National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Aeroncateers, My wife Sukey and I returned home from Oshkosh Saterday evening, driving over two days. We had a good time, though I did not get to see everything or everyone I wanted to see. I looked for Richard Holcombe's Champ but misremembered the location and did not go far enough south. I did se...

Richard,

Fly safe over the Rockies. I know you've done it before and know the way. We will look for you and other Aeroncateers.

We are leaving tomorrow morning, driving from Virgina, taking it slow and stopping to see friends on the way. We plan to arrive I Oshkosh on Monday.

Tailwinds...

Aeroncateers,

My wife Sukey and I are still on track for Oshkosh, checking in on the 20th and checking out on the 24th. Looking forward to seeing you there. I'm hoping for sunny and pleasant Wisconsin weather.

Tailwinds...

Aeroncateers... Serious health problems since 2010 have limited my aviation activities, including attendance at Oshkosh and other fly-ins. This year my wife Sukey insists that we attempt the trip together. It will be a boost to have my best friend and supporter with me. It seems the best way for us ...

Mike, On my former Chief, N86176, I had the original style catches that clamp arount the rear struts. The material was polished stainless steel I believe. To protect the bottom of the door and the paint, a small plate of thin stainless, approximately 1 x 1 1/2", formed to wrap around the lower ...

Mike, Your observations are correct. The original stock 11AC Chief did not come with a turn and bank or ball and needle. My Chief, N86176, did not have one. But then the same was true of the original 7AC. The 11AC did not have steps, probably because it is not as necessary because of the seating arr...

I had success using an angle drill/driver to drill a hole at each end, then using a Fein Multimaster to cut the area between the holes to complete the slot. Now that the patent on the Fein has expired, there are numerous less expensive competitors. A handy tool for cutting in tight spaces.

Kevin sent me an email to let me know he sold the project. It went to Cresswell, Oregon.

Mike,

I added your photo and a few comments to my webpage on oleo maintenance at this link:

http://www.hangar9aeroworks.com/Aeronca ... strut.html

Let me know if corrections are needed. I just used the PhotoBucket photo - seemed to work okay.

Tailwinds...

Mike, I like it! Much better than the safety wire method that, for me, has been successful on occasions and frustrating on other occasions. In fact, on my most recent oleo job, I reverted to using a bar clamp and a sand bag, as mentioned by Carl White years ago. Your tool makes the operation safer a...

Aeroncateers, I received the following email from Kevin Moore in Oregon. He has a Chief project with a C-90 available. He asked if I could help him get the word out. I am sharing this, but have no personal knowledge of the project, the price, or any details and do no know Kevin. I thought some of yo...

Mike, I've measured several new springs that were between 11 1/16" to about 11 1/8". I forgot to measure the latest springs before I installed them this past year, but the Champ seemed to sit a little taller and prouder on the gear, so I suspect they were close to Richard Murray's 11 1/4&q...

My 7AC Champ is also trimmed like the one in the photo. You can see the wood vertical piece behind the plexiglass, which might lead one to think a piece is missing. It is the same as Richard Murray described.

Tailwinds...

Bill,

Thanks for letting us know. Bob built the spinner for my Chief, N86176, and later built a spacer to compensate for the uninstalled McDowell starter, and then made another spinner dome when I switched to a wood prop. Bob was a true craftsman.

Richard, I truly enjoyed your photos, particularly those taken while flying the Columbia River Gorge. My wife and I vacationed in the Northwest about three years ago and saw many of the same sights, but from the ground. It liked your Oshkosh photos too. Thanks for posting the one of my neighbor's ye...