who made an error in judgement and to straighten out the problems. In discussing these matters with the chapter of ficers and fly-in chairmen it was agreed that the ideal situation would be for a chapter to designate its fly-in committee chairmen and committee volunteers a year ahead of time, and then encourage these indi viduals to volunteer their services at other fly-ins in advance of their own function so that when their time of responsibility arrived, they would be well trained and knowledgeable with reference to their assigned tasks. In keeping with this thought, your Oshkosh chairmen and co-chairmen welcome all those who hold regional or chapter fly-in responsi bilities and encourage them to work on the same committees at Oshkosh. They may not do everything EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC right at Oshkosh, but they certainly have a multitude THE RESTORER'S CORNER of opportunities to do it over and over and over until DIVISION they get it right. The end result is that an Oshkosh By }. R. Nielander, Jr. volunteer is an expert in his field when he goes home MEMBERSHIP DRIVE and accepts the chairmanship of a similar committee at his local fly-in. There is no better training available. The complete list of Antique/Classic Division con WIN vention committees with the names and addresses Over the past several months you r offrcers and of their chairmen and co-chairmen appeared on page A pai r of Antique Goggles directors have made a point of trying to provide Divi 24 of the May issue of The Vintage Airplane. Drop a by persuading 5 people to sion headquarters representation at the various note to the chairman of the committee which interests Division chapter fly-ins as well as the larger regional you, and let him know that you want to help. He'll *Jom. fly-ins which attract antique and classic aircraft. In appreciate hearing from you, and you'll become a attending these events and talking with the chapter fly-in expert on the committee of your choice. If you II A Leather Flying Helmet officers and flyein chairmen, one theme seemed to will not be sure until the last minute that you'll be permeate the conversations. Most of these officers able to attend, just show up and tell him, "here I am". when you get 10 people to and chairmen lamented the fact that, while they had He'll welcome you with open arms. sign up. wonderful dedicated people with which to work, Elsewhere in this issue you will find the Division many of these people were inexperienced in their convention activities schedule including the forums jobs, having assumed their duties for the first time schedule and the Division evening programs. This - then start over and win again at the current fly-in. This inexperience resulted in service is provided to help you plan in advance those much wasted time and lost motion, as well as some activities in which you would like to participate. Please ~ A free five year member problems which should have been anticipated and note that the Division will sponsor a picnic dinner remedied before they occurred. There were numer on Tuesday evening, August first, and a social hour ship in the Antique/Classic ous discussions concerning how these situations on Friday evening, August fourth. The latter will be Division if you sponsor the could be alleviated. Of course all agreed that if a later in the evening following the awards program. volunteer is willing to serve in the same capacity for Division members are cordially invited to attend either most new members in a series of fly-ins or chapter activities, his knowledge or both of these fu r.ctions so that all may become 1978. and ability improves with each successive exposure, better acquainted with their officers, directors and and he soon becomes an expert at his job. This fact fellow members. is of course most evident at Oshkosh where some Don't forget the membership contest. Five new To Qualify: Write your name and member volunteers have been doing the same job for over members gets you a set of antique flying goggles. ship number on the back of the member twenty years. It is also evident at the Sun 'n Fun, Wat Five more gets you a leather flying helmet, and the ship blanks we've been providing in THE sonville, and other large regional fly-ins. This is not member recruiting the most new members by the end VINT ACE AIRPLANE. Headquarters will to say that there are no mistakes made in the opera of the year gets a five year free membership in the tion of these large fly-ins. There are, but there is also Division. Start your recruiting campaign now. keep score. more likely to be the expertise at hand to bailout those SEE YOU AT OSHKOSH! The VINTAGEAI!1PLANE Editorial OFFICIAL MAGAZINE Staff EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION INC. of THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION Publisher P.O. Box 229, Hales Corners, WI 53130 Paul H. Poberezny Copyright" 1978 EAA Antique/Classic Division. Inc .. All Rights Reserved .
Editor (Photo by Chris Sorensen) JULY 1978 VOLUME 6 NUMBER 7 A pair of Parakeets over Iowa . David Gustafson TABLE OF CONTENTS Associate Editors: H. Glenn Buffington, Robert G. Elliott, AI Kelch, (Cover Photo by Lee Fray: EAA Air Museums Lockheed 12 Electra.) Edward D. Williams, Byron (Fred) Fredericksen The Re storer's Corner by J. R. Nielander, Jr...... , ...... 2 Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs. Associate Editorships are assigned On Converting a Tri-Pacer toa Taildragger by Bob Schumaker .. ,',...... 4 to those writers who submit five or more articles .which are published in THE VINTAGE AIR PLANE during the current year. Associates receive a bound volume of THE VINTAGE AIR Franklin Rose by Edward D. Williams ...... , ...... ,.. 8 PLANE and a free one-year membership in the Division for their efforts. POLICY-Opinions Chino 78 by Claude Gray ...... 12 expressed in articles are solely those of the authors. Responsibility for accuracy in reporting Vintage Album . .. . , ...... , ...... , ...... , ...... 14 rests entirely with the contributor. Judging Update by Claude Gray ...... , ...... ,., ...... 16
Directors The Crouch-Bolas Dragonfly by David Gustafson " ...... , ...... ,. 17 ANTIQUE/CLASSIC Oshkosh Convention Schedule ...... , ...... 22 William J. Ehlen AI Kelch DIVISION The Tiger and the Tempest by David Gustafson .. ,., ...... 24 OFFICERS Route 8 Box 506 7018 W. Bonniwell Road Tampa, Florida 33618 Mequon, Wisconsin 53092
PRESIDENT Claude l. Cray, Jr . Morton W. lester J. R. NIELANDER, JR. %35 Sylvia Avenue Box 3747 Northridge, California 91324 Martinsville, Virginia 24112 P.O. BOX 2464 FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33303 Dale A. Gustafson Art hur R, .,""organ 7724 Shady Hill Drive 3744 N. 51st Boulevdfd VICE-PRESIDENT Indianapolis, Indiana 46274 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 51216 EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION MEMBERSHIP JACK WINTHROP Richard Wagner M. C. " Kelly" Viets o NON-EAA MEMBER - $20.00_ Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique/ RT. 1, BOX 111 P.O. Box 181 RR 1 Box 151 Classic Division, 12 monthly iss ues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE; one year mem ALLEN, TX 75002 Lyons, Wi sconsin 53148 Sti lwell, Kansas 66085 bership in the Experimental Aircraft Association and separate membership cards. SPORT AVIATION magazine not included. SECRETARY Advisors o EAA MEMBER - $14.00. Includes one year membership in the EAA. Antique/Classic W. BRAD THOMAS, JR. Ron ald Fritz Stan Gomoll Division, 12 monthly issues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE AND MEMBERSHIP CARD. DODSON MILL ROAD 1989 Wilson, NW 1042 90th l ane, NE 301 (Applicant must be current EM member and must give EAA membership number.) PILOT MOUNTAIN, NC 27041 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504 Minneapolis, Minneso ta 55434 John R. Turgyan Robert E. Kessel TREASURER 1530 Kuser Road 445 Oakridge Drive E. E. " BUCK" HILBERT Trenton, New Jersey 08619 Rochester, New York 14617 8102 LEECH RD. Robert A. White UNION, IL 60180 Box 704 Zellwood, Florida 32798
THE VtNTAGE AIRPLANE is owned exclusively by EAA Antique/Classic Division, In c .• and is published monthly at Hales Corners. Wisconsin 53t30. Second ctass Postage paid at Hales Corners Post Office. Hales Corners, Wi sconsin 53130, and additional mailing offices. Membership rates for EAA Antique/ Classic Division, Inc., are $14.00 per 12 month period of which $10.00 is for the publication of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE. Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation. Page 8 Page 17 ON CONVERTING A T TO A TAILDRAG
By Bob Schumaker (EAA #60859) 403 Meadowview Dr., S.E. Huntsville, AL 35802 (Photos provided by Author)
Easy does it! The highest 6" in th e world about to be consumed for that first landing - th e Darlin ' touched on all 3 points - the end of a perfect flight.
