Warbird Information Exchange

Curtiss Jenny Restoration Update (When you can't get a fix from Gary)

I found this Curtiss Jenny Restoration Blog after a friend sent me an Email http://curtissjennyrestoration.blogspot.com/ with a link from this site http://www.peachstateaero.com/dotnetnuk ... fault.aspx .I found both very interesting.

Steve

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"Any excuse is good enough if you're willing to use it!"

Liquid Cooled, V-8, partial loss oil system... SEXXXXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

Our museum's Cannuck is down for fresh fabric and some engine work. I admire anyone who would take on a scratch built Jenny project. These things have more in common with fine furniture or a grand piano than they do with most aircraft. They say if you turn a bird loose inside a Jenny's uncovered fuselage and he escapes, you are missing some wires.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

WOW! That is beautiful workmanship. That is one serious project. Lots of tiny little details that have to be done a project like that. Whew, makes my hands hurt just thinking about it.

Thanks for the link to that restoration.

Gary

That "Jenny" looks beautiful Albert...I bet it really tests your woodworking skills!

John

Not to say anything bad about the obviously beautiful wood work in that Jenny, but I have found that aircraft woodwork is often less demanding than my usual work as a finish carpenter. And believe you me I'd rather do aircraft work. Maybe it's the attitude? Or a truly cool project? Metal work scares me, but I'm (hopefully) plunging into a 50's jet rebuild soon. For anyone contemplating getting involved it's not as difficult as it looks. With a little experience and patience, anyone with the desire can do work of high quality.

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Charles Neely

Thanks John but it's more than a test for my woodworking skills. I'm about as useful as a woodpecker when it comes to this stuff. Glen Peck is the the real master craftsman at our place. I get what Charles is saying, finish carpentry work and fine furniture are probably harder to do than aircraft wood but then crown molding and nice chairs don't defy gravity on a regular basis.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Once you have been trained at something and done it a few times you tend to loose some of the respect you may have had for it. I think mechanics especially tend to under estimate there value at what ever they do. Pilots, and piloting-well that's another story!

Steve

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"Any excuse is good enough if you're willing to use it!"

I used to hang around a place called Gemco Aviation in near Philly Ohio. They rebuilt staggerwings to flight condition, and did a great deal of craftsmanship. I always thought that it was a shame to cover that up with fabric.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Some years ago at EAA they had a number of flying Jennies. It is one of my favorite planes to look at. I saw one do an airshow in California. He did a 2 turn spin from about 1000 feet and recovered above 500 feet, also a loop. It was such slow motion it could have as well been underwater.I hope to get a ride in one some day.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK