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STRAIGHT AND LEVEL
In the February 1982 issue of SPORT AVIATION EAA President Paul Poberezny brought up the subshyject of Repairmans Certificates being made available for the restorers of vintage aircraft In the March 1982 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE my Straight amp Level column pursued the subject further by requestshying comments from vintage aircraft restorers
Your responses have encouraged us to form a comshymittee to evaluate your comments and present a proshyposal to the FAA Composed of leadership from both our parent EAA and the AntiqueClassic Division the committee members are Paul Poberezny President of EAA Charles Schuck EAA liaison with the FAA and Division Directors and Officers Claude Gray AI Kelch Morton Lester and myself
Written responses are still arriving both at EAA Headquarters and to my address To date we are apshyproaching two hundred responses representing simple support of the cause and including comments from AampPs and lAs Those who have completed the restorashytion of their aircraft are quite obviously interested in the Repairmans Certificate proposal From their comshyments it was noted time and time again that the actual annual inspection and work completed on the aircraft was done by the restorer himself Of interest also was the positive response of many AampPs and lAs who were firmly in favor of the proposal with of course certain limitations regarding the annual inspection To go into the details of all comments received is not possible in this column but additional information will be forthshycoming as we compile the data
Without your responses this committee could not have begun to weigh the many facets applicable in orshyganizing a proposal of this nature Much thought has obviously gone into the many detailed letters received Items of importance were often brought up that had not been thought of previously as being applicable to the proposal We are still receiving comments and we enshycourage readers to continue forwarding their thoughts as the old saying goes Keep those cards and letshyters comin
Festivities held June 3-6 1982 celebrated the 50th anniversary of Beech Aircraft Corporation In the 20s Walter Beech Lloyd Stearman and Clyde Cessna formed the Travel Air Company whose models 2000 4000 and 6000 made aviation history Stearman left the company in 1926 to build his own aircraft and Clyde Cessna deshyparted in 1927 to build his monoplanes Among the business manipulations of the 1929 era Travel Air was sold to Curtiss-Wright Corporation It was during this time that the Travel Air model R (later called the Mysshytery Ship) was designed and built This aircraft was one of the first using a welded steel tube fuselage with
By Brad Thomas President
AntiqueClassic Division
wood wings It was built in about ten weeks and test flown exceeding the design specifications then won the 1929 National Air Races at Cleveland Ohio includshying circling a pylon twice that possibly had been cut
The Depression years were extremely detrimental to civil aviation Curtiss-Wright terminated the proshyduction of aircraft and in April 1932 the Beech Airshycraft Company was formed by Walter Beech Ted Wells design of the Beech Model 17 was begun during those hard times but it survived and the success of the Beech Staggerwing is firmly implanted in the history of aviation
The Staggerwing Club and the Staggerwing Museum Foundation normally hold their annual convention in Tullahoma Tennessee but with the 50th year celebrashytion of Beech Aircraft Corporation occurring in 1982 the two groups were invited to Wichita to hold their convention in conjunction with Beechs celebration And what a celebration it was The red carpet was out and the Staggerwingers and their guests were treated to a fantastic weekend
In attendance were Beech Staggerwings from Alaska and both coasts and from Canada to Texas Travel Airs from California and an OX-5 model 2000 from Oklahoma Regretfully Beech Model 17 serial number 3 the first production model 17 being restored by Dick Hansen and Dick Perry was not finished in time for the conshyvention So close and yet so far their effort had to be abandoned with only final details to be completed We were advised however that the plane will be ready for the 1982 EAA International Convention at Oshshykosh This aircraft has many original and unique feashytures that are intriguing and interesting Be sure to see it at Oshkosh 82
Wichita was a part of history We cannot turn back the clock but those of us fortunate to be invited will always remember our visit to the Beech facilities their hospitality and above all being able to relive a fabulous moment in aviation history
2 AUGUST 1982
PUBLICATION OF THE ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INC
PO BOX 229 HALES CORNERS WI 53130 COPYRIGHT copy 1982 EM ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
AUGUST 1982 VOLUME 10 NUMBER 8
OFFICERS President Vice-President
W Brad Thomas Jr Jack C Winthrop 301 Dodson Mill Road Route 1 Box 111
Pilot Mountain NC 27041 Allen TX 75002 919368-2875 Home 214727-5649 919368-2291 Office
Secretary Treasurer M C Kelly Viets E E Buck Hilbert 7745 W 183rd St PO Box 145 Stilwell KS 66085 Union IL 60180
913681-2303 Home 815923-4591 913782-6720 Office
DIRECTORS ADVISORS
Ronald Fritz Morton W Lester Ed Burns 15401 Sparta Avenue PO Box 3747 1550 Mt Prospect Road Kent City MI 49330 Martinsville VA 24112 Des Plaines IL 60018
3121298-7811616678middot5012 703632-4839
John S Copeland
Claude L Gray Jr Arthur R Morgan 9 Joanne Drive Westborough MA 01581
617366-7245 9635 Sylvia Avenue 3744 North 51st Blvd
Northridge CA 91324 Milwaukee WI 53216 213349-1338 414442-3631 Stan Gomoll
1042 90th Lane NE Minneapolis MN 55434
Dale A Gustafson 6121784-1172John R Turgyan7724 Shady Hill Drive 1530 Kuser Road Indianapolis IN 46274 Espie M Joyce Jr Trenton NJ 08619
317293-4430 Box 468609585-2747 Madison NC 27025
919427-0216 AI Kelch S J Wittman
6 W 622 N Madison Ave Box 2672 Gene Morris Cedarburg WI 53012 Oshkosh WI 54901 27 Chandelle Drive
414377-5886 414235-1265 Hampshire IL 60140 3121683-3199
Roy Redman Robert E Kesel George S York 455 Oakridge Drive 181 Sloboda Ave Rt 1 Box 39
Kilkenny MN 56052 Rochester NY 14617 Mansfield OH 44906 507334-5922 716342-3170 419529-4378
S H Wes Schmid 2359 Lefeber Road
Wauwatosa WI 53213 414771-1545
PUBLICATION STAFF
PUBLISHER EDITOR Paul H Poberezny Gene R Chase
ASSOC EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS George A Hardie Jr Norman Petersen Pat Etter
FRONT COVER Paul Kotzes Thoshymas-Morse S4C at the Nassau County Cradle of Aviation Museum Garden City NY Aircraft is SIN 38934 Mfg SIN 552
BACK COVER bull Ralph Brown left and Foster Rodriguez in metal-hUlled Thomas hydroplane This had been deshyveloped and manufactured for export See story on page 4
(Photo by Frank Strnad) (William T Thomas Jr Photo Collection)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Straight and Level By Brad Thomas 2 Just Plane Tommy- Part II By Al Kelch 4 EMs Ford Trimotor By George Hardie Jr 9 Mystery Plane 12 Mike Drabik - Sky Pioneer
By E E Buck Hilbert 13 Calendar of Events 19 Bordens Aeroplane Posters From The 1930s 20
Page 4 Page 9 Page 13
Editorial Policy Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs Policy opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors Responsibility for accuracy in reporting rests entirely with the contributor Material should be sent to Gene R Chase Editor The VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Associate Editorships are assigned to those writers who submit five or more articles which are published in THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE during the current year Associates receive a bound volume of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE and a free one-year membership in the Division for their effort
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) is owned exclusively by EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc and is published monthly at Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 Second Class Postage paid at Hales Corners Post Office Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 and additional mailing offices Memshybership rates for EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc are $1400 for current EAA members per 12 month period of which $1000 is for the publication of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation
ADVERTISING - AntiqueClassic Division does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through our advertising We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 3
An early Model TA hydro in the air Note the tubular wing tip floats
JUST PbANE TOMMY The Story of the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
By Al Kelch (EAA 35767 AlC 700)
66 W 622 N Madison Avenue Cedarburg WI 53012
(Phutos From The William T Thomas Jr Collection via Robert G Elliott)
Part Two
In 1913-1914 the attention of the Thomas Aeroshyplane Company was turned to the development of flyshying boats following the similar course of Glenn Curshytiss The first machine was quite crude with a wooden hull and the top deck covered with canvas powered with a 6 cylinder 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine The developshyment of this phase of Thomas flying boats went through some sleek mahogany hulled versions on to develop the first metal hulled hydroplane in America Along with the flying boats several interesting types developed A two place nacelle type pusher biplane and a three place version of the same airplane both powered by
90 hp Austro-Daimler engines In addition a single place monoplane reminiscent of the Bleriot was flown using a 40 hp Maxi-motor This Thomas monoplane proved unsuitable for exhibition work
