Curtiss Air Sedan restoration

[JohnB]

I see on the Antique Airfield site that a Curtiss Air Sedan is under restoration at Creve Coeur, MO

In passing they say it's a former jump ship out of Washington. I tghink it's N436W, the prototype which was followed by 8 production machines.
I remember the plane from the 80s, I think it was based at Issahqua (sp?) just north of I-90, just east of Seattle.

Anyone know more?

Last edited by JohnB on Wed May 30, 2012 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

Seattle SkySport Field just north of I-90 in Issaquah is now the Pickering Shopping Mall, and Bellevue Muni now grows glass walled office buildings.

[astixjr]

JohnB,
I started a thread on The Vintage Aviation WIX forum just a few days ago. It is just below your post. Brent Taylor at AAA has emailed me some helpful info on getting the drawings and tech data from FAA storage so he probably posted something on their website about the restoration getting started. You are correct, it is N436W and it was in Washington when my father purchased it back in 1984 or 85. As I recall it was last at Snohomish maybe? Do you remember when it was up your way? We have some history back to 1945 when it was with Johnson Flying Service and some history of it as a glider tow in Seattle in the mid 1960s. Lots of info and history is missing so any help, photos, or leads would be much appreciated. I'll post some photos in my thread tomorrow.

[JohnB]

Sorry I didn't see your post. Sone information on the plane over at Antique Airfield site prompted me to ask the question.

I saw it several times 1983-84 at Issaquah. As I mentioned, the field was just off I-90 and when I drove by, I could see an old monoplane. Finally, I stopped to take a look.
I didn't know much about old civil planes at the time, but I did see "Curtiss" somehere on it (whether it was a painted name or a dataplate, I don't recall).
I assumed it was a Robin. Finally in 1987, I got Peter M. Bowers excellent Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 where on page 407 he says:
CW-15C - The prototype and eight production aircraft built under ATC 426 of June 1931 with 185 hp Curtiss Challenger engines.
Then fitted with a Wright R-760, the prototype was being used in 1977 as a jump aircraft for sport parchutists.
C/ns: 15-2001 Registration: 436W.

He illustrates the type with a photo of the new aircraft with the Curtiss engine.

A few years ago, I saw some Seattle-area old plane fans on the web...it could have been here...and asked about what became of the plane.
They said what I probably saw was a Fairchild.