Vintage Airplane - Oct 1974

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(Photo by Ted Kaston)

THE PRESIDENTS

PAGE

By E E Buck Hilbert President Antique-Classic Division

THE ETERNAL QUESTION

Most often asked by the group with the Airplane Disease is Where can I find an old airshyplane or project I can restore There are ways ways that require patience search and more patient research And when it all comes to a head you must be in the right place at the right time Occasionally a deal you have been fostering for years will suddenly mature and if you are not right there when that guy decides to sell you are out

Locating them although sometimes the easy part is less than half the problem but it is a problem There are lots of leads around - you just have to unearth them Try around home first Ask around The corner gas station the barber shop the antique shop some of the old timers Its amazing what will turn up Right here in my home town with a population of less than 400 I turned up a Gnome rotary - from a source so unlikely you wouldnt believe it

One school teacher I know starts each new class by introducing himself explaining that he is interested in old airplanes and then asks bluntly if any of them might know where there is an old airplane He has turned up more than a few using this method - and met a whole bunch of interesting people in the process

Fellow aviators are often a good source When you listen to some of the hangar talk intershyject an occasional query in that direction Youll get leads that are figments of imagination a lot of times but there will sometimes be paydirt there Ive chased rumors for days and even weeks to locate an airplane everybody knew about only to find it belonged to an uncle of one of my closest friends He knew it was there all the time I just hadnt asked him

Once located then the fun begins Chances are there have been dozens ahead of you and each one ruffled the feathers of the owner a little until his patience is mighty thin Butter him up and keep after him Dont let that bird get away Our Swallow is a prime example Dario Toffenetti worked on that one better than ten years But we have it and itll fly again Keep your ear to the ground youll find one In the meantime though if you have any leads

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VOLUME 2 NUMBER 10 OCTOBER 1974 TABLE OF CONTENTS

i Bellanca The Early Years Part II John Morgan 4 1974 Grand Champion Classic Bill Hodges 10 La Rue Transportation Meet Gar Williams 12 Charles A Lindbergh Bill Hodges 15 Reminiscing With Big Nick Nick Rezich 16 PT Paradise Jack Cox 21 Around The Antique-Classic World 23

ON THE COVER A Bellanca CH300 and BACK COVER John Parishs Big Red an early group of private aviation enthusiasts Photo by Ted Koston

Photo Courtesy John Morgan

EDITORIAL STAFF Publisher - Paul H Poberezny Ed itor - Jack Cox Assistant Ed itor - Gene Chase Assistant Ed itor - Golda Cox

ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC DIVISION OFFICERS

PRESIDENT - VICE PRESIDENT E E HILBERT J R NIELANDER JR 8102 LEECH RD P O BOX 2464 UNION ILLINOIS 60180 FT LAUDERDALE FLA 33303

SECRETARY TREASURER RICHARD WAGNER GAR W WILLIAMS JR BOX 181 9 S 135 AERO DR RT 1 L YOtJS WIS 53148 NAPERVILLE ILL 60540

DIRECTORS

EVANDER BRITT JIM HORNE MORTON LESTER KELLY VIETS P O Box 45~ 3850 Coronation Rd P O Box 3747 RR 1 Box 151 Lumberton N C 28358 Eagan Minn 55122 Martinsville Va 24112 Stilwell Kansas 66085

CLAUDE L GRAY JR AL KELCH GEORGE STUBBS JACK WINTHROP 9635 Sylvia Ave 7018 W Bonniwell Rd RR 18 Box 127 3536 Whitehall Dr Northridge Calif 91324 Mequon Wisc 53092 Indianapolis Ind 46234 Dallas Texas 75229

DIVISION EXECUTIVE SECRETARY DOROTHY CHASE EAA HEADOUARTERS

THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE is owned exclusively by Antique Classic Aircraft Inc and is published monthly at Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 Second Class Permit pendmg at Hales Corners Post OffIce Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 Membership rates for Antique Classic Aircraft Inc are $1000 per 12 month period of which $700 is for Ihe subscripllOn to THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE All Antique ClaSSIC Ai rcraft Inc members are required to be members of the parent organization the Experimental Ai rcraft Association MemberShip is open to all who are interested in aVIation

Postmaster Send Form 3579 to Antique Classic Aircraft Inc Box 229 Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130

Copyright ~ 1974 Antique Classic Aircraft Inc All Rights Reserved

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(Photo by Cosmo New York City)

G M Bellanca leans out of the co-piots seat to point out some features to Roger Q Williams (in pilots seat) and Louis Yancy This is believed to be the famous Pathfinder undergoing factory rebuild for Wilshyliams and Yancys trans-Atlantic flight to Spain in July of 1929 The Pathfinder a Bellanca J NX-3789 had originally been built in 1927 A number of Bellancas went through several rebuilds and renamings for various sponsors of proposed record flights Bellancas were by far the most often used and most successful over-ocean machines during the period of trans-Atlantic madness following Lingberghs 1927 flight

Bellanca bull The Early Years PART II

By John McC Morgan (EAA 83694) Summit Aviation Inc

Middletown Delaware 19709

In the April issue of The Vintage Airplane we carried the first of a series of pictorial articles on the Bellanca Aircraft Corporation by John McChesney Morgan Vice President and General Manager of Summit Aviation in Middletown Delaware Mr Morgan grew up in the shadow of the Bellanca plant and his late brother was Vice President of Bellanca for a time just prior to World War II Thus he is able to call on his own memory and those of close friends to bring to light facts and interesting anecdotes concerning one of the truly great names of US civil aviation Next month we will move on to the Belshylanca Flash certainly one of the most unusual military aircraft ever built and other goodies youll jut have to wait for _ Jack Cox

In starting this second part of the early Bellanca days Ran lowe information from the late 20s when I was too I am indebted to and would like to express my appreciation young to know and for his verification of many facts to A R (Ran) HollaJCly and Dia Islamoff Both these indishy (Incidentally Ilia s brother Jacob was killed in the unshyviduals were associated with C M Bellanca during the successful attempt by the French Ace Rene Fonck to fly period 1927 through 1941 To Ilia lowe thanks for many a Sikorsky Tri-Motor from Roosevelt Field to Paris in Sepshyof the pictures and snaps which do not pxist lsewhere to tember 1926 The grossly over-loaded biplane crashed on 4

take-off after failure of the landing gear) An effort will be made to put the photographs together

in a chronological and more or less orderly outline of G M Bellancas series of cabin airplanes and several of the special types he built for record attempts the military and foreign countries

In attempting to identify the snapshot of the Wright Bellanca (I had always thought the Columbia was the Wright Bellanca) I went to Ran Holladay (See Wright Bellanca box) I was certain that this snap showed an engine of some difference from the Wright J -5 I thought it to be a J-4 - similar but earlier I had actually had my first airplane ride in 1928 in a Wright J-4 powered Buhl flown by Henry Belin du Pont Rans information outlines G M s cooperative effort with the Wright Company which resulted in the beginning of a series of aircraft known for a long period of time as the worlds most efficient

As many will recall from reading Lindberghs books he was most anxious to obtain the Columbia for his New York to Paris flight Because of litigation and bickering this was never arranged and he went with the less efficient and slower Spirit of St Louis The Columbia was the first of only a few Trans-Atlantic aircraft to make a second successful crossing It also flew non-stop to Bermuda and back from Canada and set many other records prior to burning in a storage barn at Bellanca Field New Castle Delaware