It was about this time another Mr Thomas was due to be added to the company - a gentleman who had no relation to the founders of the company but who was destined to change and influence the comshypanys direction substantially Mr B Douglas Thomas became the Chief Engineer and airplane designer He had an excellent background having previously worked as assistant aircraft designer for Vickers Ltd and
4 AUGUST 1982
Early Thomas tractor hydroplane with single float and wing tip floats
Right side view of 1916 hydroplane two place Model 8-3 Austro Daimler powshyered
Much earlier Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Forward section of hull had a fabric cover to furshynish protection from the spray Note feshymale passenger being carried to shore
later Sopwith Aviation Through similar circumstance he also worked for Glenn Curtiss where he assisted in the designing of the famous Curtiss Model J tractor and the famous Jenny He also took part with Lt Porte in the designing of the America the first multiple enshygine flying boat built for the purpose of transatlantic flight
On being employed by the Thomas Bros Airplane Co he designed their first successful tractor biplane The model was designated T2 and was similar to the Model J Curtiss except for the addition of two nose skids and the 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine It had a top speed of 83 mph and could climb 3800 feet in 10 minutes carrying a 1000 pound load The performance
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5
Metal hulled Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Fuel tank was located on top of wing
r - ~ ~h t- bull bull - i bull ~ r ~~ ~ -
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Two Guns White Cap Chief of Blackshyfoot Indians with pilot Ralph Brown W T Thomas at right The Indian brought the whole tribal family to witness the flight Once off the water the Chief let out a war whoop to let everyone know he was quite pleased
The Brindley Street plant in Ithaca NY about 1915 where the T-2 and D-2 tracshytor planes were built
of this machine added to the prestige of their having hired a new designer and resulted in an order from the British Admiralty for 24 model T2 airplanes their first sizable order
With two previous moves of Hornell New York and Bath New York the brothers looked for a new location to expand Ithaca New York at the southern
6 AUGUST 1982
end of Lake Cayuga was a natural choice with flat fields for take-off and landing and a 40-mile-Iong lake constituting an ideal seaplane or flying boat test area This coupled with the cold weather ability to fly from the ice resulted in an ideal location
Shortly after the move to Ithaca B D Thomas deshysigned a new model the D2 Tractor biplane This was
Morris Chain Co Ithaca NY a subshysidiary of Borg-Warner where W T Thomas eventually merged his Intershyests Mr Morris owned controlling inshyterest with W T Thomas as VlceshyPresident
Board Room group Left to right Harshyold Bliss B D Thomas George Abel Jerome Freed Mr Morris W T Thomas Raymond Ware discussing aircraft busishyness B D Thomas was no relation to W T Thomas
Employees of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Co Ithaca NY Brindley St plant
the first use of the new Thomas enterprise which was to build their own engines This auxiliary company called The Thomas Air Motor Co had designed and built a 135 hp geared engine designed by George Able and Harold Bliss two of the founders of this new divishysion In 1915 two seaplanes were built for the Navy designated SH4 and SH5 and the D5 tractor plane was
developed for the Signal Corps Further development in 1916 resulted in production of the SH4 Seaplane and 15 were built for the US Navy
With the prestige of not only an airplane company but a motor company and a flying school The Thomas School of Aviation was picked by the Canadian Governshyment for pilots who would train to become commis-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
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RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
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bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
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22 AUGUST 1982
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ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
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bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
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VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
PUBLICATION OF THE ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION INC
PO BOX 229 HALES CORNERS WI 53130 COPYRIGHT copy 1982 EM ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
AUGUST 1982 VOLUME 10 NUMBER 8
OFFICERS President Vice-President
W Brad Thomas Jr Jack C Winthrop 301 Dodson Mill Road Route 1 Box 111
Pilot Mountain NC 27041 Allen TX 75002 919368-2875 Home 214727-5649 919368-2291 Office
Secretary Treasurer M C Kelly Viets E E Buck Hilbert 7745 W 183rd St PO Box 145 Stilwell KS 66085 Union IL 60180
913681-2303 Home 815923-4591 913782-6720 Office
DIRECTORS ADVISORS
Ronald Fritz Morton W Lester Ed Burns 15401 Sparta Avenue PO Box 3747 1550 Mt Prospect Road Kent City MI 49330 Martinsville VA 24112 Des Plaines IL 60018
3121298-7811616678middot5012 703632-4839
John S Copeland
Claude L Gray Jr Arthur R Morgan 9 Joanne Drive Westborough MA 01581
617366-7245 9635 Sylvia Avenue 3744 North 51st Blvd
Northridge CA 91324 Milwaukee WI 53216 213349-1338 414442-3631 Stan Gomoll
1042 90th Lane NE Minneapolis MN 55434
Dale A Gustafson 6121784-1172John R Turgyan7724 Shady Hill Drive 1530 Kuser Road Indianapolis IN 46274 Espie M Joyce Jr Trenton NJ 08619
317293-4430 Box 468609585-2747 Madison NC 27025
919427-0216 AI Kelch S J Wittman
6 W 622 N Madison Ave Box 2672 Gene Morris Cedarburg WI 53012 Oshkosh WI 54901 27 Chandelle Drive
414377-5886 414235-1265 Hampshire IL 60140 3121683-3199
Roy Redman Robert E Kesel George S York 455 Oakridge Drive 181 Sloboda Ave Rt 1 Box 39
Kilkenny MN 56052 Rochester NY 14617 Mansfield OH 44906 507334-5922 716342-3170 419529-4378
S H Wes Schmid 2359 Lefeber Road
Wauwatosa WI 53213 414771-1545
PUBLICATION STAFF
PUBLISHER EDITOR Paul H Poberezny Gene R Chase
ASSOC EDITOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS George A Hardie Jr Norman Petersen Pat Etter
FRONT COVER Paul Kotzes Thoshymas-Morse S4C at the Nassau County Cradle of Aviation Museum Garden City NY Aircraft is SIN 38934 Mfg SIN 552
BACK COVER bull Ralph Brown left and Foster Rodriguez in metal-hUlled Thomas hydroplane This had been deshyveloped and manufactured for export See story on page 4
(Photo by Frank Strnad) (William T Thomas Jr Photo Collection)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Straight and Level By Brad Thomas 2 Just Plane Tommy- Part II By Al Kelch 4 EMs Ford Trimotor By George Hardie Jr 9 Mystery Plane 12 Mike Drabik - Sky Pioneer
By E E Buck Hilbert 13 Calendar of Events 19 Bordens Aeroplane Posters From The 1930s 20
Page 4 Page 9 Page 13
Editorial Policy Readers are encouraged to submit stories and photographs Policy opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors Responsibility for accuracy in reporting rests entirely with the contributor Material should be sent to Gene R Chase Editor The VINTAGE AIRshyPLANE PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Associate Editorships are assigned to those writers who submit five or more articles which are published in THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE during the current year Associates receive a bound volume of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE and a free one-year membership in the Division for their effort
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE (ISSN 0091-6943) is owned exclusively by EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc and is published monthly at Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 Second Class Postage paid at Hales Corners Post Office Hales Corners Wisconsin 53130 and additional mailing offices Memshybership rates for EAA AntiqueClassic Division Inc are $1400 for current EAA members per 12 month period of which $1000 is for the publication of THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE Membership is open to all who are interested in aviation
ADVERTISING - AntiqueClassic Division does not guarantee or endorse any product offered through our advertising We invite constructive criticism and welcome any report of inferior merchandise obtained through our advertising so that corrective measures can be taken
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 3
An early Model TA hydro in the air Note the tubular wing tip floats
JUST PbANE TOMMY The Story of the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
By Al Kelch (EAA 35767 AlC 700)
66 W 622 N Madison Avenue Cedarburg WI 53012
(Phutos From The William T Thomas Jr Collection via Robert G Elliott)
Part Two
In 1913-1914 the attention of the Thomas Aeroshyplane Company was turned to the development of flyshying boats following the similar course of Glenn Curshytiss The first machine was quite crude with a wooden hull and the top deck covered with canvas powered with a 6 cylinder 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine The developshyment of this phase of Thomas flying boats went through some sleek mahogany hulled versions on to develop the first metal hulled hydroplane in America Along with the flying boats several interesting types developed A two place nacelle type pusher biplane and a three place version of the same airplane both powered by
90 hp Austro-Daimler engines In addition a single place monoplane reminiscent of the Bleriot was flown using a 40 hp Maxi-motor This Thomas monoplane proved unsuitable for exhibition work
