STRAIGHT AND LEVEL • • During the past few years we have noted an in­ sometimes becomes known that drawings and plans teresting fact, that at fly-ins other than Oshkosh, of our favorite aircraft still exist, whether they be in there has been I a noticeable reduction in the attend­ the files of a Museum, the FAA, or in a historical li­ ance of antique aircraft. Several problems have con­ brary. Then the challenge is there to reproduce that fronted the antique owners that might possibly lessen " dream" aircraft. Many of us are restorers, their desire to fly their aircraft to area fly-ins. Over homebuilders, craftsmen, as well as fliers, so what is the past ten years the inflation factor has escalated keeping us from that burning desire to bite the bullet the value of antique aircraft to excessive heights, thus and start that replica? With a set of plans we can fab­ tage aircraft. This would naturally include the creation lessening the desire of some owners to make fre­ ricate a replica and make our dream become a reality. of replica aircraft as well. quent long flights. The current fuel costs affect the Depending upon the era of the aircraft to be repli­ The EAA Air Museum Library at EAA Headquarters owners of all types of aircraft and this is definitely a cated, engine authenticity can create a problem, but represents a fine collection of books, magazines, factor governing a long cross-country flight with a one that can be solved. It is a known fact that there plans, manuals and other documents which contain twenty-five gallon per hour round engine pushing are more vintage engines available than vintage air­ invaluable information which would be useful to along at say, niniety miles per hour. It does not take frames. So, with a master plan of action in hand in­ someone planning to build a replica of a vintage air­ long to compute a fuel cost of over forty dollars per cluding a set of drawings, the selection of the ap­ craft. Because of a severe space shortage, much of hour or about 50 cents per mile. What the final out­ propriate engine, and the desire to fulfill your dream, th e library has been boxed and placed in temporary come will be in a few years is not known. you are ready to create a replica. More than likely, storage, with the remainder still accessible for staff Obviously antique owners are not going to com­ young and old alike will thrill at the sight of seeing members' research necessary for producing the vari­ pletely stop flying. Engines have to be run to keep your replica in flight. ous EAA publications. them in good operating condition, and the aircraft Even though the small staff at Headquarters cannot have to be flown to keep the fabric and airframes in The excitement created by the appearance of the possibly comply with the many requests to do re­ an airworthy condition. We apparently are not going Gee Bee Z and the Travel Air Mystery Ship during search in the library for individuals, they can provide to attend as many of the fly-ins we had participated in OshkOSh '79 is a prime example of the interest in rep­ h elpful information and steer p eople in the right di­ during the past years. Our selection will be limited licas. How many of us while viewing these aircraft, rection. and our flights will be shorter in distance. envisioned the thrilling flights, and the setting of rec­ Each of you who have a favorite airplane of the Every year at Oshkosh we begi n to see the appear­ ords by the original Mystery Ship and Gee Bee? How past, which is not available as a restoration project ance of more aircraft in the " replica" category. What many of us upon returning home from Oshkosh '79 should give serious consideration to the replica ap­ could be more appropriate after facing the fuel prob­ thumbed through our historical publications to read proach. Start by researching the plane, its pilots, and lems and values of inflation that exist today. The about the pilots and the original flights of these air­ its accomplishments. That in itself is quite a project, Antique/Classic Division's definition of a replica air­ craft? The nostalgia is there! The re-creation of other and the natural step preceeding the actual construc­ craft is: notable flights made long ago by favorite airplanes tion of a replica. " An aircraft constructed exactly to original manufac­ can be made possible by your motivation and the With such notable replicas as Bill Turner' s Gee Bee turer 's plans, full size in sca le, but not constru cted by th e completion of the replica of your dreams. Model Z and Brown B-2; th e three Spirit of St. Louis original manufacturer or his licensee." To complete a replica of some historical aircraft can aircraft by EAA, and Frank , David and Steve Cannavo, Our basic source of antique aircraft is, for all nor­ be a task of huge proportions and overwhelming and th e San Diego Museum; Jim