vintage airplane - aug 1981

8/12/2019 Vintage Airplane - Aug 1981

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STR IGHT ND LEVELJune 13, 1981 became a significant date for manyenthusiasts of vintage aircraft. In Tullahoma, Tennesseeon the grounds of the Parish Aerodrome, the Staggerwing

Museum Foundation dedicated the O. A. Beech Galleryand Chapel. Each June, the Staggerwing Club and theStaggerwing Museum Foundation hold their annualStaggerwing/Travel Air International Convention. Thisyear the event was scheduled to include the dedicationceremonies of the Gallery and Chapel with the normalactivities of the Convention.

The Staggerwing Museum was officially opened onJune 14, 1974. Surrounded by two acres of land, theinitial structure was dedicated as the Louise ThadenOffice and Library . t is unique that this initial structureis a restored log cabin containing the library, gift shopand displaying much of the memorabilia collected byLouise during her exciting career as a pilot. Since sheoriginally suggested building a Staggerwing Museum,it was only fitting to dedicate this structure to her.On June 13, 1975 the Walter H. Beech Hangar wasdedicated. t contains over 8000 square feet of floor space,displaying Staggerwing and Travel Air planes, parts,engines, instruments and photographs of these aircraftwhich are currently flying. Available to Staggerwingrestorers are most of the Beech drawings and specifications of all Model 17 types which were manufactured.

This momentous day culminated the dreams of themany members who had contributed their effort, timeand financial aid toward a project that would recognizeand perpetuate the history of the Beech Model 17 Stagger-wing.Accepting the dedication plaque was Olive Ann Beech,Chairman of the Board of Beech Aircraft Corporation.She praised the Staggerwing Museum Foundation forits effort to maintain the history of the Model 17, andmemory of her husband and founder of Beech AircraftCorporation, Walter H. Beech. Accompanying Mrs. Beechwere her children and grandchildren which indicated thefamily's appreciation of the Foundation s effort. BeechAircraft Corporation was well represented by companypersonnel, several of whom are restoring a model E17BStaggerwing that will be named the Olive Ann BeechStaggerwing and donated to the Staggerwing Museum.Another important event occurred during the Convention when Louise's son and daughter, Bill Thaden

By Brad ThornasPresidentAntique/Classic Division

Plans are underway for this event and many of theStaggerwings under restoration will be ready for thisgala affair. Dick Hansen and Dick Perry are presentlyrestoring a Model B17L, serial number 3, which was thefirst production model of the Staggerwing. Accordingto their schedule, they should have this outstandingaircraft ready for its trip to Wichita in the late springor early summer of 1982.Currently about 125 Staggerwings are licensed andflying. Many are under restoration while others are stillbasket cases. An estimated 75 to 100 Staggerwings willattend the 1982 Beech celebration in Wichita . Whatan array of these classic aircraft , from the first productionModel 17 through the last production Model G all linedup side by side at the Beech factory

On Sunday, June 14, the 1981 Staggerwing/TravelAir International Convention began to wind down. At10:00 A.M. the first church services were held in theO. A. Beech Gallery and Chapel, conducted by DickStouffer, Trustee of the EAA Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc.

Later, Staggerwings from all over the U.S. departedfor home, with the sound of rumbling round enginesechoing in the sky. Sentimental - yes All of this beganas the brainchild of W. C. "Dub" Yarbrough, and lookwhat it has developed into today. t is doubtful that anyother type aircraft has been so honored and its historypreserved for future generations.


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t i ~ V I ~ T ~ 7 ~ ~ V V L ~ ~ ~PUBLICATION OF THE ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION, INC.OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION, INC.P.O. BOX 229, HALES CORNERS, WI 53130COPYRIGHT c 1981 EAA ANTIQUE/CLASSIC DIVISION, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

AUGUST 1981 VOLUME 9 NUMBER 8OFFICERS

President Vice-PresidentW. Brad Thomas, Jr . Jack C. Winthrop301 Dodson Mill Road Route 1, Box 111Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 Allen , TX 75002919/368-2875 Home 214/727-5649919/368-2291 OfficeSecretary TreasurerM. C. " Kelly" Viets E. E. "Buck" Hilbert7745 W. 183rd St. P.O . Box 145Stilwell , KS 66085 Union, IL 60180913/681-2303 Home 815/923-4591913/782-6720 Office

DIRECTORSRonald Fritz Morton W. Lester15401 Sparta Avenue P.O. Box 3747

Kent City, MI 49330 Martinsville, VA 24112616/678-5012 703/632-4839Claude L. Gray, Jr. Arthur R. Morgan9635 Sylvia Avenue 3744 North 51st Blvd .Northridge, CA 91324 Milwaukee , WI 53216213 /349-1338 414/442-3631Dale A. Gustafson John R. Turgyan7724 Shady Hill Drive 1530 Kuser RoadIndianapolis, IN 46274 Trenton, NJ 08619317/293-4430 609/58&-2747

AI Kelch S. J. Wittman66 W. 622 N. Madison Avenue Box 2672Cedarburg, WI 53012 Oshkosh , WI 54901414 /377-5886 414/23 -1 265Robert E. Kesel George S. York455 Oakridge Drive 181 Sloboda Ave.Rochester, NY 14617 Mansfield , OH 44906716/342-3170 419/529-4378

ADVISORSEd Burns Stan Gomoll Gene Morris

1550 Mt. Prospect Road 1042 90th Lane, NE 27 Chandelle DriveDes Plaines, IL 60018 Minneapolis, MN 55434 Hampshire, IL 60140312/298-7811 612/784-1172 ~ 1 2 / 6 8 3 3 1 9 QJohn S. Copeland Esple M. Joyce, Jr. S. H. " Wes" Schmid9 Joanne Drive Box 468 2359 Lefeber RoadWestborough, MA 01581 Madison, NC 27025 Wauwatosa, WI 53213617/366-7245 919/427-0216 414/771-1545PUBLICATION STAFF

FRONT COVER The only one flying. a rare Kinner B-2 Sportwing manufactured on 8/ 5/ 35 and owned by GlenPray of Broken Arrow, OK. See HarveyYoung Airport story on Page 4.(Photo by Gene Chase)

BACK COVER . . 1911 Curtiss Pusherowned and flown by Dale Crites (EAA34160 , lC 470), Waukesha, WI. Themotorcycle is a 1913 Yale, owned andrestored by Joe Koller (EAA 23289 ofDousman, WI. Photographed on 6/ 14/ 81at Watertown, WI by Gene Chase.

