vintage airplane - sep 1973

8/12/2019 Vintage Airplane - Sep 1973

1/20


2/20

IN THE MIDDLE OF IT LLBy E. E. "Buck" Hilbert, PresidentE Antique-Classic Division

These past several weeks have been the busiest I can remember. Also the most fulfilling.Oshkosh, my first experience at being on the inside looking out, all but drained me of incentive and ambition. It was a lot of work. It also was a revelation . I have never been so busy, nor


3/20

VOLUME 1 - NUMBER 10 SEPTEMBER 1973TABLE OF CONTENTS

Classic Grand Champion Bill Hodges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Oshkosh Fly-In Coverage - Continued . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ... . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 6Crosley Moonbeams . . . John Carter . . . . . 10Staggerwing Fly-In . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . 12Aeronca See What? . . Buck Hilbert . . . 14Around the Antique/Classic World . . . . . . .. . . 18

ON THE COVER Doug Moore 's ClassicGrand Champion Aeronca Champ .Photo by Lee FrayBACK COVER Cabin of Dr. Ed Garber 'sStinson Jr. S

Photo by Ted Koston

HOW T JOIN THE ANTIQUE-CLASSIC DIVISIONMembership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division is open to all EAA members who have a specialinterest in the older aircraft that are a proud part of our a viation heritage . Membership in the Antique-Classic Division is 10.00 per year which entitles one to 12 issues of The Vintage Airplane published


4/20

GR ND CH P Oy ill odges

What? What's that you say? A "Champ"? AnAeronca "Champ''? The Grand Champion Classic?Well, it must be something pretty special!Doug and Lois Moore of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada think so, and so did the Classic Judges at the EAA's1973 21st Annual Convention held at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. To be picked number one out of 406 classics attending, well , that is something pretty special.CF -JUU started out life as a 1946 7AC , Serial N um

ber 5466, but was later converted to 7CCM standards:Continental C-90-12 on a short engine mount, removal ofthe nose fuel tank and installation of two 13 gallon wingfuel tanks, No-Bounce landing gear and the addition ofthe larger dorsal fin .Doug and Lois bought their red and black beautythree years ago for $1,000.00from a friend, Harry Fletcher.The plane was flyable but they felt it needed to berestored to better condition. Another friend, Max Say,helped them with the restoration, which took about twoand one half years.Doug was bitten by the flying bug at the age of 4 whenhe attended an air show in Minot, North Dakota , justacross the border from his home town of Gainsboro ,
http:///reader/full/1,000.00http:///reader/full/1,000.00


5/20

CLASSICPho to by Jack Cox)CF-JUU started life as a 1946 eronca 7AC Champion,

but since has been updated to a 7CCM with the installation of a Continental C-90, dorsal fin , 13 gallon wingtanks and a lush interior. The ai rcraft is all red w ith ablack stripe . The finish is tremendous . . . a beautifulairplane by any standard .


6/20

(Ted Kaston Photo)Three Cessna UC-78s were on t he show line at Oshkosh .This one is N-51760, owned by J . R. Boyer of Lebano n,New Jersey. Everyone knows the UC-78 was popularlyknown as the Bamboo Bomber - how many of yo uremember another of its nicknames, Jane Russell J-3 ?


7/20

(Ted Kos ton Photo)Best Classic Stinson - Ell is Clark 's N9562K from Caton Rapids, Michigan.

(Ted Kos ton Photo)Best Luscombe , Series II owned byJoseph Johnson of Bedford , Texas.


8/20

(Photo by Lee Fray)The Most Unusual Antique trophy went to Bob Burgeof Sylvania, Ohio for his Henderson powered HeathParasol.(Dick Stouffer Photo)

World War Era Category Champion , a beautiful Oe-Havilland Tiger Moth (NC-390H) flown to Oshkosh byJ P Jordan and K. G. Hofschneider of Clark, N J


9/20

(Ted Kos ton Pho to) Dick Stouffer Photo)Best Silver Age Monoplane , Dr . d Garbers Stin Arch Young of N. Redington Beach, Floridason Jr . S - from Fayetteville , North Carolina . about to pour the coal to his E-75 Stearman .


10/20

THE CROSLEY MOONBEAMSBy John Carter (EAA 41061 , AIC 180)

1403 2nd Ave. EastBradenton, Florida 33505

Photos Courtesy of the Author)CROSLEY MAKES PLANES - FIRST OF TWO SHIPSFINISHED, RADIO PRODUCER REVEALS; FACTORY SITE IS SOUGHT - Moonbeam To Be Given Test Flight TuesdayAt Lunken.

