0% found this document useful (0 votes)
7 views36 pages

Vintage Airplane Feb 2000

Uploaded by

Florian Sterchi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
7 views36 pages

Vintage Airplane Feb 2000

Uploaded by

Florian Sterchi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 36

z

-o
l-
-
e(
u
oU)
Cft
C
STRAIGHT AND LEVEL

2 VINTAGE HALL OF FAME

4 VAA NEWS

6 THIRTY FIVE YEARS AT THE OUTER


MARKER!Dutch Redfield

10 MYSTERY PLANE/HG. Frautschy

12 PASS IT TO BUCKlE.E. ((B uck " Hilbert

13 BUD FIELD'S C-180... AND NIKKI TOO!/


Budd Davisson

18 GOLDEN WEST FLY-IN/


H G. Frautschy

21 AN EXTRAORDINARY ELDER EAGLE/


Ron Gamer

25 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS/CALENDAR

27 CLASSIFIED ADS

30 VINTAGE MERCHANDISE

www.vintageaircraft.org

Publisher TOM POBEREZNY

Editor-ill-Chief scon SPANGLER


Editor HENRY G. FRAUTSCHY

Execlltive Editor MIKE DIFRISCO

COlltributillg Editor JOHN UNDERWOOD


BUDD DAVISSON

Art Director BETH BLANCK

Photography Staff JIM KOEPNICK


LEEANN ABRAMS
MARK SCHAIBLE

A dvertisillglEditorial Assistalll ISABELLE WISKE


SEE PAGE 2 6 FOR FURTHER VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INFORMATION
by ESPIE "BUTCH" JOYCE
PRESIDENT, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION

As I peer out the win­ dent of Communications. John had also been the link be­
dow today here in tween EAA HQ and Sun 'n Fun management for a number of
North Carolina I am years, which gave him a measure of insight in the operation,
looking at some six and has helped provide for a smooth transition.
inches of that white I really think that John got to where he liked all of that
stuff that is normally re­ sunshine and warm weather. When given the chance, why
served for those lucky not? What about it, John? For those of you who have been
people who live North attending Sun 'n Fun, you know how much enjoyment you
of the Mason/Dixie line. can have. If you haven't had a chance to get to the weeklong
Luckily, the Luscombe and Baron are tucked safely inside our event, give it a try. It can be a very relaxing kick-off to the fly­
hanger at Shiloh Airport. in season.
Our Black Lab is out in the back yard, plowing furrows in When you do go to Sun 'n Fun be sure to check out the
the snow with her nose. The two cats are sitting on a table Vintage Headquarters Building, hosted by your VAA Chapter
under the roof of our cook shed, watching her actions with 1, the "FSAACA". They have great iced tea and popcorn, and
an expression of disbelief on their whiskered faces. I guess it you can also register your aircraft there as well. You can even
all boils down to what makes you happy! That new snow also renew your VAA membership and have your friends sign up
means that far away in Oshkosh, many people will enjoy the in the VAA as well. Just ask Jane Kimball and her volunteers!
skiplane fly-in at Pioneer airport behind the EAA AirVenture They'll be happy to help. Oh yes, be sure to bring your sun­
Museum. I hear it's lots of fun! screen-you'll need it!
Norma and I traveled to Oshkosh last year for the event. But enough daydreaming of warmer weather. I need to
Unfortunately, all we had that weekend was rain and slush, bring my mind back to the present, to February. Since it has
but this year should be great. We'll share some photos of the snowed and I cannot get the airplanes out of the hanger, I'm
fly-in in next month's issue. going to have to be good to my word and start working on
If you're planning your calendar and would like to spend the Luscombe panel replacement. Years ago, I bought a panel
a weekend helping us get ready for the 2000 edition of EAA kit for the Beech D-35 owned and operated for 11 years be­
AirVenture, we will again host a fly-in work weekend during fore moving over to the Baron.
the latter part of May. We spruce up the VAA area on Every so often, I would get that kit out and look at it,
Wittman Field, all the while having a great time working to­ studying all of the things that needed to be done in order to
gether and enjoying an evening of camaraderie that's a redo the instrument panel. After thinking about the chore
natural extension of the enjoyable times we spend during the and knowing how much work was there, I would slide it back
Fly-In. This is a great time to enjoy some grass roots camping, into the box and wait another year!
flying, fellowship, and at the same time help VAA prepare I sold the D-35 before I could talk myself into doing all of
your area for AirVenture 2000. We'll give you the exact date the work. Later I sold the panel kit to an aircraft dealer lo­
as soon as it is firmed up. cated at St. Simons Island, Georgia, delivering it on my way
As you read this February issue of Vintage Airplane, you to Sun 'n Fun.
can just about look out over the horizon and almost see the I have often wondered if he ever got the nerve to install
sunshine of Lakeland, Florida. That's right, the Sun 'n Fun that kit. The Beech panel would have been quite a project.
EAA Fly-In happens April 11-17. This exceptional event has Thankfully, I don't think the Luscombe panel rework will be
grown to be a huge success over the years. quite as difficult.
One of the important reasons for this great accomplish­ Your VAA Board of Directors will be meeting March 31 at
ment was the guidance and hard work of newly retired EAA Headquarters in Oshkosh to discuss continuing subjects,
Executive Director Billy Henderson. Billy would be the first business matters, and government matters related to our air­
to tell you his greatest asset is his wife Adair, who has craft. This is your organization, so we invite you to air any
worked equally as hard to make Sun 'n Fun a great success. concerns you feel need attention. Drop me note at P.O. Box
I've know Billy for many years, starting from the time he 35584, Greensboro, NC 27425 so that these matters might be
was a hard working volunteer and then moved on to be­ brought before the proper committee or the board for discus­
come the full-time paid Executive Director of Sun 'n Fun. sion. Try to get it to me before March 1 so we can do our
On December 31, 1999 Billy retired from that position. Time homework on the subject.
nor space will not allow me to list all of the things and per­ As we look forward to the beginning of the fly-in season,
sonal sacrifices Billy and Adair have put forth for the good I'd like to ask you to consider asking a fellow enthusiast to
and growth of this fly-in. join your Vintage Aircraft Association. It would be great if
Personally, I would just like to say, "Thanks, Billy and you made this one of your personal goals for the year 2000.
Adair, for your dedication to sport aviation and for the There's strength in numbers. As we add more members, we
friendship we continue to enjoy." build a stronger voice when discussing matters that effect
John Burton is now the new Executive Director of Sun 'n your freedom to maintain and fly your aircraft. Let's all pull
Fun. Many of you will remember John-he worked for EAA in the same direction for the good of aviation. Remember we
at their Oshkosh, Wisconsin Headquarters as the Vice Presi­ are better together. Join us and have it all! ......
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 1
Concluding our profiles of the 1999 \:\ \ Hall of Fame
inductees. this month Itt's meet ...