gether when he added, "Oh yes Bob, the engine has an uncanny mechanical aptitude and a deep love for only 6 hours since a fresh major. That did it. We the Aeroplane. Between us, we started the job. The first changed $, wings, parts, etc., and "Away We Go." My move was to de-hide the wings. Then the true needs So you think a Tri-Pacer is a great little ole plane, wife's husband is off on another project. became painfully obvious : nine ribs, two outer leading but, it looks like a flying milkstool. I, too, thought this Then the problem was what to start on. The wings edges, drag wires, drag struts and a main spar. The and therein lies quite a story. looked like someone had landed on them (and in fact bad ribs were removed as well as the other parts. A jig It was November in Huntsville, Alabama and the they had) so we started on them. Since the right wing was made and a lot of rib repairing was done, but, there local FBO at South Huntsville Airport was making his spar could be straight~ned and all but five ribs, one were still five ribs needed and a drag strut, to say plans for the wet days - (We don't have winter with drag strut and the leading edge tip were real fair, it nothing of the spar. An old friend who had just rebuilt snow, etc., in the SOUTH Su'h). He and I were chatting seemed logical to start on that wing. a J-3 wing came up with the needed ribs. A friend at about where and when I could get a plane and he said The act of pricing parts for aeroplanes has some another local airport said he thought he remembered "Bob - did you ever think about a Tri-Pacer? Although violent side effects. The first is a sick empty feeling seeing an old Pacer or Tri-Pacer wing back in " the junk this didn't really turn me on, there was a slight spark (starts in the wallet and ends with the eyeballs, throw pile in the woods." By golly he was right, there was a lit, and I asked him what he had in mind. Ole' Mc said ing daydreams out of focus). Second, this wonderful complete Tri-Pacer wing in the pile. It was badly dam he knew where he could get a " slightly" damaged Tri person called WIFE - (that's the one who brings your aged , but there it was with a good main spar and three Pacer which he thought could be obtained at a low dol dinner to the shop (garage), brings colas, "holds" till drag struts. Boy, oh boy. What a find. Cost: NOTHING. lar output. There was one small problem though, he dope drys, backs rivets (with finger in one ear and " If you can use that old junk you're welcome to it wanted the wings to fix up a Tri-Pacer he had to fix for shoulder over other), who with all of her fine attri friend." That's what the good ole' FBO said. Wing, a customer. Oh sure, I could have the damaged wings butes, has a breaking point. This usually occurs just as honeysuckle vine, pine needles and all headed for the off of the plane he was fixing. As just a matter of side you add the third figure to the "Well Honey it won't house. Now we had all we needed to build the wings. interest I asked him what was the "slight" damage the cost too much ... just .. . DOLLARS!" The third is They were re-built in four weeks and one was covered original Tri-Pacer had before it lost its wings - Well it where you change from buyer to scrounger and learn and completed when we found the MARTIN fasten seems the front landing gear was in the cockpit, along the fine art of getting for little or nothing those things ers we'd planned to use in lieu of wing stitching were with a damaged oil cooler, broken generator pully, you need so badly. As you become more and more pro out of production. This in itself isn't too bad, but when crushed exhaust pipe and broken carburetor flange, ficient your smiles become larger and the project gets you have had enough for one wing and then make the also odd and assorted bits and pieces which needed done, with the maximum of labor, but the minimum of discovery, you are in a world of hurt. I called everybody straightening and/or welding. Well, we all have to cost. I could think of, or had heard of, who might have compare with something and his idea of "slight" and Now for the project. I've got a young man who lives enough for the other wing. No luck! But all was not mine are not too far apart, and, they got a lot closer to down the street named Joey Sieja who is endowed with lost. I had noticed the Cessna rag wings had clips in 4 Lined up for welding - very important.
Another shot on how to block up the fuselage - It's done just like you milk a porcupine - " Very Carefully. "
their li' l ole' wings. Hummmm! Call GADa. I did and a matter of fact, the conversion is not real hard, but as (Mills is, by th e way, one of the few airports left with whether you are aware of it or not that's one great you can see some real backyard engineering was re smudge pots for runway lights) . Now the brakes are in bunch of guys. They are there to help, and they do. quired. When we finally got the fuselage jacked up we too, so we may be flying soon. A check of their records showed the Cessna clips had all held our breath while I welded and welded and Anyway, we've loved every minute of it. never been approved for Piper, however, the wing welded. Finally, all was done. The gear was removed structure was similar and the airfoil and speed factors from the box and placed in the mounting brackets. PART II were close. They told us how the original tests were Hey! I've got a tail dragger. Whoops. No tail wheel. Well here we are again. The Pacer is being loaded conducted, and advised we use the same technique on The price of a new one jerked me up short, so away we on the back of the pick'em-up truck, tail first to start Piper ribs. They said if the tests were within the re went on a scrounging mission. After exhausting almost its first long " taxi run." quirements they would buy-off on their use. Well every resource, and our patience, we heard of a place We got down to good ole South Huntsville Airport things were brightening up. We obtained some Cessna up in Tennessee where an A&P had a shop in a barn with the fuselage in great shape but our nerves shot. clips and set up a simple pull test device using a scale with bunches of "good junk." We called him and he al Did you ever notice as the cars pass you they seem to and some weights. Our "engineering analysis" proved lowed he might just have a tailwheel. So we took off cut you off? (It's a phenomenon called " drive where the clips more than adequate so we bundled the pack in the ole' 63 pick'em-up and headed for the hills. Be you're looking".) I can understand though, because age up and sent it to the GADa. They sent us a letter lieve it or not you have to ford a stream to get there you just don't see an aeroplane going down the road approving the use of the clips on our Tri-Pacer wing. and his house was built in 1835. The barns look about every day. Since these clips are readily available we are now fin as old, but he did in fact have a correct tailwheel and Eventually the fairings went on and the systems ishing our other wing. as we wound around the J-2 & 3's, Aeronica 7AC's, a were checked out. The engine ran real rough. Why? While all of this was going on, the bent and broken Bellanca Cruisemaster without cover, etc., I Because, as you turn it over each week or every other parts in the propeller end were welded, straightened thought I'd have to go back to see Ole' Charlie's one day or whatever, a little oil is worked up into each cyl or replaced. The prop was sent off to the propeller hos day soon and just mosey around. It would take all day inder. Comes the big day and you hit the starter: It pital and made well again . The cowling was left lying just to see all that's in those barns and sheds. He even starts with a cloud of blue smoke. You have just fou)ed in a pile. has a 1200 ft. strip (I may work up enough courage to out all of your bottom plugs and some of the top ones I kept looking at this thing, this airplane, thinking try some day). Meanwhile, back at the Pacer . .. too. After I cleaned the plugs and checked the setting, to myself I sure wish it had a tailwheel. Without that the 0-290 ran fine. milk stool gear it would look pretty slick. Then it came With the main gear in place and the tail wheel The next day I was out at the airport bright and to me, as I sat looking through the "Tennessee mounted, at least I could roll it in and out. Brakes early and found a puddle of gas beneath the plane. For Yellow pages ." I saw an ad which said: convert your came from a friend at Moontown Airport (just changed those who don't know, this is a revolting development, PA-22 to a PA-20. Easy conversion. Ho Ho Ho. Well as to Mills Airport) who just had them laying around. 5 mainly because the inside of a J-3 thru PA22 is covered with fabric just like the outside. Where was the leak? Why the selector valve of course. We tore a hole in the interior big enough to remove the thing and found it shot, worn out, non repairable, etc. We took jeweler's rouge and lapped it smooth, then put it back together, checked it out and it worked fine, on the RIGHT TANK Joey hard at the w ing position. When turned " off" it leaked again. This is b uilding business I when you quit playing games and wonder, where can just had to stop .~nd you find a fuel selector valve on a Saturday afternoon? snap him - Th at's a In that old Tri-Pacer fuselage you saw on the side of a " Ya n kee screwdri ver hill about 15 miles up the road. Back in the pick'em-up in Alabama-. truck and back to the hills. Lo and behold in this thor oughly stripped out hull all that was left were wasps and the selector valve. There were so many wasps we had to cut a hole in the outside fabric and remove the valve from the outside. The wasps hummed and fussed, but didn't come out after us so we were home free. Sunday morning the valve was cleaned up, checked out, and installed. The engine was run up and then came the first big moment. The plane moved under its own power. Out to the runway and up and down we go, Lin e up checked and read y for welding. Brakes, at las t (only 15,000 m ore things to d o) . slowiy at first checking for toe-in or toe-out, and feel ing of squirreliness. All was good, the runs became faster and finally the tail came up and you won't be lieve it but it took off and was flying. Well that ended the ground test. The flying tests followed the approved sequences and all'went well. Look Ma, no hands, and it's straight and level. Meanwhile back on the ground a good friend called Joey, my daughter and her boyfriend hopped in Joey's 210 and came up with cameras in hand. Many pictures later we peeled off for the land ing. The first one was hot and high because I was over warned about the sink rate. The second was on and rolling. I disengaged my eight white knuckles from the control wheel crawled out amid back patting and chat ting and the whole world looked great. (Now to finish the KR-2) Bye! See ya'il at Oshkosh!
Back up Runway 6 and ready to go - this is the last of several "Taxi Passes" - "Now or Never!"
In the back yard rigged and checked - I really wanted to fly it out.