In 1931 a rash of oceanic flights and round the world attempts cropped up Wiley Post in the Lockheed of course was successful Clyde Pangbome made the atshytempt in the first Pratt amp Whitney long distance job built by Bellanca He was forced to give up the attempt as he fell hopelessly behind Posts record He did however make the first non-stop flight from Japan to the United States landing at his home town of Wenatchee Washshyington after some forty hours during which he had earlier dropped his landing gear for speed and weight reducing Russell Boardman and John Polando flew the bowlegged Bellanca CH powered by a Wright J-6 300 from Floyd Benshynett to Istanbul Turkey that same year Over 5000 miles for a world non-stopnon-refueling record Boardman was the first to reach a preannounced destination since Lindberghs successful flight four years earlier

In 1932 Bellanca was commissioned to build probably its longest ranged aircraft De Pinedo the Italian ordered it to set a new non-stop record to Arabia or one of the middle east countries It was the first to take advantage of the new Hamilton Standard Controllable Prop the fuseshylage was widened and deepened with a belly tank to cram

An early Bellanca J in what is believed to be the Staten Isshyland plant - sometime before the move to New Castle Delashyware

fuel into It would be the biggest heaviest and longest flying of the basic Bellanca model George Haldeman was at the factory during its development and he drooled when he talked of how he would love to have it for a reshycord flight It was ill fated as de Pinedo let it get away from him at Floyd Bennett He was burned to death crawlshying away after it hit a fence and burst into flames

All was not lost Engineers found that the fat pot bellied changes had given this latest Bellanca more speed and load carrying than they had hoped for After that all the Pacemakers had this appearance The fat belly carried the baggage and the wings the 200 gallons of gas which was standard Inside six people rode in luxury of the day With super-charging came good speed at altitude although the 180 mph cruise Bellanca quoted was a bit optimistic

After the foregoing rash of distance flights there was almost a total drop off in such attempts Occasionally someone was lost but the public followed it with little inshyterest The Depression was in full force and the aircraft manufacturers noticed it first of all As a teenager I heard all the scuttlebutt and rumors from across the airport (I had learned to fly at Bellanca in 1931 and spent all my spare time there Ran Holladay and my brother Dick ran the local FBO and had since 1930) G M held on by buildshying an occasional Air Bus a few exported Pacemakers shyoutgrowths of the long distance jobs and several special experimental aircraft for the Us Navy Pictures accomshypany this article showing one with the typical Bellanca lift struts This aircraft was lost during spin tests and killed Stu Chadwick a long time Bellanca test pilot and great gent The other biplane seaplane never flew They were unable to rig the wings - they just twisted and warped out of shape when they did - and it was way over weight George Haldeman of Ruth Elder Trans-Atlantic fame taxied it up the Delaware River to the Naval Yard where it was junked

Another snapshot shows a Packard Diesel Bellanca which early in the 1930s set a non-refueling endurance record which we believe to still hold The aircraft was flown from Jacksonville or Daytona Beach and circled that area for more than 80 hours It was a Packard development and publicity program and nothing more is remembered except that it had an extra long wing on it Bellanca wings were of a very long span to start with so this one was spectacular in its appearance

- CONTINUED NEXT MONTH

THE WRIGHT

BELLANCA

The following letter to the author John M Morgan is from A R Ran Holladay of Rancho Santa Fe Calishyfornia It represents an interesting little slice of aeroshynautical history from an eye witness the kind we like best

Dear Johnnie Mac

You came to the right place to find out about the Wright Bellanca I remember all about it and somewhere have a picture of it in profile which I cant find to save my life but I always thought it was a far better looking airplane than the Columbia (which was the second cabin monoplane G M built) as well as all the subsequent ones To summarize Clarence Chamberlin went to the Wright Aeronautical Corporation in 1924 and got them interested in G M whose chief claim to fame at that time had been to build some replacement wings for old DHs which were used for flying the mail They had done a hell of a job and had raised the cruising speed from 100 mph to 115 and lowered the landing speed from 45 to 39 Wright Aero wanted G M to build a plane which would show off the possibilities of their new 200 hp engine which then was the J-4 and is the engine shown in your snap of the Wright Bellanca G M promised 125 mph and actually made 1325 which was pretty damn good for those days The airplane was finished and test flown in the early fall of 1925 and entered in the National Air Races held that year at Mitchell Field Dont know the pilots name bu the spent so much time hunting for the pylons that he was beaten but the ship was actually faster on several laps than anything else in the race and more than 50 higher in efficiency That really set off the Wright Corporashytion and they decided to send it up for a worlds speed record with load It had 2200 lbs of sand and fuel for 600 miles when they tried to fly it on a day with high gusty winds The pilot tried to make a tum but lost altitude and tried to land in Curtiss Field - downwind When he saw he

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couldnt make it he poured on the coal and tried to get it up again and land straight ahead at Roosevelt Field but there was a low bluff in the way and he didnt quite clear it The gear collapsed and the airplane was rolled into a very small ball which was unsalvagable the pilot still unnamed spent several months in the hospital and I have no idea who he was G M was of course heartbroken but the Wright Corporation promptly decided to make another airplane which was finished in 1926 and christened Columbia Unfortunately Wright made G M use a conshyventionallanding gear because of the simpler construction and greater ease of maintenance which cut down on speed somewhat The reason the Wright Corporation had to give up on their idea of producing airplanes for the trade was because no other manufacturers could touch the efficiency of the Bellanca design and Wright discovered that if they got into the airplane business the other manufacturers wouldnt buy Wright engines from them so they abanshydoned their plane program and announced they would not attempt to manufacture airplanes in competition with the very people they had as customers for their engines That let G M out though Wright tried to get him to go with another airplane firm which was on the inside but he realized he would be just another engineer with his identity lost in the mob He holed up in a little place on Staten Island - where I first went to meet him - and finally ended up in ILG when some of those rich du Ponts got interested in him But he lost the Columbia which stayed with the Wright Corp and in 1926 won the speed and efficiency races held in conjunction with the PHL SesquishyCentennial when it was flown by Navy Lt C C Champion who later set the altitude record when I was with Pratt amp Whitney in 1927 I remember watching him land at Hartford one day and damn near break up his airplane when one wheel broke through some ice on the field (It was the altitude airplane with a supercharged Wasp and called the Wright Apache)

- Ran

(Photo Courtesy Ilia Islamofl)

What appears to be a paper sign pasted on the side of the Columbia reads Built 1926 Paterson (sic) N J USA by G M Bellanca Holds folowing records 1926 shyWon aI efficiency speed and altitude records in U S Army 1927 - First non-refueling (sic) record 54 hours 30 minutes Bert Acosta Clarence Chamberlin 1927 shyNew York to Germany Charles A Levine Clarence Chamberlin 1928 - New York to Havana Cuba nonshystop Wilmer Stultz Mabel Boll 1928 - New York to Harshybour Grace non-stop Arthur Argyles Mabel Boll O Le Boutellier 1929 - New York to California Comdr Jack Iseman USNR 1930 - First New York to Bershymuda non-stop and return (Pilot) Capt J Erroll Boyd (Navigator) Lieut Harry P Connor USNR (Pilot) Roger Q Williams 1930 - Toronto Montreal Charlotteshytown Harbour Grace Scilly Isles Croydon (London) shy(Pilot) Capt J Erroll Boyd (Navigator) Lieut Harry P Connor USNR Columbia now being flown by Capt J Erroll Boyd

