stinson took into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of be on-site full time and began taking years, and even with copies of Fame in 1995. He always had time flying trips several times a year. He all the original type certificate for anyone who wanted to meet and his friends would disappear into documentation it was not an with him and find out what it was northern Canada, where they would easy process. Tubing from long- like to fly in the National Air Races. camp and fish for a month or more discontinued metal types had to He embraced technology like few at a time. Life was good. be researched and replaced; so others in their 80s and 90s do, and One day Bill got a call from Paul much fabric was used that Bill and was active on Facebook and social Poberezny. A few pilots who owned his team became Stits dealers by media. Even though his flying days seaplanes wanted to bring them to default; and their first engine start were behind him, Bill continued to the annual convention. Would it be knocked the Oshkosh tower off keep up with aviation technology possible to park a couple of them the air because the original engine such as GPS systems and iPads and, at Bill’s personal property on Lake ignition systems were not shielded often to the disdain of pilots of his on the porch of the VAA Red Barn with a bag of popcorn Winnebago a few miles from the — and these were just a few of the vintage, defended it vigorously. watching the people and airplanes go by. How many AERO CLASSIC airport? After all, Bill was already challenges they faced. A longtime member of EAA people sat next to him, completely unaware that they “COLLECTOR SERIES” parking his Cub on floats there and Eventually the day came to fly Chapter 252 in Oshkosh, Bill’s last were in the presence of an air race legend? Bill himself had a small boathouse. Bill agreed, the Stinson, and Bill and his project aviation project as he turned 91 was would never have mentioned it. Vintage Tires and it did not take long for word partner Chuck Andreas climbed into advising fellow chapter members on On what would turn out to be his last day ever at New USA Production to spread and attract the attention it. The flight that day, December 11, the configuration and construction AirVenture, Bill pushed back the pain he was in and made Show off your pride and joy with a of dozens of seaplane owners. The 1981, was uneventful. Over the of a replica of Buster, the airplane an effort to stand to get a better view of the flightline fresh set of Vintage Rubber. These newly minted tires are FAA-TSO’d operation grew quickly. More land next decade and a half, thousands of he flew to fame in the National Air as the Martin Mars did a low pass and dropped 7,000 and speed rated to 120 MPH. Some was cleared and improved, boats people got memorable rides in the Races. (The replica will be displayed gallons of water. The smile on his face said it all. things are better left the way they and gear acquired, procedures airplane at EAA AirVenture, SUN in the EAA Aviation Museum.) Bill Brennand passed away on the morning of March were, and in the 40’s and 50’s, these tires were perfectly in developed, camping and other ’n FUN, and dozens of air shows He was also excited to consult on 14, 2017, in Oshkosh, the town where he was born and tune to the exciting times in aviation. Not only do these tires set your vintage plane apart from facilities built. More seaplanes all across the country. In 1999, EAA member Gus Warren’s Buster lived his entire life. He had no complaints, and indeed the rest, but also look exceptional on all General Aviation came with each passing year, and the airplane was sold to Kermit reproduction, which will fly when was the first to recognize how fortunate he had been. aircraft. Deep 8/32nd tread depth offers above average the seaplane base became a “best- Weeks; it remains in his collection completed. The two men could be But for those who were fortunate enough to know him, tread life and UV treated rubber resists aging. known secret” of the annual EAA in Florida. found the last couple of years at there is a void that will never really be filled. It will First impressions last a lifetime, so put these jewels on and convention. What started as a As the years and decades rolled AirVenture in the back of the VAA be difficult this year not to see his car parked behind bring back the good times..… parking spot for a dozen seaplanes on, Bill never retired — not really. Red Barn discussing plans and the Red Barn or to know that we won’t find him there New General Aviation Sizes Available: 500 x 5, 600 x 6, 700 x 8 turned into a seaplane base with “I was never one to look forward to photographs of the original airplane waiting to see us, offering us some of his popcorn. more than 200,000 people visiting retirement. I’ve just slowed down and Gus’ project. No one is immortal, but some are fortunate enough Desser has the largest stock and over the course of the week to check some, and then when I had to, I As Bill’s mobility grew more to be immortalized. Many airports are named after selection of Vintage and Warbird out up to 150 seaplanes. Bill served slowed down a little more. After all, limited, he didn’t roam the people. Often they’re dedicated to politicians by other tires in the world. Contact us as chairman for the base for 20 I did all my traveling and had my convention grounds as much as he politicians who never use the airport in question. But with your requirements. years, stepping down when he sold fun flying when I was young enough once did, but he still enjoyed visiting to the north of Oshkosh, there will always be an airport Telephone: 800-247-8473 or 323-721-4900 323-721-7888 the land back to the Vette family, to enjoy it.” He sold off his airport the Seaplane Base to make sure that is forever special, for it is and always will be named FAX: 6900 Acco St., Montebello, CA 90640 whom he had bought it from 50 and seaplane base property in the things were running smoothly, and after a pilot — the legendary air race pilot who built it: 3400 Chelsea Ave, Memphis, TN 38106 www.desser.com years before. mid-1990s as he entered his 70s, he also liked spending afternoons Bill Brennand. In Support Of Aviation Since 1920…. 50 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 51 The Newells’ Jewel