Rumors that Powell Crosley, Jr., president of theCrosley Radio Corporation, has entered the aircraft in-dustry were confirmed Monday when he announced com-plete details of two airplanes, one of which is alreadycompleted.

The first plane is a monoplane with a 40 foot wing-spread, powered by a Warner Scarab 110 horsepowermotor. t is an open plane, 25 feet 9 inches long, fortwo passengers and pilot. The plane will e test flownTuesday at Lunken Airport at 4 P.M. t will then echristened the Moonbeam .

Alfred Marks, real estate dealer and aviation enthusiast, is interested with Crosley in the new venture.A cabin monoplane for four persons, including thepilot, will be completed within a month, Crosley said.Both ships will have dual controls.Built in Northside

At present the planes are being constructed in a build-ing at Blue Rock and Turrell Streets. The first plane wasassembled in the Metal Aircraft Factory at Lunken Airport.The designer of the Crosley plane is Professor Edward A. Stalker, head of the aeronautical department at theUniversity of Michigan. Hurbert P. Junkin is in charge of

These dreams of prosperity were short lived and noproduction was undertaken.Here is what I know about these fine birds.The parasol was first flown on April 29, 1929. t wasflown for quite some time during the early 1930's and has

disappeared. t is known that it was at the 1929 Cleveland Air Races.The second ship was the cabin. t was flown for the

first time on August 9, 1929. As an economy measure thecabin was fitted with duplicate wings, tail unit, landinggear and engine mount as fitted to the parasol. Very little, is known of its history other than it was a nice flying shipand that it was flown in the 1930 Ohio Air Tour.In late 1928 Harold D. Hoekstra was hired as a design specialist. The other two Crosley designs are to hiscredit, also.The next aircraft was a small tandem open biplane,two of which were built. This is the design I am mostfamiliar with.The biplanes are comparable in size to the Waco RNF.The unique features of the sister ships are the squaretube longerons and corrugated aluminum ailerons. Powerwas supplied by a four cylinder inline inverted 90 hp unitof Crosley design. At one time the second biplane wastested with the 110 Warner Scarab. If this was only aground test or if flying was included I have no knowledgeto clarify one way or the other. I will appreciate any helpany reader can give on this matter.

The fifth and last aircraft was a single place high wingsimilar to the Aeronca K in size. t was powered by anABC Scorpion of 38 hp. Very little is known of this shipother than it's overhead stick control which operated inthe conventional manner. I do have a copy of a letter concerning the ship which I will reproduce later.Of the two biplanes there is only the second with a

known history.Only the first flight of the first is known. t took placein the fall of 1929. The exact date is not known to me. Thesecond aircraft was flown on December 8 of the same


11/20

several enjoyable hours on the little biplane. The highlight of this period came in 1968 when Harold Hoekstrahad the opportunity to fly in an open cockpit once more.

The Moonbeam s next owner was Ernest H. Moser ofSt. Augustine, Florida. Very little time was placed on theship for the next two years.David D Allyn of Sarasota caught Ernie in a low moment and purchased the aircraft in April 1972 to be partof his proposed museum. These plans fell through. How

ever, since all of the museum equipment is paid for,everYthing went with Dave when he moved to Santa Fein June .I was the historian. A letter seeking background ma

terial of our aircraft appeared in the March 1973 SPORTVI TION .I have not heard from Dave since the move, so I can

not state that he is still the ship s owner.As mentioned above the only item I have on the fifthaircraft is a copy of a letter which I shall reproduce atthis point. The copy was received from Harold D. Hoekstra who also designed the biplane.Mr. Lew Townsend, Executive Editor

OPP. O Box 5800Washington, D. C 20014Dear Mr. Townsend:

Pete Bowers' always interesting articles, this time onconfusing Control systems (Pilot Feb. '73), reminded meof another example.Early in 1930 near Cincinnati, Ohio, sometime afterwe completed the Crosley Moonbeam biplane and otheraircraft, our boss, Powell Crosley, Jr., the radio man, re-quested that we produce a minimum cost single place airplane. This we did in 35 days from request to first flightincluding structual analysis , perhaps a world's record. twas a high wing, strut-braced monoplane with a 8 hpBC Scorpion engine. The wings could e folded - voluntary, that is - and with hand holds at the tips the aircraftcould be wheel barrowed into a garage size shelter.For simplicity I designed an overhead stick control

THE CROSLEY MOONBEAMSSerial Registered Type First Flight

X-642E Parasol 3 pl/ld . 4-29-292 X-10M Cabin 4 pl /ld . 8-9-293 X-146N Biplane 2 pl /I.t. ?-?-294 X-147N Bi plane 2 pl /I.t. 12-8-295 X-9679 High Wing 1 pl /ld. 5-28-30

Serial s 1 and 2 had the same wing, landing gear, tailunit, engine mount and various components that wereinterchangeable.

