7AC Fuselage Jig

[bsafran]

I have been rebuilding a Champ that is very special to us at the Valley City Airport. Wally McIlvaine owned it before I did. When I met him, he had been flying for 20 years, and he took up flying lessons when he retired!

His son and I took over the airplane after Wally went "west" to make sure that his plane would stay at the airport that he loved. That plane had been bent a little over the years and when I started the rebuild I had a few tubes replaced. I really wanted to be able to find out if the fuselage was still "true" before I started recovering, but how in the world do you do that?

Well, now there is a way. Bill Pancake made himself a jig for the 7AC fuselage so he could fix any part that might need fixing. He sold it a while back and now it has found its way to northern Ohio.

I want everyone who is in the same position I was to have a better solution than I did. Anyone who is about ready to recover a Champ can check his fuselage in Bill's jig free of charge. If you can bring it to northern Ohio, you can have access to this jig to check if every fitting, tube or stringer standoff is in place. Oh, you might want to buy me a six pack of Miller High Life for my troubles, but please use this jig to make sure your plane is ready to rebuild.

If anyone has a fuselage that has rusted away too much or been twisted slightly in a landing we aren't proud of, please consider having it looked at in this one of a kind fuselage jig. We should be up and running by the middle of July.

Give us a call at 330-483-3278 if you think there is any way we can help get your Aeronca back where it should be - in the traffic pattern hopping rides!

[joea]

Brian,

Glad to see that you got the jig. I talked with David about it but could not afford it right now.

Very good to see it go to a real Aeronca person and to see its available for anyone who needs it.

Joe A

[David Johnson]

This is a wonderful resource for Aeronca folks. You will not find many fuselages that don't need some work. I have been working on a jig for several years, and it's a big job. Don't know if it will ever be done. This is an outstanding offer for everyone, I am proud of these guys for helping out! David Johnson

[joea]

This is an outstanding offer for everyone, I am proud of these guys for helping out! David Johnson

David,

Not sure I would go that far! Several of us are wondering if Brian is just running low on beer!

I was thinking about buying the jig but it would not work on a Chief and I drink Whiskey, so would not have the traffic that Brian probably will!

Joe

[csi]

I wish I knew someone who had a fuselage jig......Hmmmm.


Chris

[joea]

I wish I knew someone who had a fuselage jig......Hmmmm.


Chris

Got any beer? I can recommend someone!

[csi]

He stopped over my house (1OA2) the other night and the way he was pimping out this jig you would have thought it was a family heirloom, handed down through the the ages!

[Mikek]

If anyone has a fuselage that has rusted away too much or been twisted slightly in a landing we aren't proud of, please consider having it looked at in this one of a kind fuselage jig. We should be up and running by the middle of July.

Give us a call at 330-483-3278 if you think there is any way we can help get your Aeronca back where it should be - in the traffic pattern hopping rides!

Brian,

I have had the beer several times just not ready with the Fuselage, but looks like just after Sun & Fun I would like to bring up Two (2) 7AC's to check out in your jig. Where is the jig, Valley City Airport? Also how much of a notice do you need?

I will buy the beer after I get there so I should have a few left this time.

Mike K