TABLE OF CONTENTSStraight and Level . . . by Brad Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Harvey Young Airport - 40th Anniversary .by Gene Chase . . . . 4The Reluctant Lady Chapter 2 .submitted by Chapter 7, Flanders NJ . . . 7Remember Wiley Post . by rch Dixon . . . 9Reedsburg Fly-In 1981 . by Ted Koston . . 11Waukesha Flying Club 's Golden Jubilee . . .by Charles H. Faber . . . . . . . . . . . 12Members' Projects . . .. . .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . 15Letters .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. 16Calendar of Events . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Mystery Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17


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Harvey Young enjoyed the fly-in which honored him on the40th anniversary of his airport.

HARVEY YOUNGAIRPORT -4 th GANNIVERSARY

For more than forty years , Harvey Young Airport,located op the eastern edge of Tulsa, Oklahoma has beenknown as one of the greatest for grass roots flying .Although sport flying took a back seat to other activitiesduring the World War Two years, activity was alwaysat a peak.

In addition to his own flight training school Harveyoperated Civilian Pilot Training and War Training ServicePrograms and a Pre-Glider School from 1941 until 1945teaching primary flight training to future military pilots.At the end of WWII he closed his own flying service andleased the airport to Spartan School of Aeronautics forfive years for their GI Training Program . More than 200students a day flew during the peak of this activity.Harvey operated the canteen and lounge while Spartan'soperation was conducted from a large bus parked at thefield.As private flying activity increased in 1950 Harveyreopened his field to other flying schools and operations ,and business flourished. Many improvements weremade including the construction of several hangars .In the years that followed, The Oklahoma Airmen , Tulsa'slargest flying club began operations there as did asoaring club and a skydiving club.A small lake on the western edge of the airportprovides an ideal setting for picnics, swimming, boatingand fishing. A narrow strip of land connects to a treecovered island in the lake where Harvey enjoys hostingcookouts and luaus for his friends.

This beautiful airport naturally attracted antiquersand homebuilders (and classic aircraft owners , too butin the 1950's those were new machines). During the '50swhen EAA Chapter 10 and AAA Chapter 2 were formed ,Harvey Young Airport was the hub of their activities.After an attempt at having individual annual fly-ins,Unusual formation. Upper left is the Pierce Arrow N6622A,rebuilt from parts of the Langley Twin, now owned by JerryHinds EAA 130618, A C 5550), Claremore OK. The lead planeis a de Havilland DH-89A Rapide N89DH , S N HG 724,owned by Doyle Cotton and flown by Bill Watson of Tulsa.

By Gene Chase(Photos by the Author Ex pt as N oted)the two groups soon realized the merits of joint ly sponsoring the event.

Those Tulsa Fly-Ins were very popular and drewparticipants from both U.S. coasts as well as throughoutthe midwest. The charm of the airport and the hospitalityof the two host chapters from 1959 to 1972 resulted inthe Fly-In outgrowing the physical capacity of the field.In 1973 the event was moved about 45 miles ESE toTahlequah, OK where it had room to continue growing. Today activity is brisk as ever at Harvey YoungAirport with two FBO's running flight schools, salesand charter businesses. Many privately owned aircraftare based there including antiques, classics, experimentals and ultralights. Harvey is active, too and stillmaintains the airport. Each summer he can be foundon his tractor, mowing the grass to give the field itsmanicured look. About 180 planes call Harvey YoungAirport home.

Unfortunately, as with many other airports aroundthe country, the city is gradually surrounding the fields its days are numbered .

For years Harvey attempted to get his property zonedas an airport , but the city always turned down hisrequests. He recently donated the property to a Tulsahospital with the provision that he can continue to livethere and operate the airport as long as possible.With 1981 being the 40th year of the existence ofthe airport, longtime AAA and EAAer Hurley Boehlersuggested to Harvey that a gala fly-in be held to celebratethis event . Harvey liked the idea and Hurley agreedto sponsor the fly-in and act as chairman. The dates werescheduled for May 22-24.

Hurley dubbed the affair as an Inflation FighterFly-In and set the registration fee at only $2.00 andbanquet tickets at $2.50 per person. The registrationfee also included a grand cookout on Friday night onthe island hamburgers with all the trimmings.To help with the many fly-in chores, Hurley enlistedthe aid of the local members of EAA Chapter 10, AAAChapter 2, CAP, 99's and the Air Explorer Scouts.


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L - R: 1947 Stinson 108-2, N9836K, SIN 108-2836, LindenO Barnett, Blackwell, OK. 1946 Stinson 108-1, N97932,SIN 108-932, Dudley C Armistead, Tulsa, OK. 1941 StinsonlOA, N31555, SIN 7804, Burl D Dodd, Sand Springs, OK.

Bill Watson takes off in the Rapide with a load of passengers.This plane won the Grand Champion trophy at the fly-in.

Ray Miller (EAA 112), Broken Arrow, OK and his originalFly Rod, N22RM. Power is a 150 hp Lycoming. At 21 M.P.at 8,500' the true air speed is 202 mph. Range is 750 miles.The plane is reminiscent of the racers flown during the goldenage of air races.