7 By Edward D . Williams (EAA #5701 0) 71 3 Eas tman Drive Mt. Prospect, '". 60056 (Ass ociate Editor)
(Photos provided by the Author)
If Hollywood ever decides to make a movie on the life of aviation pioneer Franklin E. Rose , the plot will probably seem far-fetched . To make things worse for credibility, the colorful Rose in his youth was as hand some as any movie star. Rose had a brief connection with film making, it self, when he flew in the early 1920s as a movie stunt ~'.., ... - -...; pilot. But he also was an airmail pilot, mechanic, barn ...... r " "1 ~ .... : storming pilot, commercial pilot, aircraft salesman, .: ... ," '"l military pilot and finally commander of an Air Force base in Germany. H andsome Fran k lin E. Ro se strikes a das hing pose next to his Swallow M ailplane in 1926. Rose, 78, now retired for 21 years and living at Wal nut Creek, Calif., also missed by a whisker sharing a place in history with another pilot, Leon D. Cuddeback, To make the Hollywood scenario more implausible, BRIG GEN FRANKLIN ROSE, an aviation pioneer in flying the first successful flight of the mail by a pri it is a fact that Rose 's wife, Mildred, 75 , who learned to who has been pushing aircraft through the skies for vate contractor in 1926. fly in 1926 and flew aerobatics, taught their son , Frank the past 36 years , is going stronger than ever today. That route, by Varney Air Lines, holder of Contract lin Rose , Jr ., to fly. The son in turn did so well he later As commander of the 322nd Air Div (Combat Cargo) Air Mail Route #5 (CAM #5) authority, consisted of became one of America's first jet pi lots, but not until headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Rose controls all northbound and southbound service between Pasco, he had shot down 13 German aircraft in World War II. the troop carrier and transport aircraft in the USAFE Wash., Boise, Idaho, and Elko, Nev., begun on April 6, The younger Rose retired from the Air Force as a full theater of operations. The huge C119S of the 322nd 1926. Cuddeback flew the inaugural southbound route colonel, still being outranked by his father, who retired roll up an average of 27,000 miles daily in flying vital successfully, thus gaining a prominent place in avia as a brigadier general. supplies to 32 U.S. air bases in 13 countries in Europe tion history. But Rose , who flew northbound from Elko, "Stars and Stripes," the U.S. military newspaper, and North Africa. was forced down in a storm and didn't make.a success more than 23 years ago - on Jan. 5, 1955 - said of the Rose himself has rolled up quite a few hours in the ful flight .. . or the record books. elder Rose : cockpit since he first earned his wings as a flying 8 cadet in 1918. He's 54 today, and a rundown of the jobs he's held reads like a ca psu le history of the growth of the aviation industry. The general, an affable, soft-spoken man, holds the 16th air mail pilot's license iss ued in the U.S.; the 125th commercial pilot's license; and the 118th engineer mechanic's license. For a good part of hi s youth he barnstormed across the U.S. with a flying circus performing death-defying feats standing out on the wings. During this period the early 20s - he also worked as a Hollywood stuntman, earning his bread by leaping from a speed ing cycle to a plane or transferring from low flying planes into cars. "Those were exciting days," the general recalls. "We landed anywhere there was enough space for a take-off and crowds would flock for miles to see us perform. " I was se lling airpl anes at this time, too," said the general. "As a matter of fact , I was in just about every phase of the business. " But then you just about had to be, or you'd starve to death. That's part of the growth of aviation. Every body had to be a pioneer and stay with the business or get out of it entirely. It was one of the best ways we had of promoting commercial aviation." In 1926 the senior Rose joined Varney Air Lines, the Very rare photo of Franklin E. Rose in cockpit of his Franklin E. Rose's Swa llow Mailplane No.4 shown company which got the first air mail contract. He flew Swa llow with original Curtiss K-6 engine in ea rly 1926. after its original I S0-hp Curtiss K-6 was replaced with the first northbound mail flight from Elko, Nev., to Man standing next to plane is unidentified. the Wright Whirlwind }-4, with 200 horsepower. Boise, Idaho. " I was forced down in a storm and landed in the middle of a desert," the general related. "It was 40 miles to the nearest ranch and I came in by Pony Ex press with the mail sack slung over a horse's neck." In 1929, Rose got in on the ground floor of the fledgling passe nger airline industry. He became pres ident of Varney Speed Lines, "the fastest airline in the world," flying Lockheed Orions from Los Angeles to San Francisco in o ne hour and 58 minutes. Rose made his first trip to Europe in 1934, demon strating Lockheed Orion aircraft to various govern ments. From 1935 to 1940 when he returned to active duty with the Army as a captain, Rose had a distribu torship for Stinson and Taylorcraft on the West Coast. From 1940-1946 Rose headed the Pacific Coast Technical Training Comd, supervising the chain ,of schools set up to train defense workers. Following the war, Rose became associated with :.... Pacific Aircraft Sales Co., West Coast distributor for Beechcraft. He became a brigadier general in 1948 and in 1951 again went on active duty with the Air Force, ass uming command of the 349th Troop Carrier Wing at Hamilton AFB, Calif. A year later he was named commander of Donaldson AFB, S.c., and in November 1953 he took over the 465th Troop Carrier Wing. When the 322nd Air Div. was formed in March 1954 to control USAFE's vast fleet of troop carrier and cargo transports, Rose soon got the commander's job.
Rose retired from the Air Force and closed out a 37 year career in aviation on July 30, 1956. "I haven't flown since my retirement," he said in an interview recently at his California home with this author. "I used to fly Lockheed C-130s in the Air Force, and that was work," he said. Although his days as a young pilot are more than 50 years in the past, his recollections of the trials and hazards of being an airmail pilot are still vivid. "I've got a pretty good recollection of the early days," said Rose, who at 78 is in as good health and is as alert and sharp as a much younger man. "I started out with Walter Varney in 1919 and was associated with him in various deals," Rose recalled . Four new Wright Whirlwind j-4 engines uncrated THEY LED THE WAY: Shortly after the historic Pasco "I was flying at that time in an air show act chang prior to installation at Boise in May, 1926. Left to right: Boise-Elko flight of Varney Air Lines on April 6, 1926, ing from an automobile or a motorcycle on to a Lincoln 1. & 2 . Unknown, 3. Ralph Fifer, mechanic, 4. this group posed before a Swallow biplane at Boise. Standard, and we were using Varney's aircraft. When Chris DeVelschow, chief mechanic, 5. Franklin Rose, Shown (from left) are pilot joe Taff, pilot Franklin Rose, Walter Varney got the contract for the airmail in 1926, pilot 6. Leon Cuddeback, pilot, 7. Charles Wrightson, Hal Bruntsch, Mrs. Walter T. Varney, chief pilot Leon he asked me if I would be one of his pilots." business mgr. Cuddeback, the senior Varney's chauffeur, and a rep Rose said Varney selected Leon Cuddeback, Joe The j-4 replaced the underpowered Curtiss Cob and resentative of the U. S. Post Office with Curtiss K-6 Taff, George Buck and himself as the pilots for his new K-6' engines used in the first two months of Varney Air engine. airmail company, which was to be based at Boise. Var Lines operations. ney had bought six Swallow biplanes with Curtiss C-6 and K-6 engines for his operations, and they prepared for the inaugural flights. "We all went up to Boise and helped overhaul the engines for him and helped install them in the planes," Rose recalled. After that, Rose flew his plane - Swal low No.4 - down to Elko to prepare for his first run on the Elko-Boise-Pasco route. The following, from Rose's interview with this au thor, are his recollections of the events of April 6, 1926, the inaugural day: "I took off around ten in the morning. The weather wasn't too good, but in those days we had to fly con tact and not instrument flying, because we didn't have the instruments to do it. In taking off from Elko, head ing north, there was a little saddle in the mountains. I had to have 10,000 feet altitude to get through, and I just barely cleared it. Then I went into the plateau cou ntry. I got over this saddle and there were thunder storms ahead of me that were darker than black, so I had to keep down where I had visual contact. I got to where I was bucking headwinds in these storms and I was just running out of gas. It was approximately 225 miles from Elko to Boise, and I had about a 30 minute reserve, for normal conditions. 10 "But I bucked these winds and terrific turbulance "MISSING MAIL FLYER FOUND, with little Stinsons on the original route between Oak and was flying right down on the ground, and the gas FORCED DOWN BY BLIZZARD land and Sacramento and Los Angeles. gauge was getting to the bottom. I figured, well, if I run Rose Lands on Mountain Slope V.arney k~pt Rose on as. president of Varney Speed out of gas and land in this 5agebrush and stuff out in Idaho 75 Miles Off Course Lines because "He didn't want any part of it. He was here, I'm going to roll the plane up in a knot. So I "BOISE, Idaho, April 7 (A.P.) - After twenty-four the owner and he liked to give the orders, but he didn't started using my head - or I thought I was - and I hours of anxiety Franklin Rose, air mail pilot lost on want to be an official in the company," Rose said. saw a bunch of wild horses over on a mesa, and I saw his first trip from Elko to Boise was rep<;>rted safe and The company operated from July 1929 until 1934 two men on horseback rounding them up. I figured if uninjured sixty-five miles south of Jordon Valley at on that route when it got a mail contract from Los An I could get down there and get to some kind of civiliza 8:10 o'clock tonight in a telephone message to Boise." geles to Mexico City. " We outbid Pan American, which tion, or get somebody to find me, I would land. Rose continued with his recollections, saying, "I had that business at that time. We operated the Mexi "I worried if I would have enough power, and for flew for about two months and then Varney got per can line for about two years," Rose said. "And we tunately I did, and I landed on a little mud bar in the mission from the Post Office to shut down the line to closed down because the politics down there were river. I had to use power and almost stalled it. If I'd put new Wright J-4 engines on. We had K6 and C6 en something very difficult to deal with. have landed at normal flying speed I'd have just rolled gines, and they were giving us a lot of trouble. In the " Then Walter Varney offered me a job surveying up in a knot as the tires went down six inches in the north leg, from Pasco to Boise, our boys went down the aviation situation in Rumania," Rose continued. mud. I just sat there, and finally about an hou r later I several times with engine trouble. So they got permis " We thought we'd sell all our Orions to Rumania. So I saw these two horsemen coming down the side of the sion for a delay in operations to get those J-4s on." went over there and surveyed their airline needs. I mesa. I told them what happened. They wanted to know Rose said that he flew for Varney for another four took an Orion to New York and put it on the deck of if I was in trouble. One was an old man, and another months and then went to work for Pacific Air Trans the ship Europa bound for Bremerhaven. I flew it off man about 22 or 23 years old and I asked them where port, at a raise in salary from $150 to $200 a month, the dock from there to Rumania." But getting away I was. flying between San Francisco and Fresno and Los from Bremerhaven proved to be an adventure. "They said the closest town was Jordon Valley, Ore Angeles. "That's when Hitler was in business over there," gon, and it was 60 miles away. I said, 'Well how am I Although he had a colorful and highly eventful ca Rose said. "The Nazis had an eye on me all the way going to get there?' One cowboy said, 'I'll guide you reer in aviation, Rose had no roots in aviation . He was through. From Bramerhaven clear until I crossed the in: I asked, ' How much do you want?' and he said , born to an army cavalry officer at Fort Riley, Kans ., border into Poland and down to Rumania." 