Warbird Information Exchange

Well my friend will be heading to WI to pick up his project in a couple of days. Since I am only 5 min up the road from him, I will pop in from time to time to give a hand so I will start this thread and I will take some pics of his progress. This should be pretty good as he will be doing lots of wood work.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Who's & what's & where?

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

That's great news Jeff. Thanks for helping steer John in that direction. Please pass on my congratulations to him on becoming a new Fairchild owner. He and I have been trading e-mails already on parts, so it sounds like he's going to be hitting the ground running with this project.

Scott, I'll let Jeff fill in the blanks on the new owner. I can't remember, but I think you and I talked about this project at Oshkosh this summer, if not, shoot me an e-mail and I'll give you the scoop on the aircraft.

Steve

Yep he is excited thats for sure. I laugh cause he is more worried about any tubing work then the wood stuff . He has worked on wood boats in the past so he feels that the wood part should be easy. Yea I did the leg work for him on who was out there so he can hit it running. I had mentioned you when it came for parts because he is going to need some. Bare min, some for paterns, esp that horizontal that was sold. I am a FIRM believer about owners sticking together and sharing information.

I am going to have him gimme a call when he gets ready to unload so we can get it inside and then I am sure one night next week over a couple of beers, a game plan will be discussed. I do know that he has a interest in covering one of the rudders as a fabric project so he can learn how its done. Good timing as I am about to pull the elevators off the N3N so he can follow along.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

The project that was on Barnstormers in WI. Will now be located in VT!!! Going to be pretty neat as once that is in the air.................within a 50 mi radius of BTV will be the following training aircraft.

T-6
N3N
BT-13
N2S
PT-23

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Well it arrived sat night. I got over there tonight after work. I did not have a camera to take any pics yet but since he is only 5 min from my house, it will be pretty easy to go get some.

We admired the construction and simplicity of the airplane. For me as a fan of the ship building company:) I was impressed on how well the fairchild is built. He has already taken the skin of one wing and we can still read the part numbers and some of the writings from factory workers. Now since I have never dealt with wood, it sounds more intimidating then it really seems now after looking at it.

I thought the project looked pretty good. I got to look over the tubing fuselage and there is some outer rust but just on the surface. Nothing to speak of like I have seen on the lower longeron tubes of a J-3 cub.

Now I got some questions.
I had seen that it has a Aeronca data plate and also a Fairchild data plate. Would it have had a Army Aircorps data plate also????? there is one other data plate that would be behind the pilots left shoulder but we cant read it as its so rusty.

Where do you guys order your wood????? Is it spruce????

He is also looking for a set of ailerons a horizontal and a centersection.

Thanks for the help,
I will go get some pics this weekend. I got to go say hi to the N3N before I go there so I can feel better about what I do have and not get involved with admiring another trainer:)

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Jeff,

It seems odd to me that it would have a Fairchild data tag on it along with the Aeronca one. I don't remember seeing the Fairchild tag when I looked at it earlier, just the Aeronca tag. It was built by Aeronca. Where did you see the Fairchild tag located?

Yes, it would also have an Army Air Corps data tag too, but usually they disappear as these projects get tossed around, (I hear there are people out there that collect those things). I have had to have a couple of the Air Corps data tags reproduced for some of my PT's. The important one is the manufacturer's tag, which John has. That's the one that the FAA will be looking for when re-certifying it.

As I mentioned in my PM, I have a set of ailerons here for John. Working on the horizontal stab too.

Yeah, make sure you give that N some lovin' before you go lookin' at someone else's PT. She's gonna get jealous if you don't treat her right.

Steve

Haven't been inside one of these birds, but have been at the root of many Victorian homes and buildings and it is amazing to strip the paint off and find pencil lines, notes, and drawings from the 1800's and the original builders of the home. It is very cool to connect that way. Can imagine the same with anything found inside a wooden wing.

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"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

There is the Aeronca plate behind the pilots right shoulder and then there is a place that has Fairchild on it on the right side of the instrument panel. Both have the same information as I was trying to find a Military S/N for it.

Both plates have S/N 1563 AE. What I did find neat was that the Aeronca tag has the Engine S/N stamped on it also.............Wonder what stearman that engine is pulling around Oh she will get some good lovin as always.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Jeff,

I have several Hortizontals (need rebuilt), and a center section that my father cut when he moved my fist PT project for me. The center section was cut, but is complete (needs new spars).

I will get some photos next week for you.

Laterrrr
Avn-tech

Jeff:
Is this the PT-23 project that was at Oshkosh? I looked it over and thought the spars were rebuilable. They needed new plywood webs for sure. I've rebuilt 7 sets of Fairchild PT wings now and a couple center section and some Horizontal Stabilizer repairs. I've found the indide of the spars to usuallly be in good condition it they haven't been opened to the weather. They were varnished on the inside when they were built.
I have a Flying PT-19 and another to rebuild. I also took over the FARICHILD CLUB. I can help you with information etc. My wife and I visited Mark Denest the end of October. I've know him and his dad Joe for 26 years. Mark and his crew do a wonderful job on the planes. If I can be of any help, just e-mail me at hotfoot49@hotmail.com or call 517-278-7654.

Keep 'Em Flying!

Mike

Hey Mike,

Glad to see you've joined up on WIX!

Hope you and Penny are doing well. I'll try to give you a shout later tonight.

Steve

I get my wood for my Fairchild repairs from Wicks Aircraft in Highland,IL or Aircraft Spruce

Keep 'Emflying!
Mike Kelly ,Fairchild Club

On the subject of restoring the steel parts of the PT's, can someone walk me through the process of inspecting the steel frame for damaged (i.e. rusty) tubing, and determining the need to replace tubes or splice tubes? Obviously, if there is rust through or if the metal fails a punch test, repairs are necessary, but how do you gauge how far to extend the repair? It seems to me that this is a very subjective process because there is no way to know if you found all of the bad areas.

Thanks...

The Strutrcal Repair for Army Models PT-19,23,& 26 T.O. NO. 01-115GA-3 tells what materials and how to do tubing repairs or replacement. The repairs are basicly the same as wht is found in AC 43-13.

Keep 'Em Flying!
Mike Kelly Fairchild Club.