North American AT-6, N31586, SIN 493152 owned by TulsansJim Dross (EAA 159583) and Dennis Chilton. Received BestWarbird Award.

Glen Pray (EAA 79029), 122 S Elm PI., Broken Arrow, OK74012 is the proud owner of this rare and beautiful 1935Kinner B-2 Sportwing, NC14927, SIN 148. Engine is a KinnerB-5, 125 hp. This is the only known Sportwing currentlyflying .


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Harvey Youngs home on the airport. It formerly housed theairport office and canteen. The large speaker on the cornerof the 2nd floor roof is one of four which broadcast stereomusic on the field .

George Goodhead photographed Harvey Youngin front of a Stinson 108 in 1959.This beautiful Vee Star was built by Elmo Mauer (EAA 1057),1227 S. 138 E. Ave. , Tulsa , OK 74128. Elmo, now retired,

(Photo Courtesy of Hurley Boehler)Fly-In Chairman, Hurley Boehler Is pleased with the first runof the twin engines on his Lazair ultralight. Photo taken lastFebruary. Hurley enjoyed building the Lazalr and loves flyingit. His flying career began in 1934 and includes Air Forceduty during WWII, corporate pilot, flight instruction, charterflying, and lots of just plain fun flying. Hurley has loggedover ,000 hours.

Two beautiful antiques. The Curtiss OX-5 powered biplaneis a 1928 Kreider-Reisner Challenger, KR-31 , NC7780, SI N


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The jig table for building the new center section spars

"-HEllELUfT NT ~ D Y

CHAPTER 2Story and Photos Subm itted byChapter 7

Flanders, NJWhen AlC Chapter 7 was formed and chartered , adecision was made that we would be a group with aproject; one which would give the members a cross section of the skills needed to restore an airplane, yet notone so sophisticated, complicated or expensive, to burdena chapter beyond their means. With these criteria inmind and for a chapter our size (50 + members) the Fairchild PI'-26 "The Reluctant Lady" has filled the bill.In August 1980, Th e VINTAGE AIRPLANE pub

lished an article "The Reluctant Lady" describing ouradventure of chopping her from the ice in - 200 temperatures to our expedition to Ohio for assorted parts and. pieces that were needed. Since that article, the chapterhas put on two fly-ins, two dinner dances and moved fromour meeting room and club house at Flanders Airport.When the following spring came, we went back to theswamp. Our work party consisted of four adult members ,a daughter and Sparky, a Labrador Retriever. Our equipment was two aluminum boats, some large truck tiretubes, rope and other miscellaneous hand tools. Theaccomplishment other than observing and avoidingsnapping turtles and other swamp creatures was gettingwet and acquiring an aroma which even Sparky didn't like.Without the swamp frozen over it was impossible tobring out any more parts than one gas tank. The otherpieces of wing were just too big to carry , while wadingin water up to our armpits. We gave up , tired and hungry,

Between the trips to the swamp our treasures fromOhio were sorted and examined . We still needed a centersection and landing gear housing. Believe me, when agroup of individuals pool their efforts , jobs alwaysseem to get done. By spreading the word of our need fora center section, we began finding small quantities ofstashed-away PI' parts. The more we searched, the morewe found. Some of the leads we received on parts arestories in themselves, One of the early leads was of acenter section which was incorporated into a pig pen;supposedly it would be ours if we would rebuild the pigpen. This was a complete center section with the landinggear attached. After many phone calls and much drivingaround back country roads, this center section was neverfound; neither were the pigs nor the pen.Another lead was an elderly A P mechanic whohad a couple of PI"s which he was supposed to recoverfor someone over twenty years ago ; he still had thembecause he had never been paid. Again , no elderlymechanic nor even a trace of him nor the airplanes.One evening while talking over a cup of coffee aboutmotorcycles, a friend told about an old airport where heused to tune his motorcycles for racing. He described acouple of old wrecks which sat there with machine gunmounts on them . We talked a little more and directionswere written down. Off we went again, and this time wehit pay dirt. This trip netted us three PI' fuselages including one with enough of the center section to beable to check spar measurements . The machine gunmounts were the roll-over structuresWord also came to us about a PI' sitting in a junkyard which could be had if we were able to get it out.t seemed that a new highway had nearly isolated the

junkyard . In attempting to track it down, we again metwith zero results .A phone call received one night described a PI'-26located behind a body shop, in excellent shape includinga brand new prop for only $1,000. This lead actuallyresulted in our finding an airplane , but it had alreadybeen purchased by a fellow who later joined the chapter.This is probably the same plane which had been sittingin a junkyard. ( Excellent shape" in this case meantall or most of the pieces were attached to the fuselageand it resembled an airplane.)

One Sunday while I was painting my house , RichBarry , President of EAA Chapter 501, and Mr. Gorski,FBO of Lincoln Park Airport, stopped by with theirstation wagon filled with PI' parts. Now the chapter owneda new set of flaps , nose bowl, wing attach fittings , and anassortment of push tubes and other PT pieces. (Oneparticular push tube had served duty as a window openerin the hangar, which just goes to prove that parts andpieces are where they are found .)Thursday night work parties were organized at thePresident's workshop and work was begun on the control


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One of the center section ribs to be located between the spars.

Rebuilding the horizontal stabilizer for the PT 26.