Refueling the Columbia in preparation for an attempt to set a non-refueling endurance record of 50 hours before attempting a trans-Atlantic Flight Clarence Chamberlin and Bert Acosta set the record

THE COLUMBIA

(Courtesy Il ia Islamofl)

Chamberlins Columbia sometime in the early 30s By this time the plane had flown the Atlantic twice The writing on the fuselage says Personal Flying Service Ltd 92 Piccadilly London WI Columbia survived the ocean flights only to be destroyed in a fire which leveled the barn in which the plane was in storage

Below - The Columbia undergoing some maintenance It appears that new shock cords are being installed on the right main gear

Chamberlin and Devine - off to Berlin

Clarence Chamberlin scrambles down from the fuel tank stuffed cabin of the Columbia shortly before the New York to Germany flight Wonder how he and Levine made it across with that exhaust pipe practically sticking in the pilots window

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ROMA

(Photo Courtesy Ilia Isamoff)

The Roma built for Cesare Sabelli for the first non-stop flight between the U S and Italy The 1928 flight failed when the over-burdened engine lost three cylinders only 20 minutes out from Old Orchard Beach in Maine a favorite take-off point for trans-Atlantic flyers of the day The Roma was traded back to Bellanca for a smaller highly modified Pacemaker the Leonardo da Vinci which was able to lift more than three times its empty weight In a 1934 flight fuel transfer problems prompted an unschedshyuled landing in Ireland but Sabelli was able to affect repairs and fly the Leonardo da Vinci on to Rome The big Roma went through s~veral mutations for various record attempts


Below - The smiling gentleman in the white shirt bow tie and suspenders is of course G M Bellanca Cesare Sabelli is to G M s left Notice the wrinkled material used in the rear door and sliding window by the pilots seat for weight reduction


Another view of the Roma

CONTINUED NEXT MONTH

Below - This is the special long wing Bellanca in which Lees and Brossy set the world s non-refueled endurance record of 84 hours and 33 minutes in 1931 The plane was powered with a Packard diesel radial engine In a little known flight later in the year Parker Cramer and Oliver Paquette were lost between the Shetland Islands and Denmark after having successfully negotiated the Atlantic The PackardshyBellanca was equipped with floats for that flight


(Photo by Lee Fray)

1974 GRAND CHAMPION CLASSIC

by Bill Hodges

This years Oshkosh winner of the Grand Champion shyClass ic trophy is a ve ry deserving 1951 Temco Swift GC-l B owned by Ed Go rny (EAA 90037) of Li vermore Ca liforni a

Eds interest in Swifts dates bac k to 1946 jus t after he had gotten his private pilots license He noticed a Globe Swift brochure lying on his ins tructor s desk read it and made arra ngements to buy a new o ne and jus t about that quick Ed went to Globes G ra nd Prairie Texas pla nt to take delive ry o f his new plane After a 112 hour checkou t session and being adventuresome and used to fl ying long dis tances he s tarted for California by way of Nebraska and Rhode Is land and then home Keeping the Swift for local and exte nd ed cross -country fli g hts Ed fin ally sold it in 1950 He th en promptly flight delivered it to its new owner in Alas ka 10

As mentioned above Ed soloed in 1946 in an Aeronca 7 AC Champion His interest in aviation dates back to his childhood days in Valley Country Nebraska watching the airlines pass overhead Entering the US Navy in 1937 he served for 9 years getting out after World War II Ed was in aircraft maintenance and served as a plane captain under Lt Butch O Hare who was maintenance officer for VF-3 on the USS Saratoga crewing a Brewster F2A Buffalo

Later Ed was a flight engineer on Consolidated PBY Catalinas flying submarine patrols out of Iceland Apshyparently several of the PBYs were lost to submarine action in this little known phase of World War II After being discharged Ed continued to wo rk in the aircraft industry and received his AampP license in 1952 In 1957 he returned

to the service this time the US Air Force where he was again in aircraft maintenance He retired in 1968 after 11 years completing his 20 years of federal service

After eyeing his current Swift for 4 years at the local Livermore Sky Ranch Airport Ed was able to purchase it when the airport was closed in 1956 Its paint was badly worn and faded and was generally in a decrepit condition Powered by a stock 125 horsepower Continental both the airframe and engine needed a major overhaul which was accomplished in 212 years The paint was stripped everyshything that could come apart was taken apart all new bolts and bushings were put in etc In other words a thorough job was done in its restoration Ed and his wife Louise (a non-pilot but who thinks flying is marvelous) use the Swift to fly to all points of the compass including near and far fly-ins Even though Ed has attended numerous Swift Club fly-ins air shows etc since restoration 1974 is the first year of real competition for N-2459B Judges other than those at the EAA International Convention and Fly-In must have liked it also as it had won 14 trophies prior to arriving at Oshkosh While Ed and Louise are avid fly-in followers he felt his Swift wasnt competition material until it won its first trophy while parked in the itinera te area of a west coast fly-in

Ed says his hobby is not airplanes however as he enshyjoys remodeling houses and is currently building a 30

(Photo by Dick Stouffer)

Right - The Gorny Grand Champion Swift

(Photo by Lee Fray)

Below - The Big Moment presentation of the 1974 EAA Grand Champion Classic Award Left to right Evander Britt Chief Judge for Antique Aircraft EAA President Paul Poberezny Ed Gorny Louise Gorny and AntiqueClassic President Buck Hilbert

foot long motor home Well whatever your thing is Ed you surely turn out beautiful airplanes Congratulations

SPECIFICATIONS (Temco GC-1B Type Certificate Numbe r TC766)

Wing Span 29 ft 4 in Length 20 ft 10 in Height 6 ft 1 in Wing Area 1316 sq ft Power Loading 137 lbhp Wing Loading 13 lbsq ft Empty Weight 1185 lbs Useful Load 525 lbs Gross Weight 1710 lbs Fuel 275 gals Oil 2 gals Maximum Speed 150 mph Cruising Speed 130 mph at 7500 ft Landing Speed 65 mph Service Ceiling 16000 ft Rate of Climb 600 ftlm in Cruising Range 425 miles Cost Deluxe FAF $515000

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By Gar Williams 9 S 135 Aero Dr Rt 1

Naperville Illinois 60540

(Photos by the Author)

Those of us who enjoyAntiqueing as related to airshyplanes most likely enjoy other old things as well How often have you seen a Model T or Model A parked under a wing or in the corner of your antiquer friends hangar Many of the antiquers in this area have such things as old muskets hanging over their fireplace alongside of pictures of steam farm tractors and railroad locomotives

For those of us who have antique interests beyond aviation there is a one of a kind event held annually in the hills of central Wisconsin Just a few miles west of Baraboo Wisconsin is the very small rural town of La Rue La Rue has the privilege of being the site of the Antique Transportation Meet - billed as the only event of its kind in the world Here in La Rue for two days in July (6 and 7) you will find a concentration of antique vehicles - from baby carriages through motorcycles to airplanes - that rivals any museum collection The real flavor of this collection is that the static displays are at a minimum This is not an event that passes out trophies for the nicest or most unique restorations - here trophies are given for how well the contestants can operate the equipment If you think you know how to fly try the spot landing contest You say your Model A engine is well tuned Try the Model A slow drive contest or the hill climb This old time transportation meet is certainly a refreshing change from the typical weekend fly-in 12

For this one weekend the Antique Transportation Meet Committee - sponsors of the event - have arranged to literally block off the roads into La Rue for just antique vehicles The La Rue International Airport is restricted to antique aircraft - land in a modern spam can and youll politely be asked to fly to Reedsburg or Baraboo where you can tie down Arrangements then can be made to bring you back to the show - most likely in an antique car or airplane The reason for this is obvious when you see the airport - there is very limited parking available and modern equipment frankly detracts from the scenery

Due to the remoteness of the site motel accommodashytions are just not available although there is more than adequate space for camping Sauk City Reedsburg Barashyboo and the Wisconsin Dells resort area offer motels for those not interested in roughing if for the weekend All are within just a few minutes by air of La Rue

The registration fee includes entry in any or all of the events camping privileges as well as a round trip ride on a live steam train The fee this year was attainable by allshyonly $250 Considering the current inflation problems this must be the bargain of the century

The events were scheduled throughout the day to allow the spectators ample time to commute by hay wagon between locations Since the entire area was basically closed to all cars except antiques the Meet sponsors proshyvided hay wagons pulled by tractors to carry the contesshytants and public between event sites

Morning events included a hill climb a Model A slow drive contest stationary engine starting contests as well as a musket shoot The Meet site was very well chosen to accommodate all these events The hill climb utilizes a county road which had a nice straightaway leading into a fairly steep hill with several good climbing curves The curves were well banked with hay bales for the over zealous participant and the steepness prevented any excesshysive speed The musket shoot was held in the quarry that marked the end of the railroad spur line - stray shots were well contained Each event had a predetermined time slot and all were well managed The crowd was easily able to follow the events

The antique bike races were scheduled for two-thirty in the afternoon The race started at the headquarters tent near the train station and ran nearly a mile to the finish line at the International Airport Seeing the guys mount these big old bikes is a spectacle in itself - the starting gun fired and off they went - led by an old HarleyshyDavidson motorcycle with what appeared to be a Keystone Kop driving The speed attained on the final straightaway was surprising although the effort required by the cyclists was apparent in watching their leg muscles Spectators had been spread out along the route and some began walking to the airport after the racers passed

Just prior to the start of the air games - short field takeoff flour bomb dropping and spot landing - all partishycipating aviators were requested to display their skills in the Great Paper Airplane Race Sheets of notebook paper were carefully folded by each aerodynamistlpilot and gracefully heaved into the mercy of the hot dry southwest wind Many of the launchers didnt take the high density altitude into account and that coupled with a downwind takeoff spelled instant disaster for the paper airplane Some overcame these problems with sheer power and made creditable distances

By the time the air games were ready to start a fairly large crowd had assembled brought in by the hay wagons Model As and various other means of antique transporshytation With the appropriate air show verbage supplied by George Bald Eagle Williams flights of five airplanes were dispatched to do their trick These events were real

crowd pleasers for to the layman and occasional air show visitor its a rare chance to see antiques in a rural barnstormer type environment

The last scheduled event for the day on Saturday was a run against the stopwatch by teams of four people pumping furiously on an antique railroad handcar After the tracks had been cleared of people wild animals and the live steamers this demanding event was started The obshyjective was to run against the clock from a standing start to a point nearly a 4uarter mile down the track where a box of tissue was n iled on a tree - a tissue was to be retrieved and the tealn then pumped their way back to the startlfinish line Th~ interesting thing about this contest was a simple matter of physics called traction The crowd roared when four big brutes got set and just spun steel when the starter shouted GO Up steps four ladies for the next run - they struggle with the hand bars and take off like a shot - the winning crew of four guys matched their energy to the available friction and made the round trip in record time

The western boundary of the meet site is defined by a railroad spur line running from an abandoned quarry into the town of North Freedom where the tracks meet the Chicago and Northwestern tracks The spur line is now used by the Mid Continent Railroad Museum a group formed by railroad buffs interested in preserving the artifacts from turn-of-the-century railroading Summer weekends including during the Antique Transportation Meets are when steam is brought up on the four operating engines and runs made back and forth on the spur line The sight and sound of those steamers really adds to the atmosphere for the weekend

Although rides are available on the trains throughout the weekend the contestants were given a special ride early Sunday morning Several honored people including many children boarded the train for the free round trip ride from La Rue to North Freedom The train steamed south

Yonder come the trains

A 1934 Harley Davidson the hawgs havent changed that much in 40 years have they

A slick Meyers OTW owned by Dave Lau of Oconomoshywoc Wisconsin

to the old quarry where lacking a turntable the engine was switched to the rear of the train and then began backshying its way past La Rue to North Freedom Several miles short of North Freedom the train unexpectedly jerked to a halt Almost in unison all the kids leaning out the window shouted Were being held up Sure enoughshywith six guns blazing five or six masked bandits on horses had stopped the train and left us in the dust as they made off with the Railroad Express strongbox Shades of Jesse James

The summation of this two day Antique Transportation event is easy A unique fun and games weekend that entertains the entire family Plan now for next years event Watch the Sport Aviation and Vintage Airplane calendars for the exact July 1975 dates

)

Well at least they dont have to pay FAA a $25 users fee every year

Dick Wagners Waco UPF-7

Below - Bob Adamec of Maywood Illinois has full up elevator fed in as he attempts to win the spot landing contest in his Luscombe BE N-1970K

The handcar race - Heave grunt hot

CHARLES A LINDBERGH IN MEMORIAM

By Bill Hodges Assistant Director

EAA Aviation Museum

A giant has left us Charles A Slim Lindbergh the Lone Eagle has passed from this life

Charlie as he was known to his fri end s at th e old Ryan Airlines Company was just 25 when he e lectrified th e world by flying solo across th e Atlantic Ocean New York (Roosevelt Field) to Paris (La Bourget Field) on May 20-21 1927 takin g 33 hours a nd 30 minutes for a dis tance of 3625 miles

Charles A Lindbergh an unkn ow n airmail pilot beshycame the nation s hero a rol e that he did not enj oy Pressed into th e limelight Lindbergh felt o ut of place The ea rly news paper accounts of his trip and especially the festi vities followin g a rc full of referenc es to his bashshyfullness and retiring attitude Quoting from an ea rl y accou n t he was rese rved he was com peten t he was modes t This characteristic remain ed with him even in death

He turned down additional fame a nd fortun e s imply because he didn t want to commercialize on his historyshymaking trip Lindbergh went on to make two goodwill fli ghts one touching the 48 United States and th e other to the countries of Central America and South America

Lindbergh and his wife Anne met tragedy face to face in 1932 wh en their first child Charles Jr was kidnapped and murde red But th ey arose from this tragedy and conshytinued their service to mankind

