Vintage AirMail Newsletter - The adventure lives on...
Geoff Says…

Geoff Robison photo

Welcome back to the EAA Vintage Aircraft Association’s Vintage Air-Mail e-Newsletter!

I am very pleased to report that the Oshkosh 2015 event has generated an unprecedented number of messages to my email box from our Members and guests who were in attendance!
I am ashamed to also report that I am still working toward responding to each and every one of these emails.

Some of the responses to these good questions can take a serious amount of time to articulate a full answer to the Members or guests who have taken the time to share their ideas and or concerns about what they observed while in the Vintage area.

So if you are one of the few who are still awaiting my response, please be assured that it’s coming soon! I think it’s great that so many of our Members and Guests are comfortable in speaking up and sharing your thoughts, so please keep the mail coming because I find it very helpful in my communications with EAA and the VAA Board on all matters relevant to our Convention.

One of the primary questions I hear a lot is regarding the dwindling number of antique aircraft that come to EAA Oshkosh each year. As most of you are aware in years past we would see as many as 100 + Antiques in the Antique parking area.

Then one day many years ago the Airport decided that an additional taxiway was needed to accommodate one of the local aircraft shops on the field. Apparently, little or no consideration was given to the fact that this new Taxiway would eliminate our opportunity to land Antique aircraft in the grass between the runway and the taxiway along runway 18 / 36!

Long story short, we were subsequently allowed to land on the grass between the ILS shacks south of the approach to runway 18 / 36. Well then a few years ago (just when this new grass runway was finally getting pretty smooth) we were informed that this area would no longer be available to operate on because of concerns for safety

So, we currently find ourselves in negotiations with the Airport Authorities and the FAA to get them to approve a new grass strip area where we can safely operate our Antique aircraft on. To date, these talks have been mostly positive, and EAA, Airport Management, and the VAA are committed to resolving this issue! We will keep you posted on our progress!

The Vintage Aircraft Board of Directors is scheduled to meet in early November.
Topics for discussion are many! We will take a full measure of finances and make a number of decisions accordingly! We will be discussing our 2016 Hall of Fame Nominees and making recommendations to the Board on who the 2016 Nominee should be!

The full Board will also be attending the Hall of Fame Dinner and celebration of our 2015 nominee, the late Dale “Gus” Gustafson, along with all of the other Nominees by our other EAA Divisions! This is always a grand affair enjoyed by many of our Members and their families.

I just heard today that the 2015 Wright Memorial Dinner is scheduled for Friday December 11 in the AirVenture Museum. I was very excited to learn that the guest speaker this year is Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of Charles Lindbergh. Tickets are limited and will soon be available online through the EAA website. This will be an event that you will not want to miss out on! I hope to see you there!

Always remember, we are better together! Share your passion for Vintage Aircraft at every opportunity.

It is never too early to begin your planning to attend the “World’s Greatest Aviation Event”.

Thanks for being a Member, and we hope to see you all at AirVenture Oshkosh 2016, July 25 thru the 31.

Yes, the adventure lives on!

Geoff Robison

President, EAA Vintage Aircraft Association
EAA Life Member 268346
VAA Life Member 12606

In This Issue:

Dale Gustafson to Receive Posthumous Induction into Vintage Hall of Fame

Dale GustafsonThe late Dale “Gus” Gustafson, a 53-year EAA member who was involved in vintage aircraft activities for more than 42 years, has been selected by the Vintage Aircraft Association as the 2015 inductee to the VAA Hall of Fame. Dale will be inducted posthumously during the annual EAA Hall of Fame induction banquet on November 5, 2015.

Gus passed away in July 2014, bringing to a close a long passion for aviation, particularly vintage aircraft. Prior to his death, he had been an Antique/Classic and Vintage Aircraft Association board member. He served as VAA’s chief judge at AirVenture for more than 40 years… (read more)

AIRPORT ACTION: EAA Chapter 690

Dwayne Huff photoThis very active chapter is located in Lawrenceville, Georgia, just to the northeast of Atlanta. The chapter celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. It is one of the most dynamic EAA chapters in the country. Chapter 690 is one of the largest in the nation with over 250 members currently. A pancake breakfast takes place on the first Saturday of every month and includes a program following the fellowship and eating. A business meeting and program take place on the second Friday of each month.

690 hangar photoIn 1995 the chapter secured a land lease from the local county and undertook a project to build eight 50×60 hangars. Seven of those hangars were built and funded by individual chapter members and the eighth was built to house the chapter. Over the years additions and improvements were made including a full kitchen for the chapter’s many social activities… (read more)

Support Vintage Sponsors

For many years at AirVenture several vendor advertisers have stepped forward to provide additional financial support to benefit Vintage members and guests.

This year our Pilot Welcome Packets, Vintage Forums, Volunteer Hats and Mass Arrival Pilot Plaques were all provided with the generous help of Univair, B & C Specialty Products, Poly-Fiber, and Radial Engines Ltd.

Sponsor Logos

These folks deserve our support. If you use their products or services let them know you are a Vintage member and thank them for their support of Vintage. (see more)

October Mystery Airplane

October Mystery Plane

This unusual design appeared in the mid-thirties.

When sending replies please disclose as much information as possible about the aircraft’s development, specs, performance and history.

Click here or on the image above to view full size, to submit an answer, and to see our past mystery airplanes.

August Mystery Solved

August Answer

As expected The August Mystery Plane was not difficult for our members to identify. Bradford Payne, who submitted a correct answer wrote,

The aircraft in question is a Langley 2-4 Twin. The Langley Aircraft Corporation was named for aviation pioneer, Samuel Langley, and was based in Long Island, NY. The Langley Twin was designed by Arthur Draper and Martin Jensen, and two prototypes were constructed in 1940.They were constructed of non-strategic materials (primarily mahogany plywood molded plastic), and could hold up to four people.

The picture appears to be the first aircraft (NX29099), and it was originally powered with two 65 hp Franklin 4AC engines. The final fate of this airplane is unknown. The second prototype (NS1706) was powered by 90 hp engines, and it was purchased by the U.S. Navy as the XNL-1. The airplane survived the war and was sold as surplus. In 1965 it was totaled in an accident, but parts were mated to a Stinson 108 fuselage to create the one-off twin engine homebuilt Pierce Arrow (N6622A). The Langley Aircraft Corporation went out of business in 1941. (read more)

Tech Tips: Aircraft Plywood

Ron Exalendar PhotoUpon examining the problems associated with selecting wood for use in your airplane, it is apparent that you must become familiar with how to properly inspect wood prior to installation.

The previous articles provide an in-depth look at the types of wood you can use, the common defects found in these types of wood, and how to properly inspect the wood.

Military Specification 6073 is presented and discussed as it relates to Sitka spruce. The articles suggest that you should purchase wood from a reputable kit manufacturer or aircraft supplier—one that further inspects lumber prior to shipment. Most of these companies complete a final inspection for obvious defects before shipping the order to you—the end user. Several of them will even do testing on samples of wood. Let’s take a look at aircraft plywood… (read more)

EAA Vintage Aircraft Insurance

Antique, classic, and contemporary aircraft are a special class of aircraft. EAA Insurance Solutions has specific solutions for Vintage Aircraft Association Members. (learn more)

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