Rebuild of the right outer wing panel.ing and handing tools as needed. To the uninitiated itresembled a surgical team at work in an operating room.Before we realized it was time to start preparing forour Annual Fly-In. As the saying goes if you need a jobdone give it to a busy person. We had the busy peopleand the job of the Fly-In was taken on and successfullycompleted.Then came Oshkosh and the forums were priceless.When we attended the Fairchild forum my wife wasgiven strict orders and we did our best to write downeverything which was said about PTs.When summer activities wound down and it seemedthe work parties would start again, we decided to try anew approach. A project manager was appointed. TomMcCarney was picked for the job because he was availableand had recently completed an Aeronca l lAC restoration. We felt this approach would accomplish more anduse the manpower more efficiently by spreading out thework. The Reluctant Lady project was divided up intofive major areas.

e decided to break up each area into what we callmini-projects with parts going to individuals homesor shops. We hoped that work would progress at a moresteady pace.The mini-projects were divided up as follows andsent to different locations: we now had the landinggear and wheels being worked on canopy and turtledeck nose bowl and engine cowl each of the two wingpanels and the horizontal stabilizer. Managing this be


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piece of %" thick by 11' long spruce is not an easily founditem. An order was placed with a major supplier, andthey assured us when they received their next supplythey would let us know, but they did not have an ideawhen that would be.When it seemed we were at another dead end, anotherstroke of luck befell the Reluctant Lady. We werefortunate to locate enough spruce to do the rear sparand part of the front.Meanwhile, jigs were being made for nose ribs andtrailing edge ribs which we planned to display at ourFly-In on July 4.

We acquired the landing gear housing in Sublett,Illinois. How? While sitting under the wing of JohnNeumister's SR-9 at Oshkosh, John mentioned that heonce had the landing gear for a PT-19 but had givenit to a friend. The friend also was at the Convention,and after he was located it was discovered the landinggear had changed hands again, maybe twice. Followingup on the newly found leads, one of our members locatedand obtained the gear while on a trip to visit a collegehis daughter was considering attending.The saga of the Reluctant Lady will continue, andmost definitely she will fly again.

REMEM ERING WILEY POSTEditor s Note: Arch Dixon EAA 89955), a friend of WileyPost, sent the following letter to David Jameson , VicePresident of the EAA Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc .Dave lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and owns several an-tique planes including the beautiful Lockheed Vega fin-ished in the Winnie Mae paint scheme. e are pleasedthat Dave offered to share this letter with the readersof The VINTAGE AIRPLANE .

After reading your story about Johnny Livingston'sWaco Taperwing in the February, 1974 issue of TheVINTAGE AIRPLANE, I face this typewriter with adistinct inferiority complex. That was an excellent pieceof writing and a darn interesting article.About my memories of Wiley Post . . . I suppose 1could start with a catchy title like Barclay's I FlewWith Wiley Post in AIR CLASSIC magazine, which1 did, or Wiley Post Flew With Me", which he did,but that would be a mite deceptive, like how much doyou brag about a fifteen minute check ride prior to soloing Wiley's Bird demonstrator?I first became aware of Wiley Post in late 1928 or1929. He was in and out of the old SW 29th Street Airport in Oklahoma City flying a biplane for Hall-BriscoeOil Co He was sort of a loner and none of the regularsaround the airport knew him very well. But we all knewwho he was, because of his eye injury and the story thathe was the only pilot cleared for right turns into landingpatterns.Until Hall-Briscoe bought the Lockheed Vega, Wiley

out the threat. Bu t, as I said , during the years beforeNC-105-W Wiley was not exactly a celebrity.The pilots known then who were well known in Okla

homa included Burell Tibbs, R V Carlton, Roy Hunt,Jimmy Hazlip, Bennett Griffin, Jimmy Mattern, ArtMills, Billy Parker, Bob Tarbutton, Bill Bleakley, ClintJohnson, Claude Seaton, Cheebie Graham, Red Gray ,Eddie Ross, Tip Shirer, Jimmy Cleveland (NAT pilot),Paul Braniff, John Lynn, Ted Colbert, Norman Powers,Don Bridie, Warren Moseley, Hardy Young, TempleBowen. Even our grease monkey, Bryce Harlow, hadwider recognition than Wiley Post. Bryce grew up tobecome VP of Proctor and Gamble and an advisor tothree presidents. The preceding list of names soundslike a 1932 roll call for Braniff Airlines. Paul Braniffstarted the business and eight of those listed becamepilots. The name, Wiley Post, in 1928, '29 and '30 wasyet to become a household word.After the advent of the Vega, of course, peoplestarted taking notice of its pilot. The Winnie Mae wasabout the prettiest airplane ever built, before or since.About a year after Wiley started flying the Vega, theseabsurd rumors started floating around that this guywith a glass eye was planning on flying AROUND theworld Had to be a joke or else somebody was losinghis marbles . But, sure enough, it wasn't too long 'tilwe noticed Wiley was hanging around the airport dayand night, training himself to go without sleep for 24and 36 hours at a time. I suppose I could say that itwas during this period that I first became acquainted

(Dick Stouffer Photo)Dave Jameson approaches for a landing in his 1929 LockheedSIN The Winnie


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with Wiley Post. I kept him company while he was trying to stay awake.The Post-Gatty 'round-the-world flight became history and Oklahoma City didn't see much of Wiley forthe next year. He was writing a book and flying aroundthe country making personal appearances.I wanted an autographed copy of Wiley's book. Therewas a marble board machine in the lobby of the airport and Wiley was an addicted player. We were playing for ten cents a game one day and I asked him whereI could get a copy of the book for him to autograph .Well, he just happened to have a few copies with himat $3.95 a copy and he was happy to accommodate me.He wrote on the fly leaf something like this, To ArchDixon, the best marble player in the world, and signedit. As I recall I'd just won thirty or forty cents from himon the marble board.

