PUBLICATION STAFF PUBLISHER Paul H. Poberezny EDITOR Gene R. Chase MANAGING EDITOR NOVEMBER 1983 • Vol. 11, No. 11 Pat Etter EDITCRIAL ASSISTANT Norman Petersen FEATURE WRITER George A. Hardie, Jr. EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION, INC. OFFICERS Contents President Vice President W. Brad Thomas, Jr. Jack C. Winthrop 3 Straight & Level 301 Dodson Mill Road Route 1, Box 111 by Brad Thomas Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 Allen, TX 75002 4 AlCNews 919/368-2875 Home 2141727-5649 by Gene Chase Page 5 919-368-2291 Office 4 Mystery Plane Secretary Treasurer by George Hardie M. C. " Kelly" Viets E. E. " Buck" Hilbert 5 A New Beginning Route 2, Box 128 P.O. Box 145 Lyndon, KS 66451 Union, IL 60180 by Henry M. Ogrodzinski 913/828-3518 815/923-4591 8 A Kid's View of the 1937 National Air Races, Part I byTed Businger 14 BordenlThompson Aeroplane Posters DIRECTORS from the 1930s by Gene Chase Ronald Fritz Claude L. Gray, Jr. Page 8 15401 Sparta Avenue 9635 Sylvia Ave n ~e 16 Members' Projects Kent City. M I 49330 Northridge, CA 91324 16 Calendar of Events 616/678-5012 213/349-1338 16 Letters to the Editor Dale A. Gustafson AI Kelch 7724 Shady Hill Drive 66 W. 622 N. Madison Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46274 Cedarburg, WI 53012 317/293-4430 414/377-5886 Robert E. Kesel Morton W. Lester 455 Oakridge Driye P.O. Box 3747 Rochester, NY 14617 Martinsvilie, VA 241 12 716/342-3170 703/632-4839 Page 14 Arthur R. Morgan John R. Turgyan 3744 North 51st Blvd. 1530 Kuser Road Milw'aukee, WI ·S3.216 Trenton, NJ 08619 414/442-3631 609/585-2747 FRONT COVER .. The '83 Grand Champion Replica is the 191 6 German WWI Halberstadt OW, N1 388J powered with a modified 150 S. J. Wittman George S. York hp Enma Tigre engine. Built by Carl Swanson of Darien , WI and flown Box 2672 181 Sloboda Ave. by G. Thornhill. Oshkosh, WI 54901 Mansfield, OH 44906 (Photo by Ted Koston) 414/235-1265 419/529-4378 BACK COVER . The EAA Aviation Foundation's 1931 Morane Saulnier M.S. 181 , N304JX. Power is a 60 hp Sal mson. Craft was ADVISORS pu rchased in France by EM member Ray Jones of Sewalls Point, FL and donated to the Foundation. EAA Chapter 304 in Jackson, MI John S. Copeland Stan· Gomoll restored the plane and delivered it at Oshkosh '83. 9 Joanne Drive 1042 90th Lane, NE (Photo by Gene Chase) Westborough, MA 01581 Minneapolis, MN 55434 617/366-7245 612/784-1172 Editorial Policy: Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs. Policy opinions expressed in articles Robert G. Herman Espie M. Joyce, Jr. are solely those of the authors. Responsibility for accuracy in reporting rests entirely with the contributor. Material W 164 N9530 Water Street Box 468 should be sent to : Gene R. Chase, Editor, The VINTAGE AIRPLANE, P.O. Box 229, Hales Corners, WI 53130. Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 Madison, NC 27025 414/251-9253 919/427-0216 THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) is published and owned exclusively by EAA Antique/Classic Division, Inc. of the Experimental Aircraft Association , Inc. and is published monthly at 11311 W. Forest Home Ave. , Frank lin, Wisconsin 53132, P.O. Box 229, Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130. Second Class Postage paid at Hales Corners Gene Morris Daniel Neuman Post Office, Hales Corners, Wisconsin 53130 and additional mailing offices. Membership rates for EAA Antique/Classic 27 Chandelle Drive 1521 Berne Circle W. Division, Inc. are $18.00 for current EAA members for 12 month period of which $12.00 is for the publication of The Hampshire, IL 60140 Minneapolis, MN 55421 VINTAGE AIRPLANE. Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation. 312/683-3199 612/571-0893 ADVERTISING - Anliquel Classic Division does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through our advertising. Roy Redman S. H. "Wes" Schmid We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained Ihrough our advertising so Rt. 1, Box 39 2359 Lefeber Road that corrective measures can be taken. Kilkenny, MN 56052 Wauwatosa, WI 53213 507/334-5922 414/771-1545 Postmaster: Send address changes to EAA Antique/Classic Division, Inc., P.O. Box 229, Hales Corners, WI 53130. STRAIGHT AND LEVEL By Brad Thomas President Antique/Classic Division What makes a fly-in a success? What is involved within the internal structure of the sponsoring organization to make things fall into place? These and many more questions arise during discussions of the success of our smaller fly-ins throughout the USA. Let's examine this structure that brings together so many with a common