Serials 3 and 4 were sister ships.

The Crosley biplane with the inverted 4 cylinder 90 hpCrosley engine. Test pilot Russ Wiesta is in the rear cockpit and designer Harold Hoekstra is in front. Note thegosport helmet being worn by Hoekstra .


12/20

STAGGERWING FLY-IN

(Ted Ka ston o to)Better late than never, we present some shots of theannual Staggerwing Fly-In held at Tullahoma, Tennesseeover the storm ravaged Memorial Day weekend this pastMay .Hosted by John Parish and Staggerwing Club President Dub Yarbrough the weekend started offin great form- 24 of Beech's finest flew in and everyone had a greattime attending panel discussions on the care and feedingof Staggerwings, buddy riding and, as always at such af

Possibly the most famous of the present day fleet ofStaggerwings Big Red owned by John Pa.rish of Tullahoma.


13/20

Charlie Morman Photo)Notice the wingwalkers and themessage painted on the taxiway .

Charlie Morman Photo)A Lear and a T-6 want to get in on the fun .


14/20

ERONC SEE WHAT?By E. E Buck Hilbert

The story begins with a kid working at the local airport way back in 1940. I saw one then, when I was a lineboy at the old Elmhurst Airport outside Chicago. t wasan Aeronca C-3 Collegiate, transient, on the way throughto Michigan and someplace, with about the sportiestlookin' guy you ever did see flyin' it. I think the clothesmake the man, and this was really a sporty guy - dapperlittle mustache, pulling on a pipe, golf knickers and realsporty two-tone shoes. The airplane didn 't create as muchattention as he did, for most, but I was more interestedin the airplane.A classic study in ugliness, so ugly it was beautiful.I just couldn't get over it. All the wires and pot belly, atwo cylinder engine to drag it a long - why, the simplicityof its construction made it look as though anyone couldfly it. Maybe even I could fly it. I was completely enamored by this seemingly simple little bug. The VW ofai rplanes in its day.More than thirty years would pass before I wouldactually fly one, and then it ain't as easy to fly as onewould suspect, but that's getting ahead of the story.Serious efforts to find a C-3 began about nine yearsago . Erv Eshelman was president of the Aeronca Club atthat time. I began searching the records, asking questions, writing letters and looking everywhere, to no avail.George York was elected club president a couple yearslater, and it was he who came up with a list of Aeroncas ,owners and the present status of the machines. I guessI wrote twenty letters and made thirty phone calls andthen one turned up almost in my back yard. Gene Ba3tianat Hinkley, Illinois had a project razorback he hadn'ttouched si nce he'd started on his Volmer Amphibian.

He didn and

the aluminum alloy of forty years ago, and presto just afine powdery substance instead of fittings. The aileronswere the same way. I opened one up and the inside wasso corroded as to be unusable.The old fiber gussets used to construct the ribs hadlost all intent of purpose and the ribs were mostly readyto fall apart at first touch. The Casein glue had long passedits useful life. I looked at those bird dirtied-rusted drag

and antidrag piano wires, the corroded fittings andI was overwhelmed. I knew I'd have to have new or different wings, and so started a long, long search.I went backwards. I called Gene Bastian and asked ifhe could supply a lead for wings. He referred me to BillRasor . Bill referred me to Les Steen in Okemos, Michigan.Nothin I started on George York, from there to ErvEshelman; that led me to Tom Trainor of Royal Oak,Michigan, who referred me to Joel Qualls in Phoenix.Joel was a tremendous source of information and help,but still no wings . Finally , Bob Rust of Fayetteville,Georgia, came into the picture, and he referred me toDr . Ed Garber of Fayetteville, N. C. who had recentlypurchased a set of wings from him , and we'll pause herefor a li ttle side story.

