~ c ~ ~ ...,~ t] (. 7j) 7j) ~ ~ ~ ~ IJJ t ) ...,~ Z ~ h1 c1 « ~ ~ .J ...,~ ", D. ~ ~ 111 t\.) a:: -"-,-, ·~I ...... J.."'I ~ a.) -I ""' ~i,.. :." -,,.. ~, a.) -I -"'"l....., GEOFF ROB ISON PRESIDENT, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOC IATI ON Spring means fly-ins! Finally, April has arrived! I re­ of each pre-1968 model that Beech tion event of the year. So keep in cently read that this past winter, has produced over all these years. As mind that if you're tired of just be­ those of us here in the Midwest ex­ you may know, this is also the 60th ing an observer and you want to be perienced the second-longest sus­ anniversary of the classic Beech Bo­ a part of the action in the Vintage tained period of low temperatures in nanza. As many of you are aware, the area at AirVenture, you can step all recorded history. I believe every first Beech straight-tail actually flew right up to the VAA Vol unteer Reg­ bit of that. It was the first week in in December of 1945, but it wasn't istration Booth adjacent to the Vin­ March before I was actually able to type certificated until March of 1947, tage entry archway near the VAA raise the hangar door and work com­ followed shortly thereafter by the first Red Barn. You can volunteer and be fortably inside the hangar. That's the Model 35 V-Tail Bonanza that same part of the EAA experience. When best indication that spring is on its year. The Beech Bonanza holds a re­ you go home this year, you won't way. I never really believed much in markable record for being the longest just say, "l was at Oshkosh, II you'll that shadowy, groggy-eyed ground­ continuously produced aircraft model say, "I was a part of Oshkosh!" hog test anyway. in aviation history. The Vintage Air­ You can even pick your pleasures as Along with spring and its milder craft Association Type Club Parking a VAA volunteer. Whether it's parking weather, it's time again to prepare Committee is also planning a special aircraft, flipping pancakes, or helping the trusty old steed for flight. Be sure "Iimited" camping area in the Type out in the metal-shaping shop, I'll bet to take a close look at the old aerial Club parking area for those qualified you'll find plenty of interesting activ­ buggy, and don't just kick it in the Bonanza attendees looking to park/ ities in which to participate. tires. Give it a bath, rub its belly, and camp together in celebration of this Again we remind you that the talk sweet to it so it's in the right landmark anniversary. We hope to various AirVenture Vintage Red mood to get you through to the next see you there with your tent and your Barn programs are underwritten by annual. An hour or so with your fa­ pre-'68 Bonanza. the VANs annual Friends of the Red vorite instructor is in order if it's been Later this month [ plan to attend Barn program. Please give strong awhile since you've been aloft. Good Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Flor­ consideration to supporting this luck, and be safe! ida. Although [ am not often able important VAA financial initiative. Once April starts, it seems many to attend this event, when I do it's Learn more about the Friends of the of us get serious about planning very fun, filled with an abundance Red Barn and how you can help at which flying events we want to put of laid-back Southern hospitality. www.Vi ntageA i rcraft. org/programs/ on our personal aviation events cal­ It's a really welcome opportunity to redbarn.html. endar. The efforts to plan for yet an­ visit with a lot of my Oshkosh avia­ Hope to see you there! other great EAA AirVenture Oshkosh tion friends, without all the hustle EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, in 2007 find us attempting to figure and bustle of my responsibilities at The World's Greatest Aviation Cel­ out how we will ever top the previous Oshkosh. These folks put on a great ebration, is July 23-29. year's event. We are now only 100­ event, so be sure to check them out VAA is about participation: Be a plus days from opening day. Be as­ at www.Sun-N-FlIn.org. member! Be a volunteer! Be there! sured, we are well into formulating Remember, it's never too early Let's all pull in the same direction and developing a number of new and to begin planning your next visit for the good of aviation. interesting ideas for this year's event to Oshkosh. Stay tuned to the ever­ Remember, we are better together. in the Vintage area. One such item of changing events and attractions at Join us and have it all. interest is our plan, in conjunction EAA/VAA. Visit