It was about this time another Mr Thomas was due to be added to the company - a gentleman who had no relation to the founders of the company but who was destined to change and influence the comshypanys direction substantially Mr B Douglas Thomas became the Chief Engineer and airplane designer He had an excellent background having previously worked as assistant aircraft designer for Vickers Ltd and
4 AUGUST 1982
Early Thomas tractor hydroplane with single float and wing tip floats
Right side view of 1916 hydroplane two place Model 8-3 Austro Daimler powshyered
Much earlier Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Forward section of hull had a fabric cover to furshynish protection from the spray Note feshymale passenger being carried to shore
later Sopwith Aviation Through similar circumstance he also worked for Glenn Curtiss where he assisted in the designing of the famous Curtiss Model J tractor and the famous Jenny He also took part with Lt Porte in the designing of the America the first multiple enshygine flying boat built for the purpose of transatlantic flight
On being employed by the Thomas Bros Airplane Co he designed their first successful tractor biplane The model was designated T2 and was similar to the Model J Curtiss except for the addition of two nose skids and the 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine It had a top speed of 83 mph and could climb 3800 feet in 10 minutes carrying a 1000 pound load The performance
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5
Metal hulled Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Fuel tank was located on top of wing
r - ~ ~h t- bull bull - i bull ~ r ~~ ~ -
_ - - shy
Two Guns White Cap Chief of Blackshyfoot Indians with pilot Ralph Brown W T Thomas at right The Indian brought the whole tribal family to witness the flight Once off the water the Chief let out a war whoop to let everyone know he was quite pleased
The Brindley Street plant in Ithaca NY about 1915 where the T-2 and D-2 tracshytor planes were built
of this machine added to the prestige of their having hired a new designer and resulted in an order from the British Admiralty for 24 model T2 airplanes their first sizable order
With two previous moves of Hornell New York and Bath New York the brothers looked for a new location to expand Ithaca New York at the southern
6 AUGUST 1982
end of Lake Cayuga was a natural choice with flat fields for take-off and landing and a 40-mile-Iong lake constituting an ideal seaplane or flying boat test area This coupled with the cold weather ability to fly from the ice resulted in an ideal location
Shortly after the move to Ithaca B D Thomas deshysigned a new model the D2 Tractor biplane This was
Morris Chain Co Ithaca NY a subshysidiary of Borg-Warner where W T Thomas eventually merged his Intershyests Mr Morris owned controlling inshyterest with W T Thomas as VlceshyPresident
Board Room group Left to right Harshyold Bliss B D Thomas George Abel Jerome Freed Mr Morris W T Thomas Raymond Ware discussing aircraft busishyness B D Thomas was no relation to W T Thomas
Employees of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Co Ithaca NY Brindley St plant
the first use of the new Thomas enterprise which was to build their own engines This auxiliary company called The Thomas Air Motor Co had designed and built a 135 hp geared engine designed by George Able and Harold Bliss two of the founders of this new divishysion In 1915 two seaplanes were built for the Navy designated SH4 and SH5 and the D5 tractor plane was
developed for the Signal Corps Further development in 1916 resulted in production of the SH4 Seaplane and 15 were built for the US Navy
With the prestige of not only an airplane company but a motor company and a flying school The Thomas School of Aviation was picked by the Canadian Governshyment for pilots who would train to become commis-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
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CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
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RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
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Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
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CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
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bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
An early Model TA hydro in the air Note the tubular wing tip floats
JUST PbANE TOMMY The Story of the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation
By Al Kelch (EAA 35767 AlC 700)
66 W 622 N Madison Avenue Cedarburg WI 53012
(Phutos From The William T Thomas Jr Collection via Robert G Elliott)
Part Two
In 1913-1914 the attention of the Thomas Aeroshyplane Company was turned to the development of flyshying boats following the similar course of Glenn Curshytiss The first machine was quite crude with a wooden hull and the top deck covered with canvas powered with a 6 cylinder 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine The developshyment of this phase of Thomas flying boats went through some sleek mahogany hulled versions on to develop the first metal hulled hydroplane in America Along with the flying boats several interesting types developed A two place nacelle type pusher biplane and a three place version of the same airplane both powered by
90 hp Austro-Daimler engines In addition a single place monoplane reminiscent of the Bleriot was flown using a 40 hp Maxi-motor This Thomas monoplane proved unsuitable for exhibition work
It was about this time another Mr Thomas was due to be added to the company - a gentleman who had no relation to the founders of the company but who was destined to change and influence the comshypanys direction substantially Mr B Douglas Thomas became the Chief Engineer and airplane designer He had an excellent background having previously worked as assistant aircraft designer for Vickers Ltd and
4 AUGUST 1982
Early Thomas tractor hydroplane with single float and wing tip floats
Right side view of 1916 hydroplane two place Model 8-3 Austro Daimler powshyered
Much earlier Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Forward section of hull had a fabric cover to furshynish protection from the spray Note feshymale passenger being carried to shore
later Sopwith Aviation Through similar circumstance he also worked for Glenn Curtiss where he assisted in the designing of the famous Curtiss Model J tractor and the famous Jenny He also took part with Lt Porte in the designing of the America the first multiple enshygine flying boat built for the purpose of transatlantic flight
On being employed by the Thomas Bros Airplane Co he designed their first successful tractor biplane The model was designated T2 and was similar to the Model J Curtiss except for the addition of two nose skids and the 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine It had a top speed of 83 mph and could climb 3800 feet in 10 minutes carrying a 1000 pound load The performance
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5
Metal hulled Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Fuel tank was located on top of wing
r - ~ ~h t- bull bull - i bull ~ r ~~ ~ -
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Two Guns White Cap Chief of Blackshyfoot Indians with pilot Ralph Brown W T Thomas at right The Indian brought the whole tribal family to witness the flight Once off the water the Chief let out a war whoop to let everyone know he was quite pleased
The Brindley Street plant in Ithaca NY about 1915 where the T-2 and D-2 tracshytor planes were built
of this machine added to the prestige of their having hired a new designer and resulted in an order from the British Admiralty for 24 model T2 airplanes their first sizable order
With two previous moves of Hornell New York and Bath New York the brothers looked for a new location to expand Ithaca New York at the southern
6 AUGUST 1982
end of Lake Cayuga was a natural choice with flat fields for take-off and landing and a 40-mile-Iong lake constituting an ideal seaplane or flying boat test area This coupled with the cold weather ability to fly from the ice resulted in an ideal location
Shortly after the move to Ithaca B D Thomas deshysigned a new model the D2 Tractor biplane This was
Morris Chain Co Ithaca NY a subshysidiary of Borg-Warner where W T Thomas eventually merged his Intershyests Mr Morris owned controlling inshyterest with W T Thomas as VlceshyPresident
Board Room group Left to right Harshyold Bliss B D Thomas George Abel Jerome Freed Mr Morris W T Thomas Raymond Ware discussing aircraft busishyness B D Thomas was no relation to W T Thomas
Employees of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Co Ithaca NY Brindley St plant
the first use of the new Thomas enterprise which was to build their own engines This auxiliary company called The Thomas Air Motor Co had designed and built a 135 hp geared engine designed by George Able and Harold Bliss two of the founders of this new divishysion In 1915 two seaplanes were built for the Navy designated SH4 and SH5 and the D5 tractor plane was
developed for the Signal Corps Further development in 1916 resulted in production of the SH4 Seaplane and 15 were built for the US Navy
With the prestige of not only an airplane company but a motor company and a flying school The Thomas School of Aviation was picked by the Canadian Governshyment for pilots who would train to become commis-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
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bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
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22 AUGUST 1982
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ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