There was much correspondence going on at this point.No, I am not married to a suspicious woman, but while Iwas away on a two day trip this letter shows up with "Dr.E C Garber and Associates, Obstetrics and Gynecology"as the return address on it. I won't say there was tensionin the air when I came home, because you know darnedwell there was. Try explaining to your wife some timehow come you got a letter from a Gynecologist withoutdiggin' yourself into a real hole. I finally figured a wayou t. I confessed that we were collaborating on the birth ofairplane artificial


15/20

ceeded tell us to move it along 'cause we were caus.inga back-up. t was true. There were motOrIs tscreeping by at five miles per hour o.gling the wreck.age ofthe airplane crash . Frank and I stIll talk about thIS one ,and the "fuss" we created.

Back home we discovered the fracture of the frontspar was for real and that the wing, although in near pe:-fect condition, would be good as a pattern only. ThISwing served us well over the next couple years tthe pattern for several wings manufactured dUrIng thIStime and had we not had it available for reference, Idoubt that the wing drawings would have been sufficientto really visualize how to o it. It's still intact , by theway, and available for reference if the need be .

(Lee Fray Photo)Just like a great big freeflight model airplane!

(Lee Fray Photo)Pugnacious . . . toy bulldog . . . looks like it's smellingsomething unpleasant! Whatever your description ofthe little Aeronca C-3 , it's still a cute little rascal.

The delays weren't all his. Try finding spar stock I " x6" in 18 foot lengths. He finally had to make a scarfingmachine , and 10 to one splice to get the length. Thenthere was a house to build, and furnish, and th ere wereinnumerable other people who needed help sooner. And,


16/20

to another. I insisted he complete the wings before wediscusse d the matter further . He stated he would notfinish the wings unless he could complete the entire airplane. I told him I was coming down there to get mywings, "RIGHT NOW " After a very pregnant silence onthe line he came back with word that he wished I wouldlet him 'do the whole airplane , that he realized how longit had been, and that he felt he owed it to me to get thejob done. He wanted to do me right.

t took me a while to give in , but I demanded a firmdelivery date , a firm price and no nonsense, to which heacceded. Three or four days later David and a fellownamed Don Horst were up here, packed the little C-3 onth eir trailer and were gone. I was left with a real sinkingfee ling and a void in the pit of my stomach. I really neverexp ected to live long enough to see that C-3 again , butI was wrong. Oh , he didn't make the firm delivery date ,or th e firm price. But there was no nonsense. He got rightwith it and finished it up in time for Blakesburg. It tooktime out for a retirement celebration at American Airlines and the help of half the Tulsa bunch, but that C-3is se ttin ' out there in my hangar right now and I'm mightyth ankful to a lot of people. In that Tulsa bunch were JesseCriswell , Don Horst, Milton Silfies, Lloyd Durrett , BobRogan, Curtis Corn and David Warren. There is some ofall these and the others I've mentioned in this airplane,and the a irplane stands there in tribute to what can bedone when a dedicated bunch of antiquers really get intothe act. I thank you, one and al l , gentlemen, for one ofthe most fun airplanes I've ever had the good fortune tofly.Just another paragraph or two to tell you poor un fortunates who don't have a C-3 how much fun it is to fly.I've never been in an ultra-light machine like this before,and I had my doubts about that clankety-two banger being able to stand the gaff. The engine has turned out tobe a real jewel, and with Dr. Kindel's Bendix mag conversion, starts and runs just beautifully. It hasn't misseda beat in almost thirty hours now and just purrs rightalong.It 's not the fastest thing in the world, but solo it gets

landing roll from one side to another. Ask David Jameson - he tried it!Cross country is a real ball . I get the feeling that this isthe way it should be done - four or five hundred feetabove ground at less than sixty knots. Plenty of time tolook around for a field, just in case, and secure in theknowledge that it only takes a couple hundred feet to sether down. And everyone along the way looks up , wavesand wishes you well. You can just feel the friendliness thisairplane generates . Maybe a little more of this kind offlying would melt some of the adversity we encounter sooften.It's really easy to fly. With thirty hours on the tach, Ican name at least twenty people who have flown it sinceI got it and none have failed to come back without thatcheshire cat-like grin on their pan. As one man said,This has got to be the most fun flying I have ever done!- can I go again?"