Tom and Barbara Flock with one of the five Wacos restored by Tom since 1979. Sadly,
Barbara Flock passed away November 23, 1999.
Tom also enjoys "modern" airplanes. He's owned two
Navlons, the latest this 1962 Navlon Rangemaster H he pur­
chased in 1974.
VAANEWS ing General Aviation fleet. The aver­
age age of the fleet is expected to be
41 years old by 2009.
volved in school and community
activities as well as aviation. Their
academic record should indicate
compiled by H.G. Frautschy Mike Gallagher, FAA Small Air­ that they can successfully com­
plane Directorate manager, stressed plete the course of study described
that it was important for all partici­ in the scholarship.
pants, including Type Clubs, To reach the scholarship page,
GENERAL AVIATION manufacturers, associations and connect with the EAA website then
CONTINUING AIRWORTHNESS EAA, AAA, and the Vintage Aircraft click on "aviation education" or
SUMMIT Association to provide input and type in the direct page address:
In Kansas City, Missouri, a spec­ assist the FAA put together a pro­ www.eaa.org/education/schoiarships
trum of General Aviation leaders gram that can be proactive instead
met with FAA officials to provide of reactive. HOMEBUILT HEADQUARTERS
proactive input concerning dealing As we've seen in the past, when SITE UP AND RUNNING
with the issues surrounding the ag- pushed by political considerations, One of the great aspects of being a
some issues have not been resolved part of the EAA family is access to a
THE COVERS in a way that bene fited GA own­ well of information that is so deep
ers/ users. It is hoped that this you hardly hear a splash when you
FRONT COVER . .. One of the dynamiC approach will result in an drop an AN12 nut into it. There's so
workhorses of the General Aviation effective program. much stuff available, and sometimes
fleet is the Cessna 180. Owners Bud For an extensive description of it can be a bit daunting just knowing
and Nikki Fields are featured in this the meeting, please see the Febru­ where to start.
month's issue, starting on page 13. ary issue of Sport Aviation, starting Charlie Becker and the Informa­
EAA photo by Mark Schaible, shot on page 12. You can also go to the tion Services staff are one of your
with a Canon EOSIn equipped EAA web site at www.eaa.org, and first links to that information well,
with an 80-220 mm lens on enter the "Members Only" Section. and they've put together a terrific
100ASA Fuji Provia slide film. EAA Go to "Government and Industry section in the EAA "Members Only"
Cessna 210 photo plane flown by Relations" and click on "Top Gov­ area of EAA's web site.
Bruce Moore. ernment Issues" for a full article Chock full of "how to" informa­
concerning this meeting, a long tion, the new site is a hand y
BACK COVER . .. "Feet Dry, Half with a list of recommendations resource for those who are building
Moon Bay" is the title of this etch­
made by attendees. an airplane, and for those of us who
ing by Bill Ellsworth, Virginia
Beach, Virginia. It depicts the USS are restoring as well. Just click on
Macon as it approaches Moffett EAA AVIATION FOUNDATION the "Members Only" button on the
Field at the south end of San Fran­ SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS left side of the home page at
cisco Bay. The airship is flying in NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE www. eaa .org. Follow the prompts,
from the West over Half Moon Bay, Students interested in pursuing and take a look, but be sure and
with another 30 minutes of flight aviation studies can now learn more give yo urself a bit of extra tim e;
time remaining before docking at about up to $67,000 in EAA Aviation there's a lot to see!
the Navy field. Foundation scholarships and receive
Bill is a former Naval Aviator (he applications through a new service JOEJUPTNER
says at his age, he's nearly a former on the EAA World Wide Web site: Born in 1913, and enamored with
everything!), and that he enjoys www.eaa.org airplanes as a young boy listening to
doing artwork depicting Naval avi­ These scholarships, which range the stories of the barnstormers who
ation events that have occurred from $500 to $25,000, recognize, en­ would pass through his home town,
within his lifetime. He is a veteran courage and support excellence among Joseph P. Juptner became an A&E
of WW-II, Korea and Vietnam, and individuals studying the essential mechanic and a civilian pilot, and
flew propeller and jet aircraft off of technologies and skills of aviation. even dabbled in amateur aircraft de­
27 different carriers. Feet Dry, Half The awards assist outstanding students sign. During WW-II he served as a
Moon Bay was presented with an demonstrating a financial need to ac­ Air Force Fighter group crew chief.
Honorable Mention ribbon during complish their goals. In the busy times after the War,
the 1999 EAA Sport Aviation Art "One of the missions of the EAA he partnered in a flying school, and
Competition. Aviation Foundation is to inspire a later operated a hobby shop while
A collection of Bill's etchings is new generation to become the next building wind tunnel models.
on display in the EAA AirVenture aviation innovators," said Tom For most of us , Joe's enduring
Museum. On your next visit, use Poberezny, President of the Founda­ legacy is a body of work that took
the stairs located just behind the tion. "These scholarships are a way most of his lifetime to compile. Col­
Women With Wings exhibit, next to assist students who are fulfilling lecting photos and information
to the Air Racing gallery. There are their dreams in the world of flight." about airplanes for many years, he
24 of his etchings on display in the EAA Aviation Foundation carefully researched and wrote what
well-lit stairway. scholarship applicants should be has become to be known as the
well-rounded individuals, in­ "Family Tree of the ATC," the nine­
4 FEBRUARY 2000
volume set of books published as
U.S. Civil Aircraft.
First printed by Aero Publishers in
1962, and more recently in the '90s
by McGraw-Hill, the first 817 Ap­
proved Type Certificates are
documented in Juptner's breezy,
warm style that comes from a per­
son who lived and breathed the
history of aviation as a boy and later MORE ON DOUG CORRIGAN sequently simply wired closed). The
as a man. reporter asked Corrigan where he had
He wrote a couple of other recol­ Dear H.G., flown in from. Corrigan, a young
lections of aviation lore, including Duke Krantz (of Gates Flying Cir­ man of few words answered quite
his last, T-Hangar Tales, published cus fame) was a pilot for the New honestly, "Long Beach."
by Historic Aviation in Eagan, MN York Daily News for a number of The reporter, a New Yorker, knew
(800/225-5575) . years, and he told this story back in that Long Beach (Long Island) Air­
Joe was a faithful correspondent 1952 or so. port was only a few miles away from
during his later years as he lived in In July of 1938, Howard Hughes Floyd Bennett Field, so he immedi­
California. He passed away January was garnering all the media attention ately dismissed Corrigan, and walked
3, 2000 in Laguna Hills, California. during his famous around-the-world briskly away still looking for his story.
Here's a little quiz to honor Joe's dash in a Lockheed Model 14 Electra, According to Corrigan, he said as he
lifetime of work. Can you name the with late dispatches coming in from left, "I'm looking for some damn fool
first and last sequentially numbered Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakutsk, and who just flew non-stop from Califor­
ATCs issu ed by the CAA/FAA? No other far away places, adding to the nia!" The reporter, of course, missed
peeking in your books now! The an­ excitement and glamour of Hughes' the story completely.
swer is at the bottom of the page. week-long aviation accomplishment.
Hughes landed back at Floyd Bennett Doc Mosher
THE "RITE" MONOCOUPE Field in New York after 3 days, 19 Neenah, WI
A mistake in reading an "N" num­ hours and some minutes, wh ere the
ber on the tail of one of the newsreels, radio reporters, and news­ Dear Mr. Underwood,
Monocoupes in attendance at the paper photographers descended upon I certainly enjoyed your write-up
Monocoupe Fly-In last Fall meant the round-the-world crew. on "Wrong Way" Corrigan as it
the wrong name went with the While all this was going on, young brought back fond memories of days
photo in last month's coverage of Doug Corrigan flew his Curtiss Robin gone by. Enclosed is a picture (below)
the fly-in. with the Wright radial engine from I took at the Detroit city airport at
Long Beach, California non-stop to Conners & Gratiot in 1938 when I
Floyd Bennett Field in New York City was learning to fly in an Aeronca C-3
- quite an accomplishment on it and Doug was making a tour after his
own. He then planned to fly across wrong way flight. It sure is nice to
the Atlantic, retracing Lindbergh's read about those days when flying
earlier path, hoping that the public­ was an enjoyable adventure and I am
ity would help him get a job as a still "plane crazy" about the planes of
pilot. The flight to Europe, however, yesterday. Thank you again and keep
was thwarted by the CAA because them flying.
they felt he did not have the proper
radios or navigation equipment for Merl Aschenbach
This is PhH Riter's Monocoupe such an exploit, and the CAA forbid Bay City, MI
90A, NC19429, not Curtis White­ him to make the flight.
head's NC19423. Phil hails from The day Corrigan
Stryker, OH and has owned his landed in New York
Monocoupe for many years. Our nonstop from Califor­
apologies! ...... nia, The Daily News
sent a single reporter
to Floyd Bennett Field
·lClUHI1l? dOldoqml LZ-::I to interview Corrigan
lCl)[)[O::l Clql10J LS61 '62 l ClqoPO and get pictures. Pok­
panss1 Sl?M (SJlV palClqumu A{l1?!l ing around in a
-uanbas aql JO lSl?1 aql) LIS ::nv hangar, the reporter
·r-vJ 'ICllS11V v[ alHA1ai\-lqng found Corrigan work­
aql 1O} LZ61 '62 q:nl?W pans ing on his Curtiss
-S1 Sl?M 1 Jl V :.I<lMSUV Z!D"b Robin (fixing the door
handle, which he sub­
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5
• •
I - ears
att
Outer Marker

Comfort in a Cabin Waco, and Flying on the Water

Much as I loved flying in the was carried on while leaning far out cabin Waco was short on power, and
Adirondacks, our business in this the cabin side windows, working the prior to hunting season in the
lovely area, even during the summer wheels off by the use of a long Adirondacks we replaced her 225 hp
season, was just too slim. Besides broom handle. This saved many Jacobs engine with a 285 hp Jacobs,
this, in order for us to do any busi­ hours of work that previously had and this made a fine performing air­
ness, it was necessary to do been done under often times diffi­ plane out of her.
considerable non-revenue flying be­ cult conditions. In only a few In the meantime, correspondence
tween mountain lakes looking for it. minutes we could be switched over had bee n taking place with several
In the spring, as I had done for to floats and completely ready for Chambers of Co mmerce in Florida.
the last few years with the F-2, we the summer. We settled on spending the winter
rigged the new cabin Waco, tuning Business at Alexandria Bay the at Winter Haven, in central Florida,
it to its float gear while she sat in her next season was very good and at selected because I had no desire to
corner of Harry Ward's hangar. our dock the cabin Waco attracted operate the airplane in salt water
We then flew her off the airport's many people who previously had with its associated and serious corro­
new runway, rolling on four Model just not been interested in sitting in sion problems.
/IA" Ford wheels that were temporar­ the F-2's drafty open cockpit, don­ In November, Peg and I took off
ily rigged to the floats' integral ning a cloth pilot's helmet in order to fly her south. Most of the route
beaching gear axle tubes. Airborne, to make a scenic flight over the 1,000 we followed the Inland Waterway
and while circling over the lake, ta­ Islands. Also, it was a very pleasant just inside the Atlantic coastline be­
pered wheel retaining pins were summer for us. Peg and I rented a cause this provided protected waters
released by lightweight cables that comfortable summer camp right on within gliding distance most of the
were temporarily run to the cockpit the river's shore with the seaplane way. For one of our southbound
windows and taped to the leading swinging nights on a mooring in a stops, we overnighted at Wilming­
edge of the lower wings. The Ford shallow protected cove only a few ton, North Carolina, with the Waco
wheels were then pushed off the hundred yards from our front porch. tied out between two large docks
axles, dropping into the lake with a By the end of the first summer it with high pilings. I didn ' t sleep
huge splash. This wheel dumping was clear, howeve r, that the new much during the night and it was