Representing Taylorcraft’s four-place foray by Sparky Barnes Sargent

SPARKY BARNES SARGENT

aviation gem first mistake it for an earlier- morning during AirVenture 2016. sometimes. The Newells had been and had even seen this particular best we can tell, it had been at least from yesteryear, manufactured Aeronca 15AC Se- Father and son are longtime Tay- talking about buying a four-place airplane in 2012 at the Taylorcraft a year and a half since it had flown. this unassuming dan, but the Model 15A’s long, lorcraft aficionados, owners, and airplane to fly while they restored reunion fly-in. It only had 600 hours of total time, (yet nonethe- slender nose, slotted wings, side history buffs. They just happen to their Piper Pacer, and voila! Along “We were impressed by its con- and we bought it in August 2015 Anless remarkable) 1953 Taylorcraft windows, and the sweeping curve live about 30 miles from Alliance, came an airport friend who pointed dition when we saw it, but then from the guy who bought it from Model 15A is a distinctive sight to of its lower fuselage tell the tale. Ohio, which was once home to Tay- out a Barnstormers.com ad for a it was sold to another individual the bankruptcy hearing. He recog- behold. Known as the Tourist, it’s The aircraft’s caretakers, Tim lorcraft Aviation Corp. Taylorcraft Model 15A. Being Tay- and it became the victim of a bank- nized that it was rare and wanted it one of very few four-place Tay- Newell and his son, Ryan, invited lorcraft savvy, the Newells knew ruptcy/lawsuit sort of situation to go to somebody who wanted to lorcrafts ever built. At a glance, me to climb into the spacious Barnstormers Find exactly what a Model 15A was. before it popped up on Barnstorm- take care of it.” vintage aircraft enthusiasts may cabin for our interview one rainy It’s funny how things work out They’d quietly been coveting one, ers last summer,” shares Ryan. “As Rare indeed. It’s estimated that 52 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 53 1953 Taylorcraft 15A Tourist Manufactured under ATC 3A3 Wingspan 36 feet Wing area 186.3 square feet Airfoil Modified Gottingen series 398 (“JCH”) Length 24 feet Height 7 feet, 1 inch Useful load 925 pounds Gross weight 2,200 pounds Engine Continental C-145 Fuel 40 gallons (originally 42, with 2-gallon header tank) Fuel consumption 8.5 gph Oil 9 quarts Max speed 125 mph Cruising speed 115 mph SPARKY BARNES SARGENT PHOTOS SARGENT BARNES SPARKY The Newells plan to restore an original-type aluminum instrument panel Landing speed (with flaps) 36 mph in place of this custom wood panel. Truly a Taylorcraft tail! Takeoff run 500 feet Climb, first minute 700 feet Service ceiling 16,000 feet Normal range 500 miles Baggage capacity 100 pounds Price $6,790 Derived from Taylorcraft Inc., Conway, Pennsylvania, brochure and ATC 3A3.

built of heavy steel tubing, and fortunately, we don’t have all the three doors (a fourth door was op- original logs; they were lost. We tional) provide easy access to the do have some records, but Forrest

SKYWAYS, NOVEMBER 1956 cabin. Touted as being “high-lift, Barber, who is the Taylorcraft ex- spin, and stall resistant,” the 15A’s pert in Alliance, is helping us re- wings are built of spruce spars and construct the logs as best we can.” stamped aluminum ribs, and the leading edges are slotted, as are Acquisition of the all-metal flaps and ailerons. Accoutrements Notably, the wing-strut configura- Sure enough, N23JW (serial tion and the aileron push-pull tube number 5-14008) landed in good The doors open wide, allowing easy access to the Note the metal gear fairing, entry step, and wheel mechanisms are similar to that of hands, although it was a bit be- Tourist’s cabin. pant. the World War II-era Taylorcraft draggled. While the airplane was from 1951 to 1955, Taylorcraft of Ridgewood, New York, and it aviation historian and author L-2. The Tourist’s landing gear mostly intact and still had some built only about 30 of these four- was later owned by two Pennsyl- Joseph Juptner wrote, “The four- has a distinct toe-in, and bungees of its original instruments, it was place airplanes. When asked about vania companies: Jordan Paint Co. seated ‘Tourist’ … was often de- wrapped around hydrasorbs pro- missing various components. The the history of N23JW, Ryan chuck- of Allentown and then Delco Air scribed as ‘sedate in behavior and vide a cushioning effect during Newells set about locating and les and says, “The reality is, our Activities of Gradyville. Joseph comfortable as an old shoe.’” ground operations. Hydraulic toe installing Consolidair Model 17 airplane doesn’t have much of a his- Woodward bought it in 1970 and That description seems to brakes are original to the 15A (as wheel fenders, tail brace wires, in- tory, and that’s why it’s still here!” changed the