Charles and Anne blazed new transport routes across the Atlantic Ocean he was Technical Advisor for Pan American Airways and was also involved with TWA for several yea rs as a TechnicaJ Advisor For his hatred of wa r and love of peace and the United Sta tes he was called an isolationist and pro-Na zi for recommending that the US stay out of the European War Late r during WWII he was a civilian observer flying Corsairs and P-38s in the South Pacific where it is said that he sho t down a t least two enemy aircraft

Whil e he was a noted and av id flyer he was a lso deepl y involved in conse rva tion anthropology a rcha eology and biomechanics As indica ted above he did not like to be in th e public eye and thus qui e tl y but firmly turned down a White House reques t that he a ttend th e 1967 Paris Airshyshow honoring th e 40th anni ve rsary of hi s flig ht

The crossing you recall was made in the Spirit of St Louis a plane es pecially built for th e trip by Rya n Airshylines lnc of San Diego California Lindbergh never failed when a conversation ca m e up concerning th e Spirit to give credit to its design er Donald E Hall and build er Hawley Bowlus

Lindbe rgh bou ght his firs t airplane a Curtiss Jenny in April 1923 in which he ma de his firs t solo On March 15 1924 he entered the Army Air Corps as a fl ying cadet and in November 1925 was commissioned a First Lieutenshya nt in th e Missouri a tional Guard He made his firs t flight as an airmail pilot on April 15 1926 inaugurating th e Chicago-St Louis Run for Robertson Aircraft Corporashytion

Mrs Thelma (Be nnett) Ha ught Milwaukee reca ll s meeting th e Lindbergh family in the early 30s Mrs Haught was in th e e mploy of Mrs Lindbergh s uncle Mr Frank Morrow of Kings Creek Wes t Virginia She sta ted that s he was very ne rvo us prio r to th e m ee tin g but th a t th ey were real peopl e and tha t Mr Lindbergh was a very nice man

Many words could be written concerning Lindbergh a nd have been a nd will be Suffice it to say th at he was an unpre tentious individual that history caught up with S lim wrote his own eulogy in keeping with his ideas of simplicity We commit th e body of General Charl es A Lindbe rg h to its final resting place but his s pirit we commend to Almighty God knowing th a t death is but a new adventure in ex istence and remembering how Jesus sa id upon th e cross Fath er into thy hands I commend my spirit

We of the flyin g frate rnity sa lute you Charles Augustus Lindbergh February 4 1902 - August 26 1974

Fish Hassell Aviation Pioneer

This past September 16 a group of Rockford lllinois OX-5ers and QBs flew over the grave site of Bert R J Fish Hassell and dipped their wings in a final salute to one of Americas aviation pioneers and a friend of EAA

Earlier in the year July to be exact another group of EAAers OX-5ers and QBs flew the same mission over Cedar Falls Iowas in recognition of another great aviation pioneer and friend of EAA John H Livingston

My most prized possession is the memories I have of knowing these two great aviators Johnny and Fish were beacons of light in the embryonic age of flight Beshycause of their pioneering efforts we today enjoy the speed comfort and safety of our flying machines

Johnny was a man of speed Fish was a long distance explorer Johnny and Fish both were mechanically inshyclined which contributed greatly to their success in aviashytion Johnny went from motorcycles to airplanes and Fish from the Cole Automobile Company to the Glenn H Curtiss School of Aviation

Fish was sent to Hammondsport New York to repair the Cole car belonging to Glenn Curtiss When Fish finshyished the repairs on the auto he and Curtiss went for a test spin whereupon Curtiss persuaded Fish to tum his talents to airplanes

At age 20 Fish began his flying lessons and on June 15 1914 he soloed Later with pilot license number 20 in hand he went on to become a fancier of seaplanes - and to acquiring his nickname He was a man of spirit and challenge In 1915 he was flying a Curtiss flying boat from Chicago to Lake Forest amid choppy Lake Michigan waves when he decided to show his friends at the hangar some precision flying

In Fishs own words As I passed them a huge wave broke under me kissed my tail section and forced my nose into the lake The next thing I saw was more Lake Michigan herring than the local fishermen at Waukegan ever knew there was in the lake That incident and

16

REMINISCING WITH BIG NICK Nick Rezich

4213 Centerville Rd Rockford III 61102

numerous others that ended up with both he and his flying boats in the drink gave him the nickname Fish

Fish was best known however for his pioneering of the Great Circle Route He had visions of todays air routes long before they became the standard lanes for commercial aircraft In 1926 he wrote Flying the Atlanshytic is still a stunt Fish urged the U5 to look at both the commercial and military advantages of using the Circle Route over the north to Europe

The small network of airlines that existed at that time and the military were not ready to exploit Fishs ideas and route so the pioneering was left to Fish himself

The scheme eventually decided upon was a flight from Rockford lllinois to Stockholm Sweden Fish mustered a group of Rockford business men to co-sponsor the flight He then went to his friend Eddie Stinson in Deshytroit and asked him to build a ship that would carry a crew of 2 and 700 gallons of fuel (4200 pounds)

The airplane Stinson built was a J-5 SM-l Detroiter which was named the Greater Rockford For co-pilot and navigator Fish chose Parker Shorty Cramer The date for take-off was set for July 26 1928 Fred Machshyesney the owner and operator of the airport north of Rockford which was the jump-off point pulled up the fence posts at the ends of his runway so it would be long enough for the fuel laden Stinson

The following is Bert Hassells own story of the sucshycessful take-off in 1928 to prove the trans-Atlantic air route using the Great Circle Route

With my co-pilot Shorty Cramer we took off from Rockford and stuck our nose due north to find Cochrane Ontario The flying over Quebec was in the daylight hours but at night our attention was only on instruments which made the night seem much longer As daylight came we found ourselves over a very familiar area -Burrwell near Chidley With daylight and a definite check of our location we started across the Davis Strait We rode for hour after hour - between cloud layers shylooking for the Greenland shore to appear The old J-5 purred along which was music to our ears

Suddenly the weather started to break and we could see a faint shore line and the sun shining on the Greenland ice cap We were both stiff and tired (in the air for 20 hours) when we began to look for the fjord which would lead us to our refueling base But high winds slowed them so it seemed like we were standshying still The fuel supply was running dangerously low A careful check by Cramer and myself showed we had fuel for less than an hour

Hassell reasoned that he did not have enough power to go looking for a small landing strip on the side of a mountain and so we stuck our nose due east away from those hideous ice crevasses to where it would be only a matter of minutes before it would give up its long struggle to get two pilots to our Greenland base With power on and off we were ready to land

To our great surprise we landed safely on centuriesshyold ice with about 2 inches of hoar frost on it We had reeled up the lead radio antenna and sat there like two tired old barnstormers and rested We had been in the air 24 hours and 12 minutes and thats a long time sitting even in a chair at home

We tied our lead antenna to an aileron tip and pounded out like made Landed safe on ice cap - But I guess no one was near enough to read this message I shut off this piece of equipment and we got ready to go We put on our heavy boots parka took a rifle and some pemmican and started to walk to our base on the Stromshyfjord To make it short it took us 14 days to walk to Dr Hobbs camp all tired from this healthy walk over the ice cap We realized then that we two barnstormers should have remained at home