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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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Early Thomas tractor hydroplane with single float and wing tip floats
Right side view of 1916 hydroplane two place Model 8-3 Austro Daimler powshyered
Much earlier Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Forward section of hull had a fabric cover to furshynish protection from the spray Note feshymale passenger being carried to shore
later Sopwith Aviation Through similar circumstance he also worked for Glenn Curtiss where he assisted in the designing of the famous Curtiss Model J tractor and the famous Jenny He also took part with Lt Porte in the designing of the America the first multiple enshygine flying boat built for the purpose of transatlantic flight
On being employed by the Thomas Bros Airplane Co he designed their first successful tractor biplane The model was designated T2 and was similar to the Model J Curtiss except for the addition of two nose skids and the 90 hp Austro-Daimler engine It had a top speed of 83 mph and could climb 3800 feet in 10 minutes carrying a 1000 pound load The performance
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 5
Metal hulled Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Fuel tank was located on top of wing
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Two Guns White Cap Chief of Blackshyfoot Indians with pilot Ralph Brown W T Thomas at right The Indian brought the whole tribal family to witness the flight Once off the water the Chief let out a war whoop to let everyone know he was quite pleased
The Brindley Street plant in Ithaca NY about 1915 where the T-2 and D-2 tracshytor planes were built
of this machine added to the prestige of their having hired a new designer and resulted in an order from the British Admiralty for 24 model T2 airplanes their first sizable order
With two previous moves of Hornell New York and Bath New York the brothers looked for a new location to expand Ithaca New York at the southern
6 AUGUST 1982
end of Lake Cayuga was a natural choice with flat fields for take-off and landing and a 40-mile-Iong lake constituting an ideal seaplane or flying boat test area This coupled with the cold weather ability to fly from the ice resulted in an ideal location
Shortly after the move to Ithaca B D Thomas deshysigned a new model the D2 Tractor biplane This was
Morris Chain Co Ithaca NY a subshysidiary of Borg-Warner where W T Thomas eventually merged his Intershyests Mr Morris owned controlling inshyterest with W T Thomas as VlceshyPresident
Board Room group Left to right Harshyold Bliss B D Thomas George Abel Jerome Freed Mr Morris W T Thomas Raymond Ware discussing aircraft busishyness B D Thomas was no relation to W T Thomas
Employees of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Co Ithaca NY Brindley St plant
the first use of the new Thomas enterprise which was to build their own engines This auxiliary company called The Thomas Air Motor Co had designed and built a 135 hp geared engine designed by George Able and Harold Bliss two of the founders of this new divishysion In 1915 two seaplanes were built for the Navy designated SH4 and SH5 and the D5 tractor plane was
developed for the Signal Corps Further development in 1916 resulted in production of the SH4 Seaplane and 15 were built for the US Navy
With the prestige of not only an airplane company but a motor company and a flying school The Thomas School of Aviation was picked by the Canadian Governshyment for pilots who would train to become commis-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Metal hulled Thomas hydroplane with 90 hp Austro Daimler engine Fuel tank was located on top of wing
r - ~ ~h t- bull bull - i bull ~ r ~~ ~ -
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Two Guns White Cap Chief of Blackshyfoot Indians with pilot Ralph Brown W T Thomas at right The Indian brought the whole tribal family to witness the flight Once off the water the Chief let out a war whoop to let everyone know he was quite pleased
The Brindley Street plant in Ithaca NY about 1915 where the T-2 and D-2 tracshytor planes were built
of this machine added to the prestige of their having hired a new designer and resulted in an order from the British Admiralty for 24 model T2 airplanes their first sizable order
With two previous moves of Hornell New York and Bath New York the brothers looked for a new location to expand Ithaca New York at the southern
6 AUGUST 1982
end of Lake Cayuga was a natural choice with flat fields for take-off and landing and a 40-mile-Iong lake constituting an ideal seaplane or flying boat test area This coupled with the cold weather ability to fly from the ice resulted in an ideal location
Shortly after the move to Ithaca B D Thomas deshysigned a new model the D2 Tractor biplane This was
Morris Chain Co Ithaca NY a subshysidiary of Borg-Warner where W T Thomas eventually merged his Intershyests Mr Morris owned controlling inshyterest with W T Thomas as VlceshyPresident
Board Room group Left to right Harshyold Bliss B D Thomas George Abel Jerome Freed Mr Morris W T Thomas Raymond Ware discussing aircraft busishyness B D Thomas was no relation to W T Thomas
Employees of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Co Ithaca NY Brindley St plant
the first use of the new Thomas enterprise which was to build their own engines This auxiliary company called The Thomas Air Motor Co had designed and built a 135 hp geared engine designed by George Able and Harold Bliss two of the founders of this new divishysion In 1915 two seaplanes were built for the Navy designated SH4 and SH5 and the D5 tractor plane was
developed for the Signal Corps Further development in 1916 resulted in production of the SH4 Seaplane and 15 were built for the US Navy
With the prestige of not only an airplane company but a motor company and a flying school The Thomas School of Aviation was picked by the Canadian Governshyment for pilots who would train to become commis-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
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Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
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Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
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MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
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Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
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22 AUGUST 1982
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CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
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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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Morris Chain Co Ithaca NY a subshysidiary of Borg-Warner where W T Thomas eventually merged his Intershyests Mr Morris owned controlling inshyterest with W T Thomas as VlceshyPresident
Board Room group Left to right Harshyold Bliss B D Thomas George Abel Jerome Freed Mr Morris W T Thomas Raymond Ware discussing aircraft busishyness B D Thomas was no relation to W T Thomas
Employees of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Co Ithaca NY Brindley St plant
the first use of the new Thomas enterprise which was to build their own engines This auxiliary company called The Thomas Air Motor Co had designed and built a 135 hp geared engine designed by George Able and Harold Bliss two of the founders of this new divishysion In 1915 two seaplanes were built for the Navy designated SH4 and SH5 and the D5 tractor plane was
developed for the Signal Corps Further development in 1916 resulted in production of the SH4 Seaplane and 15 were built for the US Navy
With the prestige of not only an airplane company but a motor company and a flying school The Thomas School of Aviation was picked by the Canadian Governshyment for pilots who would train to become commis-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 7
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
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g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
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SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
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~
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bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
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bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
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Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
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Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
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ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
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bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
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VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Side profile of assembled Thomas Aero Motor The hand crank was preferred to swinging the prop on a geared (two to one) engine Note individual cylinshyder primers beside spark plugs
It may be Frank Burnside standing beshyside the large trainer at the Thomas School of Aviation near Ithaca NY Note the ailerons were employed up top wing only Exhaust stacks rose from top of engine and were attached to pipe which wrapped around both sides of fuselage W T Thomas flying school was the first Board of Regents Chartered Aviashytion School in New York State This plane was possibly a Model 0-2
One of 15 Model SH-4 hydroplanes built by Thomas-Morse for the US Navy In about 1916 powered with a 140 hp Sturtevant engine