registration number fit pretty well. The Tourist was opposed to heel brakes), and the spection plates, and a spinner. The This particular 15A spent most from N6662N to N23JW in 1977. promoted as “America’s safest pilot’s seat was adjustable. original Scott 2000 tail wheel was of its life in the eastern part of the airplane,” possessing admirable “The 15A has a Continental also absent, so the Newells decided country. It was first sold in August Safe, Slow, and Stable short-field performance and load- C-145-2 engine, and N23JW has to install a larger Scott 3200 to ac- 1953 to Guardian Airsearch Corp. In his book U.S. Civil Aircraft, carrying abilities. The fuselage is its original engine,” says Tim. “Un- commodate the 15A’s heavy tail. 54 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 55 ing 125 hp O-290 engine. When Speaking of that stall-resistant In a November 1956 Skyways this power proved inadequate, design, aviation author Ed Hoadley ad, the Model 20 was marketed as a 150 hp Franklin was installed. described the 15A’s unique airfoil “featuring design safety with … In trade ads placed in June of in his July 1952 article in Flying: [a] die-molded Fiberglas fuselage, 1945, it was dubbed ‘the Tourist.’ “Lift is created from a Gottingen [which] ‘will not dent, puncture, Through 1945-46, it continued to airfoil, series 398, basic. However or corrode.’” The ad also noted that be refined, until in August 1946, it has been modified considerably it had been “[n]amed by many as with a much improved profile, the by Taylorcraft engineers to incor- the ‘strongest, safest’ plane in use plane was announced to the public porate better performance while today. Years ahead in safety and and awarded ATC #775. However, retaining high lift. This is the performance.” Serial numbers in- no record of this ATC issuance is secret of their stable slow-flight dicate that 38 were built and priced found in the FAA files. With the characteristic. This airfoil has been at $10,865. By 1958, the company impending bankruptcy, it appears dubbed the ‘JCH’ airfoil.” was in financial trouble again. It that no further production took Taylorcraft also emphasized underwent a management change place at Alliance. The new Tay- the Tourist’s creature comforts in and relocated to Connellsville, lorcraft Company, headed by Ben an effort to attract more affluent Pennsylvania. Taylorcraft’s 1950s Mauro, acquired the prototype and customers. Standard equipment foray into four-place airplane man- the manufacturing rights along included individual front seats, ufacturing was essentially over. Note the wing strut configuration, with the rest of the equipment in an adjustable pilot’s seat, an indi- which is similar to a Taylorcraft L-2. the bankruptcy sale.” rect-lighted chrome instrument Tourist Flying Interestingly, Taylor himself did panel, an ashtray, a heater, glove Ryan learned through hands- not cut ties with the company. Ac- compartments, and wheelpants. on experience how the Model 15A COURTESY GREG STULL cording to Peek, Taylor retained A company brochure boasted, “It’s handles on the ground and in the “We did a lot of research about aerial steeds — after all, his grand- my dad’s love of aviation history,” “his title of vice president for the a real executive-type plane at a air. He discovered that it’s quite dif- the model as well; the wheelpants children will need something to fly says Ryan, smiling. “I had my first period 1949-1958. … One major small-plane price. … The tasteful, ferent from a two-seat Taylorcraft. we bought were missing the trim one of these days. flight at 20 days old, and Dad in- contribution made by C.G. Taylor modern, limousine-type interior “The BC-12-Ds were built for speed; pieces, so I had them made by Rob Tim inherited his love of avia- troduced me to building plastic during this period was the re- with its many conveniences and they’re clean airframes and get a lot Palmer in Missouri, and he did a tion from his father, who was an models. He kept the planes at a design of the Model 15 fuselage. … beautiful appointments is the work out of 65 horses,” says Ryan. “This nice job,” says Ryan. “A previous aerospace engineer for Goodyear. 1,000-foot farm strip until I was Taylor took a fuselage frame back of Peter Muller-Munk, interna- plane’s completely the opposite; it’s owner [Ralph Nace] restored the “When we were little kids, he’d 10. All the guys we flew with were to Alliance, re-engineered it, and tionally famous designer.” like flying a truck, but everything is airplane in 1993 using Ceconite take us to the local airport and flying farmers, so I grew up with was able to reduce the weight by Despite its amenities and per- very smooth. The airfoil is designed 102 and the Randolph process. He we’d watch the DC-3s and DC-6s that grassroots, taildragger kind of over 100 lbs. This revision became formance features, the Taylorcraft for slow speeds; it stalls at 36 mph also added some wood trim around come in,” recalls Tim, “and we built flying. The Taylorcrafts have a local the 15A [ATC #3A3].” Tourist didn’t sell well. Struggling and has full control through the the windows and doors, installed a the plastic and balsa wood model history to us, and we’re both active Taylorcraft’s marketing ma- for market share, the company stall. It was supposed to be spin wood panel in place of the original airplanes. When I was 16 I had a in the Taylorcraft Foundation and terials proudly emphasized the once again “reimagined” the four- proof, so everything’s just a slow aluminum, and painted the air- paper route, and I would earn just are trying to preserve that history.” 