by Holland "Dutch" Redfield


6 FEBRUARY 2000
water, steering carefully
between the barnacled,
tarred pilings of two
commercial wharves.
But as we neared I could
see that the strong
ebbing tidal current was
sweeping us seaward and
it was necessary to crab
her sharply over the bot­
tom , tracking so as to
miss the heavy high pil­
ings that could easily
bash in our fragile spruce
wingtips.
As we cleared the pro­
tection of the wharves, a
strong gust hit her and
heeled her and a sharp,
wave-slapping, propeller­
spraying blast from the
engine was needed to
The YKS-7 on its land lubber gear makes a low pass.
swing her away from the
wind and onto a down­
wind course down th e
raining torrents and gusting hard as There was no other way to do it, and harbor. The now following waves
dawn broke. The phone rang; it was fortunately the Jacobs caught on the were white capping and heavy gust
the hotel desk advising that a tug first cylinder. She was running and driven rain streaked the windshield
was waiting to get dockside where whether we liked it or not, we were and drummed the taut fabric on top
the Waco was tied. We checked also moving. The water rudders, po­ of the fuselage. It was an ugly day
out quickly and took a taxi to the sitioned by the pedals beneath my and if there had been some other
waterfront. feet, now knifed into the flowing place to tie up, I'd have pulled back
The airplane was boarded in a water strea ms and we swung away in, but there wasn't, because the
pelting cold rain and getting aboard from the gusting wind toward open night before we'd spent half an hour
was not easy in the fast
ebbing tide as Peg and I Dutch's Waco ZKS-7, set up on the temporary beaching wheels "borrowed" from a Ford Model A. The engine is a
285 hp Jacobs.
clambered down slip­
pery, rickety ladders.
The assistance of two yel­
low-slickered dock
workers was necessary as
her stern line was eased,
then her bow line slowly
pulled in, putting her
close enough so we could
step from the ladders to
her rain-slicked floats.
We then hunched our
way aft beneath the
lower wing, up the two
short steps to the lower
wing walkway, and into
the dry cabin.
The engine was pre­
primed and ready to go
as the lines were cast off
by those on the dock.
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
flying up and down the waterfront den loud bang, and the airplane
looking for a spot to overnight. shook, and next to me Peg gave a cry
Where we'd tied her was the only .. .his sudden awareness of pain. I was puzzled, as I did not
place. know what had happened and our
The evening before we had fueled low skimming flight in the rain and
with marine gasoline and with 420
of our swift passage turbulence continued to require all
pounds of fuel on board, the Waco my attention. Peg was there beside
was heavily loaded. Even with the above him at mast height me, sobbing and clutching her leg,
wind I would need a long, punishing yet everything seemed normal with
run to get airborne and thereafter the airplane. I was concerned and fi­
clear a bascule bridge that would be evidenced by his nally between tears we sorted out
in our climb-out path. that the plane's brake handle was
After a long downwind taxi, I the culprit. Used only during land­
idled her back, pulled the water rud­ wavering surprised wake plane operations, it had somehow
ders up, and let her weathercock into snapped back and hit her left shin
the wind. The white-capping waves with a vicious whack. The hook for
now slapped the float bows and the
as we looked back over the seaplane's water rudder retract
idling prop flung back their spray. cables had been attached to this un­
Streaking cats-paws showed the gust­ the dripping, streaming used handle at the time the water
ing wind patterns on the harbor's rudders were retracted for takeoff
surface ahead of us as the throttle in and we must have flown into a
the center of the instrument panel trailing edges of the frightened low flying duck, which
was opened full and locked there probably struck one of the retract ca­
with its knurled knob. The Jacobs bles down in the float gear, causing
roared and with the wind and the lower wing panel. the handle to snap back. It had been
waves she was quickly on the steps. a sharp whack and it hurt.
The waves spanked hard against the In a couple of hours the scudding,
planing float bottoms, jarring us right, and we were buffeted and dark, wet clouds began drying out,
with lighter and lighter taps as the gusted and rained on. Neither of us gradually lifting to a clearing gray,
wings grasped the air, then lifted us lik ed it, but there simply was no with occasional patches of blue. We
free and into turbulent, but far place we could ride the storm out were able to let the Waco climb now
smoother, flight than the very rough and after a while we became accus­ and the air smoothed. The power­
waters we had just lifted off from. tomed to it. fully surfing, curving shore of the
The right wing was lowered and Ahead we'd see, then catch up Atlantic off our left wings met the
we slowly banked away from the wet with, then zoom over and quickly now blue sky far ahead to the south.
gusting northeast wind. In the low leave behind many pleasure boats In the snug cabin the outside
level eddying turbulence both my also heading south, his sudden warmth we were flying into was
hands and my feet were very busy, awareness of our swift passage above ducted in to us, and it felt good. We
feeling for, and correcting for, and him at mast height evidenced by his munched a sandwich and I rubbed
averaging the buffeting upsets from wavering surprised wake as we Peg's bruised leg and we laughed.
my planned curving trajectory. Pres­ looked back over the dripping, At Jacksonville, I fueled in shirt­
sured inputs to the ailerons and streaming trailing edges of the lower sleeves and by late afternoon we
rudder were simultaneously applied wing panels . Then an occasional touched her down at her new home
and also carefully coordinated in or­ gentle pull-up to skim a telephone­ on Lake Howard, at Winter Haven.
der to avoid unpleasant, sloppy, poled bridge spanning the marshy Barb, who was driving our car down,
yawing flight for my very pregnant winding shores of the waterway, was not there yet.
wife, Peg. slowly waggling the Waco's stubby Besides a few charters, then a cou­
In a short time the wings were lev­ red wings at a decrepit old Ford, ple of deep-winter occasions where
eled and the compass beneath the splashing its way along muddy roads we were hired to spend entire nights
rain-smeared windshield settled and up and over the bridge as we flying low over orange groves, stir­
down and showed us heading south flew by. And our passage flushed ring up the air to pOSSibly prevent
again. The rain and windswept many geese and ducks, but most of frost damage, plus a few passengers
buoy-marked waterway was only few them had more sense than we as carried on weekends. My dreams
hundred feet beneath us and for the they fed and paddled along the that Florida could playa big part in a
next several hours, and to keep the marshy shores till the scudding 12-month-a-year seaplane operation
waterway in sight, we took every storm abated. turned out to be a giant flop, and as
bend of it, banking gently left, then With no warning, there was a sud­ it turned out I had to borrow money
8 FEBRUARY 2000
so I could get my pregnant wife and flares ahead looked beautiful. But it the float bows smashed heavily into
the airplane home. turned out we had positioned the them and the prop rang from their
As part of an effort to make the flares too close to shore and they impacts. It was cold and I was alone.
Florida operation work, we believed were also set much too close to­ Barb, sitting in the car, watched anx­
we could make a few additional dol­ gether, because by the time we had iously. The norther moaned around
lars if we had the capability of flying descended from treetop height to a her, and buffeted her, and shook
after dark, on weekend evenings. few feet above the surface, they had her, the shifting winds hitting her
After much trial and error, Barb and skimmed beneath us and were far first from one side, then the other,
I, from lakeshore trees, were able to behind . Ahead on the lake it be­ as northers tend to do, and it tried to
finally saw up four small bamboo came suddenly very dark, but get under her wings to lift her, so it
rafts that wouldn't flop over after we fortunately there was plenty of could dash her through the surf and
launched them. Kerosene truck smooth water still under us and a smash her into the swaying palm
flares were secured to the rafts, slow controlled descent with a small trees behind. I fought the buffeting
which were then anchored on a line amount of power put us gently down wind and waves with the Waco's
parallel to the wind. On the air­ and with much room to spare. flight controls and propeller thrust.
plane we mounted a single landing Some repositioning of flares, then I couldn't take off with her and put
light on one of the float support a few more trials and we had our­ her in her own element, flying her
struts. selves a good and workable system, out of the pounding waves, because
The first night we tried our new but we found few people really inter­ I just couldn't leave the flight con­
system the Waco had just lifted off ested in night seaplane rides and in trols long enough to slide out the
and was clearing the tree'd lakeshore a few weeks we gave it up. lower wing spars to remove the lift
and in our climb-out path ahead it One March night a whistling destroying spoilers, nor could I, sin­
was pitch black. Suddenly there was norther practically blew the covers gle-handed, remove the one
a loud clattering and we both from our beds and my first thought still-intact mooring line.
thought, "What a place for her to was the seaplane as I hollered to In a couple of hours the strong
quit! " yet the big Jacobs continued Barb. The two of us sped to the lake, frontal passage winds diminished a
running beautifully and we were un­ zipping pants and buttoning shirts. bit as the storm moved rapidly out
able to determine where the banging In the beam of our headlights as we to sea. There was now sufficient
noise was coming from. I switched swung the car toward the mooring light, and Barb was able to wade out
on our new landing light and in its area, we could see the Waco hobby­ and release her. We then taxied and
reflected glow we discovered a small horsing badly as she crashed into crabbed her slowly, pitching and
hinged cowling that gave access to large white-capping waves. Despite bucking, through the white-capping
the rear accessory section of the en­ lift-destroying spOilers which were waves, across the lake to a protected
gine was flapping wildly in the tied every night along the upper sur­ corner. Peg, who had been worried
powerful prop stream. faces of the lower wing panels, she about us, hitched a ride to the lake­
From our position, to land imme­ was half flying and had already front in the dawn with a milkman
diately was impossible and the dragged her heavy moorings a con­ making early deliveries. She met us
cowling would surely batter itself to siderable distance toward shore. One on the distant shore as we tied up af­
pieces by the time we got back of her restraining bridle ropes had ter our long taxi. We watched her
around the lake. I asked Barb to fly parted and dangled free. there all that day and all the next
and passed the swing-over control I kicked off my shoes, dove in and night as the norther gradually blew
wheel to him, then, with my side waded to her in the waist deep itself out.
cabin window full down I stretched waves. Her wild plunging made it In the early spring, we flew the
outside in the strong propeller very difficult to get aboard, but once Waco back north, retracing our route
stream and forward just far enough there I quickly threw off the engine along the seaboard, across Pennsyl­
so the aft cowl fastener could be re­ covers, climbed in and started her vania and New York, to the St.
latched with my fingertips. With up. Then, for the next two hours, to Lawrence River and the Thousand
things now quieted down, we flew keep her from lifting into flight and Islands. There we worked her up
around for several minutes to calm to keep the mooring from dragging onto a ramp just below our camp's
our jangled nerves and prepare for ashore, she was literally flown at the front porch and then spent many re­
the first use of our night water land­ end of her one remaining bridle laxing days in fine spring weather
ing system. rope. I was scared for her. getting her ready for a summer of
With the bright lights of town, The waves, as the dim light of hard work. It was pleasant being
and by utilizing the beam from our dawn crept over the low gray sky, back with friends and in familiar
single landing light, it was possible were big and carried much weight, surroundings. In June, we were pre­
to approach the lake's shoreline very and the wind streaked them and sented with a bouncing baby boy,
low; from which position our line of blew spin-drift from their crests as Charles Scott. "..
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Farman R121 /abiru

YSTER
P HE
by H.G. Frautschy

November's foreign airplane ported the landing gear and anchored ropean transports, the passenger cabin
presented few difficulties for our the wing struts. I wonder what the extended forward clear to the nose.
members. We'll start with a note rear propeller attrition rate was on the The pilots sat in an open cockpit
from Anna Pennington, Wilming­ Jabiru and other designs with pusher above the cabin.
ton, NC: props low and directly behind the "If the Jabiru has any historical
"Your November Mystery Plane is wheels which were rolling on dirt and significance, it could be that it was
a French Farman F.121 Jabiru. Note gravel runways? one of the first four-engined trans­
part of the name on the nose. It was "The aerodynamic layout was also ports to be designed as such, rather
powered by four 180 hp Hispano­ unusual. The wing had a very low as­ than being derived from a bomber."
Suiza 8Ac engines, and carried 9 or pect ratio, only 4.46, and the root Ralph Nortell, Spokane, WA
10 passengers. (My two sources varied chord was almost half the length of adds:
on this.) It won the 1923 French the (uselage. As with some other Eu- "A vions Farman was formed by
Grand Prix des A vions Transports,
and 500,000 Francs.
"Four flew on the Farman air­
lines Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam
route during 1926, and Danish Air­
lines used a few between Amsterdam
and Copenhagen."
From Pete Bowers, Seattle, WA,
who supplied the photos you see
on these pages, we read:
"The November Mystery Plane is
F-AIAU, the forth often French Far­
man F-121 Jabirus built between
1923 and 1925. Also known as
Model F-3X, these nine-passenger,
four-engine transports were built by
A vions H. & M. Farman of Baillan­
court. Five were used on Farman's
own airline, three were so ld, and Ed Parker, Apalachin, NY, via John W. McDonald, tipped us off to this photo
two more were built under license in published in 1937 by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce. (No, it's not the
Denmark. Aircraft Yearbook.)
"The Jabiru was an unusual air­ Send your answers to: EAA, Vintage Airplane, PO Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI
plane of combined wood and metal 54903-3086. Your answers need to be in no later than March 25, 2000 for in­
construction. The four 180 hp His­ clusion in the May issue of Vintage Airplane.
pano-Suiza 8Ac engines were in You can also send your response via e-mail. Send your answer to vin­
[email protected]
tandem pairs in nacelles supported
Be sure to include both your name and address in the body of your note,
by a short stub-wing that also sup-
and put "(Month) Mystery Plane" in the subject line.