Th~ flight never reached Stockholm but Fish proved hiS pomt Today commercial jet airliners are using that very same route thanks to pioneer Bert R J Fish Hassell You would have had to have known Fish to fully appreshy

aate that short story He was a man of will determination and faith in his fellow man Ill never forget the story he told me about the pig and chicken farm he had in Goose Bay Labrador - during his service in World War II It goes something like this You see we had about 1500 GIs and officers stationed on the base and most of them were farm boys from the midwest Then we had all those crews coming in daily on their ways overseas - or coming back from a tour of duty Having powdered eggs and Spam for breakfast was not much of a morale builder so I requested a couple dozen hens and roosters and some pigs

When the brass in DC heard about the request they figured 01 Fish had flipped The first request was ignored but when they received the second one - which was worded in the typical Fish Hassell vernacular - wheels started to tum A team of brass flew to Goose Bay to find out first hand what was behind this odd request They were met by Col Hassell and the first thing he greeted them with was Where are my pigs and how much booze is on board

When the brass regained their composure Fish exshyplained his reason for the pigs and chickens To make a long story longer he got his pigs and chickens and a guaranteed ration of booze for his men His farm boys built a hen house and a pig pen - not only did this makeshyshift farm provide fresh ham and eggs for breakfast but it turned out to be the main attraction at the base for inshycoming crews and solved the garbage problem It also gained worldwide fame and publicity for Fish Like he said I was the only Air Force commander that gained popularity through chicken ----- Besides that

(Photo Courtesy Nick Rezich)

Fish Hassell receiving one of many awards garnered durshying his long career Left to right Ralph Hartwig Fish Hassell Steve Wittman and Nick Rezich

the pigs gave the base a homey smell There are many more interesting and humorous

stories about Fish that you can read first hand by picking up a copy of his book The Hiking Viking - over 400 pages of aviation history and hundreds of never before published photos

The famous Stinson Greater Rockford NX-5408 was recovered from the ice cap 40 years later by Fishs two sons Vic and John and Robert Carlin district manashyger of National Airlines in Houston Texas an antique aviation buff and a native of Rockford

A Sikorsky helicopter operated by I believe Greenshyland Air picked the Stinson off the ice and a Hemisphere Aircraft Leasing Corporation C-46 flew it back to Rockshyford where thousands of people lined the fence to cheer the return of the Greater Rockford I was one of the privileged persons who helped unload the Stinson from the C-46 BELIEVE-YOU-ME it was an honor and a thrill to grab that Hamilton Standard prop and guide that famshyous bird out of the doorway of the C-46 It is also ironic that the Stinson was flown home in a Curtiss product

After all the ceremonies were over Pop (as the family called him) asked me to remove a spark plug from the J-5 just to see if it would come out Much to our surprise the number one cylinder plug came out with no strain using a regular plug wrench I then depressed the Alemite fitting and believe it or not yellow grease oozed out The aluminum tanks looked like new with no traces of corrosion at all and the wicker seats were in equally good shape The yellow life raft was inflated and it held air with no leaks The Rockford to Stockholm sign on the cowl was like new The only fabric left after 40 years of winds

17

and snow was located on the rudder - with the NXshy5408 still very brigh t

The airplane was later trucked to Machesney Aircraft and placed in the hangar from which it left 40 years beshyfore That was in 1968 and since then the steel parts have rusted badly and some additional damage has resulted from all the moving around from display to display

Attempts were made to raise money to restore the Greater Rockford but none of them panned out Fish had hoped to have the aircraft made a memorial to his son Peter who lost his life flying an F-100 while in the Air Force Eventually the aircraft ws sold to the new SST Museum located near Kissimmee Florida where it was put on display awaiting restoration

On May 5 1971 Bert Fish Hassell and John H Livingshyston were enshrined into the OX-5 Aviation Pioneers Hall of Fame at Hammondsport New York I had the honor and privilege of giving Fish his last airplane ride John Tasso chief pilot for Hartzog Aviation and myself flew Fish and his family to the Hall of Fame ceremonies at Hammondsport

A fond farewell to Fish Hassell a great aviation pioshyneer

Addendum from Big Nick shyFor you eagle-eyed readers refer to the caption for

the middle photo on page 11 of the August issue of The Vintage Airplane The 3rd man from the left is not Gorshydon Israel as stated Also change Walter French to Walter Frech who is now with the FAA in Los Angeles I only had the negative available when I listed the men in the photo and had to put it up to the light and guess at the figures Also change Earl Sting to Earl Stine

- Big Nick


Fish Hassell left and Shorty Cramer shortly before their take-off for Stockholm


The Greater Rockford at Machesney Airshyport in August of 1928

18

With the tail section of the Greater Rockford are from left Vic Hassell Robert Carlin formerly of Rockshyford and now of Houston Tex Bert R J (Fish) Hasshysell and John Hassell (Photos by the Rockford Mornin

and Register-Republic)

(Rockford Morning Star and Register-Republic)

Below The Greater Rockford arrives back in Rockford via C-46 after 40 years on the Greenland ice cap

(Photo by Frank S Bee)

Dale Browder in his beautifully restored Fairchild PT-19 Number 42 in the background belongs to Dr King Merritt

PT PARADISE By Jack Cox

If you are planning to be in Florida on vacation in early November the weekend of the 9 and 10 to be exact you will want to attend the 2nd Annual Snowbird Fly-In at the Flying Seminole Ranch just northeast of Orlando The festivities are sponsored hy EAA Chapter 74 In addishytion to the flying that will go on from the crack of dawn until the sun slips down in the Gulf of Mexico there will be a banquet at the local Ramada Inn East For resershyvations call 305-273-1500 For further information on the goings on call Dale lrowder at 305-365-3987 The Flying Seminole Ranch airport is 4100 feet of pool table flat Florida grass so if you have escaped the early snows in Yankee land in your sjJam ran you can easily get in and out If you do dfcide to attend please get in touch with Dale Browder so the banquet can be planned to acshycommodate your party

Even if you cant make the November 9-10 Fly-In the Flying Seminole Ranch should be marked down in your little black book as a must stop particularly if you are a fan of the Fairchild PT series All sorts of PT activities go on here from complete restoration and maintenance to formation flying by the Taintsville Air Corps There are currently 9 Fairchild primary trainers based at Flying Seminole - 3 PT-19s and 6 PT-26s Can any other airport top that

Most of the activity centers around EAAer Dale Browshyder and his Daleair Incorporated which caters to anshytiquers warbirds and homebuilders - sport flying types will find the welcome mat out on a permanent basis 20

Dale and Bob Riggs of Winter Park own what they believe to be the oldest PT-19 flying Dale located the old bird near Charleston S C - in sad shape - and managed to patch it up sufficiently to limp down the coastline back to Florida on a ferry permit With help from the Taintsville Air Corps he pitched in and comshypletely restored the 1939 Fairchild in roughly a years time including a major on the Ranger He has become so proficient at Fairchild restoration that a second one has now been done in even less time than the first and a dilishygent scouring of the countryside is going on right now to locate all the PT-1926 and Ranger parts that are still at large If anyone reading thi~ knows of such parts or aircraft for sale contact Dale at the phone number above You will be helping put another fin old airplane back in the air rather than having it rust and fflt away forever

