Aeronca Wing Rebuild

The Aeronca is a classic airplane, so when it comes time to do a major repair, you want to give it more than enough TLC.  And that's what Tom Sampson is doing.  Come find out all about how you go about rebuilding an Aeronca wing.  Fascinating topic.  Keep in mind that the company has been producing planes since 1928, with the introduction of the C-2 Monoplane, or the flying bathtub.  The Scout didn't come out until 1937.  There is some history here, folks! 

    

That's the ""bathtub" on the left with a 1940 Chief on the right.  These are amazing planes and many are still around.  You're in for a treat if you can find one to fly.  These images were "borrowed" from Wikipedia.  You can find the full article HERE. 

When:  Feb 9th
Where: Tom Sampson, 16050 SW 146th Ave., Tigard, OR 97224
Time:  Social starts at 6:30 PM; Business meeting 7:00 PM; Show 'n Tell: 7:20 PM
Contact:  Bruce Rose 503-848-2228 (cell)

Driving Directions

• Driving directions from other locations can be found HERE

April 14, 2011

For April, our chapter met at the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum on the Hillsboro airport. It was a somewhat rainy evening, but a good turnout of 30-40 people braved the elements to share the opportunity to see the collection.

VP Bruce Rose MC'd the meeting, and got right down to business, once everyone had taken a few minutes at the dinner table. (Roy Thoma continues to plan and provide a consistent 'full meal' opportunity, simplifying dinner planning for our members and hosts.)

Roy Thoma covered this month's Safety Brief, addressing activities at your destination airport that you should consider in planning your own approach and landing.

There was only one announcement:

• Ron Singh mentioned the upcoming 'Hangar Night,' this time on Sunday afternoon.

Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum

With the club business covered, Bruce introduced Doug Donkel, the museum director that heads up the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum and Roger Kelsay to tell us a bit about their history and mission.

The museum was set up as a non-profit, tax-exempt, offshoot of Premier Jets to house a growing collection of military aircraft, providing restoration, display and flight, through the efforts of a team of volunteers. Their mission is to support 'living history' by restoring the aircraft to flying status and campaigning them where they can be seen by their audience. Several of the volunteers were on hand this evening to discuss their various projects, and they all spoke with enthusiasm about their trials and tribulations chasing down parts or sometimes even just information about the work before them.

    

The collection consists of several planes already restored, including:

• Polish- built MiG-17, flying since 2004;
• RAF Jet Provost Mk. 3A, flying since 2005;
• Douglas A-26C 'Invader,' built in 1945, this example was most recently performing as a fire-bomber and performed its first airshow with the museum in 2008;
• Canadair Sabre Mk. 6, was performing target-tow duty until purchased by the museum where its been on the airshow circuit since 2009;
• Fouga CM-170 'Magister,' this example was license-built in Finland in 1962, and has performed on the airshow circuit for the museum since 2008.

Three planes currently under restoration are:

• Lockheed TF-104, acquired in 2001;
• MiG-21F, acquired in 2007;
• Hawker Hunter F Mk. 51, acquired in 2009.

All-in-all the museum has an interesting collection and enthusiastic volunteers and staff. If you have, or know of anyone with, maintenance experience on either of these project planes, I know the museum folks would appreciate your contacting them. And look for them on the airshow circuit, or at HIO-hosted events like the annual Oregon International Airshow.