I'm sure Wiley was thinking of a solo flight aroundthe world at this time, and had been since his returnfrpm the flight with Harold Gatty. Wiley confided to methat, as a navigator and radio operator, Harold Gattywas so much supercargo. Gatty couldn't keep the radiooperating and Wiley was forced to do his own navigating. t irked Wiley that Gatty was receiving so muchcredit for the success of the first flight. Wiley wasconvinced that he would have done much better goingit alone. As I remember after the triumphant tour fol-lowing the first flight, Post and Gatty went their separate ways and Wiley pretty well ignored Gatty from thattime on.Wiley's closest friends by this time were L. E RedGray, Eddie Ross and Ted Colbert. Red had flown thefamous Lockheed Vega, Cherokee for the oil promoter, C. C. Julian and later was flying Vegas forBraniff on the Dallas-Oklahoma City-Wichita-Chicagoroute, as were Ted Colbert and Eddie Ross. Wiley wasan avid and energetic hunter and fisherman. Ted Colbert had hunting dogs and he and Wiley did a lot ofquail hunting . Red Gray had a ranch near Ninneka,Oklahoma and he and Wiley would fly down there inthe Winnie Mae and land in a pasture near the ranchhouse . They would hunt on horseback all over theranch. t was a great place where Wiley could completely relax , away from everybody.After the successful solo circling of the world, therewas a period before he became invovled in high altitude and speed flights when he spent a lot of time inand around Oklahoma City. There was plenty of timefor fishing and I tagged along on a number of occasions.One time Wiley was invited to bring a few friendswith him to a ranch near Ardmore for a barbecue andfishing outing on a privately stocked lake . In Oklahoma when somebody throws a big barbecue and fishing party, the chances are that eating and fishing arethe excuses for a whole lot of drinking . Each one of us

one place and let the fish come to us , Wiley was fishing about two hundred yards an hour. By the end ofthe day Wiley was a good mile from where he started .I don't remember any fish caught that day but Wileycertainly got more exercise.Wiley decided he'd fly back. He took off, gained afew feet of altitude then aimed at the base of Mt. Scott.He put that Bird's left wing right against the side ofthe mountain and did a spiral climb all the way to thetop . Never, it seemed to me, were we more than fiftyfeet away from the rocks, and I believe all we had upfront was an OX-5 engine.Only one man besides Wiley ever flew the WinnieMae. That was Red Gray. Wiley's faith in Red's flyingability never wavered despite the fact Red had an engine failure taking off from the Chickasha, Oklahomaairport one day; the poor Winnie Mae ended up wellsplintered in a peach orchard. Looking at the WinnieMae today, hanging in pristine glory in the NationalAir and Space Museum, you wouldn't think the old girlever had so much as a skin blemish. But she had morethan her share of mishaps in the relative short spanof her flying career.Red Gray remained Wiley's closest friend right upto the fatal accident at Point Barrow, Alaska. WhenRed and I have one of our rare get-togethers, I can joghis memory and he jogs mine and together, we can remember many incidents about Wiley that escape menow. After all, recalling the details of these occurrencesof some fifty years ago is a difficult task. One tendsto forget, embellish and distort his own role in thingsthat happened so long ago.I do know that when Red Gray, Ted Colbert andEddie Ross had been flying for Braniff for some time,Wiley was concerned and not too keen on the futureof flying Vegas for Braniff. The pay was irregular andthe risks were high. Continental Oil in Ponca City,Oklahoma was in the process of buying, I believe, twoVegas as company planes. Wiley used his influence toget jobs with Continental for all three of his friends.Red and Eddie were with Continental until they retired, with Red as Chief Pilot. Ted left Continentalabout 1939 or 1940 to start up an Army Primary Training School.When Post and Gatty returned to Oklahoma City fora ticker tape parade after the first flight, I had to substitute for the head photographer of the newspaper Iworked for. He was suffering from one of his periodictumbles from the wagon . My job was to get a shotof the Governor of Oklahoma at the time, Alfalfa BillMurray, with Post on one side and Gatty on the other.I got them lined up and was fumbling with the SpeedGraphic and, I guess, taking more time than the Governor thought necessary . Finally he said, Son, theseboys could fly around the world again while you're fid


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REEDSBURG FLY IN 1981Story and Photos byTed Koston

EAA 44514, A e 2186)38 Le Moyne ParkwayOak Park, IL 60302The annual Reedsburg, Wisconsin Fly-In is alwayswell attended and this year was no exception. The April26, 1981 event attracted over 90 people with 60 airplanes . Reedsburg is one of eight annual Fly-Ins ofthe Wisconsin Chapter of AAA. They are one of themost active groups of antiquers in the country and mostmembers are also members of EAA and the Antique/

Classic Division.Following the arrivals , a substantial lunch wasserved at noon after which a brief business meetingwas held. During the meeting, Ed Wegner gave a detailed report on the use of face masks during paintand dope spraying operations.Newest antique in the group was William Knight sWaco UPF-7 which he purchased in February, 1981 inMinnesota. Dave Neuser of Manitowoc, Wisconsin flewin with his beautiful green and yellow Stearman sporting the original 220 hp Continental engine it came with(Continued on Page 15)

Ed Wegner, Joe Simandl and Tom Rench In front of Tom srare 1935 Beechcraft Staggerwlng B17L.

-The group poses in front of Dick Martin s Howard DGA-15Pand Tom Renchs Staggerwlng B17L.

Dick and JoAnn Martin and family with their beautiful HowardDGA-15P.