15A’s size, horsepower, safety, place model. “The 15A was com- and predictable mush, as opposed plane in a custom paint scheme. He enough money to go out and get and durability: “The Biggest Plane peting with the Cessna 170 and to the BC-12-D, which has a sharp did a nice job, so it’s not something an hour of dual at the local grass Four-Place Foray in its Price Class! Beneath those other metal planes, and then Piper break and spins really well.” we want to tear into immediately, strip. I soloed when I was 16 in a Being history buffs, the Newells smooth, flowing lines is a tubular, came out with the Tri-Pacer,” says N23JW has two 20-gallon wing but our goal is to slowly get it back 1964 Cessna 150. I bought my were quick to highlight the fact chrome-molybdenum steel frame Tim. “So in 1955, Taylorcraft tried tanks; originally, the Model 15A to where it looks original.” Taylorcraft BC-12-D for $3,800 in that the Model 15A was made by with the strength of a tank! That something different. They made had a 2-gallon header tank as well. January 1979, got my license, and Taylorcraft Inc. at the Conway- husky 6-cylinder engine puts out a Fiberglas molds in two halves for That, of course, affects the center Flying Family that March my wife and I flew it to Pittsburgh Airport in Conway, whopping 145 hp — more than any the steel tube fuselage — just like of gravity. “This plane is very nose Certainly there’s no urgency to SUN ’n FUN from Ohio.” Pennsylvania. But before the 15A comparable plane. The finish is fire- a model kit — and skinned the heavy; it’s built to have weight in return the Model 15A to its 1953 Son Ryan, now 35 and a father came the Model 15 Foursome resistant butyrate — more durable, wings in Fiberglas. This was the the back seat,” says Ryan. “So when authenticity. When Tim buys an himself, has in turn inherited his prototype, which was made in Al- practical, and cheaper to maintain Model 20, which was on the same you fly this plane solo, you use a lot airplane, it becomes part of the passion for aviation and history liance, Ohio. than any other. … Flight character- type certificate as the Model 15A. of elevator trim. It has the same family. He bought a 1946 Taylor- from Tim. “Dad took me to Civil This background is best con- istics are the safest. That’s because The Model 20 [Ranch Wagon] was trim system as the BC-12-Ds — a craft BC-12-D in 1979 (which he War battlefields and airplane mu- veyed by author Chet Peek in his of its stall-resistant design. Visibil- supposed to be ‘indestructible’ cable-operated small tab on the left and Ryan restored from 2006 to seums when I was a kid, and the book The Taylorcraft Story: “The ity is good, all around. Useful load and was very heavy [3,750 pounds elevator. The more weight you put 2011) and a 1955 Piper PA-22 in result is I’m a ninth-grade history Taylorcraft four-place … prototype, is a hefty 925 lbs. — heavier than gross], so they put a 225-hp Conti- in the back, the less you have to 1981. Tim just can’t let go of his teacher. Even my name reflects NC36320 … flew with a Lycom- 4 big men.” nental O-470 on it.” trim it. The pilot’s operating hand- 56 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 57 it’ll three-point at 36 mph. When you three-point this airplane it hardly rolls out. You can plant it right on The Vintage Mechanic the runway, roll out 150 to 200 feet, and stop without brakes — especially when you put it on sod. It’s heavy and very stable on landing with its slow speed, even ROBERT G. LOCK with gusty winds. Of our three taildraggers, it is far and away the best and easiest plane to land on pavement. Crosswinds are not bad either; just keep a little bit of power in and keep it straight with the rudder. If your wing comes up, it’s so slow you have time to correct it. It’s as easy to land at 40 or 50 mph as it is at 36 mph.”

Overhead view of the The Newells’ Jewel handsome lines of the As of April 2017, nine Model 15As and six Model Taylorcraft Tourist. 20s had current registrations on the FAA Registry. Teaching a Nation How to Fly COURTESY GREG STULL “As far as we know, there are four Model 15As still flying, including ours and one each in Pennsylvania, Close up-view of the slotted wings. Colorado, and California. Dick Roe, known as the Tay- The Lon Cooper story, Part 4 lorcraft four-place guru, also has one in Virginia, and he flew his up to Oshkosh 16 years ago. He flew it quite a bit. Coincidentally, Dick Roe’s 15A [N6653N] Lodwick School of Aeronautics originally began was restored at our home airport around 1990, so as a contract school operated by E.J. Sias in Lincoln, this airport has probably had more Taylorcraft 15A Nebraska, which was one of the first nine civilian traffic than any other airport outside of the factory!” contract primary flight schools in the new training (See Budd Davisson’s article about Roe’s Model 15A in program. However, Florida offered much better fly- Vintage Airplane, Vol. 29, No. 4.) ing weather, particularly in the wintertime. And the Since so few were built, and just a handful are government told Sias his operation had to move to known to be flying today, Ryan says, “We like to think Florida and Sias complied. His school was moved to that we rescued this airplane when we bought it, be- Lakeland, Florida, in 1940, but Sias grew tired of the cause our goal is to preserve it in its more original commute from Nebraska. So he sold the school to Hal SPARKY BARNES SARGENT state, probably starting with the instrument panel S. Darr and Albert