us regularly at www. with EAA, to host a special display of AirVenture.org and www. Vintage the Beech line of aircraft. The idea is [email protected]. to prominently display one example AirVenture is the premier avia­ N E APR I L VOL. 35, No. 4 2007 CONTENTS IFe Straight & Level Spring means fly-ins! by Geoff Robison 2 News 6 Restoration Corner Certification Requirements, Inspection, and Run-up by Dan Neuman 8 Can lJust Make Mine Experimental? Unfortunately it's not that simple by Joe Norris 9 Bringing New Horizons Into Focus The Aeronca Kids by Sparky Barnes Sargent 1 4 Dashing and Darting Through the Sky The diminutive Culver Dart Model LCA by Sparky Barnes Sargent 20 The Curtiss Model J The beginning of the famous Curtiss J series by Wesley Smith 24 EAA's Pioneer Airport Skiplane Fly-In Finally, snow! Real snow! by Ric Reynolds and H.G. Frautschy 26 The Vintage Instructor "Does that seem weird to you?" by Doug Stewart 30 Pass It to Buck Ever wonder how the Cessna Company got into STAFF the liaison aircraft business? EAA Publisher Tom Poberezny by Buck Hilbert Executive Director/Editor H.G. Frautschy Executive Assistant Jillian Rooker 32 Mystery Plane Managing Editor Kathleen Witman by H.G. Frautschy News Editor Ric Reynolds Photography Jim Koepnick 38 Calendar Bonnie Kratz Advertising Coordinator Sue Anderson 40 Classified Ads Classified Ad Coordinator Daphene VanHullum Copy Editor Colleen Walsh COVERS Director of Advertising Katrina Bradshaw FRONT COVER: Tom Wathen's work to revitalize the Flabob Airport in Los Angeles reaches far out­ Display Advertising Representatives: side the boundaries of the airport grounds. The Wathen Foundation created a program to restore Northeast: Allen Murray a vintage airplane to teach youth in the surrounding neighborhoods that there were alternatives to Phone 856-220-7180, FAX 856-229-7258, e-mail: nilelllllurray(dJrlli/ulsprillg.colII the poor lifestyle choices made by some of their peers. Read more about this remarkable project in Southeast: Chester Baumgartner the article starting on page 9. EAA photo by Bonnie Kratz, EAA photo plane flown by Bruce Moore. Phone 727-532-4640, FAX 727-532-4630, e-mail: ([email protected] BACK COVER: I'd wager that anyone who saw a purple and cream Culver Dart go zipping by would Central: Todd Reese Phone 800-444-9932, FAX 816-741-6458, e-mail: [email protected] remember the event, and that certainly was the case for 9-year-old Mark Trimble in 1940. Sixty-five Mountain & Pacific: John Gibson years later, Mark can re-create that scene anytime he wants, since he 's now restored that same Phone 916-784-9593, e-mail: [email protected] Culver to just the way it was when he saw it at the Kansas City Municipal Airport. See the article Europe: Willi Tacke starting on page 14. Photo courtesy Kelly Trimble. Phone +498969340213, FAX +498969340214, e-mail: [email protected] VINTAGE AIRPLANE EAA Appeals for Release of F45 data was made. The FAA agreed, We All Need to Work Together to Abandoned Aircraft Data although no such withdrawal appears Defeat User Fee Proposal Should a former airplane manufac­ anywhere in the FAA records pertain­ If we're to be successful in the fight turer that, for all intents and purposes, ing to this type certificate. against the government's user fee no longer exists be allowed to deny Pangia further argued that it was proposal, general aviation (GA) has to the release of essentially abandoned evident that this new company did continue to stand together and work aircraft data to a private restorer for an not even know of the existence of through the U.S. Congress to defeat airplane built more that 70 years ago? an F45 aircraft until informed by the it. And although it was reassuring to Attorneys from the EAA Legal Advi­ FAA of Mr. Taylor's request. "To have hear broad skepticism and bipartisan sory Council were in Federal Appeals a trade secret, you should know you opposition to the Bush Administra­ Court in Washington, D.C., in early have a trade secret," Pangia said. tion's plan during the initial House February arguing that very pOint on Harry Riggs, EAA Legal Advisory Aviation Subcommittee hearing, it's behalf of Brent Taylor (EAA 576868). Council chairman, filed an amicus clearly going to be a tough battle. Taylor, who is executive director of curiae (friend of the court) brief on "We're extremely pleased that sev­ the Antique Airplane Association, is behalf of EAA, asking the court to re­ eral members of the aviation subcom­ seeking access to the original data for fer the case back to the U.S.