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yCharles H. FaberE 135542, A IC 4591655 Poplar Creek DriveWaukesha, WI 53186

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Photos Courtesy of the uthor Except as Noted)

LYING CLUB'SJUBILEE

sands of people have seen the Crites brothers performat air shows, including Dale flying his 1912 CurtissPusher Sweetheart . This plane now rests on itslaurels in the EAA Aviation Museum.t would take many books to tell the complete storyof aviation in Waukesha County, and the part played

by the Waukesha Aviation Club in convincing aviationminded people to build the airport and continuallyimprove the facilities . Over the years the Club hassponsored many air shows and fly-ins to promote aviation and the airport. Among the most popular eventswere the annual Father's Day Penny-a-Pound Flights.In recounting the history of aviation in the area,many well known names surface. This is well documented in a book, The History of Aviation in Waukesha County by Warren S. O'Brien, writer for the Clubon the occasion of their 25th anniversary. O'Brien wasa noted photographer and the Club historian. The Clubalso has an outstanding collection of rare 16mm moviesof early air show performances at the Waukesha Airport.The Waukesha Aviation Club, Inc. has published a50th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet depictingsome of its early history and containing many photosand material from members' scrapbooks. These bookswill be available at the banquet and open house celebrations.

(Gene Chan Photo)It requires a dedicated ground crew to enable 74-year-oldDale Crites to fly his 1911 Curtiss Silver Streak . Dale, Inhelmet and goggles is flanked by Harry Peterson, Bob Felsing and Woody Lund.

(Warren O'Brien Collection)Photo taken in the early 1930's of club members WarrenO'Brien, Bob Huggins and Charles Guetner. Huggins was theclub flight instructor and Guetner was President of the Waukesha Aviation Club in 1931. Plane is an OX-5 powered Waco 10.


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(Dale Crites Photo) (Warren O'Brien Photo)Dean Crites and Waco Cabin in 1943 when he was a CAA Two early race pilots from Waukesha , Graham and Perrin.inspector. Can anyone identify the aircraft?

(Dale Crites Photo)Many pilots learned to fly in this Swallow, Old 244" ownedby club member Russell Schuetze in 1930 and 1931. Thisplane suffered many accidents but was always repaired tofly again. No one was ever seriously injured in these mis-fortunes.

(Photo by Ted Koston In 1969)Dale Crites flying his Curtiss Pusher, "Sweetheart" which isnow in the EAA Aviation Museum. This plane was originallyowned and flown by John Kaminski. John was the first licensedpilot in Waukesha County and the first to take off and landthere.


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LETTERSEditor's Note: e hope the readers ofThe VINTAGE AIR-PLANE can provide some of the information requested bythe writers of the following letters:

Gentlemen:Enclosed please find a money order for $5.00 for twocopies each of the May, 1981 and June , 1981 issues ofThe VINTAGE AIRPLANE . I enjoyed the two-part articleon the Fleet.I have just completed a one-quarter scale model ofa 1930 Fleet Model 2. t is radio controlled, powered bya 2 hp Quadra, has an 88" wing span, and weighs 18%pounds. The colors are blue and yellow. The scale Kinner engine is made up of plywood discs and pattern pine.Enclosed is a photo of the model with my granddaughters , Melissa and Megan Patrowicy who are interested in aircraft of all types.Sincerely,George W Dickinson(EAA 110985, A/C 2693)"Millstone"

11 Amwell RoadSomerville, NJ 08876

Gentlemen:

Dear Mr. Chase:I am writing to you for help for a project I'm working on. I am trying to put together a directory of exmilitary aircraft based in my home state of Pennsylvania. That will include not only military types in museums and collections, but also "veterans" that ar e nowprivately owned. I hope to include all types, from warbirds to trainer and liaison types.The FAA will help me with lists of currently registered airplanes , and the various aviation hi storicalgroups can help me with the stored museum stuff; bu t,as you well know, there are quite a few airplanes un registered scattered about the countryside in variousstates of disrepair. This is where I need the help of myfellow EAA Antique/Classic members.If you can pass on the word through Th e VINTAGEAIRPLANE I would be most grateful.

In return, the information I receive will be sharedwith the group, perhaps in the form of an article. WhatI need to know is where there are ex-military aircraft,of any age , that served with any branch of the armedforces of any country, based in Pennsylvania. Naturally,any information I receive will be treated with the utmost respect and all photos will be returned quickly.Thanks for your assistance in this matter.Sincerely,

Archie DiFante(EAA 167030, A/C 6191)333 Hamilton DrivePittsburgh, PA 15235

Mr. Santiago s 1935 Fleet with a 165 hp Warner Scarab en-gine photographed in San Felipe, Chile in January, 1981.Dear Mr. Hardie:I am attempting to research the history of a FleetModel 16-B (Ser. No. 529) that I purchased recentlyin the Republic of Chile, South America. The aircraftis currently on its way to the U.S. and final destinationof Dunnellon, Florida, where it will be based.Mr . Fred Howard of Denver , Colorado , author of


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CALENDAR O F V N T SJUNE 1 - SEPTEMBER 1 - MOMENCE, ILLINOIS - Se cond AIRPLANENOSTALGIA PHOTO SHOW: Over 400 gallery-mounted 8 x 10 photographs of homebuilt , private, commercial , and military aircraft fromthe 1920s to the 1950s. Admissio n is free. The Hoosegow Art Gal lery, 106 North Dixie Highway, Momence, Illinois 60954. For furtherinformation, please contact : Hugh Butterfield (EAA 121478) at theHoosegow, 815/ 472-4990.AUGUST 1-8 - OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN - 29th Annual EAA Fly-In

Convention . It is never too early to start making plans for theworld s GREATEST AVIATION EVENT.AUGUST 7-9 - LEWISTOWN , MONTANA - 4th Annual MontanaChapter AAA Fly-In at Beacon Star Antique Airfield . For furtherinformat ion , please contact, Frank Bass , Beacon Star AntiqueAirfield , Star Route, Moore, MT 59464. 406/ 538-7616.AUGUST 7-9 - MOORE, MONTANA - Montana chapter AAA fly-in ,Beacon Star Antique Airf ield . Contact Frank Bass, Star Road , MooreMT 59464. 406/ 538-7616. .AUGUST 9 - MENDOTA, ILLINOIS - Fly-in breakfast 7 A.M. t ill noonin conjunction with the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. Homebuilts,antiques, and special interest aircraft have separate parking areas.Parade at 1 P.M. Also art show and flea market. Contact Ph il Buland,804 Sixth Ave . Mendota, IL 61342.815/ 539-6815.AUGUST 9-15 - FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN - 12th Annual lAC International Championships.