sioned in the Royal Flying Corps This brought a numshy merging with the Morse Chain Co of Ithaca New York ber of pilots to the shores of Lake Cayuga as World Thus the final name that is so well known ThomasshyWar I gained in intensity Morse Aircraft Corp was born January 31 1917 III
The expansion and all of the activities had put conshy time to build the famous World War I fighters bull siderable financial strain on the Thomas companies A refinancing was accomplished by merging the airshy (To Be Continued Next Month) plane and engine division with the flying school then
8 AUGUST 1982
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
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bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
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22 AUGUST 1982
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ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
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VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
EAAS FORD TRIMOTOR By George Hardie Jr
Associate Editor The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
Its been a long road and there still is a long way to go but progress is being made The last report on the status of EAAs Ford Trimotor appeared in the July 1981 issue of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE when the fuselage was being restored at Kal-Aero Inc in Kalashymazoo Michigan The fuselage framework was comshypleted and partially skinned by December 1981 when the decision was made to return the Ford to EAAs restoration facility at Burlington Wisconsin
Through a generous donation from the R H Wagner Foundation of Lyons Wisconsin Tom Soerens an AampP mechanic and talented sheet metal specialist was hired in January 1982 to take on the Ford project To date (June 15) he has completed the skinning of the fuseshylage and manufactured a new fin and rudder and a new stabilizer and elevators The next step is to restore the wing center section and install it in preparation for mounting the landing gear
Bill Chomo EAA Director of Maintenance and Restoration summarizes the work still to be done For the center section we need to r eplace four Ushyshaped wing fitting doublers For this I need a big gun for 4-inch rivets Then the section will be reskinned and made ready to install on the fuselage The leadshying edge skins present somewhat of a problem but Kal-
Dale Glenn and friend and N8407 in happier times
(Photo by Lee Fray) and after the Big Blow in June 1973
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 9
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Tom Soerens prepares to trim the trailing edge of the rudder (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
The extent of the damage to the ailerons is evident in this view (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The damaged right wing tip is shown here
Aero has a three-roll slip roller and has agreed to form them for us
Once the center section is installed we can mount the fuselage on the landing gear The original gear is OK except for one drag link and we have a replacement for that All three engines need work We have sufshyficient engine parts to make three good Pratt amp Whitshyney R-985s We need propeller parts specifically three hubs (30 spline) Part 5406-AL and six HamiltonshyStandard Ground Adjustable prop blades Part 3792X 8 9 for Pamp W R-985 engines
After mounting on the gear the work of completshying the interior can be tackled The floor boards are
The three main fuel tanks which are mounted in the wing shytotal capacity 231 gallons (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed stabilizer and left elevator
installed and we have the cabin seats New cockpit seats will have to be made We want to complete the cockpit area as near to the original configuration as possible
It is interesting to compare the original aluminum sheet used by Ford with what we use today Ford used 012 and 014 - we are using 020 2024T-3 Ford made much of the Alclad name - it was really a 0015 thick application of pure aluminum over the alloy sheet Over the years this had worn away and our airplane had been painted Im thinking of using Nevada Silver Alumithane a two-part polyurethane paint used on semi-trailers
10 AUGUST 1982
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
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Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
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CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
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March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
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Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Tom Soerens drills out rivets in a spare aileron to remove the skin to examine the interior (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
(Photo by Marian Cavadias) The completed fuselage and tail surfaces ready for mountshying the center section and landing gear
We are restoring the airplane to meet the requireshyments of the Standard Category for passenger carryshying We want to get the air~lane on the gear by midshyAugust engines mounted and other detail work comshypleted later in the year Then well work on the outer wing panels
The Save The Ford Fund is nearing exhaustion Work cannot continue without a steady influx of financshying to cover the minimum costs required The booklet A Ford in EAAs Future is still being offered toshygether with a special certificate to all donors who contribute $10 or more Supplies are limited so this will soon become a collectors item The booklet con-
The wing center section with skin removed to examine for corrosion and needed replacement parts (Photo by Jack Cox)
Bauken Noack EAA shop mechanic demonstrates his speshycial tool which he Invented to flatten the ends of corrugated aluminum sheets (Photo by Marian Cavadias)
tains a history of the ongm and development of Ford Trimotors and includes 84 rare photographs of Ford aircraft A detailed history of EAAs Ford N8407 (Serial No 4-AT-69) from the time it rolled off the proshyduction line at Dearborn Michigan in August 1929 until it was damaged in the windstorm in June 1973 is also included
To obtain your booklet and certificate send your donation to Save the Ford Fund EAA Aviation Founshydation Inc P O Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130 Help save this great airplane - this priceless link in aviation history for the enjoyment of this and future generations Contributions are tax deductible
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 11
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
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1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
WHERE ARE THEY
In any discussion about Ford Trimotors the quesshy Model 5-AT-B tion inevitably arises How many are left An examishy 9645 8 Harrahs Club Reno NV nation of FAA records dated January 30 1982 reveals 76GC (9637) 11 Commuter Investment amp Develop-the following registered Fords ment Co Las Vegas NV
9651 34 Irv Perlich Morgan Hill CA Registration Serial 9683 39 National Air amp Space Museum
No No Owner Washington DC
ModeI4-AT-B ModeI5-AT-C N6077C 10 Eugene Frank Caldwell ID 8419 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI
7584 38 Travdair Taxi Inc Port Clinton 414H 74 Commuter Investment amp Develop-OH ment Co Las Vegas NV
Model4-AT-E Weare trying to determine the present status of 9612 55 Dolph Overton Orlando FL these Fords in order to update our records Wed like 9642 58 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI to enlist your help on this project Send any informashy8400 62 Kal-Aero Inc Kalamazoo MI tion you may have to George Hardie Jr EAA Hisshy8407 69 EAA Aviation Foundation Inc torian EAA Aviation Foundation Inc PO Box 469
Franklin WI Hales Corners WI 53130
MYSTERY PLANE
The August Mystery Plane photo was provided by Mike Rezich 6424 So LaPorte Avenue Chicago IL 60638 Mike saw this aircraft fly and his descriptive identification will appear in the October issue of VINshyTAGE
(Reid Patterson Photo via Mike Rezich Collection)
The June Mystery Plane was a one-ofT 1931 Bird Model F X790N SIN 8001 powered by a Packard Dieshysel of 225-300 hp (see Juptners US Civil Aircraft Vol 5 pp 56 and 58) The following readers correctly idenshytified the plane the engine or both Dick and Jeannie Hill Harvard IL Robert D Glascock Wichita KS Kevin Stephenson Albuquerque NM Francis Wallace Stony Brook NY Clarence A Hess Lockport IL Shelby B Hagberg Greenville IA Lynn Towns Eaton Rapids MI Richshyard Hildebrand Speedway IN C
Windsor Auten Belmont CA Mike Rezich Chicago IL Harold G Scheck East Rutherford NJ and Ken Pruitt Albuquerque NM
Ken Pruitt writes Is the stateshyment that the airframe was stolen a conjecture or a known fact Might I suggest that another possibility is when BIRD shut down in 1932 the SPEED BIRD CORP of Keyport NJ was formed to serve all the Bird owners with spare parts repairs etc and if the Model F had not been sold by then it too probably went to New Jersey and ended up as spare parts
on other airplanes or sold as an entirely different airplane It is known that Speed-Bird was playing around with Lambert and Jacobs powered biplanes in 1933-1935
12 AUGUST 1982
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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YOULL FLY In the meantime
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g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
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THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
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CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
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March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
Mikes FAI Aviator pilot license No 6575 signed by orvilleIf~I~~~~t Wright October 27 1926 I~