'About a month's salary,' I asked how much did he and lived at a number of army posts, so he swore he But it took a ruse and exceptional flying skill to get make a month, and he said, 'Ten dollars a month: So would never go into the military service. But a strong the Orion out of Bremerhaven in the first place as the I said, 'Well, I'll double that if you can get me there: yearning to fly caused him to reconsider by enlisting Germans impounded the plane. Every day Rose would "Fortunately, I had about $50 or $60 with me. We in the army as a cadet in 1918, and he got his wings get into the plane on the dock and "warm it up" to get carried a 30-30 rifle in the ship and a 45 caliber auto at Bakersfield, Calif. Although he left active duty in a the armed German guards used to that procedure. Fi matic and a bunch of chocolate bars, and I had figured few years , he remained in the reserves. nally, one day, after the usual "warm up," Rose sim when I landed there that if I could shoot a horse and Although still in the Army Reserve, he did consid ply took off. eat it, then I wouldn't starve to death. There were erable civilian flying. He recalled: Rose said, "As I took off from the pier at Bremer plenty of horses and antelope roaming around. Any " I was stunt flying, and a kid by the name of Johnny haven, I missed those tie-down things (for a ship's an way, the cowboy got a horse and said, 'This horse may Townsend and I bought a ship after we got out of ser chor) by about three feet, and the wing tips were only be a little frisky. He hasn't been ridden for a year since vice in 1919, and we tried to figure out some stunts and about three feet from the light poles." we been out here last: They evidently went out once a how we could make some money. We did pretty well. Rose continued: "I had been waiting for the wind year to round the horses up. I was first one to ever make a change from a motor to change, and I had revved it up for about fou r or five "I get on the horse and I just hit the saddle and I cycle to an airplane and from an automobile to an air days while the wind was still at a little angle. While went up about 3 feet, then landed flat on my fanny on plane, and I did stunts like that in front of newsreel I waited for a square wind, these guys with their guns the ground, with the horse's hoof going by me. So I cameramen. This helped us out with publicity and we on their shoulders and their green uniforms just stood got on again and rode on. got several calls from air show promoters about it." back watching me. "In two days we got into Jordon Valley, and after This led to his airmail service with Varney and Pa "There was just a little drizzle-rain as I moved the two hours of trying, I phoned Walter Varney in Boise cific Air Transport but in 1929 he stopped such flying plane down the dock, and it sank low after takeoff, but to tell him I was safe. to take on a Stearman aircraft sales agency at Oak I was still about three feet above the water. So I held it "The next morning a truck driver agreed to take land because Varney Air Lines with replacing its Swal down low over the river, got up steam, came back and me into Boise, and we finally got there after I helped lows with Stearmans, and writer Varney bought the made some turns around a smokestack. I zoomed by him dig the truck out of the mud about five different newer planes from Rose. Varney sold Varney Air Lines about five feet from them because I was so happy to times. We'd get stuck and we'd put chains and sacks soon after. "Then Walter Varney bought out my little get off from the dock. With all those German police, it under the wheels to get going again. But we finally got company as he wanted to run another new airline - as was the only way I could get it out of there." into Boise. " Varney Speed Lines - in California, but he kept me on But Rose admitted that he probably couldn't have The Evening Capital News of Boise carried this ac as president. Later on, he went to Lockheed and bought taken off from the dock if it weren't for the great flying count of Rose 's misadventures on April 7, 1926: these Lockheed Orions, although we had started out capabilities of the Orion. 11 .,~ (Photo Courtesy of Franklin Rose) RQse eluded th e. Naz i ~ at · Bremerh aven, he flew '51' n* the': 'Of;On ' io Rumania, where it was sold. This rare pic ture sho ws th e Orion after takeoff on a flight in Rum a nia in w hich Rose demonstrated its ca pabilities.
" Oh, that Lockheed, I loved that thing," he said . "I tive service as a captain. Patton's army all the way down through the end of the could do all kinds of things with it as it had no bad hab war." Rose continued: " I knew Donald Douglas, Bob its at all. That Orion was the sweetest flying airplane, Before he retired to Springfield, Va. , the younger Gross and Jack Northrop, all that bunch weil. So when and I could do many tricks with it." Rose flew the Lockheed F-80 in the first jet fighter I was called back in the service in '40 , I was in charge Although he got out of Germany all right, his trou squadron in the Air Force. He and his wife, Mary, also of all the technical training on the Pacific Coast, in all bles were not over because of German influence in had the distinction of having thei r picture in Life Mag those factory schools. And I could get things done be Rumania. azine in Dec. 9, 1946, issue. cause I knew these people. When I'd request things, "I'll never forget the day I got down to Rumania. Today the elder Rose is content to play golf on the they'd do them. So I had a pretty good record going; They decided to buy the ship, so I had no airplane. The course adjoining his home and not think back. Al that's why I was made General in February, 1948, and police met me at the airport when I landed and they though he has a number of scrapbooks and a large I was a General until July 30 , 1956, when I retired after were going to put me in jail . But a Standard Oil man I trunk of aviation momentoes, he rarely looks at them. 34 years in the service." got acquainted with fixed it all up and they let me go." They contain historical matters only touched on briefly Rose not only sold the Orion in Rumania, but he Rose also spoke with great pride about the military in this article and someday may find themselves in a gave King Carol rides in it and took pictures of the career of his son and his son's flying ability. museum or library on aviation. Rumanian King inside the plane. Rose still has those " He went into service in 1940," Rose said, "and The aviation career of Franklin E. Rose , Sr. , could photos in one of several scrapbooks. during his advanced training he won a plaque for the form the basis of a great motion picture, but they don't In 1935, Rose went back in business for himself and acrobatic flying. He went to Mississippi and he was make 'em like " Ceiling Zero" or " Dawn Patrol" any took on an agency for Stinson aircraft which he oper checked out in the Mustangs and then went to England more. ated until World War II, when he went back into ac and flew in support of the invasion . He al so followed 12 GRAND CHAMPION American Eagle 101 Claude Gray Northridge, CA
ANTIQUES Judges Choice American Eagle 101 Claude Gray Northridge, CA Oldest Antique American Eagle 101 Claude Gray Northridge, CA Best Multi-Wing Travel Air Speedwing Frank Rezich Irvine, CA Best High Wing Cessna Airmaster C34 Clyde Bourgesois Santa Ynez, CA Best Low Wing (jack Cox Photo) Harlow PJC-2 By Claude Gray Swifts, the judge's choice Bellanca and runner-up This prett y 1941 Porterfield Mel & Dod Heflinger 9635 Sylvia Ave. Mooney Mite and the classic Stinsons. CP-65 belongs to Fred Holla Redondo Beach, CA Northridge, California 91324 A Ford Trimotor, a Stearman, a P-51 and a helicop way who flew it from Ontar ter stayed busy hauling passengers and gave the pub io, California. After days of early morning fog and marginal lic a chance to fly in some rare aircraft. Top quality CLASSICS weather in the Los Angeles basin, Friday's weather aerobatic shows were put on by Bob Herendeen in his Judges Choice was a great improvement and the fly-in got off to a Pitts, Gerry Massey in the "Little Toot" and Frank Bellanca Roland Joslyn good ~tart. Both Saturday and Sunday were beautiful Sanders in his Sea Fury. Another favorite act was the clear days . President Paul claimed credit for this by mock dog fight between the replica WW I Nieuport and Malibu, CA announcing he had used his influence with the " man Fokker Triplane flown by Erich Schilling and Jim Ap 1st Runner Up in charge" and had traded us two days of good Wis pleby. Mooney Mite consin weather. His efforts were greatly appreciated Being the home base for many of the Warbird air AWARDS Anthony & by everyone. With this good change in the weather the craft plus their out of town members, the display and Chino '78 Larry Terrigno registration of display aircraft reached the 300 mark. fly-by's of the two Sea Fury's, P-51 's, a Corsair, a Hell Buena Park, CA The Antique and Classic aircraft were well repre cat, a rare 0-47, B-17, B-25, a Spitfire and others gave se nted from the 1927 OX-5 American Eagle, which was a show much like Oshkosh. fly-in Grand Champion, judge's choice Antique and All of this along with an awards dinner Saturday oldest aircraft, through a Waco 10, Porterfields, Rear night with an outstanding Bar-B-Que beef meal made wins, Fairchild 22's and 24's, Travelairs , the Harlow for a very successfu l, gr.eatly enjoyed fly-in that is rap Cessna Airmaster, Staggerwings, Stinsons and Stear idly becoming one of the best. We are all looking for mans and into some beautiful Cessna 140'5, 195's, ward to n ext year. 13 Vintage CHINO '78 PHOTOS BY
In 1937 the Rearwin company turned out this Sportster 9000L which is now owned by Ken jorgensen of San Dimas.