Lodwick. Lodwick would also oper- book [POH] for the early 15As said to put a 20-pound and the front roll-down windows.” ate the Lodwick Aviation Military Academy at Avon ballast in the back seat when flying solo. But we sus- In the meantime, the Newell family is enjoying its Park, Florida. COURTESY LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY LAKELAND PUBLIC COURTESY pect that once they eliminated the header tank, that Tourist. “The 15A was supposed to be simple — a The Lakeland school was located on the western Aerial view of Lodwick School of Aeronautics in 1942. wasn’t required, because we have the POH for ours, cheap, four-seat airplane that could get in and out of edge of Lake Parker, surrounded by large trees and it doesn’t mention ballast.” shorter airfields — and it does that fairly well,” Ryan with hanging Spanish moss, palm trees, and Lodwick was in partnership with Hal S. Darr of Takeoffs are pretty straightforward with a three- elaborates. “It does everything in a slow, predictable, orange groves. The site, that originally Lakeland Chicago, but Lodwick bought out his partner in 1941 point attitude. “The tail is heavy and just does not and stable manner. I climbed to 5,000 feet on the way Municipal Airport was leased to Lodwick for his and became sole owner of the operation. Above, an come up easily on takeoff,” explains Ryan. “So you to Oshkosh and it took me about 25 minutes to get up operation. Two concrete runways crossed the main aerial view of the Lakeland Airport leased to Lodwick line it up, give it 10 degrees of flaps, and after about to that altitude. That was with my wife and two kids, facility, and there were three auxiliary outlying for primary flight training. Most of these privately 500 feet it’ll just want to lift off. It’ll climb out about and of course some stuff in the baggage compartment, landing strips. The first class arrived on September funded operations looked similar with opposing 75 mph — it’s a very flat climb, at about 700 fpm. It as well as full tanks. It was a great plane to fly up here!” 18, 1940; however, the field was not finished and curved roofed hangars constructed of wood. The cruises 105 mph. On good days, I’ve seen 110 to 115 It was also quite the jewel waiting to be discovered these lucky students were housed in the Thelma two-story barracks buildings and parade ground can mph. On bad days, it’s only 85 or 90 mph. So it’s not a along the flightline. Its mere presence, combined Hotel in Lakeland. Ground school classes took be seen to the right of the hangars. Both hangars are fast airplane at all.” with the intriguing information shared by its friendly place in the nearby armory. still standing today, although the site is no longer an Landings are docile — much more so, says Ryan, caretakers, facilitates the Newells’ goal of preserv- Prior to purchasing the school rights from E.J. airport. Today the original site is the home to the De- than other tailwheel airplanes he’s flown. “You come ing Taylorcraft history. Father and son were happy Sias, Albert Lodwick was president and director of troit Tigers major league baseball team for its winter downwind at 85 mph and give it 10 degrees of flaps,” to feature the Tourist and participate in the Vintage Stinson Aircraft Corp. Lodwick was a businessman workouts and is called “Tiger Town.” he says. “When you turn base, it drops down to about Interview Circle during AirVenture 2016. The judges and had been in aviation since 1929 when he was first Lon Cooper remembered, “Bill, Ben, and I reported 75 mph, and then you give it another 10 degrees of also appreciated N23JW’s appearance; they awarded employed by the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical Corp. to Lodwick on April 25, 1943. Even though we had flaps. On final, you give it its last 10 degrees of flaps it the Classic (September 1945-1955) Outstanding as a statistician. When he left Curtiss-Wright, he was successfully completed training at the Army Central and come over the fence probably about 50 mph, and Taylorcraft small plaque. elevated to assistant to the president. Instructor School, both the Army and Lodwick 58 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 59 required checkrides. My checkrides and orienta- Albert Lodwick also opened a primary flight school road construction markers called ‘flambos.’ The ap- tion flights began April 26, 1943, and ended after in Avon Park on the edge of Lake Lillian that he proach was marked by one flambo set 50 feet to the six hours’ dual and two hours’ solo on May 4. We named Lodwick Aviation Military Academy. It opened right at the beginning of the landing strip. One-third replaced the ‘Trainee Instructor’ arm patch with a on October 2, 1941, while the Lakeland facility of the way down the runway was a double flambo ‘Lodwick School of Aeronautics’ patch. We also wore opened September 18, 1940. on the left. The traffic pattern was normal with a ‘Lodwick Flight Instructor’ wings.” After his checkride at the Lodwick School of 180-degree power-off approach and landing. The idea Aeronautics, Lon was sent to Avon Park with his two was to come in between the first two flambo markers friends Bill and Ben. Lon recalled, “We shared a room and land before reaching the pair on the left. If you in the Jacaranda Hotel. The school was located at the were not on the ground before reaching the pair on Avon Park Municipal Airport, 1 mile west of town. the left, you went around. I learned a lot! The exhaust The field was square with a flight operations build- collector ring glows dull red. The exhaust manifold ing, a maintenance hangar, a storage hangar, and a produced a large blue ball of fire at full and cruising Stearman NS-1 with Navy markings. The design get- ting closer to the Model 75, PT-13/PT-17. control tower. Orientation flights located the flight throttle settings. A steady stream of sparks flew from boundaries and auxiliary fields.” the exhaust manifold past the cockpits and disap- main factory located in Wichita, Kansas. The Model Lon’s first class was Number 43J. Classes were peared past the tail of the fabric-covered airplane. I 75, military PT-13/PT-17/N2S-1 through -5, would identified by the year and a letter designating when don’t believe any instructor, including me, allowed be the first aircraft ever produced that met both Lodwick uniform patches for Lakeland and Avon Park they started. On May 10, 1943, Lon flew his first the cadets to fly the plane because it was too danger- Army and Navy specifications for a primary flight operations. flight as an Army primary flight instructor. Lon ous. Night flying was discontinued after this trial.” trainer. Most all parts were interchangeable — the recalled, “At last I was making a contribution toward Imagine landing a Stearman at night with no naviga- biggest variation being the engine with either Conti- winning the war. My many hours of training in CPT tion or landing lights. Amazing! nental R-670 or Lycoming R-680 engines installed by and the Army were being put to use. This class of the factory. Consider the following advertisement as cadets had been transferred from the discontinued duplicated from Western Flying magazine, April 1941, glider program to combat pilot training. I was as- that clearly displays the production rate of the Stea- signed five cadets. Each of my five cadets soloed rman primary trainers from the Wichita facility. shortly after the required eight hours of dual instruc- It is interest- Instructor pin for the Lodwick Aviation Military Acad- tion, and all graduated with excellent flying skills.” ing to note again emy in Avon Park, Florida. Lon had flown the Waco UPF-7 in the acrobatic that the primary phase of training in the Civilian Pilot Training Pro- flight schools were The photo below shows Boeing Stearman PT- gram (CPTP), but his first taste of flying a Stearman privately built and 17trainers on the tarmac in front of the hangar at came in the checkout at Lodwick in Lakeland. Below, staffed, but the gov- Lakeland. Early Army Air Corps (AAC) aircraft had fu- takeoff in a Lodwick Stearman PT-17 with the in- ernment furnished selages painted blue with yellow wings and red-white- structor in the front cockpit and the student at rear. Stearman Model 6 Cloudboy, the forerunner to the the aircraft and blue-striped rudders. Later aircraft were finished all Class 43J completed primary flight training June 25, famous Model 75. provided officers silver, which was easier and less time-consuming. 1943, and pilots were immediately assigned to a basic to oversee training training flight school. Lon was flying the Boeing Stearman PT-17 now operations at every and would continue to do so until primary flight school. Lon provided training ceased in 1945. Boeing, Wichita Division, the details of school was mass-producing aircraft as fast as it could, and operations: “The when production was ended on the PT-17 and its Army provided the variations, Boeing had produced more than 10,000 Advertisement from Western cadets, training air- Flying magazine. airplanes. Actually, Lloyd Stearman didn’t have any- craft, curriculum for thing to do with the actual design of the Model 75 cadets and instruc- but had laid the groundwork on the Model 6 Cloud- tors, officer check pilots, a flight surgeon, and a small COURTESY LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY boy. The Model 6 evolved into the Model 73 (Navy complement of enlisted men. The contract school Off on another dual flight, an instructor and student take off for an adventure. NS-1) as the planform began to look more like the provided dormitories, mess hall/kitchen, academic eventual production Model 75. hall for classes, and a combination recreational hall/ A very interesting time at Avon Park was recalled Above right shows the Stearman Model NS-1 hospital. The school also provided flight instructors, by Lon: “Night flying was introduced to our training designed for the Navy. The AAC aircraft would be des- academic instructors, aircraft maintenance crews, as a trial program. There were no navigation or land- ignated as the Model 73. This ship was powered with and ground support personnel.” ing lights on the Stearman. There were no runway the Wright R-790 radial engine, producing 225 hp. Flight and ground instruction was provided by civil- COURTESY LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY LAKELAND PUBLIC COURTESY Stearman aircraft in front of maintenance hangar at lights on our field. The runway was temporarily As the Model 75 planes appeared, the government ians employed by Albert Lodwick, as were ground crew Lodwick School of Aeronautics. marked on the left side by a row of kerosene-burning bought them as fast as the factory could produce, the and aircraft maintenance mechanics. Lon recalled, 60 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 61 “There were three hangars at the Lakeland facility near Stearman is not an easy ship to master, particularly the landing. Lake Parker — two hangars were used for flight opera- The military never taught wheel landings — all were three-point TM tions with ready rooms, lockers for instructors, and