N E OCTOBER VOL. 34, No. 10 2006 C ONT ENT S 1 Straight & Level by Geoff Robison 2 VAA News 5 Restoration Corner Fuselage and landing gear by E.E. "Buck" Hilbert 8 Stinson Gullwing A victorious V-77 by Sparky Barnes Sargent 14 Ryans, Tigers, and Spartans -OhMy! Meandering through the Fields of Flying Machines by Sparky Barnes Sargent 32 The Vintage Instructor Playing the Weather Game by Doug Stewart 34 Mystery Plane by H.G. Frautschy 38 Calendar STAFF 39 Classified Ads EAA Publisher Tom Poberezny EAA Editor-in-Chief Scott Spangler Executive Director/Editor H.G. Frautschy Administrative Assi stant Jennifer Lehl Managing Editor Kathleen Witman COVERS News Editor Ri c Reynolds Photography Jim Koepnick FRONT COVER: The Stinson Gullwing has long been a favorite of antique airplane enthusiasts. Bonnie Bartel Kratz This beautiful example was restored by Mark Henley and his father, Don. Read more about this Advertising Coordinator Sue Anderson award-winning restoration in Sparky Barnes Sargent's article beginning on page 8. Using Canon Classified Ad Coordinator Louise Schoenike digital photo equipment, EM photo by Bonnie Kratz , EM photoplane flown by Bruce Moore Copy Editor Colleen Walsh Director of Adverti sing Katrina Bradshaw BACK COVER: "Hungarian Ace Franz Graser and the Eagle Owl Albatros" is the title of this mixed Display Advertising Representatives: , ort heasl: Allen Murray media illustration by EM Master Artist William Marsalko. Here's his description of the painting: Phone 609-265- 1666, FAX 609-265- 166 1, e- mail : aflelllllllml,'@rllillcisprills.colII A number of Alb atros 0.111 were built for the Austro-Hungarian fighter squadrons by the Austrian Sou theast: Chester Baumga rtner Phone 727-532-4640, FAX 727-532-4630. e-ma il : cbmllll l l [email protected] Oeffag factory. These machines were fitted with Austro-Daimler engine and gave exce llent ser­ Cent ra l: Todd Reese vice . This aircraft, 153.44 was flown by Franz Graser at "Flik 42-J," shown in this painting shoot­ Pho ne 800-444 -9932, FAX 816-741 -6458, e-ma il : to< ld<!!'lpc-mas.com Mountain &: Paci fi c: Keith Know lton &: Associa tes ing down an Italian seaplane on November 23. 1917. Phone 770·516·2 743, e-m ail: kt.kllowltoll(ii111illd.<;prillg.com GEOFF ROBISON PRESIDENT, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION Flier's rights It's mid-September, and I find my­ chines within the rules. We must do We will be moving our aircraft into self traveling with the EAA's B-17 so in a diligent manner as we conduct the new facility within the next cou­ Aluminum Overcast again. This trip safe operations. Your personal right ple of weeks, and we hope to have a will take me from Columbus, Ohio, to engage yourself in recreational avi­ small shop area completed soon that through the Louisville/Knoxville area, ation in this great country of ours is will allow us the unique opportunity to and then out to South Carolina before not much different than any of your maintain and restore some Significant returning home late in the month. other personal rights as a citizen. We vintage flying machines. Please con­ I'm currently poolside doing my best simply must do all we can to protect sider this an open invitation to come to concentrate on the task at hand, if these exclusive rights, because the mo­ join the chapter or at least stop by for a you know what I mean. ment they become insignificant to the visit if you find yourself in our area. Typically, I do quite a bit of travel masses, some seemingly bright politi­ We are extremely proud to report by airliner to catch up with the B-17 cian or bureaucrat will begin the pro­ that we recently conducted our first tour, but of late I have been carefully cess of limiting or eliminating these Young Eagles event at our new home. planning my volunteer time with the rights we all hold so dear. The long It was a wonderfully successful event EAA in a manner that allows me to and short of this message is to remind that hosted dozens of Boy Scouts and avoid the airlines as much as possible. you all to be diligent, and be safe. assisted them in gaining their Avia­ Airline travel is no longer appealing to I have previously mentioned here tion Merit Badges. This is what it is all me in any way. The inconveniences in this column the development of the about, folks. associated with this type of travel now new home of VAA Chapter 37 in Au­ As I have repeatedly stated, the ef­ far outweigh what I used to consider a burn, Indiana (GWB). This is my home forts to plan for yet another AirVen­ relatively enjoyable experience. chapter, and although progress on our ture in 