By E E Buck Hilbert (EAA 21 AIC 5) 8102 Leech Drive UnionIL 60190
(Photos From The Collection Of Mike Drabik)
On a bright and sunny summer morning a few years ago my daughter pointed upward and exclaimed Daddy Daddy look at that airplane scratching up the sky How did it happen Daddy
I couldnt think of an answer or at least one that would satisfy a four-year-olds mind Since then Ive thought about it a lot and its always in the back of my mind The contrails we see up there came about slowly and tediously over many years of the trials and tribulations of many aviators flying many airplanes They all contributed something to make these conshytrails possible and to make flight the beautiful experishyence it is today The Pioneers of the Sky made these things possible
The year 1970 doesnt seem so long ago does it Thats when the sky pioneer Im going to tell you about
SKY PIONEER signed his last maintenance release sending a big beautiful Boeing 747 winging off to Hawaii Then after cake and coffee a lot of back slapping and congratulashytory remarks he took off his white United Airlines overalls and went home to the life of a retiree home to his memories and memorabilia a little sadly pershyhaps but with the personal satisfaction that he had done a good job
Every trade and every profession has its masters These are a handful of dedicated people who among the thousands of workers go about their jobs with a calm proficiency which amazes many of the young and eager Most of these folks never know glory but youll always find them behind the scenes where history is being made People of this nature are usually content with their best supporting actor roles and are respected by all They give long and lasting service to an idea or a plan until it bears fruit then they nourish it with dedicashytion and love to keep it bearing fruit
The sky pioneer Im talking about is such a man Mike Drabik 5044 North Merrimac Chicago IL 60630 was convinced that aviation could serve not only the
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 13
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
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CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
nation JUt the world and to that end he dedicated more than forty years of exemplary service Today he rightshyfully rejoices when he sees those contrails in the sky
Mike Drabiks career began in 1923 with the Heath Aircraft Corporation on a small airfield in Chicago when airplanes were a rarity and seldom seen Planes were attractions at carnivals and fairs and used for barnstorming They were flown with cantankerous enshygines with wooden muslin-covered wings and held together with wire dope and layers of tape But they flew and some were even built by their pilots It was in one of these early homebuilts the Heath Favorite that Mike first took to the air looking skyward with similar anticipation that a person born to ski looks upon a snow-covered slope Mike received his pilot license a short time later signed by Orville Wright the father of powered flight
In 1924 and 1925 Mike spent his time giving rides over Chicago or advertising for a Ford dealership with 14 AUGUST 1982
Mike by Hestb- Favorite
Mike Drabik and the Heath Favorite Ed Heath named this plane but Mike Drabik loved It too He has models of It built from original drawings Heath once carried four people in the front cockpit from Chicago to St Louis for an air meet Photo taken in 1923
(United Air Lines Photo) Pitcairn Mallwing at the old Chicago Municipal Airport now Midway
a specially painted Canuck (Canadian Jenny) He then started to freeboot across the country barnstorming with others of his kind
Once I was on a trip he told me from Buffalo New York to Schenectady with a planned stop at Utica for fuel When I got to Utica I found that the runway had been plowed under About ten minutes later I located an alfalfa field and landed This attracted the local citizens who came running to see the aeroplane They trampled the alfalfa worse than a herd of buffalo
The police showed up and were going to jail me for damaging the crop but I got the farmer aside and was able to settle the matter by giving him ten dollars so he wouldnt press charges Arrangements were made for refueling and I got out of there I dont mind tell in you that was one patch of alfalfa I was glad to leave to the cows
Ive spent many an interesting evening with Mike sipping a drink and swirling the ice cubes listening
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
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RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
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PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
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Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
to him tell stories of the early days He never minds my bugging him and I never tire of hearing about the days when he flew and worked with people who went on to make their mark in the history books I had only read of many of these people who considered Mike as their friend
In 1926 Mike had the misfortune of banging up his Canuck when it was severely damaged in a landing acshycident being flipped over on its back He spent the winter rebuilding it in an old livery barn In the spring he towed it to the Chicago Ilying Club Field where he tied it down
From this point the story becomes a bit hazy but as I interpret it Mike was still shook over the crackup and was lacking some confidence I dont think he doubted his own ability or workmanship yet he set out to find someone to test fly his airplane He soon located a young Army aviator who had just come to Chicago from St Louis on a motorcycle and said hed be glad to test fly
(United Air Lines Photo) 1927 Boeing Model 40-A with 400 hp PampW Wasp engine Twenty-five of these planes were built 24 for Boeings use on Its own airline the Boeing Air Transshyport
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Boeing 95 used by Boeing Air Transport National Air Transport Western Air Express and Robertson Aircraft Boeing used several of these on their San Francisco to Chicago run Power was a 525 hp PampW Hornet
the Canuck Later after the plane proved to be airshyworthy the Army man took Mike up for some refresher flight training (Who said the biennial flight review was something new) Less than a year later Mikes new friend crossed the Atlantic in a plane named the Spirit of St Louis
Although Charles Lindbergh skyrocketed to fame their friendship was never forgotten and in 1967 Mike received an invitation to participate in the 40th annishyversary of that first solo transatlantic flight
In 1929 Mike began to lose some of his restlessness and he went to work as an aircraft mechanic for a small company called National Air Transport This company flew the mail in planes such as the Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Douglas M-1 Boeing 40-A Curtiss Falcon and Boeing 95 Mike was highly qualified for his new job as he had experience rebuilding Jennys Standards and Canucks and had taught at a school on Chicagos Milshywaukee Avenue operated by the US Airplane Com-
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 15
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
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CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
pany He jokingly tells that NAT hired him conditlOnshyally to test his skills and he stayed on the job fortyshyone years without ever being asked to fill out an apshyplication This small company NAT later merged with other companies eventually becoming United Airlines
During World War II Mike had the duty of teachshying an aviation mechanics course at the old Chicago Municipal Airport Few mechanics were as well qualishyfied as Mike and his experience was put to good use training young Army recruits from all over the counshytry the proper maintenance and service of radial and in-line engines
After the War Mike went back on the line for United Airlines During his career he saw the cinder runways upgraded to concrete at Chicagos Municipal Airport and later the name changed to Chicago Midshyway Before the control tower was installed he saw air traffic controlled by one man dressed in a yellow smock with two flags in his hands If it was clear to land a 16 AUGUST 1982
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Falcon Mailplane with Liberty engine NAT had 11 of them
(United Air Lines Photo) 1929 Curtiss Carrier Pigeon Model 1 NAT No1 with Liberty engine Nobody loved this plane according to Mike The idea is intriguing of the wing panels being interchangeable as well as aileshyrons and all tail surfaces both fixed and moveable It apparently was not a good airplane
yellow flag was waved and a red flag meant the pilot should go around
He watched aviation grow from shoestring to big business He remembers the days when pilots carried rifles for survival if forced down in remote areas Mike like others of his kind became the background for the busy air commerce systems as they surged into the jet age He was lost among the many others who helped to make the airlines the superb transportation system it is today The guys and gals who wear the coveralls and
Both sides of an original Chicago Flying Club brochure are reproduced on the following two pages Mike Drabik is the surviving pilot of the four men shown who also flew together advertising for Malwitz Ford The Canuck and the Standard were used as club planes Banker Gathercoal and Coutelshylier were lost in late June 1927 along with the Standard in an attempted crossing of Lake Michigan No trace of the men or plane was ever found
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Sooner or Later
YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
L ~ 3NVldlfIV 38VlNlfI
bull t - bullbullbullbullbull Ot PI 0gt In08 1d aul ao nlgt aI 0gt JO PImiddotI 0