full-stall landings. When the aircraft is three-point on the dispatcher booths for aircraft assignment. The north ground, forward visibility is quite limited. On the other hand, hangar housed a parachute loft with an airing tower, cadets being trained in Fairchild PT-19s enjoyed a very good New Members a packing room, and a U.S. weather station. The third ground-handling airplane due to its wide landing gear, long tail April Allen ...... Chardon, OH Kenneth Andrews...... San Antonio, TX hangar was used for maintenance. All mechanics were wheel movement, and great forward visibility. It was almost like Jon Bailey...... Southaven, MS certified for aircraft engine and aircraft maintenance. flying a fighter but with very limited performance. Jeannie Batto ...... Madison, IN Bailey Billen...... Bartlett, TN On the flightline, line girls attended the planes. They For cadets at Lodwick School of Aeronautics, the outlying Brian Bidwell ...... Fernandina Beach, FL Matthew Burr ...... Hickory Creek, TX taxied, fueled, parked, cranked, and looked after the strips were located around the city of Lakeland, one to the east Wayne Campbell ...... Apple Valley, CA aircraft in general. The control tower was located north just south of Polk City and west of Lake Juliana. It was a square Michael Cardona ...... Cache, OK Joshua Cawthra...... Vacaville, CA of the two east hangars.” grass field with only a traffic “tee” in the center. The second Jean-Yves Cercy...... Paris, France Below, looking east, the control tower is plainly vis- was east of Plant City. That particular field was interesting, as Jesse Clement...... Marion, IN James Courtney...... Melbourne, Australia ible. Note that the aircraft are now finished in silver Lon recalled, “Competition for the use of this field came from Gary Dalton...... Belton, SC Mark Denson...... Brenham, TX dope, and the markings have been changed to remove LIBRARY LAKELAND PUBLIC COURTESY grazing cattle. The first dual plane to arrive would buzz the Matthew Dyer ...... Bristol, CT the red round center used in earlier AAC markings. Cadets and a flight instructor on ramp at Lodwick strip until the cattle would clear the runway so the airplane Mark Easton ...... Carlsbad, CA School of Aeronautics. Mike Fagen...... Fayetteville, AR After completing could land safely. Once on the ground, it was not a problem to Damon Farnsley...... Edmond, OK his first class 43J schools, and some had been barnstormers while oth- herd the cattle from our landing area, and they would tend to Robert Forsblom ...... Bexley, OH Quinten Graber ...... Brooksville, MS at the Avon Park ers included business owners and professional men. stay away as long as we were there. A cow pasture did make for Jimmy Graham...... Miami, FL John Hardy...... El Paso, TX facility, Lon received Each had successfully passed the stringent Army and some very interesting takeoff runs and landing rolls. A traffic Steve Harris...... Kennesaw, GA some time off to contract schools checkrides. The civilian contract ‘tee’ controlled the flight patterns.” One must keep in mind Lyman Hart...... St. Cloud, FL Timothy Harter ...... Waterloo, FL marry his high- schools made good use of these talented individu- that there was no two-way radio communication, even inside John Herman. . . . . Port Jefferson Station, NY school sweetheart of als who would otherwise have been lost. The cadets the aircraft. All flight at auxiliary fields was visually controlled, Jason Hewes...... Paola, KS Jonathan Huddleston...... Greenville, TX seven years, Dorothy arrived in classes varying in size from 50 to 300. although there was a Gosport tube system installed inside the Peter Ireland...... Panama City Beach, FL (Dot) Bradford, on Classes were designated by number, representing the airplane for cockpit-to-cockpit communications. Harry Jackson ...... Findlay, IL Jude Judice...... Homer, LA June 29, 1943. Lon year and the number of classes that year, an example There was another auxiliary field located south and east of Scott Keller...... Lancaster, NY Ryan Keough...... Tucson, AZ recalled, “Our hon- being 43F. Cadets had met physical and aptitude re- Lakeland. Originally it was the Lakeland Airport and was a Lisa Kienholz...... Los Angeles, CA eymoon was spent quirements and had attended some ground school. As double-square grass field. The traffic “tee” was the only fixture Jonathan Kovacic...... Worthington, OH Richard LeDuc...... Mazama, WA locating a place to the need for pilots increased, aptitude requirements on the field. Lon recalled Halderman-Elder Field: “It was estab- Blair Leonard ...... Airdrie, Canada Stephen Lightstone ...... Sacremento, CA COURTESY LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY LAKELAND PUBLIC COURTESY live in Lakeland. were relaxed, but flight skills remained unchanged.” lished by George Halderman of Lakeland, in conjunction with Silver Stearman aircraft taxi on Terry Lucas ...... Oakdale, CA The war created a Ruth Elder, a 23-year-old movie actress. The pair attempted the Mark Lynn...... Norton Shores, MI Lodwick ramp. Connor Madison...... Manitowoc, WI housing shortage, first New York to Paris Atlantic crossing by a woman shortly Phillip Martin...... Monclova, OH and we were fortunate to find a garage apartment in after Charles Lindbergh had made his famous solo flight in the James Mason...... Mount Pleasant, TX Sally Mason...... Mount Pleasant, TX Lakeland, which we made our home until returning Spirit of St. Louis in 1927. Their Stinson Detroiter developed Christopher Miller ...... Centreville, VA to St. Petersburg