10 FEBRUARY 2000
This uncluttered view of F-AIAN, the second production Jabiru, shows the really
neat engine nacelle/stub wing arrangement, the passenger windows in the nose,
and the position of the pilots' cockpit.

brothers Henri and Maurice in 1912. Both were pioneer pilots and
airplane designers-Henri since 1907 and Maurice since 1909.
liThe firm soon became one of the largest manufacturers in Francel
and during the next 25 years l Farman built numerous military and
civil aircraft in quantity. In 1936 when the aircraft industry was na­
1

tionalized in France l the firm merged with Hanriot to form Societe


Nationa le de Construc­
tions Aeronautics du
Centre (SNCAC). At
FARMAN F.121 that timel Henri and
Maurice retired."
JABIRU {STORK} Larry Knechtel,
Seattle, WA writes:
SPECIFICATIONS IIKey to the F.121's
safety was the use of a
Wing Span 62 ft., 4 in. high set wing of great
area. This 62 foot, 4
Length 44 ft., 10.5 in. inch wing span was of
Wing Area 871.8 sq.ft wooden construction
and l as the photo The fuselage bulkheads of the Jabiru divide the passenger
Empty Weight 6,6121bs shows, strut braced. The cabin into three compartments. Two passengers sit in the
root chord was no less nose, one in the second compartment, which is directly under
Gross Weight 11,0231bs
th anI 9 feet l 8 -1 /4 the cockpit, and six sit in the main cabin. Note the overhead
Cruise Speed 108.7 mph inches and the wing was baggage racks.
2 feet, 6 inches thick. 'I
Range 403 miles -continued on page 27

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
PASS IT TO BUCK
by E.E. "Buck" Hilbert
EAA #21 VAA #5
P.O. Box 424, Union, IL 60180

Basics

As most of you know, "my bag" ten-mile cross-country was an ac­ mistic, thirty mile segments on the
is old airplanes. They weren't old complishment. Most of the time map you were able to calculate
when I was young, but we some­ we spent in or near the pattern your ground speed and figure how
how seem to have aged together. next to your home airport. Climb­ long you could fly with the gas you
My 1934 Aeronca C-3, which has ing up to fifteen hundred feet had left. Many times , the wind
been in the family since 1962, is a above the ground sometime took would decimate your 60 mph cruis­
good example. The old airplanes ten minutes or more! Then you'd ing speed and the ground speed
were very basic. The best of them, practice a few stalls, some turns, would be maybe 40 or 45 mph.
like the Porterfield 35-70, with its and then a couple of power-off The "fun" began after you got
sporty wing and higher cross­ stalls and you were back down to there . The harrowing experience
country speed, and the cabin pattern altitude so you shot a cou­ gave way to a joy you couldn't wait
Waco were also basic, but the ple of landings and quit. to share with others. There was al­
Aeroncas, Cubs, T-crafts were very All this was seat of the pants . ways an air of happiness around
basic. You learned the basics, and You flew by sound and feel. The at­ the airport, you and all those
you lea rned them well. titude indicator was the bottom of around you ate, slept, dreamed and
Instruments were there to tell the wing and the way it angled on talked aviation. We all had the Air­
you the oil pressure, oil tempera­ the horizon, and you flew from plane Disease, and we reveled in it.
ture (when it worked), and the point to point using the seat of It was fun! Fun! Fun! Even the CAA
tachometer so you could set climb your pants for reference. East was guys were a happy lot.
and cruise RPM. The compass thataway, and North was that way. The written test for the Private
sloshed around and was only there If in doubt, you looked for a marker Pilot was fifteen or twenty ques­
to tell you were in the Northern painted on a roof, or read the name tions. The flight-check maybe
Hemisphere. Usually the airspeed of the town on the water tower. thirty-five minutes. The poor per­
indicator didn't work too well, the The best way was to land and ask formance of some of the airplanes
altimeter was graduated in 200-foot someone if you were lost. often had the CAA man watch you
increments, and there was really no You looked for washing hanging fly while he stood on the ground
precision instrument flying as we on the clothes lines, or smoke, or and critiqued your stalls and spins
know it today. You were taught to ripples on the water to tell where after you landed.
fly from one forced landing field to the wind was from, and by drawing It was a much simpler day. It was
the next, always keeping in mind a line on the map and noting how basic flying like there will never be
where the wind was from and it cu t the section lines you knew again. How I wish all of you could
mindful that the engine could what angle you were to use for a experience that freedom, that joy,
lunch out at any time. Sometimes heading. You were always aware of the pure elation of flight. But you
it did! Reliability was never taken your position because as I said be­ gotta get old before you really ap­
for granted. fore, it was from the last forced preciate it.
Cross-country? What a laugh! landing field to the next one.
The reason there were so many air­ By marking off the route in ten, Over to you,
t(
ports around the area was because a fifteen or if you were really opti­
12 FEBRUARY 2000
The Cessna 180 has one of t he
most distinctive " ch ins" in
general aviation .

major customers was a


company that supported
glass manufacturers and,
when that company de­
cided they wanted out of
the business, Bud sim­
ply took them over.
That was two decades
ago and it has been up
hill every since.
He had gotten his pi­
lot's license while still
in the Marines but
found himself drawn to
tailwheel airplanes. In
this case an old Aeronca
Champ. But, there was­
n't anyone to check him
here are lots of reasons air­ furnaces for folks like PPG and out. One of the guys on the base

T planes are interesting and


the deciding factor is almost
always the people behind them.
Corning, he has a serious addic­
tion for antique airplanes.
He started flying in the USMC
said, you're a good pilot, Bud,
/I •••

here's all you need to know ... "


and he proceeded to give him a
Take the nearly stock appearing aero club at El Toro while he was verbal checkout in a tailwheel air­
Cessna 180, N180XP, for instance. stationed there in 1964 as a simu­ plane. Today Bud doesn't suggest
Aside from the fact that you sel­ lator technician. He soloed in their anyone follow his lead in this
dom see 180's done in 1950's era C-150 but quickly graduated up to area as there were a few in­
/I •••

paint schemes anymore and the the T-34B. Then it was college at teresting runway trips," before he
fact that this one is cleaner than Cal State in Fullerton where he figured it out, but he never dinged
most, it would still be easy to coast graduated with a degree in eco­ the airplane.
right past it in search of some­ nomics. He immediately went to Today Bud somehow finds time
thing more exotic. Something work for a concrete contractor, to manage his business while man­
more /lantiquey." eventually establishing his own aging his fleet of eleven (that's
Then you see Bud Fields. And, if company in the field. One of their right, eleven) airplanes, most of
you see Bud Fields, you'll also see
Nikki Fields. Fourth grade, blonde,
energy personified and clearly
daddy's little girl. It's the combi­
nation of Bud and Nikki that
makes their 180 special.
Bud, who owns a large indus­
trial plant contracting business in
Hayward, California, isn't your av­
erage business-man-with-a-180.
Besides the fact that his business,
which is largely based on building,
installing, repairing glass melting

The traveling airplane for Nikki and dad,


the 180 fills the need perfectly by offering a
good cruise speed (listed between 151 and
160 mph) along with great short fie ld per­
formance, particularly with the Horton
STOl kit installation.
14 FEBRUARY 2000
Bud Field and his interesting. A Lycoming powered
daughter, Nikki.
mode l 75, its serial number is
75001, which makes it the very
them serious antiques. first production Stearman built.
Oldest to newest, there is SIN 75000 was the prototype and
the 1928 Travel Air 4000, his airplane was the first in a batch
two C-3 Aeroncas, the of 27 airp lanes ordered by the
4CM-1 Bull Stearman, an Army in 1936. It should also be
STA, a stock Stearman, an noted that any time this airplane
L-5£ Stinson, a 150 horse is discussed, Nikki instantly claims
PA-12, a Dragon Rapide ownership, something that Bud
(undergoing restoration), a doesn't dispute. Nikki as you will
250 Comanche and the see is very vocal about airplanes.
Cessna 180. Oshkosh '99 was the second
While the entire list of year Bud and Nikki brought the
airplanes is notable, sev­ airplane east. The Cessna was fin­
eral should be looked at ished only two years ago, and their
individually. His Ryan trip to last year's AirVenture
STA, for instance is serial Oshkosh included a slight dog leg
number 110 (1936) and is up to Alaska on the way in and
ass u med to be the oldest another little side trip to New York
STA flying. His stock Stear­ on their way home. That particu­
man is even more lar trip took three weeks and 100
Look closely at the leading edges of the wings, and you can see the distinctive cusp added during the installation of the
Horton STOL kit.

hours of flying and Bud says, " ... Nikki does all the
VOR navigating. I just drive."
The airplane has 250 hours on it since they rebuilt
it and he says Nikki has been aboard for almost every
hour. When asked how many hours she has, she
chirps" About 1,000." If you raise your eyebrows at
the number, look over at her father who will grin and
say, "She's probably about right. None of the air­
planes go anywhere without her. I showed up at an
airshow a while back with the Bull Stearman and the
first person who walked up said 'where's Nikki' at
which point her head popped up in the front pit. She
had been sleeping, which she often does."
The 180 is a 1956 model with a stock 0-470-K done
by Monte Barrett. When he bought the airplane it
was " ... a solid airplane, but a little faded all the way
around." Field polished it and re-painted the stripes
and freshened up the interior and panel. Knowing
this was going to be his go-everywhere-airplane, he
added a Horton STOL kit to the wings just in case
they decided to drop in some place that required the

A handy addition to the 180 are pop out handles to help move
the airplane while on the ground, instead of pushing and lifting
on the fixed tail surfaces.

16 FEBRUARY 2000
low and slow capabilities built­
into the Horton STC.
In questioning his relationship
with Nikki, he says, "I'm a single
dad." At which point Nikki chimes
in, "Yeah, but you didn't used to
be." The two of them talk quite
freely about being a team and
she's excited about everything
around her. There's also the possi­
bility she ' s the only girl in her
fourth grade class who can make
comments like, "What dad really
needs is a Widgeon, or maybe a
Goose or Mallard." Then she
thinks for a second and adds, "Or
maybe a Duck."
Dad is president of Vintage
Chapter 29 in Hayward, which
should be proud this year because Bud and Nikki's "go where they want to go today" machine is comfortably set up
the chapter is home to the Parris to be nice-cross country machine. No virtual reality here - this is the real thing!
brothers whose Lockheed 12A
brought home the 1999 EAA Air­ around the inseparable pair, two Asked what an L-1 is, she answers,
Venture Grand Champion trophy subjects generally come up. The lIyou, know, the long, round-mo­
for antiques. Recognizing the first , is what kind of airplane tored, big L-bird. You know."
huge number of hard core an­ should be added to the collection It would be interesting to hear
tiques in the area, as well as his next and the conversation goes her with her peer group at a sleep
own, Bud is in the process of something like this: over.
building a 38,000 square foot mu­ "Nikki would like us to have a A friend says, IIDid you see
seum on the Hayward airport warbird but... " Bud starts and Nikki Bobby. Isn't he cute?"
which will be home to the chapter finishes. She answers, III guess so," then
as well as housing his and others "Yeah, we need an AD Skyraider. she brightens up, IIBut did you
antiques. He says, " .. .it's going to One of the four-place versions so I know his dad owns a IIG" model
be a flying museum and once a can take my friends." Staggerwing. Now that's cool!"
month, we'll have an antique fly "But, Nikki ," Bud answers, "We The second subject that comes
day in which we get as many of have a warbird, the L-S is a warbird." up when they talk about the fu­
them into the air as we can." It's "Daaad," she returns, IIWe need ture is a goal Nikki has. She wants
called the Vintage Aero Museum. something bigger. Maybe something to be the youngest person to fly
When the future is mentioned like an L-l." into Oshkosh. However, since her
birthday is in December she
knows there's probably no way
she can do that in power planes,
but she has a plan.
IIWhen I'm still fifteen, we'll
tow me in in a glider," then the
conversation expands and dad
suggests maybe he'll tow her with
the Bull Stearman. Then the
glider type is discussed and it be­
comes a WW-II TG model. When
last seen, the two of them were in
animated conversation about all
the neat things they were going
to do together.
Like we said, it's the people that
often make airplanes interesting . .....
H.G. Frautsch

