Charlie's Corner

     Our new Chapter year got off to a good start with the January meeting devoted to reports and updates on the status of some of our Chapter member's projects.

      Berry Bannon brought part of the tail structure of his Kit Fox Outback and reported that his kit is going together nicely with only a few glitches. Altho not definitely committed, he is looking at the idea of a Corvair conversion for power.

     I (Charlie Gokey) brought some pix, the plans for my Ultra Sky Scout, nee Ultra Piet, and drawings for the 1/2 VW engine conversion..The little bird is complete (except for, as they say, the little details that take up 90% of the time) and the 1/2 VW is complete and on test stand.

     Bruce Edsten is still in the dreaming stage but is leaning strongly towards a Hatz biplane. He has acquired the Vari Eze, built by our late Chapter member, John Collon, and is hoping that, after a little refurbishing, the O-200 from the Vari- Eze will be suitable for the Hatz.

     Gary Graham reported that the airframe of his Titan II is complete, the Jabiru engine is installed and has been run. Decent weather, that allows painting of the wing, is all he needs to be flying by summer !

     Our new Chapter President, Tom Hubbuch, is building a Sonerai II and is well on his way to completion of the wings, flaps and ailerons. At the December meeting , Tom gave a demo showng and explaining how he redesigned and built his flaps converting from aluminum to composite construction. He also has decided on a Corvair engine for power and has acquired an engine ready for conversion.

     Don and Joy Jeffries "super project", a Murphy Super Rebel, is under construction in their hangar at Bowman Field. They reported completion of the empennage, skinning of one wing, and acquisition of a constant speed prop for the 260 HP IO-540 Lycoming. According to Don, completion is scheduled for Thursday, _._. 200_ !

     Dennis Martin is working on the basic airframe of an Ultravia Pelican , a Canadian designed two place, high wing with a composite fuselage and metal wing. Recently, Kolb Aircraft has acquired the distribution rights for the Pelican and is marketing it as the "Sport 600", offering "fast build" kits.. Recomended power is the Rotax 912.or 914. Dennis' project was under way before Kolb began its association with Ultravia.

     Tim O'Connor gave us an update on the 2 full scale Boeing P-26s that he is building. Tim's project has attracted considerable attention all over the US and UK with several magazine articles. He emphasizes that these are not replicas but are being built to the original factory specs and will be powered with P & W R-1340 radial engines as were those of the 30s. Both fuselages are nearing completion. He had one of his fuselages on display at OSH 2002. For a nice look at his work , go to his web page at http://www.peashooter.net/. He invited the chapter for another visit to his workshop in Mount Washington, KY.

     Lee Roberts' project is a plans built Sportsman 2 + 2 . The plans are available from Wag Aero and are based on the Piper PA - 14 Family Cruiser (circa 1948). Lee has his basic airframe well under way and explained some modifications he has made to the original design.

     Charles Wimsatt was unable to attend but he did send some details of his Tapanee Pegazair project, also a Canadian design. This is a 2 place, tube & fabric, high wing STOL powered with a Continental O-2OO. Designer claims top speed of 105 MPH and stall speed of 15 MPH !! Charles has been working on this project for the last few years and hopefully first flight is not far off.

     We didn't get a report from E. J. Schickli on the status of his Nieuport 17 but from last reports, it is 99.8 % complete and is another aircraft that we hope tio see in the air by next summer or sooner !


Charlie Gokey