'&";.rJ. -.
Above: Best High Wing Antique Award went to Clyde Bourgeois of Santa Ynez for his 1934 Cessna Airmaster C34 which is powered by a Warner 165.
Below: This Stinson 108-2 was built in 1947 and packs 230 horsepower under the cowling. It's owned by Ken Wicken of North Hollywood.
.. ~ Right: Carl Cox brought this sharp 795 7 Album Rya n Navion in from Fullerton.
~ FLY-IN Below : O wned by AI Kiefer of So uth Pasa CKCOX dena, this Wa co 70 GXE is pow ered by a 77 5 hp Tank OX-5. • A category for Replica Aircraft has also been added. These aircraft must be full scale replicas of the ori ginal, and they are judged on the basis of how well they follow the original manufacturer'S plans, plus quality of workmanship. Another category of aircraft, though very small In u ace in numbers, has appeared. It is the Antique Home built. Some of the early homebuilts of the late 20's and early 30's are being found and restored. These add much to preserve the early history of flying, and ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC AIRCRAFT they are most welcome. They are judged and awartled on the same basis as a company manufactured product. For the restorer's information, it is important to point out again that the aircraft is not penalized for any items currently required by FAA regulations that it did not originally have such as strobe lights, bea cons and ELI's. Radios and their related indicating instruments are also not penalized. From this point on though, any changes from original and authentic will probably cost points. It must be remembered that ""-. many changes and ideas used in later years are not necessarily done for safety reasons, but more probably for cost reduction and ease of production. There are many fine 30 to 40 year-old airplanes flying today that are more highly stressed and have less restric By Claude Gray tions than do those new products being built today. Chief, Antique Judge At Oshkosh we are fortunate in having enough 9635 Sylvia Avenue willing, knowledgeable, and well qualified help so Northridge, California 91324 that each aircraft is judged by at least 10 judges. The individual scores are averaged and no one score can affect the final score too greatly. At the local chapter During the past year considerable time has been It has been the small non-authentiC items that fly-ins, averages of a lesser number will still give a fair spent by the Division officers on an update and review have kept well done aircraft in 2nd place instead of and equitable score. of the judging of aircraft at Oshkosh and the Compe 1st. Many of these negative points have come from With an open mind the restorer can follow the tition Judging Manual. This Manual will be available non-authentic hardware, instruments, chrome, seat grade sheet and judge his own aircraft. He will come to members in the near future. It is a guide for judges, belts, etc. There has been more competition between up with a score very close to that of the judges. This restorers, builders, exhibitors, and competitors. It aircraft in the Reserve Grand Champion scores. On has been done and has been proven in the past. covers maintenance, restoration and construction one occasion, two Reserve Grand Champion awards It might be noted that on the grade sheet there is standards. were given because of tie scores. This emphasizes the no space for a grade for what a fine fellow the restorer These standardized rules and point grading sys point again that the small details of authenticity, might be, or for how much work he has done at some tem have been used for the past three years at Osh plus good workmanship, make the difference. fly-in or chapter event. The judges are only judging kosh. It has been interesting to note how close the the aircraft for authenticity and workmanship. Well final scores have run each year for the various cate done restorations have been, and will continue to be, gories of winners. The Grand Champions have all Each year there have been some very well done the winners at Oshkosh. When an owner takes home scored within 2 to 3 points of each other for the past aircraft which, due to the restorer's personal desires, a trophy from Oshkosh he knows that his aircraft has three years. The Reserve Grand Champions also have have been modernized and customized too much to earned it, and he can be proud of his aircraft and his been near each other in score, but 7 to 8 points below score well from an authentic point of view. With this workmanship. the Grand Champions. This has shown that the re in mind, a new category for judging has been added: We are preserving history in our restorations, and storers who give the small details of authenticity Customized Aircraft. These are judged on the basis an authentically done aircraft can still be a safe and considerably more attention are the ones who are of workmanship and beauty with awards for Cham dependable machine with good workmanship and winning Grand Champion . pion, Runner-up and Outstanding in Class. proper maintenance. 16 ~~--____~~~~'__~~~~,~.~. ~--~-r,-. ~------~..~~~,--~~----~~~~--~------~------:~~------
in near-miniature. That proved to be perfect training THE CROUCH-BOLAS DRAGONFLY for a future task: Bolas was to spend several weeks out on a submarine figuring out how to equip it with a re EARLY..s,.T.O.L. connaissance plane. To accomplish the miss ion, the gun turret on the deck was emptied and converted to an airtight hangar. Bolas then designed a two-place folding biplane, with floats of course, that could be cat apulted from the deck. The plane had a wireless and effectively extended the vision of the sub by several hundred miles. It was a bad way to build flying time, however, because if the plane reported any kind of enemy activity, the sub immediately went below, tak ing the hangar with it. Good man-Crouch had visited the Un ited States early in the thirties and found that despite the depres sion, the aviation industry seemed to be doing quite well in America. Certainly there were more potential backers with good money than in Britain . On the way home, he turned over some ideas in his head for a new, "safe" airplane, which was a sort of industrial preoc cupation in that era. He docked in Southampton and called Bolas at 2:00 AM to inform him that they were both heading out immediately for the States. Within a week they were off. They cocktail-partied their way from New York to Pawtucket, raising enough money in the process to begin work on some new engine concepts. The engines were to serve a specific "experimental" purpose. They were to be mounted on a new airplane that was being The Crouch-Bolas Dragonfly stands ready for a flight designed to fly in its own slipstream. Like the engines, at Providence airport in Rhode Is/and. The yea r was the aircraft structure was designed solely to test a 1935. theory and explore a potential. Practical production By David Gustafson, Editor models could be developed later. To direct the slipstream over both wings, they needed (Photos provided by Walter Scheibe The conceiver/designers were British, and like a high thrust line so the cylinders were mounted in a and Mrs. Kurt langborg) most engineers of the period they travelled with im vertical, inverted line. The first Dragon IVD had verti pressive handles : Captain Goodman-Crouch, O.B.E., cal fins and a baffle shroud that was vented forward During the early 1930's in a factory originally built M.I.Ae.A., F.R.Ae.S., M . I.Ae.E. , F.R .S.A. and Mr. with a four bladed fan just inside. The fan was driven to stamp out Ford fenders in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Harold Bolas M .B.E., A.M.I.C.E. Crouch's experience by an enclosed shaft that connected to the engine by two men led the efforts of fifty others to develop one included extensive time as a Royal Air Service pilot, leveled gears. of the first successful STOl aircraft. The airplane, called a stint as ~ec hnical manager in charge of all metal air Incorporating a lot of standard automobile parts, a Crouch-Bolas Dragonfly, performed beautifully on craft production in England and then three years as a the engine could run on a direct drive or geared basis. the field, where it set several records on its first flight, designer of dirigibles, aeroplanes, and air screws at It weighed 125 pounds and developed 76 horsepower and failed miserably in the market place. the R.A.F. at 2100 rpm, which, in those days, was a very respect It was the wrong time. Bolas, meanwhile, distinguished himself as a re able weight to horsepower ratio. The type IVG was a 2 Some