The Central Valley of California


is a great place for a fly-in, and the
1999 edition of the Golden West
EAA Regional Fly-In was blessed
with the good flying weather you'd
expect. In addition to those pictured
here, the other award winners were:

ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT
Reserve Grand Champion
Waco UPF-7 N32135
Gary Entrekin, Ventura, CA
CLASSIC AIRCRAFT
Grand Champion
Piper J3C-65
Paul and Joyce Brown
Capitola, CA
Amelia Reid's beautiful airshow routine shows each of us just how a Cessna 150
CONTEMPORARY AIRCRAFT Aerobat can really be put through its paces by a pilot whose flying skills are the
Grand Champion very definition of finesse. Amelia runs her own FBO at the Reid-Hillview airport in
Cessna 180, N180LG San Jose, CA, and has trained over 4,000 pilots.
Jim Goodman, San Jose, CA

Champion
Cessna 195B, N2134C
George Dray, Novato, CA
Champion
Cessna 180, N9675B
James Golyer, Arroyo Hondo, NMz

Sidney Scarlett's justifiably proud of his 1950 Beech Bonanza. He's from Phoenix, AZ.

"Bad Habit" is the name given by Scott O'Brien to his Luscombe 8A. This airplane
has a pretty low serial number, being the 17th Luscombe built in 1945.

18 FEBRUARY 2000
Volunteer Irene Arnold, Placerville, CA helps Mark Backes register his Stinson
108-3. Mark is from Ridgecrest, CA.
The Reserve Grand Champion Contemporary of the
1999 Golden West EAA Regional Fly-In is this Bellanca
14-19-3 owned by Patrick Frewald and Julie Joquette.

Scott Crosby of Antelope, CA flies this Steve and Sharon Jebb keep their extra-shiny Luscombe
very sharp 1949 Piper PA-16 Clipper. 8A at the Fresno-Chandler field in Fresno, CA. It even
includes a well-maintained wind-driven generator
between the gear legs.

From the tower cab at Castle Airport controllers Eric Micklesen,


Mark Lambie, Phillip Martin and Don Ide kept the traffic flowing
smoothly during the three days of the fly-in.

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
Jeff Montgomery cleans up while checking in at home on the
phone. His 1929 Consolidated Fleet biplane was picked as the
Champion Antique aircraft.

Kent White of TM Technologies demonstrates gas welding of alu­


minum while onlookers don masks so they can see the results as
Kent runs a bead. Hands-on demonstrations are always very pop­
ular at fly-in s.

Marketing & Public


Relations Director of the
Hiller Museum and all
around old airplane
good guy Willie Turner
served as the Golden
West's airshow boss. His
partner with the radio is
Jimmy Lichtenstein who
was the airshow's
ground boss.

Boy, these guys get around! David Liebecott, who restored the
Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser "City of the Angels" and Harry Mutter,
the owner of this historic airplane and historian of the Piper
Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, PA pause before taking off. Harry Bud Field, Hayward, CA took home
and David flew the PA-12 on a recreation of a portion ofthe the Antique Grand Champion
around the world flight in 1947, visiting all the u.s. cities flown into plaque for his Stearman 4 CM -1.
by George Truman and Cliff Evans in their PA-12s. You can check
out the Piper Aviation Museum's web site at
http://www.kcnet.org/-piper for more information. David's restora­
tion of the globe circling Super Cruiser was honored with a Reserve
Grand Champion Classic trophy.

