Warbird Information Exchange

Thanks again, Peter! As for "my best side", I've usually found the best portraits of me are those in which there is some solid object in the way!

Eric, I'm not planning any ski-flying this winter, but your photo of us in the 185-on-skis on the cover of Canadian Aviator looks great!

Jim, yeah, I would think PT-23 and PT-26 would be interchangeable from the insurance point of view, but you never know how those guys, non-pilot, think.

Dave

Thanks Dave. Peter we will have to get together in the spring for some shooting.

It looks like Orillia is having another Ski-In on February 20th so I plan to attend. Hopefully the Lake will be frozen enough to use. That was fun last year.








Eric

_________________
The air resounds from the Rolls-Royce roar!
To an enemy the warning is dire: here only eagles soar,
and the last thing he'll see is a mirrored Spitfire!

A month or so ago Dave Hadfield graciously took some pictures of his restored instrument panel on his Fairchild 24 with measurements and emailed them to me. I have some old instruments that I wanted to mount into a panel. I wanted to find a Fairchild 24 panel but had no luck in doing so. I ended up making my own. This finished panel would be the sub-panel that would be mounted behind a cosmetic close out panel. The close out panel would cover instrument mounting screws etc. I used two different hole saws and made quite the mess in my kitchen with the metal shavings flying around. I'm making a second one that has a more consistent edge spacing between instruments. I'm sure you're thinking, "This guy's not married. How could he get away with that in his kitchen?" You would be right on the former. Right now, as I type this I have a U-3160-5 oil cooler sitting in my sink with a white vinegar solution and salt mixture that is helping to remove oxidation. This activity is replacing Monday Night Football.

Jim

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s184 ... Panel1.jpg

Jim's panel looks great. "Monday Night Fairchild" sure beats the heck out of "Monday Night Football". (And thanks, Jim, for the info about my faulty CHT sensor.)

Got airborne for the first time in 2010 the other day. Beautiful spring day under a huge great "H" on the weather map.

I nearly killed myself falling on the glare ice under the eaves around the hangar, but got EKC out of the hangar, and positioned amongst the snowbanks. The strip wasn't maintained this winter, so I had to judge the condition of the snow on it with some care. I find the best way to evaluate an unpaved strip is to walk it -- in shoes. If there's mud or water, and your feet get wet, the flight-operation needs modification!



Still-snowy landscape. (Over the Minesing Swamp, Georgian Bay of Lake Huron in the distance.)



While in flight, I noticed an inspection ring under the wing half-loose, so I landed at Edenvale to secure it.



The fact that the coffee is good, and the chocolate cake is better, was pure coincidence.

In flight, oil temps are a problem in winter. The Warner 185 in EKC has an oil cooler, so I have to mask it off depending on OATs, starting at about 10C. I made a metal shield fitting for the cooler intake, got it approved by Stan the AME, and have 4 holes drilled in it. I mask off whichever number of holes seem appropriate for the day's forecast. (I guessed it almost right for the day. My cruise oil temp target is 65C.)





Had a lovely, lazy flight home. The Warner started well both times (I'm not retarding the spark as much these days, and having better luck cold and hot), and purrrr-ed with that wonderful radial-engine smoothness. Man, I wish there were more of these engines surviving!

The strip had softened as the snow started to melt by mid-afternoon, and I had to be sure to 3-point it, but the Fairchild is designed for that sort of thing. The only wrinkle with it is the wide-spread gear: if one wheel goes into some mud, and the other doesn't, you can get a substantial yaw/pull in one direction irrespective of the wind. One's feet have to be alert.

The first flight after a winter lay-up is a very gratifyiing thing...



Dave

Looks like from the read you had a good day and good flight. Looking at the pictures with snow on the ground I had to put a jacket on. It's severe clear in northern California right now with a bit of wind. That could change. Glad you were able to drag the bird out.