of the ideas developed in that aircraft were sourceful designer who'd already impressed his inter to 1 geared companion that generated 90 horsepower practiced enough to be carried up through design fea national colleagues with designs like the Pixie, winner at 3000 rpm and weighed 245 pounds. Cooling was tures found on modern planes like the Helio. So natu of a speed prize for light planes at lympne in 1923. At handled the same way. rally, there are some fascinating parts of the Crouch the time, it was the world's smallest airplane with eight The engines were mounted on the Dragonfly air Bolas twin that merit a brief " dusting off" here. foot racing wings. Pixie II had more power and number plane with 10 degrees down thrust. Therefore, the slip There have been a number of Dragonflys - all III was a monoplane that couId be converted to a bi stream, created by two nine-foot props, developed bearing a resemblance to their namesake, but this ver plane - with folding wings. The Imp and the Elf fol automatic lift over the wings. Goodman-Crouch re sion of the insect had some unique features. lowed and as their names suggest, they were studies 17 portedly said that "even before the Dragonfly starts to move, more than 65 percent of its weight has been lifted by this 60-mile an hour slipstream breeze, which on ordinary aircraft is totally wasted." Crouch and Bolas were contributing to the rush in the 1930's to develop an airplane which could be landed at incredibly slow speeds in short fields, as simply as one drives a car. With 65 percent lift at zero forward speed, they were well on the way. To maximize their lift at slow forward speeds they invented leading edge slots and drooping flaps which would increase chord and lift in ground effect. The actuating devices were all hydraulic, and the fittings involved were the stuff nightmares are made of - typically British, in other words. In fact, the look of the Dragonfly has a dis tinctly British accent for the period. Crouch-Bolas "Dragon" Type WG. Early testing revealed some amazing performance results, both positive and negative. With 1600 pounds, An early Dragon engine for the plane. It had dual elec The next step: a fan driven by linkage to the prop including pilot and fuel, the Dragonfly slipped into tric and inverted cylinders. Note the vertica l cooling shaft aided an intake cooling fan , but the problem of an attitude on departure and final that was truly fore fins. heat persisted. shadowing the helicopter. However, the Dragon en gines were unreliable. They plagued the test program with constant failure. So the Dragons were replaced with more dependable, if heavier, Menascos. At the same time, the tail group was enlarged and additions like wheel pants were worked in to improve cruise speed. The added weight cut into performance curves but the strange looking plane with its odd take-offs and landings still amazed people. On December 4, 1935, the Dragonfly was flown in its first public demonstration. A few days later, the Providence Journal reported:
" Those who went to the State Airport at Hillsgrove last Wednesday had been promised something revolu tional in aviation, and they were not disappointed. At The upper surface of the top wing, showing fuel tank and atta ch points for leading edge sla ts. least, they saw four world's records claimed for a plane, produced in a Rhode Island 'hatchery' and de End view of the tail group. That's a lot of space for signed to take off and land at a slow, safe speed and to Leading edge of the lower wing and landing gear. work on one aircraft. be free from the hazards of unexpected stalls, spins and other bad manners. "There she goes," the crowd roared when the Crouch-Bolas ' Dragonfly' took the air for its first public demonstration . It was a friendly but a critical audience, for many an expert was present having come to Provi dence for a convention. "And the show was effective, especially so since the ' Dragonfly' was teamed with a standard type of sport plane so that the performances might be contrasted. Together they took off. Together they flew at their min imum speeds, the 'Dragonfly' gradually falling behind. 18 ,w,'" "m .Il · :-.. J()l{ .10L' H:-.. .\ I. VI BOOl\:;-FICTIO", i!I'~t_ iJro\JiJt!!_~unaay !JoUt'll(d VI ... - --- 1'1:11\1111. :\. ' ,-:1 ~l'X II . \ Y , 1,1.' 1. \ ll: 1.1l ." , j ',;C VI ,I 'l' l In: ,,1',1,1'1< 1'\ A DRAGONFLY IN' 'RHODE ISLAND SKIES
"Duke" Skolling, pilot
"';-- ""1e!7 Exciting Careers o~ English Fliers Reach New Climax
PawtucKct Plallc Sets World lk co l'd ~, Say Spollsors, Aftcr PlIhlic lkillonstratioll at State Ail'porl Last WCdllcsdH ,Y , A .~u J'·II(JJin(' ,-""ied tll i~ plunc u/J:\ ,] ., ,,. . J3 1)!a.~ dc HOSE: \\ho went to the \ C'orl\'('nllrmall y .mintlCd , But C C)OO s ;R lI {~ d J ill Rrrillill, lIs t.{ itlg~ , of C·"QJ1SC . had to be Stolte A irport at H ills- man.Crouch Jnsi!-ts hi:\ "dr.le.))) f!y " IS unfolded he/of t" Iht" \ (J/u pu it lUIHII..hcJ it irove la ~ t \~ ed n~ ay n o'~S~ne.:h:lI ~ :r:~~t~:;e:~lr:;~·n('. but "Dragonfly" and sa mt 01 __ .______T t.,.d been pr o m l~cd !.ome- we'\'e Ipplied prmclpl('s th at nobody tIs prcdet.(,S30 rS I I . thi n&: re\'oIWlonal In eoJ5t! has used." he c xpl all\~, " ll1 :st cil d ! N! who \o,'I!I !Jro .lir pl:lll('~ ' hal'" o'lld 1,) 'j;f" kr,' \\:1 '31-1;(' r:.f 1.:'1(' dt' cp.s.~ ... • viati on, a nd they werc no t d i~ ap' l to f If'tting the I!i lip5tream Ihlt bl o~~ s hand I'" 3i J; _'-.'I (('ly 'l ~!il ~Impl.\ Rea dy for the first tes t hop. The D ragonfly w as posed with its Dragon eng in es prior to hauling off to th e airport. The tail group is ready for cover. Ve rtica l fins w ere later replaced with larger models as can be seen in the newspaper photo. Airborne! Due to chron ic problems with the Dragon ___lIIiiiill!!l!t:;iAlIII!!:ZP"-: engines the ai rcraft onl y flew with Menascos. They ---Were rated at 725 hp, but only developeJ 90 because of the nine-foot props. The paper predictions for the Dragonfly were pretty fantastic, but performance was really far behind. 21 EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION SUNDAY, JULY 30, 1978 CONVENTION ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Piper Cub: Building CL YDE SMITH, JR. & Restoration Piper Corp. Technical Instructor TUESDAY, AUGUST 1,1978 10:30 A.M. - 11 :45 A.M . Rearwin-Commonweath GEORGE WILLIAMS, 6:45 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Picnic Dinner, Ollie's Park (Tickets must be purchased Skyranger Chairman, Rearwin Club in advance at Antique/Classic Division Headquarters 12:00 N - 1 :15 P.M. Cessna 170 GEORGE MOCK, Past P barn). International Cessna 170 Association WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2,1978 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M . Cessna 120/140 DOUGLAS WILLIAMS, 4:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. "History of Flight" Air Show Pres., West Coast 120/140 Club FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1978 JIM BARKER CAROL SINtPSON 8:00 P.M . - 8:45 P.M. Antique/Classic Awards, Main Pavilion 3 :00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Navion, Buying, Speed ROBERT G. ROGIEN, Dir. 10:00 P.M. - 11 :30 P.M. Social Hour, Ollie's Park (Tickets must be purchased Modification & American Navion Society in advance at Antique/Classic Division Headquarters Maintenance barn). MONDAY, JULY 31,1978 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Taylor & Piper Cubs JOHN McGEOGHEGAN, Chairman, Cub Club 10:30 A.M. - 11:45 The Wonderful World DON KYTE, Pres. EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION of Amphibians Canadian-American Amphibian Assoc. CONVENTION SCHEDULE "SPENCE" SPENCER ANTIQUE/CLASSIC FORUMS TENT #3 12:00 N - 1: 15 P. M. European Antique HAROLD BEST-DEVEREUX OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN Airplanes EAA European Representative SATURDAY, JULY 29,1978 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. Howard Airplanes RICHARD K. MARTIN, Chairman 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Antique Chapters: BOB WHITE, Pres. National Howard Club Their Importance & Florida Sport Aviation Activities Antique & Classic 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Australian Vintage CAPT. ALAN SEARLE Airplane Association Aircraft: Talk & Movies Associated With Australian Air Force Museum 10:30 A.M. - 11 :45 A.M. Fail-Safe J. R. NIELANDER, Pres. Instrumentation EAA Antique & Classic Division TUESDAY, AUGUST 1,1978 Capt. Pan Am Airlines 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Interstate Airplanes TIMOTHY TALEN, 12:00 N - 1 :15 P.M. Luscombe JOHN BERGESON Maintenance & Western Coordinator, Luscombe Association Restoration Interstate Club 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. DH Moth JOHN BRIGHT, Chairman 10:30 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. Aeronca: Keeping C. L. " BUZZ" WAGNER DH Moth Club Champs & Chiefs Flying Nationally Known 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M . Aeronca " K" & Older EDWARD SCHUBERT, Aeronca Authority Models & Engines Chairman 12:00 N - 1 :15 P.M. Stampe SV4 Aircraft ALLEN SCHNEIDER Aeronca Club Stampe Expert 22 1 :30 P.M . - 2:45 P.M. Magneto Overhaul & BILL HASEL TON 12 :00 N - 1 :15 P.M . Ercoupes: Yesterday, SKIP CARDEN, Exec. Repair For The Beginner Antique Engine Authority Today, Tomorrow Dir., Ercoupe Owners 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Cessna 170 RICHARD TOMASELLO, Club Wis. State Repre 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. Biography of WACO RA Y BRANDL Y, Pres. sentative International National WACO Club 170 Ass'n. 