TALESPINNERS - July, 2003

Hangar Flying
with Stu Faber

CURRENT INFO: Do you see the EAA's weekly e-mail newsletter.  Much useful information and many links.  I don't know who or how I got on the list.  A new edition each weekend.  Maybe all members do.  ehotline@eea.org

PARIS - SAFETY. Wall St. Journal, 18 June, reports that the Paris Air Show has not drawn the usual participation, but that security has been a major consideration.  The article also points out that several general safety improvements that have been under consideration have been pushed to the back burner by costs and security issues.  Among those that had been going forward were such as: ground collision avoidance, laser detection of clear air turbulence, and high speed data communication with planes in flight to supplement shorter voice communication with air crews.

TOUGH TO FLY. General Aviation News 6 June. When EEAer, Ken Hyde, who has built a flying replica of the Wright 1911 model B was taxi testing it it accidentally took off.  He flew a couple of circles but a slip started and the wing warp control would not bring the wing up and it landed in a tree top breaking Ken's arm.  The repairs although not extensive will prevent its appearance at the Paris Air Show.  The engine, which was an original built by Charles Taylor of the Wright's shop, was not damaged.  Ken's shop also built the 1903 Flyer replica which is to be flown on Dec 17, 2003.

WASTE OF HANGAR SPACE? From GAN also. At the Gillespie County Airport at Fredricksburg TX an old hangar has been converted to a hotel finished in 1940s style including a period diner.  From here your $100 hamburger might cost more.  Other upgrading the airport has brought new business to the area.

FAA UPDATES 337 APPROVAL. GAN Also. Recently revised instructions to field offices make it easier to get 337s approved.  For revised instructions:
       FAA.gov/avr/afs/faa/8300/8300_vol2/2_001_00.pdf

THUNDERSCREECH? That was the popular name for the Thunderstreak or Republic XF-84F.  It was one of two experimental models based on the single turbine F-84.  At least it used the wings and gear with a T-tail, a fatter fuselage, and two Allison turbines delivering 7400 hp.  The engines were in the fuselage behind the cockpit with two driveshafts running on each side under the seat to a gear box for the propeller.  The prop was an Aeroproducts 3 blade with a 12 ft diameter.  The blades had a wide aspect ratio of 4:1 and turned 2100 to 3000 rpm, or about twice normal prop speed and that made the outer 1/3 of the prop run supersonic full time.  Thrust was controlled by pitch. It was so noisy it would knock unconscious anyone nearby and in line with the prop disk.  So the name.  The tower controllers hid under the desks when it took off for fear of broken glass.  Top speed was estimated at 670 mph but it was never flown above 450 as it became unstable at about 400 and it flew less than a dozen times.  The Navy was interested at first. They had a problem with prop plane's carrier landings as in last minute pull ups acceleration torque caused a left and down dive into the water, not up.  Jets took too long to spool up if about to undershoot.  But the Navy never followed up.  The F-84H is now at the Air Force Museum.  Air and Space Magazine 7/03.

FOR THE KIDS. A recent visit to Tennessee included a visit to an air show at Tullahoma which is the home of the Staggerwing club and museum, and a major aviation research facility.  On display were a mint condition B-17G, C-47, and B-25.  All, I think, from Lone Star Flight Museum at Galveston, TX.  Also a small variety of other planes and air show performers.  There was a beautiful but noisy black and silver biplane aerobatic act.  After a fast low altitude pass over the field it pulled up steeply leaving a roar like a jet.  It seemed extra fast and more powerful for a round engined plane and had a torpedo shaped thing under the belly.  Did I read somewhere that such a plane is flying with a small jet engine so mounted?  Back to the kids.  There was a squadron of 8 or 9 replica airplanes equipped with pedals for the 3 to 5 age future pilots.  A runway 9 -27 about 25 ft. long had been painted on the tarmac and a group of men in Air Force fatigues acted as crew chiefs for each as the pilots had some trouble steering the mostly rear steering tail dragger planes around the pattern.  The little planes included a stealth fighter, a P-51, several biplanes and Cubs, a Fedex cargo with tricycle gear, and others.  Very cleverly made and nicely detailed and painted little planes.  A popular addition to the show.

Copyright © 2003 by Stu Faber.  All rights reserved.