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First Flights
Bart Smith's Schreder RS-15 Sailplane N25133
Bart
is a long time member of the Chapter. His homebuilt Schreder RS-15 sailplane
(N25133) pictured here was one of the early homebuilt projects completed
and flown by a Chapter 55 member.
In September 1970, Bart flew the company twin to the Schweitzer Factory at Elmira, New York to get his Glider Rating. While there, he was in a gaggle with a Schreder HP-14 and very impressed by its appearance and performance. Shortly thereafter, Bart visited Dick Schreder in Bryan, Ohio, to view his new design, the RS-15, and to learn how to rivet.
Actual building
of his project started at home in 1972. The sailplane and trailer were
completed by Bart in June, 1981 (long before the chapter had a website
to feature our member's achievements).
Bart tells us that his most memorable flight, without a doubt, was the
first flight. "During the night a mud-dauber hornet had filled
my pitot tube and I was at about fifty feet on tow before I realized
I had no airspeed indications. We proceeded on up to three thousand
for release and I learned a lot about the feel of the ship on the way
down. Most homebuilders agree the euphoria of the first flight is their
greatest aviation experience."
The aircraft was based at Ionia Airport from June 1981 thru May 1990.
(They had aero-tow service there.)
The sailplane soars the skies of New Jersey to this day.
Gregg Cornell's Glasair Super-IIS N434GC
Gregg Cornell's
10-year Glasair Super-IIS project came to a climax when the experimental
aircraft, N434GC, made it's maiden flight this past Saturday morning,
April 24th, at approximately 8:00am.
Gregg had this to say, "It flew beautifully. I climbed out at about
160, there were no trim problems but I cut the flight short because
engine cooling at higher power settings was not what I expected. Next
step is a baffle modification and then more flights next week. The first
picture is liftoff, the second is approaching the flare and the last
two are post flight back at the hanger. The champagne tasted very good
after 10 years of work!!!
Lift Off!
Approaching The Flare
Thumbs Up to a
Successful Flight!
A Toast to an
Exciting
Beginning
Dave & Debbie Groh's PT-17
Dave
and Debbie Groh of Mason, MI are finally reaping the rewards with their
PT-17 after a 5 year restoration. Purchased in 1996, this is the product
of many leftover parts from another restoration. Debbie described it
as "lots of pieces, nothing whole." In fact there was enough
extra parts that Dave was able to sell enough to recoup over half of
their initial investment.
With the help of blueprints from the Smithsonian Institute, the Grohs
were able to begin their project. They built two sets of wings over
three winters. Through an assembly line like multiple jig build up,
they were able to make a wing rib every thirty minutes. After purchasing
numerous other parts with not very good product control from some vendors,
they decided just to make the parts that they needed, including the
seats and fuselage center section and all new sheet metal to name just
a few.
Dave and Debbie acknowledge the difficulty in undertaking such a project.
They recommend that one needs a vision of the completed project while
working to such a goal, or else it is just too overwhelming. Having
help and encouragement from one another also helps. Dave counts many
times when he would just have to walk away from his work, sleep on the
answer to a problem, and just sticking to it to completion.
Great job Dave and Debbie! Congratulations!
George Moore's Therapy
First Flight - October 8th, 2001
For a little
more than two years, we watched as George
Moore labored to build and prepare for flight a KIS, which is an
all fiberglass, two-place airplane. He worked long hours, often in cold
and damp weather, to complete the thousands of details it takes put
an airplane together. George chose to install a Subaru Legacy 2.2 liter
auto engine of 135 hp, and utilized an Eggenfellner reduction drive
with a Prince propeller. Installing the engine, and making sure that
all of its systems were properly installed and operating, was a major
challenge. George prepared himself and the airplane very well prior
to first flight, which was completely successful, including a picture
perfect first landing.
“Hi. I’m George Moore,
the builder of N6382G, which has been named ‘Therapy’. The
name was conceived after my wife, and love of my life, Mary, died of
a brain aneurysm in 1980. My grief was very long. I knew I needed a
project that would absorb my complete attention and building an airplane
would certainly do that for me. And so, still stricken with grief, I
plunged into building a Polywagen with a Revmaster engine. However,
my building was not as strong as my need for social contact with other
human beings. In spite of dating various women, nothing seemed to click.
My son, Craig, and I decided to move to North Carolina, near Chapel
Hill. I moved the Polywagen project with us where I continued half-heatedly
to build in between church activities and a singles group.”
“I ended up having surgery for a long term ear infection. The surgery very likely saved my life, as the infection had taken out a large portion of my mastoid bone. I ran out of money so I sold the Polywagen project and Craig and I moved back to Michigan.”