The Taintsville Air Corps presently consists of Browshyder Riggs Dr Donald Chubb of Winter rark Dr Wayne Todd of Maitland Truman Carr of Lae Mary Dr Ed King of Chuluota and Ed Escallon of Cape Cwveral who incidentally had his PT-26 at Oshkosh this year - the yelshylow one with the vicious shark mouth for thpse of you who were there You will see a color picture of it in the November issue of SPORT AVIATION

Oh yes about that name Taintsville (when the Flying Seminole Ranch is located) is so-called locally because taint in Oviedo and taint in Chuluota Its beshytween both

You Yankees can understand that cant you

(Photo by Ted Koston)

Ed Escallon s PT-26A at Oshkosh 74 (Photo by John Fitzgerald) (Photo by Dale Browder)

Would you believe that four days after this picture wasThis cockpit cover was especially designed by Dale taken this PT was flying These guys dont fool aroundBrowder for the PT-19 It even has provision for the turnshywhen it comes to restoring airplanes over structure Notice the EAA Antique-Classic Warshy

birds of America and Taintsville Air Corps patches now theres a real EAAer Dale is Commander of the Taintsville Air Corps

(Photo by Frank S Bele)

Pine trees soft grassy runways Spanish moss a beautifully restored PT-19 open cockpits and warm Florida breezes take a look at this about mid-January fellow Yankeelanders and eat your hearts out

D Ryan Broughams and Their Builders by William Wagner

The story of the most famous ~ airplane ever built the Spirit of z St Louis and the 231 similar

aircraft built after Lindberghs Atlantic crossing 100 pages 160 photos Paul Matt threeshyview drawings

111 Colorful documentary of the 78 I- days in 1934 when the Army ~ flew the US mail Amid corshya ruption and controversy the 111 Army battled extra severe I- weather and all the inadeshy~ quacies of obsolete equipment in this heroic ~ and often tragic story Sometimes the odds were ~ too much which prompted one Congressman to 0gt ask If the Army finds it so difficult to carry

mail how could they be expected to carry bombs 595 D The Great Planes

by James Gilbert

Indulge yourself in this fantastic photo essay The author has the right idea a book filled with bigger-than-life photos in f

both black and white and color shy I You ll enjoy the next too if you IH-oOii~1 can take your eyes off the pic-

Complete like predecessor Stearman Guidebook Contains photos of every single engine model built through the Airmaster series and WWll Bobcat three view drawings of the most significshyant versions reprints of old advertising and comshyplete serial listings for military Bobcats Anyone who has ever flown or admired Cessna will want this one 695

US Civil Aircraft by Joseph Juptner

The antiquers bible Encyshyclopedia of A TC planes giving a complete description history production data performance specifications with excellent photo coverage Colorful narrashytives arewoveri throughout tellshying of successes failures and little-known anecdotes Each volume covers 100 ATCs 300 + photos amp 300 pages D Vol 1 ATC 1 thru 1001927-29 995 D Vol II ATC 101 thru 200 1929 995 D Vol II ATC 201 thru 300 1929-30 995 D Vol IV ATC 301 thru 4001930-31 995 D Vol V ATC 401 thru 500 1931-33 995 D Vol VI ATC 501 thru 600 1933-35 1195

by Frank Tallman ~ Here a book of pure enjoyshy bull I 111 ment Tales of flying those great lt III~ Z aircraft of all eras from the 1I~()ln

cockpit view- point The narshy tIl(S rator none other than one of the I

worlds greatest living pilots TFrank Tallman Greatmiddot photoshy bull graphs too Bleriot Camel - Spad Jenny Ford Trimotor Pmiddot12 B-25 and many more

Grover Loening

Complete history of the flying shoehorns Photos so good text so detailed and the book a work of art Youll have to have it for your library 10 x 10 250 photos D Water Flying

by Franklin T Kurt == If you own a float plane or are w just interested in water flying Z you will want this book Its the

first all-inclusive book about flyshying boats float planes and amshyphibians Covers operating techniques and history of seashyplanes It is masterfully written by a former Grumman engineer from a life-time of testing deshysigning and instructing in water

1495

D Boyhood On The Upper Mississippi

by Lindbergh 500 Racing Planes and Air Races

Complete story of Air Racing its planes and pilots by Reed Kinert Each volume has rare photos fine scale drawings and complete specs combined with text that captures all the color and excitement of each race D Vol 11909-1923 300 D Vol 2 1924-1931 300 D Vol 3 1932-1939 300 D VoI 41946-1967 300 D Vol 51969 Annual (1968) 395 D Vol 6 1970 Annual (1969) 395 D Vol 71971 Annual (1970) 395

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11111D Vol 8 1972 Annual (1971) 395 D Vol 91973 Annual (1972) 395 D Vol 10 1974 Annual (1973) 395 D Hardbound Vol 1-4 1495 D Hardbound Vol 5-8 1695 D The Skyracers Hood 495 D THE GOLDEN AGE OF AIR RACING -- pre 1940 by EM Histories of the racers stones about their pilots and deSigners with race results and 3 views Hundreds of pictures make this a must volume for the racin enthusiast 4 00

D Hang Gliding the Basic Handbook of Skysurfing by Dan Poynter

The history of Hang Gliding the building of the machine and an explana- tion of the materials needed Here also the theory and techniques of hang gliding as well as a directory of availashyble plan sets Federal regs too All in a single volume

D Mustang the Story of the P-51 Fighter by Robert Gruenhagen

A very thorough treatise on the worlds most favorite fighter plane Deals extensively with the design testing developshyment and deployment of the P-51 on statistics perforshymance and production This is the complete Mustang book 323 photos

1--laquotLlDLNO 1shy

1595 D Augsburg Eagle

by William Green ~~~ The most complete documentary of the Messhyserschmitt 109 ever possible The 24 pages of John Weals incredible color side views alone are worth the purchase price Plus cutaways threeshyviews data charts you name it This should be on your reshyference shelf

D Log of the Liberators by Steve Birdsal

The story of the B-24 Liberator bomber Here are the stories of the famous Lady Be Good the Ploesti raid D-Day and Iwo Jima set in a background of hundreds of unbelievable photos color side views production tables

Jff-~

~ _ 995

and expert text 1295 D The Curtiss Hawks Shamburger amp Christy

complete history from P-l to Kittyhawks 2495 D American Combat Planes Wagner comshy

plete history with over 1000 photos 1495 D F-51 D Handbook Accurate reprint 695 D The P-51 Mustang Len Morgan 295 D Stearman GUidebook 160 photos 695 D Flying Fortress Jablonski 1295 D United States Army amp Air Force Fighters

1916-1961 Brown amp Heyn Heavily illus1295 D Carrier Fighters 550 D D[ve amp Torpedo Bombers 550 D Messerschmitt 109 Nowarra 1175 D Messerschmitt 09 Gallery Hitchcock 1500 o Knights of The Black Cross Mizrahi

Firstmiddot person accounts of the Aces of the Luftwaffe 1295

o Spitfire A Harley10rd book 11 95 D SDitfire Aero Series 300 D Boeing P-12 F-4B Aero 300 D Boeing P-26 Pea-Shooter Aero 395 D The 9th Air Force in World War II Rust 1195

D Ryan the Aviator by William Wagner

The adventures and ventures of pioneer aviator and businessman T Claude Ryan Highly illustrated and remarkably interesting $1995