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Restoring The CHARLES LASHER, Pres. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2,1978 Post-War Aeroncas Aeronca Owners Club 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Vagabond 15/17 CECIL OGLES, Editor " Vagabond News" SATURDAY, AUGUST 5,1978 10:30 A.M . - 11 :45 A.M . Vintage Cessnas GAR WILLIAMS & 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M . Antique/Classic Aircraft CLAUDE GRAY, ELDON CESSNA Judging: The New Chief Antique Judge 12:00 N - 1:1 5 P.M . Aeronca Chief GEORGE YORK, Standard Procedure BRAD THOMAS, Classic Aircraft Judge Chief Classic Judge 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. Staggerwing JIM GORMAN, Pres. 10:30 A.M . - 11 :45 A.M. Antique/Classic J. R. NlELANDER, Pres. Staggerwing Club, & Division Business Presiding GEORGE YORK Meeting 12 :00 N - 1 :15 P.M. Newsletter Editing : CECIL OGLES 3:00 P.M . - 4:15 P.M. Luscombe ART MORGAN, Sec./Treas. A Discussion On Why, Presiding American Luscombe Club How, and Its Rewards THURSDAY, AUGUST 3,1978 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. The Staggerwing ALLEN D. HENNINGER, 9:00 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Taylorcrafts FORREST BARBER, Museum : What A Museum Director Taylorcraft Test Pilot, Type-Club Created Representing TaYlorcraft 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Culver Cadet JAMES REZICH Owners Club Culver Authority 10 :30 A.M. - 11 :45 A.M. Servicing The DALE RUHMEL, Cessna 120/140 Cessna Authority 12:00 N - 1 :15 P.M. Bourke Engine JOHN HENDRICKS, Bourke Experimenter 1 :30 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. Cessna 195 DAN KINDEL, Pres. Eastern Cessna 195 Association CLIFF CRABS BILL TERRELL 3:00 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. 1908-1938 Aircraft DAVE FOX, Control Development Nationally Known Pilot of Antique Airplanes FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1~78 9:00 A.M. - 10 :15 A.M. Ryans: In General DORR CARPENTER, Nationally Known Ryan Authority (Photo by David Gustafson) Paul Poberezny tries out the cockpit of the replica 10:30 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. Swift CHARLES NELSON, Wright Flyer commissioned by the fAA Foundation to Pres. International honor the first 75 years of powered flight. Swift Association 23 Th e EAA M useum 's new Tiger M oth, a generous gift of Mrs. Christian Dohn. . (Gene Chase Photo! By David Gustafson , Editor assembled and hangered. Unfortunately, he only got port, just north of New Orleans, and spent a Saturday to fly his handsome Tiger for 5 hours before his un pulling the wings off the Moth. They got enthusiastic Last winter the EAA Museum received a newly re timely death. help from President Dick Warner, Don Lea, Bill Sisco, stored DH 82 A. The airplane is in beautiful condition Mrs. Dohn, being interested in preserving the Moth, Jim Corkeran, Don Austin, Hugh Duncan, Don Brown, and likely will make a grand entrance at Oshkosh 78. decided at the suggestion of Reg Braddock (EAA and Gary Kramer. Donor of the tiger moth was Mrs. Christian Dohn, #2989) to pay the expenses of Reg and Stan Thigpen In the effort to provide secure non-abrasive crating, who's husband was killed in November, 1974 while (EAA #64155) to dismantle the plane, crate it, and move the men of405 cleaned out one store of its entire inven flying his Pitts S2. Mr; Dohm had purchased the Moth it to EAA's facility in Burlington where they'd put the tory of foam mattresses. Satis fied f inally, that the from a flying club in ' England in 1972. At the time, it pieces back together (Reg is an A&P and an AI, which plane could be moved without damage, Reg and Stan wasn't air worthy. In fact, just bringing it up to ferry certainly helps). hooked the twenty-foot gooseneck trailer to thei r status would have been an accomplishment. So the Sounds like a perfect set-up for another page in the three-quarter ton pickup and moved out. On the map plane was transported by truck to a restoration facil annals of old fash ioned EAA teamwork and the spirit it looked so simple. But maps don't recognize the ity near Heathrow Airport outside of London. The plane of " Can-do." That spirit was about to get a test of fire, whims of Mother Nature. was totally stripped down and refurbished in original however, and a real chilly one at that. They hit Macomb, Mississippi and they passed into RAF markings. Typically, Reg and Stan turned the breakdown pro another atmosphere. For 200 miles they humbly crawled It was shipped to the port of New Orleans, where cess into a Chapter 405 project. Their group, which through a steady downpour of 'ain. " In Arkansas, that it arrived in December of 1973. Mr. Dohn had the plane meets at varying locals, assembled at Hammond Air rain turned solid," said Stan. They pulled into a motel 24 The Moth was completely restored in En gland prior to being shipped to the States in 7973. (eneC Ch ase Ph oto ) an ( • ~--....- ) at Osceola, while the rain and sleet mixed it up with Night was falling, and it became apparent that cold temperatures and laid a blanket of ice on every Cairo was the end of a rough day. Unfortunately, there thing. The next morning Reg had to call a tow truck to was no room at the Inn for our intrepid EAA'ers. Other get his own truck "unstuck" and out on the road. folks had given up the battle earlier in the day,-5o Stan Things got worse. finally had to ask the local constabulary for a warm The ground turned white and then "disappeared." cell. The request was granted, but the Police eventu They were driving into the tail end of winter's worst ally decided the local fire hall had more to offer in the in the Central Mid-West. Movement ahead was steady, way of comfort. The police did provide a sort of taxi if slower than the current of a back bayou. Eventually service though, by bringing them to a restaurant for they wound up behind a semi-truck which crawled onto dinner and taking them over to the fire hall when they a bridge spanning the pure white Mississippi River at were finished. Before Reg and Stan got out of Cairo Cairo, Illinois. The semi stopped for a minute, a quar they met the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, the Mayor, ter mile short of bridge's crest. Reg stopped too. The and a lot of other friendly people. semi moved again . Reg didn't. He couldn't. Snow tires On the next day they' made Burlington. It was late and chains aren't standard equipment in Louisiana, at night, however, and they were unable to rouse the so Reg and Stan just sat there, spinning rubber. Traffic Motel owner, so they left the trailer at the Hangar and backed up for miles, until a kid in a four-wheel drive drove down to Lake Geneva. The day after they put the vehicle pulled out ')f the line, up to Reg's truck and plane together inside EAA's Flight Research Center, dragged him over the hump. where it would remain until the weather warmed up. They drove into Cairo, which was smothered under Then, after a tour of EAA's Museum and shops the two 18 inches of snow. At that time, there were about as movers started their return trip, which was dull by many plows in Cairo as watermelons. It didn't take comparison. long to get stuck. The police came by and radioed for a tow truck saying "we need to pull an airplane out of Our thanks to Reg and Stan and the people in Chap the corner of 22nd and Spruce." Well, the people with ter 405 for a job well done. And special thanks to Mrs. (Photo by David Gustafson) police monitors were all listening in after a storm like Dohn for her part in making your EAA Aviation Museum Reg Braddock (left) and Stan Thigpen took a look at that, and before long there was a large crowd at the one of the finest in the world. the two-place Acrosport after hauling the Moth through corner of 22nd and Spruce. Quite a few brought their winter's worst between Louisiana and Wisconsin. cameras. 