2007 finds us attempting to It's not really the fault of the airlines; new home has been coming at a little figure out how we will top the pre­ it's mostly all about the ever-changing slower pace than we had hoped for, a vious year's event. Be assured, we are policies the industry has to deal with great deal has been accomplished in the already formulating and develop­ that severely affect the previously "sim­ past 60 days. By the time this column ing a number of new and interesting pie" rules we had to deal with as passen­ hits your mailbox, our SO-foot by 100­ ideas for events in the Vintage area gers. I mention these inconveniences foot hangar restoration project will have for 2007. It's never too early to be­ here in this column because I often been completed, and hopefully the con­ gin planning your next visit to Osh­ wonder about where this is all ulti­ struction of the clubhouse will be well kosh. Stay tuned to the ever-changing mately going when it comes to impact­ underway. The DeKalb County Board of events and attractions at EAA/VAA. ing those of us who regularly engage Aviation Commissioners and their staff Visit us regularly at www.EAA.org and ourselves in aviation travel, whether as have been real champions in seeing this www.VintageAircraft·org. airline crew members or as passengers. project through to completion. Hope to see you there. It's really something we all need to keep The entire membership of VAA EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, the at the forefront of our minds. Chapter 37 is extremely grateful for world's greatest aviation celebration, The right to freely travel by air in their efforts to assist us in creating a is July 23-29,2007. our personal conveyances is slowly truly wonderful opportunity for this VAA is about participation: Be a eroding away, and it should be a mat­ VAA chapter. The hangar was stripped member! Be a volunteer! Be there! Re­ ter of great concern to us all. The best down to the red steel, with new insula­ member, we are better together. Join defense is always a great offense. We tion and steel siding installed. All new us and have it all. should be consistently diligent in electrical service has now been com­ maintaining our personal skills and pletely installed, and we have mapped forever operating our personal ma- out a nice floor plan for the clubhouse. A~ VINTAGE AIRPLANE Setting the General Aviation vert to the sport pilot certificate working on issues related to ag­ Agenda by the January 2007 deadline, and ing general aviation aircraft. That Each year EAA AirVenture Osh­ complete the transition of ultralight initiative was launched at an FAA kosh is the meeting place for govern­ trainers (so-called "fat ultralightsl/) Aging Aircraft Summit earlier this ment officials and general aviation to light-sport aircraft by the January year, and work groups gathered for (GA) representatives to discuss is­ 2008 deadline. EAA is providing in­ a progress report at AirVenture. Offi­ sues and solutions, to cooperate on formation, materials, and assistance cials from the FAA said the agency's preserving and improving GA, and to ultralight pilots and owners. goal is to keep aging airplanes flying to set the GA agenda for continuing • Allow amphibiOUS aircraft to safely, not to stop them from flying, dialogue throughout the year. qualify for the light-sport aircraft cat­ and the FAA is looking for grass­ Oshkosh also provides the setting egory. The EAA will work to resolve roots solutions to the challenges for a mid-winter gathering of EAA this issue in time to allow owners to facing aging aircraft. EAA will con­ and senior FAA officials to review complete the transition of amphibi­ tinue to be an active participant in progress on the agenda items. This ous ultralights to light-sport aircraft this process. year's EAA-FAA Summit is scheduled by January 2008. for January 2007. • Support and promote the inter­ Preserve and strengthen In the meantime, here are the key nationalization of light-sport aircraft the 51 percent rule issues that continue to receive prior­ standards. Many countries have ad­ The FAA's 51 percent rule, issued ity EAA attention. opted, or will adopt, some version in 1952, is the foundation of the of SP/LSA. Australia has adopted the homebuilt aircraft movement. The Fight general aviation user fees ASTM voluntary standards for LSA; FAA strongly supports preserving General aviation fuel taxes help Europe and Canada are considering the 51 percent rule, but the FAA and pay for the nation's aviation infra­ doing the same. EAA will support and EAA agree there are problems, in­ structure.