Younkin's Travel Air mal purposes, depleted. Granted, a rare find does odds; but it has been done. This is where the basic Mystery Ship; and many others under construction pop up occasionally, and there are many restorable spirit and intent of EAA and its divisions, comes to including the Laird Super Solution, Howard Mike and antiques, with the wood rotting and the metal rust­ the forefront. The help and assistance often needed Pete, Wedell Williams Racer , the Hall Racer, another ing, but at the same time, a known fact. As we glance in a project of this nature is usually available in some Travel Air Mystery Ship and the Gee Bee R-1, replica through the back issues of Th e VI N TAGE AIRPL ANE form through the organization. aircraft have attained a high level of respect and their our attention is frequently drawn to the articles about Membership in EAA and the Antique/Classic Divi­ popularity most certainly will continue to grow by an aircraft of the past that we would love to find and sion has many rewards, including the association with leaps and bounds. restore, but knowing full well that an example of the other sport aviation enthusiasts who share common Don't keep on dreaming of that replica project plane does not currently exist. After searching, it problems in the restoration and maintenance of vin­ roll up your sleeves and do something about it! Editorial T tl ~ VI""TA(7~ AI[?VLA""~ Staff OFFIC IAL MAGAZINE EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC Publisher DIVISION INC. Paul H. Poberezny of THE EXPER IMENTAL A IRCRAFT ASSOCIATION Editor P.O. Box 229, Hales Corners, W I 53130 Gene R. Chase CopyrightO 1980 EAA Antique/Classic Division, Inc., All Rights Reserved. (Photo by Ted Kaston) MAY 1980 VOLUME 8 NUMBER 5 E. E. " Buck" Hilbert of U nion, Illinois flies by in his w ell-traveled Swa llow. (On The Cover. C rea l Lakes, recenlly reslored by Rod Slee le 01 Rochesler, NY. See'slory on Pag e 6. Pholo by Rod Sleele.J Associate Editors: H. Glenn Buffington, Edward D. Williams, Byron (On The Back Cover Bu shmasler Model 2000 looks like an anlique, bUI il wa s Iype cerlilicaled (Fred) Fredericksen, Lionel Salisbury in 1966. Owned by Chu ck LeMa sler, O rtawa, Kansa s. Ph 0 10 by Ted Koslon .) Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs. Associate Editorships are assigned to those writers who submit five or more articles which are published in THE VINTAGE AIR­ TABLE OF CONTENTS PLANE during the current year. Associates receive a bound volume of THE VINTAGE AIR ­ Straight and Level by Brad Thomas .. ....... .. .... ............ , ... .... , .... , . .. 2 PLANE and a free one-year membership in the Division for their efforts. POliCY-O pinions A/C Hot Line by Gene Chase . ... .... .......... .. , . .. ... ... .. , . ...... .... ... 4 expressed in articles are so lely those of the authors. Responsib ility for accuracy in reporting 1979 Michi ga n Regio nal Fl y- In by Ri chard Demond ....... • .... , ....... .. , . .. 5 rests entirely with the con tributor Directors " Family Jewel" by Rod Steele ... .................. .. .......... .. .... ,. 6 Claude l. Gray. Jr. Morton W. l ester Claude Fl agg - Pilot Engineer, Part II by Ted Bu si nger ... , . ... , ... .. , . .. .......... 8 9635 Sylvia Avenue P.O. Box 37 47 PRESIDENT Northridge, CA 91324 Maninsville, VA 2411 2 A Curtiss Album by George Hardie, Jr .... .. ..... .............. ... , ...... .. ... 12 W . BRAD THOMAS, JR . H ow To Build The " Longster", Part II by Les Lo ng ......... ... ... .. .... .... .. 16 301 DODSON MILL ROAD Dale A. Gustafson Letters To Th e Editor . ................ ......... .... ..... ...... ... ... ...... .. 19 PILOT MOUNTAIN, NC 27041 7724 Shady Hill Drive Arthur R. Morgan Borden's Aeroplane Pos ters Fr om The 1930's by Li onel Sa lisbu ry .......... .. , . ..... 20 919/368-2875 Home Indianapolis, IN 4627 4 3744 North 51st Blvd. "Survival" by Ev Cassagneres . ........ .. .................. ... .. , .... ........... 22 Milwaukee, WI 5~21b 919/368-2291 Office It Can Be Done by Paul Shinsky ..... .. ... .. ..... .. .... , .. .. ..... .. ......... 24 VICE-PRESIDENT Richard H . Wa gn er Nebraska's Ken Eskildsen by Raymond P. Hanson ........ '" .. ... , , . .. , .. .. .. .. 26 P.O. Box 18 1 John R. Turgyan Calendar Of Events .......... .. .. ... ........... .. .. .. .. , ._... ....... , . ... 27 JACK C. WINTHROP lyons, WI 53 '148 1530 Kuser Road ROUTE 1, BOX 111 Trenton, NJ 08619 EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION MEMBERSHIP ALLEN, TX 75002 2141727-5649' AI Kelch o NON-EAA MEMBER - $22.00. Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique/ 66 W. 622 N. Madison Avt'nue Classic Division, 12 monthly is sues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE; one year mem­ SECRETARY Cedarburg, WI 53012 bership in the Experimental Aircraft Association and se parate membership cards.