Z ON dIHS - 30mUlf3n ~30IVW 3H~
11 ~ bullmiddotbull
zbull ~ I C t
rbull 11bull~ i -I
Ilbull
Sooner or Later
YOULL FLY In the meantime
nz For a Better ~ n )shyC) to ride in o Ask~~ ~ 0lt 4101 Iin Park BoulevardZ C) Telephone Iniag 0170
g THE Chicago Flying Club (Incorposhy= rated) of which a number of employes
CI and friends of Fries-Malwitz Motor Co
~ are members invites you and all aviation enthusiasts to visit the Club Field at Irving Park Blvd two and one-half miles west of the car line
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB (Inc) O lfIRS
Lltll I II R (OOMRS bull bull 1 1 HAROtD ~ RKNNA CHER tmiddot Fi t t j( middotPr ltlNl1 MICHAIL J llRAHIKmiddot ~4 ( no i( rtll t FR()FH1CK H JOLLY bull S~ (rltr )
Suitt C O~ ~30 SO h Obullbull rl r n 5ltlft F L)IWIS CA MPBEII Tr unmiddot r~
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
RED DEVJl Sigt No _ 1 and MAIDFN GFRTRIIOF ~ PlIo 2 nn Ft ld nf rhir bull n Flvln CIh Ininc Park Boulrd 2YJ milbullbull wbullbullt of Dunninl Chico The flyiol bip now on the Field are
Ship No 1- RED DEVIL Canadian Curti~1I (Canuck) two Illuct tractlJr pan 44 ft bull chord 5 ft 10 in bullbull fu~udlle 21 ft motor Curtisli OX-5 ~O HI TYIHgt V M CylimJer lilJtmiddoted Hi milelO rtT hour
Ship No2 - MAIDEN GERTRUDE Ssndsrd J Nu I (urti bullbull thr lace tractor UIl ~6 ft chord 6 It fUBla 24 fl Motor OXX-6 Lurtisb 10) H P Tyve M CyJilldtmiddotr I4lJttuIO mile~ per huu1shy
Ship No 3 - CurtilSH Clivped Oriole 90 HP three place trachr Motor CurtistS OX-5 sIIted 110 miletS per hour
Two or thre other ghivd UTt now in c(ln~truclion at the lido
CHICAGO FLYING CLUB PILOTS AND THEIR RECORDS
SO~1E of these pilots tly as mlleli as IU hours 1ll1 wpek and alP I(ady to take you on cross country tlights for any distance to suit your tillle and connnilnce TllPY
will gladly quote you rates
MICHAEL J DRABIK ~Hl W Walton tiL Chicago OWlwr of the ed DevilT N -lmiddotC Curtiss Canadian known as middotCanuck Mr Drabils IICOIltI is l~)U lying hours He is a graduate of Heath Aiqllalw Co flying school Has flOWI1 al Ashburn 1middotilld Chicago Air Port Chicago Flying Club Filld-is now instructor at tlH lhicago ltIy ing Club Has lawn Canuek J N -lmiddotD and itandard J No 1
EARLE P BANKER J5-lgt Bosworth Ave Chicago tlllphonp Lake Ykw I)-lli ly ing hours )00 ~orDler arlllY Hying serg(illlt and IlIlchanician ltormerlyon Sliflidgl Field at Mt Clemens Michigan Wold Challilllriain Imiddotit-Id at lwin Cities llilllllsota Has Hown ships D H 4 J N I)middotH Canuc Standard J No I Avro and Sopwith Is now instructor at Chicago Flying Club
NORRIS M GATHERCOAL nd Lieut 1(sprH ~Ilti S illll Ave Maywood Ill tdephone Maywood Ii)middotM Flying hours )I)U Uraduatt of Army Schools Primary Flymiddot ing Schools at Brooks lmiddotleld Texas Auva ICld Flying SdlUol Kl~lly Field Tlxas Ail Sefice 1llDical School at Chanute ltipld Iantoul Illinois Has 1l0WH Martin BOlllbtr Vought KU M B I PUIsuits T N li middotH f Ws il and 5 Canu(k J No 1 Sopwith Avro D H 4middotB and Sperr~ Messenger Is now instructor at Chieago Flying Club
EUGENE T COUTELLIER 3)1) Boswol~h AYe Chilago pilot and oIllr of thl bull ~lailil11 Gertrude~ a standard Curtiss Phnt One of tIll first students in tIll Chilajo ltIyinj Club to Hmiddotaduall under the tuition cf tllir instructors He has to date a nlonl of 30 hours of Irving tillll and is OWl1lr of his own ship HI is noww bt onl of tht instruetors Thia IOes to show the lfthiency CJf till instructors of the Cbicaao 1lying Cluh
18 AUGUST 1982
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is Mike In June 1927 after a forced landing In a cemeshytery just east of what Is now Chicagos OHare Field He said the tract was under development and had not yet become a marble orchard
uniforms the fuelers baggage handlers ramp rats whether visible to the passengers or not are all necesshysary to running an airline Most in these jobs today are youngsters but it was the sky pioneers like Mike who passed on the knowledge and set the examples which made possible the conception and operation of the magnificent iron birds we fly and ride in today
In 1970 I was there when Mike signed his last Flight Log Maintenance Release The Captain who flew the trip that day is also retired as are many of Mikes coshyworkers But they are not really completely retired a part of them is still visible each time an airplane scratches a contrail across the sky
This Is the Standard in the alfalfa field near Utica NY after Mikes forced landing on a flight from Buffalo to Schenecshytady NY
Im proud to know and call Mike Drabik my friend and Im especially grateful to him for the knowledge the expertise and the dedication he has given to aviashytion for these many years He is a sky pioneer without peer
Editors Note Capt E E Buck Hilbert flies Douglas DC-Bs for United Airlines out of Chicagos Olfare Field Out of his own private strip The Funny Farm he flies a variety of small planes including his Aeronca C-3 and Stinson L-5 Buck helped in the creation of the EAA AntiqueClassic Division served as its first Presishydent and currently is Treasurer He is also a director of the EAA Aviation Foundation Inc and can be seen each year at Oshkosh performing several duties relating to his EAA responsibilities
JULY 31 - AUGUST 7 - OSHKOSH WISCONSIN - 30th Annual EAA Fly-In Convention Its never too early to start making plans for the worlds GREATEST AVIATION EVENT
AUGUST amp-8 - SHELTON WASHINGTON - Sanderson Field Second Annual Antique Classic and Warbird Fly-In sponsored by the Puget Sound Antique Airplane Club EAA AntiqueClassic Division 9 Arrive on Friday Public Display Saturday dinner Saturday evening Fly-a-way breakfast on Sunday For information contact Fred C Ellsworth 17639 SE 293rd Place Kent WA 98031 206631-9117
AUGUST amp-14 - SAN ANTONIO TEXAS - International Cessna 170 Association Annual Convention Contact John D Benham 12834 Dovetail San Antonio TX 78253
AUGUST 9-14 - FOND DU LAC WISCONSIN - Annual International Aerobatic Club Championships and Convention Contact lAC PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
AUGUST 15 - WOODSFIELD OHIO - Air Show at 130 PM at Monshyroe County Airport Phone 614472-1882
AUGUST 15-22 - BLAKESBURG IOWA - Annual AAA-APM Fly-In at Antique Airfield For AAA members only Contact Robert Tayshylor Antique Airfield Route 2 Box 172 Ottumwa IA 52501
AUGUST 20-22 - VANCOUVER WASHINGTON - Northwest Antique Airplane Club 23rd Annual Fly-In and Air Show at Evergreen Airshyport Excellent camping spaghetti feed August 20 breakfasts awards banquet and dance Saturday Contact Jim Rosen 314 SE 118th Avenue Vancouver WA 98664 206254-6606
AUGUST 22 - ALDERMAN AIRPORT OHIO - Tri-Club Model Air Show and EAA Fly-In at Brush Run Park 10 am to 5 pm Hosted by EM Chapter 341 Tri-State Miniature Aircraft Association Chapshyter 51 St Clairsville Radio Control Flyers Contact Larry VanDyne 614472-1882
AUGUST 22 - WEEDSPORT NEW YORK - AntiqueClassic and Homeshybuilt fly-in sponsored by Chapter 486 Whitfords Airport Pancake breakfast air show Field closed 1-5 IntermiSSion for early deshypartures Contact Herb Livingston 1257 Gallagher Road Baldwinsshyville NY 13027
AUGUST 27-29 - ARLINGTON WASHINGTON - Northwest EAA Fly-In Homebuilts classics and antiques Camping meals forums exhibits awards and fun For information contact Dave Woodcock 206747-2748
AUGUST 29 - BALDWIN AIRPORT ONTARIO CANADA - Antique amp Homebuilt Fly-In Brunch All aircraft welcome Begins at 10 am at airport five miles south of Lake Simcoe parallel to Highway 48 For information call Dick Shelton at 416889-0249 or 416722-5334 or Fred Andreassen at 416722-8724
SEPTEMBER 2-6 - TULLAHOMA TENNESSEE - 2nd Annual Ole South Fly-In Parish Aerodrome Soesbe-Martin Field Saturday Parade of Flight Sunday Air Show Camping Contact Jimmy Snyder President Tennessee Valley Sport Aviation Association Inc 5315 Ringgold Road Chattanooga TN 37412 615894-7957
SEPTEMBER amp-12 - GALESBURG ILLINOIS - 11th National Stearshyman Fly-n Contact Jim Leahy at PO Box 1505 Galesburg IL 61401 3093432119 or Tom Lowe at 823 Kingston Lane Crystal Lake IL 60014 815459-6873
SEPTEMBER 11-12 - GREELY COLORADO - Rocky Mountain Reshygional Fly-In at Weld County Airport Open to the public pancake breakfast and air shows Contact Bill Marc 303986-4398
SEPTEMBER 17-19 - BALTIMORE MARYLAND - 13th Annual East Coast Fly-In sponsored by East Coast EAA chapters Pancake breakfast forums displays awards Glenn L Martin State Airshyport Contact Gene Brown 9028 Hickory Hill Ave Lanham MD 20706 301577-3070 or Bob Wallace 1800 Kittyhawk Rd Baltishymore MD 21220 301686-9242 or 686-3279
SEPTEMBER 24-26 - TAHLEQUAH OKLAHOMA - 25th Anniversary Tulsa Fly-In co-sponsored by EAA AC Chapter 10 UL Chapter 10 lAC Chaper 10 and AAA Chapter 2 Will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood and the 100th anniversary of Tulsa Contact Cal Bass 6111 So Joplin Tulsa OK 74136 918494-8908
OCTOBER 1-3 - NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY AIRPORT GEORGIAshyInternational Cessna 120140 Association Inc Annual convenshytion and fly-in For info contact Charlie Wilson 567 Forrest Aveshynue Fayetteville GA 30214 404481-6279
OCTOBER 10 - BOLIVAR TENNESSEE - EAA Chapter 763 Fly-In and Air Show Contact Billy Whitehurst PO Box 376 Bolivar TN 38008 901658-6282
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 19
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
BORDENS AEROPLANE POSTERS
FROM THE 1930S Article Number 24 Poster Number 10 Series Number 2
By Lionel Salisbury (EAA 114523) Seven Harper Road Brampton Ontario Canada L6W 2W3
THE BIRD BIPLANE -Jhe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
It seems hard to believe that it has been over three years since my son David came home with eighteen posters that he had been given by a friend He was fifteen at the time in his second year of high school and was gung-ho about airplanes