AUGUST 9-15 - PORTLAND, OREGON - 13th Annual Convention ofThe International Cessna 170 Association. For further information,please contact : Robert C. Anderson , 3307 N.E. Academy Avenue,Portland, OR 97200. 503/ 253-3449.AUGUST 16-23 - BLAKESBURG, IOWA - Annual Invitational Fly-Inat Antique Airfield. Sponsored by Antique Airplane Association andthe Airpower Museum. For information, contact Antique AirplaneAssociation , Inc . Route 2, Box 172, Ottumwa, IA 52501 . 515/ 9382773.AUGUST 23 - WEEDSPORT, NEW YORK - Fly-In. Antiques , classicsand homebuilts welcome. Sponsored by EAA Chapter 486. Whitsford Airport. Pancake breakfast, air show. Field closed 1 00 p .m.to 5:00 p.m. IntermiSSi on for early departures. For further information, please contact: Herb Livingston , 1257 Gallagher Road , Baldwinsville, NY 13027.AUGUST 28-30 - COFFEYVILLE, KS - Funk Fly-In. Sponsored byCoffeyville Jaycees. For further information , please contact : George

E. Lipe, P.O. Box 372, So. Coffeyville, OK 74072.AUGUST 28-30 - ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON - 12th Annual Arling

ton Fly-In . Sponsored by EAA Chapters 26 , 84, 404, 441 . North-west s largest homebui lVanti que event. Camping , meals available.2061747 2748.

AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 3 - LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Ameri canBonanza Society convention and industry exh ibit , MGM GrandHotel. Contact ABS , Reading Municipal Airport , P.O . Box 3749,Reading, PA .

SEPTEMBER 3-6 - OTTUMWA, IOWA - 8th Annual Antique AirmenFly-in Reunion at Ottumwa Industrial Airport . All antiques, classics,warbirds , homebuilts, etc. welcome. For further information contact:Gene AldriCh, 515/ 684-4774 or Andy Norton, 515/ 563-2187.

SEPTEMBER 9-13 - GALESBURG, ILLINOIS - Tenth Annual Stearman Fly-I n at the Galesburg Mun ic ipal Airport. Contact Ted McCullough, 43 Ind iana Ave . Galesburg , IL 61401. 309/ 342-2298.SEPTEMBER 11-13 - MARION, OHIO - 161h Annual Marion MerfiEAA Fly-In , Marion Municipal Airport . Contact Louis Lendeman,3840 Cloverdale Road , Medway, OH 45341. 513/ 849-9455.SEPTEMBER 12-13 - GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - Fly-In sponsoredby EAA Chapter 651 . Plainview Airport . Overnight camping. Freemeal to pi lots arriving in homebuilts or antiques. Contact DaveFrisbee, 414/ 336-3257.SEPTEMBER 12-13 - LOVELAND-FT. COLLINS, COLORADO - 3rdAnnual Rocky Mountain Regional Fly-In at Loveland-Ft. CollinsAirport. Sponsored by EAA Chapters 43 , 72 , 301, 648, 660 , 720, lACChapters 5, 12, 16 and the Antique Airplane Assn. of Colorado.Contact Bill March, 303/ 986-4398.SEPTEMBER 13 - BOLIVAR, TENNESSEE - Airshow and TennesseeForest Festival sponsored by Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce. Trophies awarded for homebuilts , antiques, warbirds andultralights . Airshow features Duane and Marion Cole and BenMorphew. Conta ct Billy Whitehurst , P.O. Box 376 , Bolivar , TN38008. 1-800-236-6871.SEPTEMBER 15-20 - RENO, NEVADA - National Championship airraces. Contact Floyd Edsall , air race and air show director, P.O .Box 1429, Reno , NV 89505.SEPTEMBER 17-19 - CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - Silver Wingsconvention. Contact Haskell Deaton, Box 1822, Charlotte, NC 28218or National Headquarters, Box 1221 , Harrisburg, PA 17108.SEPTEMBER 18-19 - LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - Bowman FieldOld-Timers Reunion. Anyone active at Bowman Field prior to 1940please contact Ed Peck, Reunion Coordinator , 214 LynnwoodDrive, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. 812/ 944-1028.SEPTEMBER 19-20 - BROOKHAVEN, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK Antique Airplane Club 19th Annual Fly-In. Contact Terry Ferris,15 Bruce Lane, Farmingdale, NY 11735.SEPTEMBER 25-27 - TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - 24th Annual TulsaFly-In. Antique and experimental aircraft from all over the midwest .Contact J. C. Treager, Rt. I , Box 406, Sand Springs, OK 74063. 918/245-6910.OCTOBER 9-11 - ANDERSON, INDIANA - Annual Convention and FlyIn sponsored by the International Cessna 120/ 140 Association, Inc.For further information , please contact : Frank Hancock, 3941 WestCross Street, Anderson, IN 46011 . 317/ 643-1593.OCTOBER 16-18 - CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA - Fly-In . Antiques,Classics, Homebuilts, Ultralights, and Warbirds invited. Awardsand banquet Saturday night For further information , contactGeneva McKiernan, 5301 Finsbury Place, Charlotte, NC 28211 .OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 1 - RAMONA AIRPORT, CALIFORNIA EAA Ramona Fly-In . Sponsored by EAA Chapter 14 and San DiegoChapter of the Antique Aircraft Assoc. Rain date November 7-8 .Contact Ben W. Hunsaker, 714/ 276-5121 .NOVEMBER 21-22 - MIAMI, FLORIDA - Ant ique, Classic, and Custom Built Exhibit and Fly-In at sixth annual Harvest sponsored byHistorical Association of Southern Florida . Located at TamiamiFairgrounds; Coral Way at 112th Avenue in Miami. Contact Elizabeth Bookout, 305/ 557-5530 or Genie Card , 305/253-3776.