OUT-OF-PRINT WHILE SUPPLY LASTS

HISTORIC AVIATION prints and books for the collector

3850-8 Coronation Rd Eagan Minn 55122 Ene $ ______ (Minn res add 4 tax) Name _________________

Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______

Postpaid 14 day Moneymiddotback Guarantee 75cent Handling on Orders Under $1000

tures This book is definitely class o The Ford Air Tours 1925-1931

by Leslie Forden A complete story in text and

~ photos of the seven crossshy~ country Reliability Tours Proshy

fusely illustrated incorporating much collateral material and an interesting whatever hapshypened to section in the back relating capsule histories of Tour participants A must for the enthusiasts reference libshyrary 8V2X 11 o They Call Me Mr Airshow

by Bill Sweet More than an autobiography of Mr Sweet this book is a lively account of Bill Sweets associashytion with the greats of the air show circuit from the 20s on The book is exciting informashytive and in places riotously humorous Once you start readshying you wont be able to put it down o Cessna Guidebook

Mitch Mayborn and Bob Pickett

craft 100 photos 15 drawings 895 1495 D Weather Flying Robert Buck 695

D Instrument Flying Taylor NEW 695 D Private Pilots Guide Reithmaier

Award winning manual used by many flight schools 795

ji D Fair Weather Flying Taylor Practical ways to improve you VFR flying skills by the author of the best selling book Instrument Flying 795

D Mr Piper amp His Cubs 795 o The Stinsons Underwood Hist Stinson

NC 230 photos 595 D The Piper Cub Story 2951100 D Single Engine Beechcrafts 295 D Single Engine Cessnas 295 D Of Monocoupes amp Men Underwood 495

THEY CALL ME

MRAItSHOW D The Plane That Changed The World

Ingells DC-3 hist from design amp developmentthrough airline use 595

D This Was Air Travel Palmer 695 D Tin Goose Douglas Ingells 395 D Ford Trimotor Pilots Manual 395 D 747 Boeing Super Jet Ingells 1295 D L1011 Tri-Star amp Lockheed Story

Ingells Hist of Lockheed 995 amp TriStar 1295

D More Than Meets The Sky Mills Pictorial hist Northwest Airlines 1295

D The Barnstormers Don Dwiggins 495

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Around The AntiqueClassic World

BELLANCA INFO NEEDED

D W Dean of RR 3 Box 3079 Juneau Alaska 99801 is rebuilding a 194714-13 Bellanca (N-74409) and is in need of knowledge and techniques used to make wing root splices on all four spars

JOH NSON AIR SPEED INDI CATORS

For sale New manufacture Exact copy of original $4995 Bill Haselton 1238 Cath erwood South Bend Indiana 46614

MEYERS FOR SALE

Anyone interested in a Meyers OTW 145 or 200 should contact Gid Miller R D No1 Tinsman Road Frenchshytown New Jersey 08825 Phone 201-996-2730

BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS

Thomas P Rowe 832 Douglas Ave Elgin Ill 60120 and two fellow EAAers are rebuilding a Cessna T -50 (UCshy78B) to like-new condition Th e proj ec t involves the complete rebuilding of the all-wood wing rebuilding of sub-assemblies and fus elage recove ring and finishing to military configuration of the ex terior and overhaul of th e en gin es Needed are good useable ailerons left outboard flap attach fitting engine control cables Write Tom or call at 312-697-1470 or 312-377-1451 (hangar)

Calendar Of Events

JANUARY 24-26 1975 - LAKELAND FLORIDA - Sun and Fun Midwinter Fly-In For an informational mailing contact Martin Jones 1061 New Tampa Highway Lakeland Florida 33802

JULY 29 - AUGUST 41975- OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 23rd Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Sport aviation worlds greatest event Its not too early to make plans and reservations

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PITCAIRN PROJECT

The accompanying photo shows the current project of Jack Rose (EAA 55976 AIC 1441) Rt 1 Box 131 Spangshyler Washington 99031 - a 1931 Pitcairn PA-8 Super Mailshywing It is powered by a Wright J69 NC-I0753 is Pitcairn Serial Number 164

FLORIDA SPORT AVIATION ACTIVITIES - The very active Florida Sport Aviation Antique and Oassie Association has a fly-in somewhere in the state almost every month The decision on the location of the next flyshyin is usually made on too short notice for inclusion in The Vintage Airshyplane so we recommend to all planning a Florida vacation that they contact FSAACA President Ed Escallon Box 12731 SI Petersburg Florida 33733 for fly-in details Join the fun

Back Issues Of The Vintage Airplane

Limited numbers of back issues of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE are available at 50c each Copies still on hand at EAA Headquarters a re

1973 - MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

1974 - JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

23

(Photo by Ted Kaston)

THE PRESIDENTS

PAGE

By E E Buck Hilbert President Antique-Classic Division

THE ETERNAL QUESTION

Most often asked by the group with the Airplane Disease is Where can I find an old airshyplane or project I can restore There are ways ways that require patience search and more patient research And when it all comes to a head you must be in the right place at the right time Occasionally a deal you have been fostering for years will suddenly mature and if you are not right there when that guy decides to sell you are out

Locating them although sometimes the easy part is less than half the problem but it is a problem There are lots of leads around - you just have to unearth them Try around home first Ask around The corner gas station the barber shop the antique shop some of the old timers Its amazing what will turn up Right here in my home town with a population of less than 400 I turned up a Gnome rotary - from a source so unlikely you wouldnt believe it

One school teacher I know starts each new class by introducing himself explaining that he is interested in old airplanes and then asks bluntly if any of them might know where there is an old airplane He has turned up more than a few using this method - and met a whole bunch of interesting people in the process

Fellow aviators are often a good source When you listen to some of the hangar talk intershyject an occasional query in that direction Youll get leads that are figments of imagination a lot of times but there will sometimes be paydirt there Ive chased rumors for days and even weeks to locate an airplane everybody knew about only to find it belonged to an uncle of one of my closest friends He knew it was there all the time I just hadnt asked him

Once located then the fun begins Chances are there have been dozens ahead of you and each one ruffled the feathers of the owner a little until his patience is mighty thin Butter him up and keep after him Dont let that bird get away Our Swallow is a prime example Dario Toffenetti worked on that one better than ten years But we have it and itll fly again Keep your ear to the ground youll find one In the meantime though if you have any leads

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17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23




8

ROMA










(Photo by Lee Fray)


by Bill Hodges










(Photo by Lee Fray)





11























)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23

ROMA










(Photo by Lee Fray)


by Bill Hodges










(Photo by Lee Fray)





11























)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23

(Photo by Lee Fray)


by Bill Hodges










(Photo by Lee Fray)





11























)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23






(Photo by Lee Fray)





11























)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23























)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23










)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23



)







EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23



EAA Aviation Museum





















16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23









16

























17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23
















17








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23








- Big Nick





18


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23


























by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23






















by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23












by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23






by James Gilbert









Grover Loening




1495




1bull











Jff-~

~ _ 995












Address ________________

City ______---________

State Zip ______














THEY CALL ME







()ffi III ~ E c(

~

g I shy

5Z

~ is

2i







MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23






MEYERS FOR SALE


BAMBOO BOMBER NEEDS


Calendar Of Events



we -

t -1

PITCAIRN PROJECT







23

Documents

Vintage Airplane - Oct 1974