Those first posters have led to a most pleasant enjoyable relationship with the EAA and with a numshyber of people in various parts of the United States and Canada who have responded to the series When David brought them home we spread them on the floor and examined each They had been collected in 1936 in Canada by Mr Glenn Inch who was one of many young men of the time gtho purchased tins of Bordens Malted Milk Drink so they could get a coupon from the container That allowed them one poster for each coupon returned to the company at Yardley House in Toronto Glenn collected 18 of the posters that had been made available by the Canadian Subsidiary of the Borden Company After some discussion David and I decided to pass the posters on to the editors of The VINTAGE AIRPLANE and that was the start of this series 20 AUGUST 1982
It then became apparent that there had been addishytional posters made available in the United States by the parent company in New York and by a predecesshysor of the Borden Company Thompsons Malted Milk Company of Waukesha Wisconsin These posters had been published and distributed in 1933 and 1934 Mr Cedric Galloway of Hesperia California sent in three of these posters and they were added to our series We then heard from Mr Marion McClure of Bloomington Illinois who sent in his entire collection That collecshytion has yielded an additional six posters and this months is the third poster provided by Mr McClure As the series developed I have also heard from time to time from other readers who have supplied interest ing comment and additional information either about the posters or some of the airplanes featured on them It has been most gratifying to receive these letters
This months poster is on the Bird Biplane The line drawing is from the back of the poster as are the descripshytive notes Lionel Salisbury
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
I I bull I I I
-----------------L(J~- -shy -------shy---------- __ I I I bull I bull
THE BIRD BIPLANE shyThe Personal Plane Of Mrs Lindbergh
Description Of Bird Biplane
The Bird Biplane is made by the Bird Aircraft Corporation at Glendale Long Island New York It is a very light two passenger ship weighing only 1350 lbs with 125 horsepower motor and is capable of handling four passengers With lower powered motors as indicated below it is a three passenger ship It is an exceptionally safe and easy plane to handle due to the low landing speed and the broad wing span compared with weight
The fuselage is of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tubing in the form of a Warren truss with no wire bracshying The fuselage fittings are slotted into the tubes and welded The wing structure is built up of spruce spars and compression members braced with steel tie rods Ribs are also of wood The leading edge is covered with duralumin sheet The wing tips are rounded and tapered Ailerons are of wood and tail surfaces are of welded steel tubes covered with fabric
The ailerons and elevators are operated by pushshypull rods the rudder is operated by cables The landing gear is of the split-axle type Shock absorbers are a combination of oleo and rubber The tail skid is of the leaf-spring type made of silicon steel mounted on a bronze bearing
SPECIFICATIONS (Powered with Kinner 125 hp Warner 110 hp and Kinner 90 hp respectively) Span upper wings - 34 ft lower wing - 25 ft Length overshyall - 23 ft Height overall - 8 ft Wing area - 266 sq ft Weight empty - 1350 lbs 1230 lbs 1199 lbs Disshyposable loads - 985 lbs 790 lbs 781 lbs Gross weights - 2335 lbs 2020 lbs 1980 lbs
PERFORMANCE High Speeds - 120 mph 117 mph 115 mph Cruising speeds - 100 mph 98 mph 95 mph Landing speeds - 35 mph 34 mph 34 mph Rates of climb - 1100 ft per min 950 ft per min 900 ft per min Service ceilings - 17000 ft 16500 ft 16000 ft
NEXTMONTHshyMARTIN BOMBER - The Huge Navy Patrol Ship
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 21
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
ft Uf $1r~~tL~~~~ce
Jet Fuel $150 gal Self Service
Complete line service for more flying time and less down time
Sentry Aviation Services Stevens Point Wis Unicom 122-7 Municipal Airport
~
~THE JOURNAL OF
THE EARLY AEROPLANE
SlMPLE ISSUE $4 15 CRESCENT RD POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Classic owners Interior looking ahabbyf
Finish it right with an airtex interior
~
Complete interior assemblies for dO-it-yourself installation
Custom Quality at economical prices
bull Cushion upholstery sets bull Wall panel sets bull Headliners bull Carpet sets bull Baggage compartment sets bull Firewall covers bull Seat Slings bull Recover envelopes and dopes
Free Catalog of complete product line Fabric Selection Guide showing actual sample colors and styles of materials $300
bullI Ibull t - r VISAQlr ex products inc shy259 Lower Morrisville Rd Dept VA
Fallsington PA 19054 (215) 295-4115
Jacket Unlined Poplin jacket features knit waist and cuffs The gold and white braid trim on a Tan body emphasizes the colors proudly disshyplayed in the AntiqueClassic logo Sizes X-small thru X-large
$2895 ppd
Cap Complete the look in this gold mesh hat with contrasting blue bill trimmed with a gold braid Your logo visibly displayed makes this adjustable cap a must Sizes M amp L (adjustable rear band)
$625 ppd
WEAR the IMAGE in an AntiqueClassic jacket and cap Send Check To
EAA ANTIQUECLASSIC DIVISION INC Po Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery
Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
22 AUGUST 1982
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
AVAILABLE BACK ISSUES
THE VINTAGE AIRPLANE ADVERTISING RATES
1 Issue 3 Issues 6 Issues 12 Issues 1 Page $17500 $16500 $15000 $14500 1 2 Page 10500 10000 9500 9000 1 3 Page 9500 8500 8000 7500 1 4 Page 7000 6500 6000 5500 1 6 Page 6000 5500 5000 4500 1 8 Page 5000 4500 4000 3500
Rates are for black and white camera-ready ads
CLASSIFIED RATES Regular type - 45c per word Bold face type - 50c per word ALL CAPS - 55c per word (Minimum charge - $700 Rate covers one insertion one issue)
1973 shy1974 shy1975 shy1976 shy
1977 shy1978 shy
1979 shy1980 shy
1981 shy1982 shy
March through December All Are Available All Are Available February through May August through December All Are Available January through March August October through December February through December January March through July September through December All Are Available January through March May through July
Back issues are available from Headquarters for $125 each postpaid except the July 1977 (Lindbergh Comshymemorative) issue which is $150 postpaid
COMMISSIONS Non-commissionable
For additional information including color rates and required ad sizes contact
Advertising Department The VINTAGE AIRPLANE
PO Box 229 Hales Corners WI 53130
414 425-4860
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUALS
1929 1930 1931 1932 1933
250 ea U A I
SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO
EAA Aviation Foundation Inc Box 469 Hales Corners WI 53130
Allow 4-6 Weeks For Delivery Wisconsin Residents Include 4 Sales Tax
CLASSIFIED ADS
ACRO SPORT - Single place biplane capable of unshylimited aerobatics 23 sheets of clear easy to follow plans includes nearly 100 isometrical drawings photos and exploded views Complete parts and materials list Full size wing drawings Plans plus 88 page Builders Manual - $6000 Info Pack - $400 Super Acro Sport Wing Drawing - $1500 Send clreck or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 4141 425-4860
ACRO II - The new 2-place aerobatic trainer and sport biplane 20 pages of easy to follow detailed plans Commiddot plete with isometric drawings photos exploded views plans - $8500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC P O Box 462 Hales Corshyners WI 53130 414425-4860
POBER PIXIE - VW powered parasol - unlimited in low cost pleasure flying Big roomy cockpit for the over six foot pilot VW power insures hard to beat 3V2 gph at cruise setting 15 large instruction sheets Plans - $4500 Info Pack - $400 Send check or money order to ACRO SPORT INC Box 462 Hales Corners WI 53130 414f 425-4860
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION EAA
ANTIQUEmiddot CLASSIC lAC WARBIRDS
UL TRALIGHT
bull Membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association Inc is $2500 for one year $4800 for 2 years and $6900 for 3 years All inClude 12 issues of Sport Aviation per year Junior Membership (under 19 years of age) is available at $1500 annually Family Membership is available far an additional $1000 annually
bull EAA Member - $1400 Includes ane year membership in EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airplane and membership card Applicant must be a current EAA member and must give EAA membership number
bull NonmiddotEAA Member - $2400 Includes one year membership in the EAA Antique-Classic Division 12 monthly issues of The Vintage Airp lane one year membership in the EAA and separate membership cards Sport Aviation not included
bull Membership in the International Aerobatic Club Inc is $2000 annually which includes 12 issues of Sport Aerobatics All lAC members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the Warb irds of America Inc is $2000 per year which includes a subscription to Warbirds Newsletter Warbird members are required to be members of EAA
bull Membership in the EAA Ultralight Assn is $2500 per year which includes the Ultralight publication ($150 additionalfor Sport Aviation magazine) For current EAA members only $1500 which includes UltralIght publIcatIon
bull FOREIGN MEMBERSHIPS Please submit your remillance with a check or draft drawn on a United States bank payable in United States dollars or an international postal money order similarly drawn
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
PO BOX 229 - HALES CORNERS WI 53130 - PHONE (414) 425-4860 OFFICE HOURS 830 - 500 MONDAY-FRIDAY
VINTAGE AIRPLANE 23