25 AUGUST 6 - ILWACO, WASHINGTON - Washington Fl ying Calendar of Events Farmers sa lmon fishing fly-in. Contact Vanard Bedker, Mabton, W as hington. AUGUST 6-12 - LAKELAND, FLORIDA - International Cessna 170 JULY 9 - EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA - 2nd Annual Aeronca Fly Association convention fly-in. Contact Carl Spink, Jr ., Rt. 1, Box In, Easton Airport. 10 AM to 2:30 PM, open to all types of 373-B8 Crystal River, Florida 32629. Aeroncas. Rain date, July 16. Contact Jim Polles, 215/759-3713 AUGUST 7-12 - FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN - 13th Annual EAA! nights and weekends. lAC International Aerobatic Championships. For further informa JULY 14-16 - MINDEN, NEBRASKA - Second Annual National Stin tion contact Sam Maxwell, 2116 Erie, North Kansas City, MO son Club Fly-In. Pioneer Field near Harold Warp's Pioneer Vil 64116. lage. BBQ Friday night for early arrivals. Saturday night banquet AUGUST 11-12 - MEDFORD, OREGON - Annual Shakespeare and awards. Scheduled events. Fly-In Chairman Bob Near, 2702 fly-in sponsored by Medford Chapter, Oregon Pilots Associa Butterfoot Lane, Hastings, Nebraska 68901. 402/463-9309. tion, Contact Baumers, Box 1682, Medford, Oregon 97501. JULY 14-16 - HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA - " The Friendly Fly-In " at AUGUST 11-13 - ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Abbotsford International Hollister Airport, Sponsored by EAA Chapter 62 . Contact May Air Show. Contact Abbotsford International Air Show Society, nard Ingalls, 1125 Pembridge, San Jose, California 95118. 4081 Box 361, Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 4N9 Canada. 266-2225. AUGUST 20 - WEEDSPORT, NEW YORK - Antique, ClaSSiC, Home JULY 14-16 - GARDNER, KANSAS - (Greater Kansas City) EAA Chap built Fly-In sponsored by EAA Chapter 486, Whitefords Airport. ter 200 Fly-In. Potluck Friday night. Contact Chuck Morlan, 9000 Air show. Field closed 1 :00 to 5:00 with intermission for early Gillette, Lenexa , Kansas 66215. 913/888-5668. departures. Pancake breakfast. Contact Herb Livingston, 1257 JULY 15-16 - LOCKPORT, ILLINOIS - Chapter 15 and 86 of the Gallagher Rd. , Baldwinsville, N .Y. 13027. Chicago area EAA are now formulating plans for their 18th AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 4 - BLAKESBURG, IOWA - Antique Air Annual Fly-In and Air Show to be held at Lewis University. In plane Association Convention, Antique Airfield, Blakesburg, formation: Janice P. Fish, P.O . 411, Lemont, Illinois 60439. Iowa (Members and guests only). JULY 15-16 - LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK - Antique Airplane Club SEPTEMBER 6-10 - GALESBURG , ILLINOIS - 7th National Stear of Greater New York 16th Annual Fly-In, Brookhaven Airport, man Fly-In , Galesburg Municipal Airport. Contact Jim Leahy, Brookhaven, Long Island, New York. P.O. Box 1505, Galesburg, Illinois 61401 . (309) 343-2119; or Tom JULY 15-16 - EUREKA, MONTANA - Fly-In at Eureka Airport and Lowe, 823 Kingston Lane, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014 (815) 459 Crystal Lakes Country Club. Golf, tennis, swimming, contest, 6873 . awards. Accommodations available. Contact 406/889-3733. Dear Dave: JULY 15-16 - LEWISTOWN, MONTANA - First fly-in and air show CLASSIFIED ADS at Beacon Star Antique Airfield just outside Lewistown. Fly-in REPLICA 1912 CURTISS PUSHER - Excellent craftsmanship, In regards to your WAZZIT on the back cover of the and campout. Sponsored by Frank and Billie Bass, Lewiston, fabric, C-65, 90 SMOH. A real crowd pleaser - $4800 or April 78 issue. It izzit a Gallaudet CO-1 (Corps Obser Montana. best offer. 805/498-5101. vation) all metal powered by a 400 Liberty, number JULY 16 - DUNKIRK, NEW YORK - Annual Fly-In Breakfast AS68587. sponsored by EAA Chapter 46 and Dunkirk Rotary. Free break TAYLORCRAFT BD-12D - Razorback, butyrate. New Slick In the early 20's the air service used the DH 4's for fast to homebuilders, antique and warbird pilots. Trophies in ignition. Genave 100 Comm portable installed. Spare prop all EAA classes. Spot landing contest on arrival. Contact Charles many roles (they still had 1000 DH 4's in active use in and compass. Sound 65 hp Cont. Fresh annual. $5000 firm. Gallagher, 19 Shelby Drive, Buffalo, New York 14225. 1925). The observation design was virtually stagnant Crawford,7500 Balboa, Van Nuys, CA 91406. JULY 16-22 - EL PASO, TEXAS - American Navion Society Convention then as the Air Corps stipulation was that any new de and fly-in at the Airport Hilton Inn. Awards, seminars. Contact Mrs. Betty Ladehoff, American Navion Society, Box 1175, Municipal 1934 REARWIN SPORTSTER - Ken Royce 90 hp, 90 % restored. sign had to be Liberty powered (they had many, many Airport, Banning, Calif. 92220. 714/849-2213. Good history. Complete. $4800.00. Larry J. Kruljac, 545 3 war surplus Liberty engines). Some other manufac JULY 19-22. - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - National reunion of the 91st Rochester Street, Riverside, CA 92504 . 714/686-4305. turers tried to build an observation type, namely the Bomb Group. Contact Bob Gerstemeier, 930 Woodlawn Drive, Engineering division of the Air Service, Fokker, Boeing Lansdale, PA 19446. SOPWITH PUP REPLICA - 125 Warner, licensed June 78. & Loening. They even tried up-dating the DH 4 with a JULY 20-23 - WICHITA, KANSAS - Fourth annual Beech Aero Club $13,500.00. Joe Zacko, 13201 Hathaway Drive, Silver Spring, roundup at Beech Headquarters. Contact Norm Dunn, 316/681 Maryland 20906. 301/933-1292. steel tube fuselage. 7602. It wasn't until 1924 the Air Service had an open JULY 21-23 - COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS - Funk Fly-In . Funk owners, competition for an observation type. This bred the Cur pilots and friends invited. Fly-bys, factory and museum tours, AGREAT Gin banquet. Contact G. Dale Beach , 1621 Dreher Street. Sacramento, for a friend or yourself tiss Falcon X01, Douglas X02, Dayton Wright, Cox California 95814 or Joe c. Funk, 2409 Edgevale Drive, Coffey 6 PRINTS FOR $2.95 PPD . Klemin and Thomas Morse (five manufacturers all to ville, Kansas 67337. Fi rst Takeoff gether). JULY 22-23 - CLOVERDALE, CALIFORNIA - Fly-In and air First Landi ng Enough rambling, sure do enjoy the classic aviation show sponsored by EAA Chapter 124. Pilots contests, First Passenger fly-bys , aircraft judging, nearby camping. Contact Rich First Snaproll, First TCA as well as antique portion of Vintage Airplane. DashieI707/544-1146. First Skydiver Sincerely, JULY 29-30 - TIETON, WASHINGTON - Annual fly-in and First Landing 11" x 14" camp out for members and families of Western Travelairs. JULY 29 - AUGUST 5 - OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN - 26th Annual Roy Oberg Fly-In. Plan now - it's the greatest show on earth. 8040 Shady Brook, S.E. JULY 30 - LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA - 9th Annual Livermore Fly-In HENRY'S FIRSTS Ada, Michigan.. 49301 Air Show. Homebuilts, antiques, warbirds, prizes, gifts. Contact 11440 W. Woods Rd. Franklin , WI 53132 EAA #5000 Air Show 78, P.O. Box 494, Livermore, California 94550. Are you restoring a Classic? ,Q~ CUSHION UPHOLSTERY SETS UPHOLSTERED FOAM CUSHION SETS ~(J,H't WALL PANEL SETS • HEADLINERS· CARPETS q.Lt, ~~ Airtex interior upholstery items are all made up into complete assemblies, ready for you to install. Your choice of three fabric styles and twenty colors. Luxurious I/~, cut pile carpets in seven colors, wrinkle free Duraliner headliners, baggage compart ments, seat slings and fire wall covers are also available for Classic planes. RE-COVER ENVELOPES Available for all Classics and some Antique Jj models, in Ceconite #101, #102 and cotton. \ Airtex makes the world's finest envelopes! T/ondolpl£ AIRCRAFT FINISHES FINISH IT RIGHT WITH AN Nitrate & butyrate dope, enamel, tirethane, thinners, reducer, retarder and primers. ,4~ Complete stock of re-covering supplies. Send $1.00 for Catalog and Our INTERIOR Fabrics Selection Guide ,tJ~ p~, Jne. All Items Designed for Easy DEPT "R", LOWER MORRISVILLE ROAD FALLSINGTON, PA. 19054 DO·IT·YOURSELF INSTALLATION (215) 295-4 115 27