Jim

As you can see from the instrument panel, the CHT has finally quit. It's been erratic for a while. I got a good look at the back of the gauge, and it's a 2-ohm unit.

Anyone know where I can get a spare sensor and lead? It's an under-the-plug installation, of course. The sensor and wire is totally crudded-up, quite old.

Dave

Dave,
I sent you a PM.
Jim

Hey, I picked up the magazine today. The airplane looks great! I'm going to take a small kidding at work over "my flying skills", but overall I enjoyed it. And Robin is very proud!

Dave

Attempted aviation yesterday, and the engine wouldn't start. The prop would hardly turn over. "Just a low battery," I thought. So we pushed her back intoo the hangar again, opened up the cowls and put the charger on her. But I peered into the battery box and saw some greenish powder, and realized some corrosion was in evidence. So, opened up, said, "Yechhh!", and cleaned and tightened the leads. Then an hour's charge and she fired up at the first stroke.

Lovely, perfect, blue-sky Sunday. Light winds, 20C, and a smooth-running machine. Went to Edenvale for a late lunch (nice new restaurant there), then back up for a Tour, followed by Spring Cleaning at the home strip.



The other airplane, a fine old straight-tail C-172 flown by the airfield owners Kim and Sylvia Murphy, and EKC both got a good bath, removing a winter's worth of hangar dust and grime.



Dave

Not exactly a Fairchild, but I did some post-maintenance test flights at VWC yesterday. Got the 1929 Waco CTO in the air after cylinder replacement. Also flew the P-40. Here are photos of the Waco, but unfortunately I was too busy during the P-40 flight to take any pictures.

Before picture:



After picture -- still one piece! (Landed after a short flight to look for leaks.) The tapered wings show well from this angle.



Happy mechanic! Way to go, Paul!



Dave

Put 4 hours on the airplane yesterday. Attended the Toronto/Downsview "Wings and Wheels Heritage Festival". (It was fun to penetrate Toronto's airspace, and land in the middle of the city, with nothing but a hand-held ICOM, and no transponder!)

Joined the display line.



And shared it with some rather exotic types....



Then had to leave. Ferried up to Edenvale and took some guests from the UK up flying. They quite enjoyed it -- called it an Argus.



Hot day, for May: about 30C. The Warner ran well, considering, but the oil ran about 10C warmer than normal, up to 75C. I started the engine 6 times with no problems -- seem to have that problem sorted-out.

More of Airic's photos at http://www.airic.ca/html/2010wwhfsunday.html

Dave

Hey Dave,

It was great seeing you yesterday. It was a slower event then usual but I still came away with a nice selection of images. Thanks for the plug, I was just getting around to looking at WIX updates now.

Cheers,

Eric

_________________
The air resounds from the Rolls-Royce roar!
To an enemy the warning is dire: here only eagles soar,
and the last thing he'll see is a mirrored Spitfire!

Had 3 days off, and the forecast was good, so I took the Fairchild to Ottawa (Gatineau) to do some flying for Vintage Wings. Lovely trip there. Had a tailwind and the Warner hummed away. (I could have taken airlines, but the 3-day mid-week car rental would've run to more than gas in the Fairchild -- and the airplane is a lot more fun.)

We picketed outside so as to avoid disturbing the flow of airplanes into and out of the hangar. (And on the taxiway -- this F-86 has been performing steadily lately.)



Then the Lysander, after a wonderful resoration, was towed out for it's first taste of freedom. It didn't get airborne, but it started, ran, and taxied on it's own. (Still a few snags to clear up. Close, though.)



Here's a line-up you don't see every day. The Corsair was going up for practise display work. (Radials rule!)

First job was to put some time on the Waco CTO, breaking-in the new engine (Wright R-760-8).



I went up with a volunteer, and toured the Ottawa River as far as Montibello, enjoying the fine spring day.



The aircraft has been polished until it shines and sparkles...



Fine trip, in good company.