interest. In 1936, at the age offourteen I visited the Greensboro, North Carolina airport for a fly-in on a bright clear Saturday. In those days, it would have been called an air show, but it was a fly-in by today's standards. Aircraft fly-bys were as popular then as they are now, and as they taxied past the intersection, I was able to take some 16 mm silent movies of J-2 and E-2 Cubs (J-3s were not yet in production), a Cessna Airmaster, Stinson Jr., an early Gullwing, "bathtub" Aeronca, a Beech E17 used as a jump plane, Johnny Crowell's arrived by ground transportation in order to attend the banquet Gee Bee Sportster and a Menasco Ryan ST A. Probably the most that evening. interesting event of the day was a "race" between the Gee Bee Let's examine further some of the small factors that contribute and the Ryan STA. so much to a successful fly-in. If you were an arrival at a fly-in As I remember, there was a small charge to visit the airport for the first time, wouldn't you feel welcome to be parked and that day and the real fun of the day was watching the various greeted by a member of the local group? What a fine feeling it is pilots and their friends enjoying a casual day of togetherness. As to have someone greet you with an introduction and welcome. a youngster of fourteen, that day spurred my ambition to someday You are then directed to the registration area where the smiling become a pilot. Our "fly-ins" of today may be new to some EAAers, face of another volunteer makes you feel at home. When you but the basic concept of togetherness was evident even in the decided at the last minute to come to the fly-in and, of course, early years. had no reservations for overnight accommodations, how good it A fly-in of today can be a one-day affair of an EAA Chapter, felt to have someone familiar with the area make arrangements a weekend venture such as the Ole South Fly-In held in Tul­ for you and your guests! The little things count. lahoma, Tennessee, a regional function such as the annual Sun Each of us attends a fly-in for various reasons. Many will have 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida, or our Annual EAA Interna­ a "trophy" aircraft and expect an honest and accurate judging for tional Convention in Oshkosh. Most of us just plan to attend one the category entered. or another of these types during the year, but many of us have Others arrive to be with their buddies and friends who have no basic idea what is involved to complete a successful fly-in. similar or identical type aircraft. Type clubs are becoming an Starting with the basics, someone has to be in charge of each important factor in the activities of fly-ins where members can event, whether a one-day affair or a week-long event. From there park together and swap ideas and stories. Just watch a group on the size and complexity governs the additional help required such as the Cessna 120/140 Club and see the action, fellowship to make the event a success. Many of us are involved in these and hospitality which are so much a part of their functions. fly-ins by volunteering in some manner. Aircraft must be parked, Many of us do not even own an aircraft to fit the particular participants registered, fly-by briefings held, judging completed, "theme" of the fly-in, but we do love sport aviation as a whole banquet arrangements (if one is held) made, and of course, the and enjoy the collections of aircraft present at a fly-in. Photograph­ social functions coordinated. So you can see each particular volun­ ing the aircraft present, talking with the pilots, discussing general teer's job is just as important as the next. Dedicated spouses restoration projects and future intentions always make the fellow­ often assist in many of the activities, and so often are not given ship portion of a fly-in an enjoyable event for not only yourself, the credit due them for , not only their volunteer work, but their but the people you talk with. Very rarely do you introduce yourself moral support as well. to someone at a fly-in who is not eager to answer your questions So, what makes one fly-in so different and more enjoyable than and share knowledge about his aircraft. others? Hard work, experience and dedicated effort are the basic In summary, it is obvious that a successful fly-in is achieved contributions to the success. Without a doubt, weather is an through many factors. The little things that contribute to its important factor as 99 percent of the aircraft flown to a fly-in success are the work of the volunteers who contribute their exper­ arrive and depart under VFR conditions.