when Lodwick closed in 1945.” Lon oil line problems just before reaching Europe. And a Dutch Chris Moore...... Johnson City, TN Jonathan Myers...... Fithian, IL and Dot are still together after 68 years — Lon just freighter rescued them, and they were received as heroes in Jeffery Nelson...... Pleasant Prairie, WI turned 90 years old recently. Paris and New York. George Halderman planned Howard John P. Novack ...... Pickerington, OH Peter John Pechey . . . . . Brisbane, Australia Returning to Lakeland, Lon was assigned to Hughes’ around-the-world flight on July 10, 1938.” Lee Ragsdale...... Montclair, VA Todd Ramsey...... Greenville, SC Flight Commander Robert Koleman and his check Near Lakeland in the city of Bartow, the training facility there David Randolph...... Adrian, MI pilot Ernie Baker. Refresher flights were flown for was for pilots transitioning into the North American P-51 Mus- James Replogle...... Upland, CA Ernest H. Rice Jr...... Laconia, NH familiarization with the boundaries and auxiliary tang. Lon recalled an interesting event: “One morning, as a group Wayne Roberts...... Grenada, MS fields. Training groups were organized into eight of instructors were grading landings of their cadets at the Vernon Rooze ...... El Grenada, MS COURTESY LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY LAKELAND PUBLIC COURTESY Jeff Rosania ...... Mt. Sterling, KY flights; each flight had a flight commander, check A less-than-perfect three-point landing in a Halderman-Elder strip, we looked up to see a P-51 Mustang Pete Rybacki...... Winter Park, FL Christopher Sam ...... San Diego, CA pilot, and 10 to 15 instructors. Four flights would fly Lodwick Stearman somewhere near Lakeland. approaching with wheels and flaps down and a dead engine. It John Sedan...... Galena, IL in the morning, followed by four in the afternoon. landed using the diagonal of both grass fields and stopped at the R Silich...... Auckland, New Zealand Dumas Slade...... Albuquerque, NM Each week, the flights would switch morning and All primary training bases had outlying auxiliary far southwest corner. The pilot was an instructor flying out of Sabra Smith ...... Danville, CA afternoon flight times to balance weather and flight fields used for all takeoff and landing instruction and Bartow and his engine had lost oil pressure. And he was instructed Talia Smith...... Danville, CA Jemma Smith ...... Danville, CA conditions; the flights tended to be in rough air in the practice. Cadets soloed from the auxiliary fields. Of to bail out, but he remembered seeing our field and successfully Leslie Smoot...... Zebulon, NC Florida afternoons. Lon recalled, “Flight instructors course, there were landing accidents, though they landed. The plane was disassembled and returned to Bartow.” Joseph Snow...... Monroe, WI Ralph Stanyard ...... Sun City Center, FL came from all walks of life, and most were beyond rarely resulted in injury to the cadet in the rear seat. The balance of Lon’s flying would be from the Lakeland base John Thompson...... Wilmore, KY Warren Veal...... Nampa, ID the age of military pilot service; however, they were Primarily these accidents were ground loops, loss near Lake Parker. There are more interesting stories to come Bernhard Voegeli...... Speyer, Germany all seasoned pilots. Many were instructors in private of control, or overrunning the landing strip. The from Lon Cooper. Jeffrey Zines ...... Lakeland, FL 62 JULY/AUGUST 2017 www.vintageaircraft.org 63 Vintage Trader VAA © 2016 Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. Something to buy, sell, or trade? BOOKS Directory Amazon book:”To Look Upward: One Flight Classified Word Ads: $5.50 per 10 words, 180 words maximum, with boldface lead-in on first line. 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VAA reserves Dave Clark Jerry Brown special coverage options VAA Members require for hand propping, tailwheel, the right to reject any advertising in conflict with 635 Vestal Lane 4605 Hickory Wood Row One of two built with a Philbrin battery Plainfield, IN 46168 Greenwood, IN 46143 ignition. Authentication in the form of its policies. Rates cover one insertion per issue. 317-839-4500 317-422-9366 grass strips, and unique aircraft. Visit EAA.org/Insurance today an original letter from Charles Lawrance Classified ads are not accepted via phone. Payment [email protected] [email protected] must accompany order. Word ads may be sent via fax (included in sale along with other DIRECTORS for the right coverage at the best price for you. (920-426-4828) or e-mail ([email protected]) using literature).Ted 810-229-6027 George Daubner Robert D. “Bob” Lumley credit card payment (all cards accepted). Include N57W34837 Pondview Ln 1265 South 124th St. name on card, complete address, type of card, card Oconomowoc, WI 53066 Brookfield, WI 53005 PROPELLERS 262-560-1949 262-782-2633 Overhauled Propeller GOVERNORS - All number, and expiration date. Make checks payable [email protected] [email protected] makes and models. Excellent Warranty, to EAA. Address advertising correspondence to EAA Jon Goldenbaum Joe Norris Service and Pricing! Visit us: www. Publications Classified Ad Manager, P.O. Box 3086, PO Box 190 264 Old OR Rd. InterAviaParts.com or call 775.219.6082 Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. Warner Springs, CA 92086 Oshkosh, WI 54902 [email protected] [email protected] 920-688-2977 Tim Popp 60568 Springhaven Ct. Lawton, MI 49065 269-624-5036 [email protected] ADVISORS John Hofmann Ray L. 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