20 FEBRUARY 2000
An
Extraordinary
Elder Eagle
byRon Gamer
ese words from his personal

~
cret SR-71 Blackbird.
"What you should do is experiences were spoken to It's a story I almost missed. For
me by 87-year-old aviation en­ many years I had rushed past the
to get yourselfa good thusiast Robert Rietzke, as we relaxed small white sign announcing" Air­
in his hangar located at his private port" while hurrying on my way to
highway atlas. Then airstrip in central Minnesota. The the family cabin located on one of
advice seemed simple enough, espe­ Minnesota's ten thousand lakes. But
plan your trip along cially coming from a man who's since I had taken up the pursuit of
"been there and done that" in al­ flying a few years back, my curiosity
the major routes. most all aspects of aviation. It's about this little airstrip finally got
advice he and his wife, Marie, fol­ the best of me. I decided I'd just
Roads lead to towns lowed for years of travel in have to check out this small rural
single-engine aircraft while visiting airfield. So one day, instead of rush­
and towns have many of the lower 48 states . With ing past, I slowed down and turned
the exception of a sudden engine onto the gravel drive leading to the
airports. Stop every shutdown on a cold winter after­ neatly mowed grass runway. Enter­
noon somewhere over Nebraska, it's ing one of two metal hangars, I was
hour or two for fuel been a flawless plan of travel for the cheerfully greeted by a friendly ma­
Rietzkes. The unexpected loss of en­ ture gentleman. I'm still finding it
and a cup of coffee. If gine power wasn 't a big deal to this
veteran airman. He simply landed
hard to believe that this outgoing
energetic man is closing in on nine
on a plowed field, found the prob­ decades of life. Don, as his friends
the weather ahead lem, and returned them on their know him, was happy to share with
way towards the next town down this fledging airman a bit of his per­
looks questionable the highway. No big deal for a man sonal history. After learning about
who has flown in dozens of different his seven decades of unique flying
stop and get aircraft, starting with open air bi­ experiences I'm doubtful there are
planes of the 1920s and progressing many men or women around today
acquainted with some to the edge the earth's atmosphere who could come close to having
in U-2 spy planes. He even flew in such a colorful history in aviation­
ofthe local people. " the second seat of the once top-se­ related activities as this experienced
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
toured the Pacific ment, better known to those who
in this manner used it as "identify, friend or foe." Fi­
with Don aboard nally arriving at his original
until his discharge destination, he immediately set
from regular duty about working on I.F.F. installations
in 1936. on johnson, Midway, and Palmyra
Returning to Islands. For Don, the up side of this
civilian life, Don assignment was being able to serve
used his electron­ as a crewmember for many hours
ics background to during search and rescue flights
help work on the looking for lost aviators.
construction of 1944 found Don back in the
the massive aque­ Hawaiian Islands working on the
duct project which huge 500,000-watt transmitter
Don and a model airplane "award" presented to him during brought water over which had enough power to send
his Lockheed Skunkworks® days. the mountains to messages to almost any location on
the thirsty Los An­ the globe. It was here he met his
elder eagle. geles basin. Whenever possible Don soon-to-be bride. Marie was a Red
Robert Don Rietzke was born in would hitch a ride on whatever small Cross nurse assigned to duty at Pearl.
Beaumont , Ca lifornia, in 1912, plane was available to keep in touch After a short aSSignment on the
about the time mankind was first with his passion for flying. While flagship U.S.S. Rocky Mountain dur­
conquering the mastery of flight. working with the water district Don ing the invasion of the Marshall
When he was just fifteen an older also started up a small radio shop. Islands, Don returned to take Marie
cousin took him for spin in the then This led him to a position as radio as his wife. Their first flight together
modern "j enny". Like a fish on a technician with the L.A. police force . was provided by the Navy on a DC­
line, Don was hooked. Eagerly Leaving L.A. for a year to further 3. The Navy flew the newlyweds to
awaiting high school graduation, his electronics training at the Capi­ the big island for a honeymoon at
Don already had a flight plan in tol Engineering College in the famous Volcano Island Inn.
mind. He would enlist in the Navy Washington, D.C., Don returned to Coming back to California in
so he could take flight training and the Los Angeles police force as their 1945, the couple went quickly to
become a Naval Aviator. Unfortu­ radio communications engineer. It work finding 400 acres of open land
nately for Don, soon after he signed was during this period he began do­ to build their first private airport .
on the Navy changed their policy of ing work on the side for Douglas The state of California and the city
letting enlisted men become avia­ Aircraft Corporation. In 1940, of Beaumont had different plans for
tors. His immediate flight plan was shortly after being promoted to ra­ the property and the Rietzke
put on hold. He was left with his dio communications superintendent Airstrip and his radio repair facility
second choice of training, radio for the L.A. police force, and despite soon had to be closed for the cre­
communications. Som e time after protests from the police chief to the ation of a new highway. It was at
he completed his basic communica­ contrary, Uncle Sam called him back this point in time that Don actually
tions training Don was assigned to to active duty. Don was then as­ took the time to make his flying le­
the battleship Nevada. signed to the Adva nced Training gal. He logged some time with an
Now it just so happened that the Carrier Group, which was then flying instructor in an old L-2 taildragger
ship carried three float planes on scout bombers. Don flew in the back and shortly thereafter received his
board for searc h and rescue mis­ seat as the radio specialist as the pi­ official license to fly.
sions. These planes were laun ched lots practiced their bombing accuracy After 18 hours official flight time
from the deck of the battleship with around the California coast. Don bought him self an old Stear­
help of a track and catapult system. His life then took une xpec ted man . He used this aircraft to
Upon their return, a shipboard crane twist. After the attack of the Navy commute to many of his job sites.
would plu ck them from the water base at Pearl Harbor, he was assigned With the closure of his private strip,
and return them to the deck . Don to Treasure Island, California where he took a position with th e Civil
was able to make many flights in he was to assist starting up a Navy Aeronautics Administration in­
these planes, not as the pilot, but as radio school. When that task was stalling VORs at all the major
the radio communications special­ complete he was next assigned to airports in California. He found it a
ist. Once airborne he would unreel Johnson Island, some 600 miles great way of combining his flying
a length of wire and carry out the south of Hawaii. But his trip to John­ and radio talents. Before long Don
business of sending coded messages son was delayed at Pearl, while the exchanged the Stearman for a Lus­
back to the battleship. The Nevada Navy had him updating I.F.F. equip­ combe, and later, a beloved little
22 FEBRUARY 2000
Ercoupe. In no time at all he and that there were some anxious mo­ cons at great distances in the night
Marie had put over 400 flight hours ments, as they weren't the only sky, Don set to work finding a way
on this small two-seater. ones prospecting and many of the to make them brighter. His inven­
In 1950 the Navy once again others were very well armed in at­ tion was the Hali-Brite. His
called Don back to active duty. He tempt to keep newcomers from company developed a product that
was to help supervise the installa­ invading territory where they had could enhance the visibility and
tion of radio equipment at Pearl hoped to strike it rich. brightness of established beacon in­
Harbor. Discharged again in 1952 Once again the Rietzkes wanted stallations. Before long his small
he went to work for the Hughes Air­ their own airstrip from which to company was busy applying their
craft Company. Once more he could launch flying adventures. They pur­ modifications to airports all over
commute to work in his little Er­ chased and created the Rietzke Flying Minnesota. Don relates that the
coupe. He then left Hughes to work Ranch located about 15 miles from modified beacons are now found at
on the F89 project over at Northrop Palmdale, California. Here, Don , almost all U.S. airports.
Aviation. At Northrop he was re­ Marie, and their daughter Linda were Early in 1986, Don received a call
sponsible for the electrical and radio free to come and go in a variety of from a former colleague at the
equipment on newly designed air­ small aircraft for which he kept trad­ Skunkworks. Would he like to help
craft. From Northrop Don went to ing. Don had a chance to take his set up the radio communications for
work for Lockheed at now famous first flight in a Navion. He was smit­ the around-the-world, nonstop unre­
Skunkworks(R). ten! He knew that some day he would fueled Voyager project? Never one to
He was involved with much of the own and fly one of
instrumentation used on the exotic these great perform­
craft being designed in complete se­ ing aircraft. In 1968
crecy, including the renown SR-71 Don and Marie, us­
Blackbird. When asked about his ing the road atlas
testing out electronics at nearly ten technique, headed
miles above sea level he gave a wry towards Minnesota
smile and said, "Pretty much like in their very own
any other flight, except a lot higher. Navion to visit
But the real difference is seeing the Marie's hometown
curve of the earth." of Aitkin, Min­
Not only did he ride second seat nesota. Having
in the Blackbird, but also made high finished his career
altitude flights in the famous U-2 at the Skunkworks,
spy plane. He notes that it came their mission was
with the responsibility of being an to locate lakeshore
electronic research engineer for these in her home state Part ofthe Voyager Communications crew, Don (center) is flanked
top-secret aircraft. Even though Don on which they by Dave Beardon (left) and Bruce Evans.
was heavily involved with his design would build a re­
and application work on the top-se­ tirement home.
cret aircraft, he kept many weekends Finding property that suited their miss out at a new adventure, Don ea­
open to pursue his own love of flying. needs, they drove a bouncy 4x4 gerly agreed to lend a helping hand.
He and his wife spent many hours jeep back to California to pack up Working with former Skunkworks
flying up and down the coast of Cal­ and put the Reitzke Flying Ranch engineer Larry Caskey, Don formu­
ifornia in the pursuit of new on the real estate market. lated a plan for continuous
adventures. At one time one of his Wanting to use his retirement communication with the Voyager
favorite pastimes was for a friend time and his talents productively, no matter what its location during
and himself to fly low over much of Don started up a small company the record-breaking attempt at non­
the open arid government land of called Nav-Com Contractors, which stop circumnavigation. The summer
the southwest. he located at the Aitkin Airport. He of '86 found Mr. Rietzke living with
Don had designed a scintillator, a went about the business of repairing Dick Rutan near the Mojave Air­
gieger counter like device that would and installing aircraft avionics in port. It was here that all flight
indicate the presence of uranium. Af­ civilian planes. Never one to hold operations were to be planned,
ter locating likely deposits, they just single job at a time, he also went tested, and managed.
would later bounce and jar to the to work for the Minnesota Dept. of Don was assigned communica­
site in an old jeep. If uranium was Aeronautics maintaining nav aids tions director for this historic
present they would file their claim in and VORs. Hearing comments about undertaking. His first priority was to
hopes of making a profit. Don notes the difficulty of seeing airport bea­ establish a working link with numer-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Navions back to the skies. he'll ever show his finished aircraft
Don uses his tremen­ at Oshkosh he modestly replies, "My
dous patience and aircraft work isn't anything special, not like
knowledge to rebuild or re­ all those fancy homebuilts on dis­
new eac h component of play." Chances are he'll once again
the aircraft. Besides N91491 quietly attend the event as a general
that Don completely re­ help volunteer and never let those
built, a visit to the hangar he chats with know that he's a walk­
workshop will reveal an­ ing encyclopedia of airplane history
other beautiful Navion and experience.
about to brought back to On a recent visit to his little airport
life. A set of highly buffed I found the energetic octogenarian
aluminum wings are cra­ finishing up his regular mowing of
dled in the corner awaiting the grass strip. When questioned why
their turn to be reat­ he had such a broad grin on his
Marie and Don Riezke with their beloved Navion. tached. That'll be done face, his reply was quick in return­
shortly after the installation ing: "Passed my bi-annual flight
of his newly hand-crafted review yesterday in Navion.49l. Re­
ous agencies and companies in the instrument panel, the fifth such panel ally gave the plane a good
communication community. Using he has made in recent years. He had workout." One should have figured
every resource at his disposal, Don hoped this aluminum beauty would he'd use the high-performance air­
helped insure that flight director be up and flying the summer of '99 craft for such an event. The little
Caskey was in continual contact with but he says he has so many other Cessna ISO he and Marie have used
the Voyager in order to pass on vital things to do that Oshkosh AirVen­ so many times to criss-cross the
flight information about weather, ture 2000 might be more realistic. country just wouldn't have been
route changes, etc. As the flying world Working from the original manufac­ challenging enough for this opti­
knows, it worked! Dick and Jeana as­ turing manual he wants the aircraft mistic airman, even at eighty-seven
tounded the aviation world with to be very close to the way it left the years young.
their nonstop global flight. factory. One exception he is making If you ever find yourself in central
Back at his home airstrip, Don is the windshield. On this project he Minnesota, near the famous walleye
continued to have a love affair with has opted to replace the split wind­ factory known as Mille Lacs Lake, go
Navions. On one of his trips about screen with a one-piece installation. to the northwestern corner to a small
Minnesota he had the opportunity Don notes that configuring the town called Garrison. A mile north
to meet a fellow pilot nicknamed shape and size of the heavy duty of town on highway number 18
"Navion Mike." Plexiglas(r) was one of the more chal­ you'll see a small white sign indicat­
It seems that Navion Mike also lenging problems he had to solve, as ing an airport. Don't rush by like I
had an intense passion for this par­ it's not an item you'd find at the lo­ used to. Turn in and spend some
ticular line of aircraft. Not only did cal hardware. He solved the problem time with a twinkly-eyed fellow pi­
this gentleman have a beautifully and the installation is complete. lot who'll advise you how to see the
restored Navion, he had another With the installation of the in­ country following America's road­
disassembled but could be brought strument panel and associated ways. He says, "It works for me and
back to life with someone's caring tubing connections, Don will send it'll work for you, just be patient and
touch. In his hangar at the Anoka the engine out for a complete enjoy the scenery." This from a fel­
County Airport he also had wide workup. Don states that h e is fortu­ low airman who's seen lots of
variety of Navion parts. When nate to have made so many aviation countryside from many different al­
Navion Mike passed away, Don bar­ contacts in the Midwest. Finding an titudes. But the ones the Rietzkes
gained for the whole works. He had A&P or an FAA check person has not like best are the many long cross
just recently made the purchase of been a problem for him. He also countries they've made in small air­
the Miller Airport located some IS greatly appreciates the many friends craft using his own sage advice, " ..
miles from Aitkin and had plenty of and fellow pilots who stop by and . follow the highways, and take
hangar space to store both the contribute time and effort helping time to enjoy the flight." It's advice
planes and their parts. So, in, the him with the restoration. My guess all of us would love to be able to
mid-nineteen eighties, when Don is they are quite enthusiastic just to use if and when we're nearing nine
was in his own mid seventies, he visit his little airport and do some decades of life. In my eyes, Don
took on the challenge of moving hangar flying with a living historian Riezke is certainly one extraordi­
his business and restoring the of aviation history. When asked if nary elder eagle. ......
24 FEBRUARY 2000
NEW MEMBERS
Victor E. Mail ........ .. Smithfield Fred W. Hill ........ Ft. Meyers, FL
Fly- In Calendar
The following list ofcoming events is furnish ed
· .. . . . ... . . . . . Heights Q, Australia Paul E. Petro .. Defuniak Springs, FL to our readers as a mailer ofinformation only
and does not constitute approval, sponsorship,
Ray Toews ................... . . Kenneth A. Weld, Jr. ... Sorrento, FL involvement, control or direction ofany event
· ...... Fort Vernlillion, AB, Canada Wendell Davenport .... Honolulu, HI (jly·in, seminars, fly market, etc.) listed. Please
send the information to EAA. All: Golda Cox.
Todd D. Cunningham . ...... . ... . . Claire Wilson ........ Honolulu, HI P.D. Box 3086, Oshkosh. WI 54903·3086. Infor­
· ...... . . .. Winnipeg, MB , Canada Michael S. Jones . .... . .. Roscoe, IL mation should be received four months prior to
the event date.
Alan Fi lby ....... La Fleche, France Frank W. Mellberg . . . Park Ridge, IL
FEBRUARY 26-27 - RIVERSIDE, CA . Flabob Air·
Marvin Miller .......... Kenai, AK Glenn R. Stout ... . .. Gages Lake, IL port. EAA Chapter I Open House and Fly·ln.
Sawrday nightfundraiser dinner. fly market. silent
James E. Phillips . .. . .. Opelika, AL Edward A. Connell . . Annapolis, MD
au ction, YOllng Eagles, workshops. etc., Info:
Windle Henry ... .. .... Sercay, AR AOPA .. .. .... ... . . Frederick, MD 909/682·6236, 909/686·1318 or 626.287·2139.
Jim Hillabrand . .... . Springdale, AR Susan 1. Gagne . . ..... .. Wells, ME MARCH 2-4 - BILLINGS, MT· Holiday Inn Grand
Montana. Montana Aviation Conference. Work­
Paul Seveerson . .. .... . Phoenix, AZ Steve Howe ...... Bryant Pond, ME shops. seminars. nationally recognized speakers.
trade show. Info: MT Aeronautics Div. , PO Box
James Beck .. ... ... Bakersfield, CA Matthew Cognata ... . ... .. . . . .. . .
5178, Helena. MT 59604-5178.406/444-2506.
Edwin M. Bower . ...... Norco, CA ....... . ....... Pleasant Ridge, MI MARCH 3-5 - CASA GRANDE, AZ - Casa Grande
Steve Brown ... . . . . .. Mentone, CA Charles E . Garrett. .. . . ...... .. .. . Airport. 42nd Annual Cactus Fly-In. Info:
www.americanpilot.org/cactus or call Jon Engle
John T. Culp ....... . Palmdale, CA .... ....... .. ... Grand Rapids, MI at 480/891-6012from 0800 to 1700. Man. through
Thurs.
Steven Emley .. ... . . Oak Hills, CA Jenny Hanson . . ... Eden Prairie, MN
MARCH 4 - WISCASSET, ME - Wiscasset Airport
E. Gene Frink . . . Newport Beach, CA William R. Collette ... Foristell, MO (KIWI) "Fly Here - Get Gas" Chili Cook-of! and
Travis G. Gammill . . . Riverside, CA Richard Christensen .... Lincoln, NE Preventive Maintenance Safety Seminar. Open to
all. Info: Wicked Good Aviation 207-882-5475 or
Stephen C. Hull ... . ... .. .. ..... . Denise A. Lauer ... ... Helmetta, NJ [email protected].
· ... ... ..... .. Red Wood City, CA John D. Northrup . . . Ellicottvi lle, NY MAY 6-7 - CLEVELAND, OH - 16th Annual Air
Racing History Symposium. sponsored by the So­
John Keams . ... .. ... . Pioneer, CA A. Wayne Overton ....... Islip, NY ciety ofAir Racing Historians. Holiday Inn­
William C. Knauer ... Riverside, CA Graham Bale ...... .. . Lebanon, OH Airport. 216/267-1700. Info: Herman Schaub.
440/234-2301.
Melvin D. McWilliams .. .... ... . . Jack Lenhardt .. . ..... Hubbard, OR MA Y 19-21 - COLUMBIA, CA - 2000 Gathering Of
· ... . ...... . ... ... .. Banning, CA Edward Gibbons ............. ... . Luscombes. Aircraft judging, spot landing and
flour bombing. 8th annual Great Luscombe Clock
Harold Nemer .... . ... Ramona, CA .............. . Schwenksville, PA Race. Info: Doug Clough, 360/893-5303; Art Mox­
ley, 253-630-1086; Gordy Birse, 253/631-8478 or
Taylor Smith .. . San Bernardino, CA Keith S. Sargent ..... Hermitage, TN
E-Mail [email protected]
William S. Timmer ............. . Rodney L. Doss ........ Dallas, TX MAY 20-21 NILES, Ml - (3 TR) VAA Chapter 35
· ...... ... ... . . San Francisco, CA Mark Lee ... ... .. ... Floydada, TX hosts Kalamazoo Air Zoo Ford Tri-motor and
traveling warbirds show. Tri-Motor and helicopter
James F. Ure .... . ... Fallbrook, CA Joe Rogers ....... .. .. Pearland, TX rides. Lunch on Sat. 11-3. Sun. Breakfast 7-1 1.
then lun ch 11-3. Fly-In pilots eatfree. Info: Len
Howard G. Wilson .. . ..... . .. ... . Bruce R. Hinds ... Port Orchard, W A
Jansen. 616/684-6566.
· .. . ..... . ... . . . Los Angeles, CA Dennis Ames . ..... .. .. Datien, WI JUNE 2-3 - BARTLESVILLE, OK - Frank Phillips
James Bonner .. ... . ... . Miami, FL Harold R. Duehring . . . . . .. .... .. . Field. 14th Annual National Biplane Convention
and Expo. Forums, static displays, Seminars,
Daryl L. Bortel ... St. Petersburg, FL .. . ....... ... .. . Fond Du Lac, WI Workshops and exhibits. Biplane crews and NBA
membersfree, all others pay admission fee. Info:
Wayne J. Boyer ..... Clearwater, FL Carlton D. Bailey .. Barbersville, WV
Charles W. Harris. Chairman, 918/622·8400 or
Jim Heekin ........ . .. Orlando, FL David Hersman . . .. Clintonville, WV Virgil Gaede, Expo Director, 918/336-3976.

VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25
VINTAGE Membershi~ Services Directo!y_

~
Enjoy the many benefits ofBAA and the
AIRCRAFT BAA Vintage Aircraft Association
ASSOCIAT ION EAA Aviation Center, PO Box 3086, Oshkosh WI 54903-3086
Phone (920) 426-4800 Fax (920) 426-4873
Web Site: http://.eaa.org and http://www.airventltre.org E-Mail: vintage @eaa.org
O FFICERS EAA and Division Membership Services Flight Advisors information . .... 920-426-6522
800-843-3612 • _.... _....•• FAX 920-426-6761 Flight Instructor information ... 920-426-6801
President Vice-President
Espie 'Butch' Joyce George Daubner (8:00 AM -7:00 PM Monday- Friday CST) Flying Start Program . _.... •.•.. 920-426-6847
P.O. Box 35584 2448 Lough Lane Library Services/Research .. .... 920-426-4848
Greensboro. NC 27425 Hart1ord. WI 53027 • New/renew memberships: EAA, Divisions
336/393-D344 414/673-5885 (Vintage Aircraft Association, lAC, Warbirds), Medical Questions ... ... . . ..... 920-426-482 1
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
National Association of Flight Instructors TechnicaJ Counselors ...... .... 920-426-482 1
Sec retary
Treasurer (NAFI) Young Eagles .................. 920-426-483 1
Chanes W. HarriS
Steve Nessa
2009 Highland Ave.
7215 East 46th St. • Address changes Benefits
Tulsa. OK 74145
Albert Lea. MN 5IflJ7
918/622-8400 • Merchandise sales Aircraft Financing (Textron) "'" 800-851-1 367
fJJ7I373-1674
[email protected] • Gift memberships AVA ... . . .................... . 800-727-3823
AVEMCO . . ................ . .. 800-638-8440
DIRECTORS Programs and Activities Term Life and Accidental ....... 800-241-6103
EAA AirVenture Fax-On-Demand Directory Death Insurance (Harvey Watt & Company)
Robert C. "Bob- Brauer Steve Krog
9345 S. Hoyne 1002 Heather Ln. ........ . .. .............. . . ... 732-885 -6711
Chicago. IL 60620 Hart1ord. WI 53027 Auto Fuel STCs . ............... 920-426-4843 Editorial
7731779-2105 414/966-7627 Submitting article/photo; advertiSing infonnation
e-rnai: [email protected] e-mail: sskrog@aC>.com Buildlrestore information ... . . . 920-426-482 1
920-426-4825 . . .. • . . . _• .•• FAX 920-426-4828
John Berendt Chapters: locating/organizing .. 920-426-4876
7645 Echo Point Rd. Robert D. "Bob" Lumley Education . . . . ........... . .... . 920-426-681 5 EAAAviation Foundation
Cannon Falls. MN 55009 1265 South 124th St.
fJJ7/263-24 14 Brookfield. WI 53005 • EAA Air Academy Artifact Donations ............. 920-426-4877
414/782-2633
John S. Copeland e-OOI: • EAA Scholarships Financial Support ....... . ... .. 800-236-1025
1A Deocon Street [email protected] • EAA Young Eagles Camps
North~~3~~4~;; 01532 Gene Morris
e-mail: 5936 Steve Court
[email protected] Roanoke. TX 76262

Phil Coulson
817/491-9110
e-mail: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
28415 SprIngbrook Dr.
Lawton. MI 49065 Dean Richardson EAA available for $50 per year (SPORT AVIATION mag­
616/624-6490 6701 Colony Dr.
Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association, azi ne not inc luded). (Add $ 10 for Foreign
Madison. WI 53717
Roger Gamoll 608/833-1291 Inc. is $40 for one year, including 12 issues of SPORT Postage.)
321-1/2 S. Broadway #3 [email protected] AVIATION. Family membership is availablefor an addi­
Rochester. MN 55904
fJJ7288-281O tional $10 annually. Junior Membership (under 19 WARBIRDS
[email protected] Geelf Robison years of age) is available at $23 annually. All major Current EM members may join the EM Warbirds of
1521 E. MacGregor Dr.
New Haven. IN 46774 credit cards accepted for membership. (Add $16 for America Division and receive WARBIRDS magazine
Dale A. Gustafson
7724 Shady Hill Dr. 219/493-4724 Foreign Postage.) for an additional $35 per year.
Indianapolis. IN 46278 e-mail: [email protected]
EM Membership, WARBIRDS magazine and one
317/293-4430
S.H. "Wes" Schmid year mem bership in the Warbirds Division
Jeannie Hill 2359 Lefeber Aveooe VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION is available fo r $45 per year (SPORT AVIATION
P.O. Box 328 Wauwatosa. WI 53213 Current EM members may join the Vintage Aircraft
Harvard. IL 60033 414/771-1545 magazine not included). (Add $ 7 for Fore ign
Associaton and receive VINTAGE AIRPLANE maga­
815/943-7205 [email protected] Postage.)
zine for an additional $27 per year.
EM Membership, VINTAGE AIRPLANE mag-azine
EAA EXPERIMENTER
DIRECTORS and one year membership in the EM Vintage Air­
craft Assoc iation is available for $37 per year
Current EAA members may receive EAA
E MERITUS (SPORT AVIATION magazine not included). (Add
EXPERIMENTER magazine for an additional $20
per year.
$7 for Foreign Postage.)
Gene Chose E.E. "Buck" Hilbert EM Membership and EM EXPERIMENTER mag­
2159 Canton Rd. P.O. Box 424 azine is available for $30 per year (S PORT
Oshkosh. WI 54904 Union. IL 60 180
920/231-5002 815/923-4591 lAC AVIATION magazine not inciuded).(Add $8 for For­
e-mail: [email protected] Current EM members may join the International eign Postage.)
Aerobatic Club, Inc. Division and receive SPORT
ADVISORS AEROBATICS magazine for an additional $40 FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS
per year. Please submit your remittanc e with a check or
David Bennett Alon Shackleton EM Membership, SPORT AEROBATICS magazine draft drawn on a United States bank payable in
11741 Wolf Rd. P.O. Box 656
Grass Valley, CA 95949 Sugar Grove, IL 60554-0656 and one year membership in the lAC Division is United States dollars . Add required Foreig n
530/268-1585 630/466-4193 Postage amount for each membership.
[email protected] 103346.1772@comp;seNe.com
Membership dues to EAA and its divisions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.

Copyright ©2000 by the EM Vintage Aircraft Association


All rights reserved.
VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) IPM 1482602 is published and owned exclusively by the EM Vintage Aircraft Association of the Experimental Aircraft Association and is published monthly at EM Aviation Center, 3000
Poberemy Rd .• PO. Box 3086. Oshkosh. WISConsin 54903-3086. Periodicals Poslage paid at Oshkosh. Wisconsin 54901 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to EM Antique/Classic Division. Inc.•
PO. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. FOREIGN AND APO ADDRESSES - Please aliow at least two months lor delivery of VINTAGE AIRPLANE to foreign and APO addresses via suriace mail. ADVERTISING - Vintage Aircraft
Association does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through the advertising. We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained through our advertising so that corrective measures can
be taken. EDITORIAL POLICY: Readers are encouraged to submrt stories and photographs. Policy opinions expressed in articles are sole~ those of the authors. Responsibility for accuracy in reporting rests entire~ with the cootributor. No
renumeration is made.Material should be sent to: Editor. VINTAGE AIRPLANE, PO. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. Phone 920/426-4800.
The words EM. ULTRALIGHT, FLY WITH THE FIRST TEAM, SPORT AVIATION, FOR THE LOVE OF FLYING and the logos of EM. EAA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, EAA VINTAGE AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION. INTERNA­
TIONAL AEROBATIC CLUB, WAR BIRDS OF AMERICA are ® registered trademarks. THE EAA SKY SHOPPE and logos 01 the EAA AVIATION FOUNDATION. EAA ULTRALIGHT CONVENTION and EAA AirVenture are trade­
marks of the above associatioos and their use by any person other than the above association is strictly prohibited.