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MEM ERSHIP INFORM TION Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is $25.00 for one year, $48.00 for 2 yearsEAA and $69.00 for 3 years. All include 12 issues of Sport A /ation per year. Junior Membership (under 19years of age) is available at $15.00 annually. EAA Member - 14.00. In cludes one yea r membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division , 12 monthlyANTIQUE issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card. Applicant must be a current EAA member andmust give EAA membership number.)CLASSIC Non-EAA Member - $24.00. Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division, 12

monthly issues of The Vintage .Airplane, one year membership in the EAA and separate membershipcards . Sport Aviation not included. Membership i n the International Aerobatic Club , Inc . is $16.00 annually which includes 12 issueslAC of Sport Aerobatics. All lAC members are required to be members of EAA. Membership in the Warbirds of Ameri ca , Inc . is $20 .00 per year, which includes a subscription toWARBIRDS Warbirds Ne wsletter. Warbird members are required to be members of EAA.

the EAA Ultralight Assn. is $25.00 per year which includes the Ultralight publicationULTRALIGHT Membership in($15.00 additional for Sport A /ation magazine) . For current EAA members only, $15.00, which includesUltralight publication.MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO EAA OR THE DIVISION IN WHICH MEMBERSHIP IS DESIRED .ADDRESS ALL LETTERS TO EAA OR THE PARTICULAR DIVISION AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS :

P. O BOX 229 HALES CORNERS, WI 53130

CLASSIFIEDADSACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unlimited aerobatics . 23 sheets of clear , easy to follow plans ,includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings , photos andexploded views . Complete parts and materials list. Fullsize wing drawings . Plans plus 88 page Builder's Manual- $60.00. Info Pack - $4 .00. Super Acro Sport WingDrawing - $15.00. Send check or money order to: ACROSPORT, INC., Box 462, Hales Corners , WI 53130. 414/425-4860.

A UTHENTICWWIandWWIIMILlTARYand ANTIQUEFLYINGEQUIPMENT

Props EnRin s WheelsHellllel.\"- RR l s Mantlals

Suils Jackel PartsBUYS L L TRADESend for our unique catalog listinghundreds of pilot and Collector

ACROII- The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sportbiplane . 20 pages of easy to follow, detailed plans. Complete with isometric drawings, photos, exploded views.Plans - $85.00. Info Pack - $4 .00 . Send check or moneyorder to: ACRO SPORT, INC.,P.O . Box 462, Hales Corners, WI 53130.414/425-4860.POSER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited inlow. cost pleasure flying. Big, roomy cockpit for the oversix foot pilot. VW power insures hard to beat 3% gph atcruise setting . 15 large instruction sheets . Plans - $45.00.Info Pack - $4 .00. Send check or money order to: ACROSPORT, INC_, Box 462, Hales Corners , WI 53130. 414/425-4860.DERRICK INDUSTRIES,INC. - Repair Station 464-6l.Wooden propeller repair and manufacturing. 1565 NorthBroadway, Stockton, CA 95205. Phone 209/462-738l.WANTED: For my Curtiss Wright Junior restoration,parts or pieces, any condition. Contact Gene Chase atEAA Headquarters, P.O. Box 229, a l ~ s Corners, WI53130. 414/425-4860 or 414/425-8851.

AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES


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Classtc owners!~ ( U f . t ~ , L 4 a

DOG ( ~ ~DRESS . \ ~ ~ ;.IT UP

WITH A NEW~ INTERIOR!

ll Items READY-MADE or E a ~ yDO-IT-YOURSELF INSTALLATION

Seat Upholstery - Wall PanelsHeadliners - Carpets - etc.Ceconile Envelopes and Dopes

- S e n d for FREE C a t a l o g -Fabric Selection Guide - $3.00

J ~ P ~ , J I W .259 Lower Morri.ville RcI --==-==-1 ~ I I S A ~ .I FoII.ington Po. 19 54 : . : : (215) 295-4115 l llW :

THE VINTAGE AIRPLANEADVERTISING RATESDISPLA Y RATES: 1 Issue 3 Issues 12 Issues1 Page 125.00 120.00 114.00'/2 Page 65.00 60.00 54.00' 3 Page 55.00 50.00 48.00v.. Page 35.00 32.00 30 .00'/6 Page 30 .00 26.00 24.0018 Page 25.00 21.00 19.00Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads.Layout Work: 18.00 per hour .CLASSIFIED DISPLAY RATE : Regular type per word 40c. BoldFace Type : per word 45c. ALL CAPS: per word 50c (Minimumcharge 6.00). (Ra te covers one insertion one issue.)COMMISSIONS: Non-Commissionable.

FLYING ANDGLI DER MANUALS1929, 1930, 19311932,1933 2.50 ea.

SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO :EAA Air Museum Foundation, Inc.Box 469 Hales Corners, WI 53130

Allow 4-6 Weeks For DeliveryWisconsin Residents Include 4% Sales Tax

Jacket: Unlined Poplin jacket, features knit waistand cuffs. The gold and white braid trim on aTan body emphasizes the colors proudly displayed in the Antique/Classic logo.Sizes : X-small thru X-large 28.95 ppd

Cap: Complete the look in this gold mesh hatwith contrasting blue bill, trimmed with a goldbraid . Your logo visibly displayed, makes thisadjustable cap a must.Sizes: M & L (adjustable rear band) 6.25 ppd


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vintage airplane - aug 1981

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