C 3 HRONOLOGYNC-13556 Serial Number A290

Built December 18, 1934Acquired February 19681968-1969 - Lower rear longerons replaced. Tail wheelinstalled after removal of skid assembly, extra rudderhinge and steerable tail wheel rudder horn installed,Scott master brake cylinders installed and Cub wheelswith brakes installed. Wings sent to Oklahoma.1969-1970 - Newly majored engine, new propeller, newstainless steel firewall, Bendix mag conversion, and fuelsystem installed. Engine ready to run.1972 - Aircraft shipped to Oklahoma for completion,new flying wires, windshield, new wings, installed aftercomplete recover with Stits process using the polyurethanedope.July ugust and S eptember 1973 - Aircraft assembledand finishing touches completed.A partial listing of the people who helped put NC


17/20

(Lee Fray PhotoN -13556, Serial Number A290, was buil t December 18,1934. It is painted in one of the standard factory colorschemes - orange wings , horizontal tail su rfaces andfuselage str ipe with a dark green fuselage - so dark itappears black when out of direct sun light. It looks great

Del Denly, Osceola, Iowa, information, moral support , competition, etc.

Frank Lang Lemont, Illinois , machine work, use oftools, throat spray, personal attention to detail help andencouragement and for not making a fuss .

Curtis L Taylor Union Illinois, supervisory services,assistance in all manner, encouragement and advice.Jim Dees, Jim Lacey, Don Taylor, Dundee, Illinois,he lp and encouragement .Don Kintzell, McHenry Illinois, pictures, tips and information.The Tulsa bunch EAA and FAA archives the Smith-


18/20

AROUND THE ANTIQUE CLASSIC WORLDI ,

Bob McDaniel's hangar and Waco UPF-7 - which israrely ever on the ground when he is not off flying 747sfor American . Bob lives at Naperville Aero Estates whichis in western suburban Chicago. His home is just beyondthe hangar and the paved runway with a fine grass areaparallel to it is about where the photographer is standing to take this picture. Talk about having it madeDear Jack:Enclosed is a picture of my hangar and my Waco UPF7 Ifit is good enough I hope you will publish it in the antique magazine, The Vintage Airplane On the long tablein the hangar you can just barely make out the fuselage ofmy Jenny. Actually, it is a JN4-C Canadian Jenny, commonly called a Canuck. I hope to have this flying beforethe local undertaker puts the lily in my hand. The hangaris also housing a 1936 Rose Parakeet and the garage tothe west of the hangar has a Travel Air 4000 in it. So youcan see that I am up to my elbows in antique airplanes all to be restored.After 34 years flying for American Airlines, I will be

Butch Douma s newly rebuilt Ryan ST-3KR (PT-22).Dear Jack:I have recently completed an entire re-build project ona Ryan ST-3KR (PT-22), N-53998, Serial No. 1053.Thought you may be interested ,

The project was begun in December, 1972, and completed and flown on July 28, 1973.The aircraft was completely stripped down, rebuilt,refinished and reassembled. We have put her into authentic USAAC colors and have all the authentic decals ,placards, etc. made up and installed. We found the originalUSAAC field number inside of all the nose cowlings andshe bears No. 132 again.The Kinner R-56 starts on the first hot throw of theprop, however , I would like to have an inertia starter forher. Any leads on one for a Kinner or a replacement model would be very much appreciated.

I t has been an interesting and rewarding experienceand as you can probably tell I m proud of the old girl innew clothes.We have a couple of hours logged flying her now anda few more wiping oil and polishing aluminum.


19/20

EAA Ant ique/Classic embroid ered patches (pictu red at right)- A distinctive , co lo rful emblem. 1 .50 eachEAA Caps - men and ladies. Specify small , med ium , large,or extra large. Ladies, one size . $2.25 ea ch1973 EAA Calenda r. Made of heavy, unbleached cloth .Features full color rendit ions of a Standard J-1 ,P-51 , Scorpion Helicopte r, and a Dyke Delta. $2.30 eachEAA Flight Bags. Durable nylon with waterproof l ining. Bluewith EAA decal on both sides. 4 .50 ea chWrite for a complete l isting of EAA publ icat ions and merchandisefree of charge. Includes a listing of all available back issues of SportAv iation

EAA PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST TO ANTIQUE ANDCLASSIC ENTHUSIASTS AND/OR RESTORERS

Wood . Vol. 1 $2 .00Wood. Vol. 2 $2.50Sheet Metal. Vol . 1 $2 .50Sheet Metal . Vol. 2 $2 .50Tips on Fat igue $2 .50Welding . . . . . . . . .. . $2 .00Dope and Fabric $2 .50Hand Tools. Vol. $2.50Hand Tools . Vol. 2 $2.50CAM 18 (Repr int) $3.00CAM 107 (Reprint) . $400

-


20/20

vintage airplane - sep 1973

Documents