26 FEBRUARY 2000
Mystery Plane - continued

Reference Sources:
European Transport Aircraft Since
1910 - John Stroud, published by
VINTAGE TRADER
Putnam.
Jane's All The Worlds Aircraft, 1927
The Illustrated Encyclopedia ofPro­
peller Airliners,Editor-in chief: Bill
Gunston (Exeter Books).
Other correct answers were re­
ceived from: Leonard E. Opdycke, Something to buy, sell or trade?
Poughkeepsie, NY; Ed Simpson,
Ca mp Lake, WI; R. E. Louderback, An inexpensive ad in the Vintage Trader may be just the answer to obtaining that elu­
sive part. . 50¢ per word, $8.00 minimum charge. Send your ad and payment to:
Cincinnati, OH; Richard Carter, Vintage Trader, EAA Aviation Center, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086, or
Oshkosh, WI; Don Capasso, Had­ fax your ad and your credit card number to 920/426-4828. Ads must be received by
donfield, NJ; Samuel Vick Smith, the 20th ofthe month for insertion in the issue the second month following (e.g., Octo­
ber 20th for the December issue.)
Arlington, VA; Max Norris, Sacra­
mento, CA; Bob Nelson, Bismarck, MISCELLANEOUS
ND; Albert Aplin, Ch ulu ota, FL;
Wayne Van Valkenburgh, Jasper, BABBITT BEARING SERVICE - rod bearings, main bearings, camshaft bearings, master
rods , valves. Call us Toll Free 1/800/233-6934, e-mail [email protected] Web site
GA; John Erickson, Jr, State College, www.ramengine.com VINTAGE ENGINE MACHINE WORKS, N. 604 FREYA ST.,
PA; Tony Morris, Bicester; England; SPOKANE, WA 99202.
Vic Smith, Uxbridge, Engl and;
Charles Holmes, Baton Rouge, LA; AIRCRAFT LINEN - Imported. Fabric tapes. For a 18" by 18" sample, send $10.00.
Contact for price list. WWI Aviation Originals, Ltd., 18 Journey's End, Mendon, VT 05701
Cody McCormick, Scottsda le, AZ; USA. Tel: 802/786-0705, Fax: 802/786-2129. E-mail: Wwlavorig @AOL.com
Earl Swaney, Fresno, CA; Brian R.
Baker and Theodore H. N. Wales, 160 hp Kinner R-55, excellent condition.....ipQwdf) accessories, prop hub, no logbooks.
$8,7000BO. (920) 748-2884, avrojg@ctjW'­
Westwood MA. ~

PROCEDVRE Get ur New Manual!


MANUAL 101
Since 1958, Ceconite has been the Fly high with a
fOfllrt

DB.!Iiii' touchstone of fabric coveri ng. Now


quality Classic interior
-~- there's a new super-clear, super­
complete manual that makes the
Complete interior assemblies for do-iI-yourself installation.
Ceconite process a breeze to use. It
"'-::--== tells you how it works, which air­
planes you can use it on, even what
Custom quality at economical prices.
• Cushion upholstery sets
you need and how much . It takes • Wall panel sets
you step by step through the p rocess, • Headliners
with lots of photos and illustrations • Carpet sets
to make it all easy to understand. • Baggage compartment sets
On top of that, any help you need is • Firewall covers
just a toU-free phone caU away. _ ........- ­ • Seat slings
• Recover envelopes and dopes
rd r
Plus
ours! lust 5. o!
Shlpplnll and Handltnll
Free catalog of complete product line.
Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and
styles of materials: $3 .00.
888-622-3266
www.polyfiber.com
f-mall: [email protected]
fAX: 770 -" 6 7 - 9" 1 3 Aircraft Covering Process
air,exl:RODUCTS,INC.
259 Lower Morrisville Rd ., Dept. VA
219-4 Barry Whatley Way. GrIffIn , GeoqlIa 30224 Fallsington, PA 19054 (215) 295-4115

VINTAr,F AIRPI6NF ?7
Frank Sperandeo

FayeHevi/le, AR

Winner of Oshkosh
and numerous Grand
Champion awards

Member of AOPA and


Shorlwing Piper Club

fAA Technical Counselor


Fronk Sperondeo poses with Miss Pearl, a winner at Oshkosh and numerous Grand Champion awards.
Volunteer aircraft judge

AUAis "A natural pearl is one of a kind and a AUA's Exclusive EAA
Vintage Aircraft Assoc.

~
rare find. So to is the service and price
Insurance Program
of AUA. .. a gem of a deal."
approved. - Frank Sperandeo lower liability and hull premiums
Medical payments included
Fleet discounts for multiple aircraft
To become a carrying all risk coverages
No hand-proRping exclusion
member of the
No age pena ty
No com pone t parts endorsements
Vintage Aircraft
Discounts for daim-free renewals
carrying all risk coverages
Association call

800·843·3612
The best is affordable.
Remember,
Give AUA a call - it's FREE! We're Setter Together'

800-727-3823
Fly with the pros .. .fly with AUA Inc. AVIATION UNUMITED AGENCY
Diseoulltell
Pilot
Supplies
• NAME BRAND PRODUCTS

• DISCOUNTED PRICES EVERYDAY

• SE C URE ONLINE ORDERING

• MOST IT EMS AVAILABLE FOR


IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

• 1 00 % SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

Jeppesen Flightcom ASA David Clark Cencal Pilot Avionics

The Quality Goes In


Belore The Tag Goes On
At Aircraft Specialties Services
CRANKSHARS ROCKER ARMS
CRANKSHAR BALANCING TAPPET BODIES STARTER ADAPTERS
CAMSHARS MAGNAFLUXING COUNTERWEIGHTS
CONNECTING RODS ULTRASONIC INSPECTIONS CUSTOM MACHINING
At Aircraft Specialties Services the quality really does go in before the tag goes on! Our Platinum Precision Process
breathes new life into proven, seasoned steel parts.

2860 N. Sheridan Road, Tulsa, OK 7411 5 Phone: 918-836-6872 Fax: 918-836-4419


V00260 Airshow

, V00261 Air Race

"intage

V00259 Logo shirt

V00262 Airmail

ASSORTED VINTAGE T-SHIRTS BLUE EMBOSSED DENIM JACKET


100% cotton tee featuring four different Vintage scenes. Made of 100% cotton. Vintage logo embroidered on
S- 2X $12.95 front with special embossed logo on back.
V00241 M-XL $65.99 V00244 2X $65.99

VINTAGE MAROON JACKET VINTAGE NAVY JACKET


The perfect jacket for the outdoors! Tills 100% nylon jacket features the Gear up for fall in this Acadia lined Jacket. Outer shell fea­
Vintage logo embroidered in front. Also, for added convenience this tures 100% waterproof nylon willIe the lining is a comfortable
jacket can be folded and made into a carrying pouch! cotton/poly blend.
V00126 S-XL $25.95 V00130 2X $25.99 V00118 M-X $35.95 V00131 2X $36.95

To Order Call: 1-800-843-3612 (Outside US and Canada920-426-4800)


DENIM SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRTS with Button-down collar by Three COTTON PIQUE GOU SmRTS
Rivers. Features button-closure on pocket. Double stitching on sleeves 100% combed cotton. Knit collar and cuffs.
for durability. 100% cotton. Two-button placket. Drop-tail with side vents.
SM-XL V41263 $36.99* White SM-XL V41294 $32.99* 2X V41298 $34.99*
2X V41267 $39.99* Khaki SM-XL V41299 $32.99* 2X V41303 $34.99*
Navy SM-XL V41289 $32.99* 2X V41293 $34.99*

DENIM LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS with button-down collar. JACQUARD GOU SmRTS


Similar to above shirt but in long-sleeved design. The shirts feature 100% combed cotton. Knit collar and cuffs with beige trim.
two-button adjustable cuffs. Available in light-blue denim or natural Five-button placket. Drop tail with side vents.
colors. Wine MD-XL V41281 $34.99* 2X V41284 $37.99*
Natural MD-XL V41268 $39.99* 2X V41271 $43.99* Navy MO-XL V41285 $34.99* 2X V41288 $37.99*
Lt. Blue MO-XL V41272 $39.99* 2X V41276 $43.99* Black MD-XL V41277 $34.99* 2X V41280 $37.99*

BRUSHED COTTON TWILL WASHED BULL DENIM CAP WASHED PIGMENTED COTTON TWILL KHAKi
KHAKi/NAVY PRO STYLE CAP V00222 $12.95 DENIM CAP GOLF-STYLE CAP
V00227 $12.95 V00221 $12.95 V00223 $12.95

BARREL BAG
Show off the Vintage colors proudly at the hangar with this LADIES SMALL
gold / navy Vintage imprinted barrel bag! FLOPPY HAT
V00237 $12.95 V00133 $19.95

STUFFED BEARS
These brown bears are an adorable accessory to any gift!
Dressed in a gold Vintage t-shirt these bears make a great
flying companion.
V00238 Lt. Brown Bear $12.95
V00239 Dark Brown $12.95
Feature adjustable leather closure strap. One size fits most.
White V41260 $10.99*
Khaki V41261 $10.99*
Navy V41262 $10.99*

CLUBHOUSE JACKETS
High quality jackets feature two-button adjustable cuffs, elastic waistband,
inside coat hook loop, inside pocket with velcro closure and more! Contrasting
color trim pieces and adjustable lanyard cord on collar make this jacket very
distinctive. Shell and lining are both 100% nylon.
Natural/Navy Trim SM-XL V41250 $63.99* 2X V41254 $66.99*
Navy / Fst Grn Trim SM-XL V41250 $63.99* 2X V41254 $66.99*
WORLD CLASS NA VY SWEATSHIRT
This solid navy blue World Class sweatshirt by Jerzees fea­
tures unique embossed Vintage logo on front. Cotton/Poly
Blend.
M-XL V00252 $27.95
MEN'S TRI-MOTOR 2X V00255 $29.95
SPORT WATCH
V00219 $24.95
SMALL VINTAGE PIN
V00258 $3.99

LARGE VINTAGE PIN


V40120 $11.99

MEN'S METAL VINTAGE PATCH


WHITE W/BLUE BAND WATCH V00257 $1 .99
TWO-TONE MUG V00215 $28.95
V00234 $4.95 LEATHER BAND WATCH
Men's V00218 $32.95
Ladies' V00214

NYLON/POLY WINTER CAP LADIES LARGE FLOPPY HAT LEATHER EMBROIDERED CAP
WITH EARFLAPS V00132 $23.95 WITH EARFLAPS
VOOl44 $14.95 V00137 $29.95

(not shown) RABBIT FUR WINTER HAT WITH SIDE FLAPS. V00134 $32.95

You might also like