L16A Questions

Any Aeronca built during a war or flown for use by the armed services.
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shazam
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L16A Questions

Post by shazam »

Thanks in advance for any feedback. I'm looking at some L16A pieces to buy....

It will need a major rebuild on the fuselage...did I read on here some time ago that someone has a Champ fuselage jig/capability?

No wings...are any available? I'm capable of putting them together...did another Champ some time ago.

Gross...am I correct that the L16A should be light sport qualified?

I also read on the forum somewhere that the L16's formers were not wood....is that correct? This one has wood formers and a big tail.

Thanks!

Jim
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Mikek
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Re: L16A Questions

Post by Mikek »

shazam wrote:Thanks in advance for any feedback. I'm looking at some L16A pieces to buy....

It will need a major rebuild on the fuselage...did I read on here some time ago that someone has a Champ fuselage jig/capability?

http://www.joea.com/phpBB2/memberlist.p ... file&u=447

Brian, is in Cleveland, Ohio and on the list.

No wings...are any available? I'm capable of putting them together...did another Champ some time ago.

Not real easy to find but there is a guy on barnstormers that sells wings but wants you old ones.

Look on Barnstormers & ebay

Gross...am I correct that the L16A should be light sport qualified?

Yes, but you need to check the history by getting the FAA CD $10.00 if the show that it was never modified to 1350# with no bounce gear or some other STC that toke it out of LSA then your OK. NEEDS to be checked againist FAA records


I also read on the forum somewhere that the L16's formers were not wood....is that correct? This one has wood formers and a big tail.

Formers are wood plywood


Thanks!

Jim
Mike Knemeyer

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RRHaldeman
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Re: L16A Questions

Post by RRHaldeman »

As for the fuselage, you can do what I did. I live near American Champion, Rochester, WI. I trailered the fuselage to them; they put it in a jig, trued it up, repaired a few areas, added a few needed items (new stronger step, attach points for a Hooker Harness). I then paid them to bead blast and powder coat the fuselage with the color of my choice. Three weeks later, it was ready. Pricey, but fast and excellent work.
Dick Haldeman, RRHaldeman AT aol DOT com
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1946 7AC-2407 N83729
shazam
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Re: L16A Questions

Post by shazam »

Many thanks to you both! Never thought of ACA for a fuselage jig!

The plane goes up for auction on Friday, but it's a long ways away from home. It would have to be bought cheaply on the basis of the two pix I got from the owner. Sure would like to find an L-16 project though (that's not a want ad, right? :-)

Blue skies and tailwinds!

Jim
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Mikek
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Re: L16A Questions

Post by Mikek »

shazam wrote:Many thanks to you both! Never thought of ACA for a fuselage jig!

The plane goes up for auction on Friday, but it's a long ways away from home. It would have to be bought cheaply on the basis of the two pix I got from the owner. Sure would like to find an L-16 project though (that's not a want ad, right? :-)

Blue skies and tailwinds!

Jim
Jim,

The Key here is do you need it to be Light Sport, if so you need to do some real searching of the FAA records & logs, many aeronca's 7&11 where born Light sport but have gone thru alot of changes and one goal was to up the gross wt as high as possible thru stc's & service letters and field approvals.

Ones over it can not be called or used as LS even if soneone has reverse the process.

Good luck

Mike K
Mike Knemeyer

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MikeB
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Re: L16A Questions

Post by MikeB »

Jim,
As long as you're in Ohio (I think) it seems you'd be best to take the fuselage to Brain Safran for repair and alignment. He has Bill Pancake's old jig and most of these old timers have been bounced around alot in the past 60 years. Pay particular attention to the right vertical tube above the landing gear. Most of them are bent after years of banging around. The measurement from the center of the wing front attach point to the center of the strut attach should be 48 1/2 ". If off, it makes for a poor door fit (don't ask me how I know :oops: and I wish I would have known before).

I'm finishing the 'resurrection' of a L16A. Let me know if I can help.

Some of the L16's (BCM's) have been upgraded 1350# which takes them out of the light sport catagory. Contrary to popular belief, having the "no bounce" gear alone doesn't do it. Check the paperwork and see at what weight it was last licenced. They need to be at 1320# or less to qualify light sport.

MikeB
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