Airdrome Nieuport 17 - Florida Version

[RobW]

Originally Posted by Bookmaker

Where can I get info on the fathers day KC Dawn Patrol event?

Dawn Patrol is the Dayton event in September. The event near Kansas City is in Gardner, KS and is called "Gathering of Eagles". It always takes place on Father's day weekend. It generally is not well advertised on the internet. Here is a link to photos from 2010's event:

Gardner 2010

Gardner is located about 35 miles southwest of Kansas City, off of route 56. Small airport, no control tower. It is a very informal event. Marv Story does most of the organizing. Most of the folks who trailer aircraft, show up on Friday morning to assemble them.

Rob

[Bookmaker]

Lesson 2 in the Citabria. After a couple of stall landings, it was time to start wheel landings. I nailed the first one. After that, well, lets just say, some weren't real pretty. Some were bounce and go around, some bounced a little and saved it, some converted to 3 point and some were OK. At least the instructor never had to take it.

Wheel landings definitely require a lot more finesse. Great fun in any case.

Next time we are probably moving to asphalt.

Dale

[Dart]

w00t!

I'm real keen to keep reading about training for conventional gear, since it is my next hurdle.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by RobW

Dawn Patrol is the Dayton event in September. The event near Kansas City is in Gardner, KS and is called "Gathering of Eagles". It always takes place on Father's day weekend. It generally is not well advertised on the internet. Here is a link to photos from 2010's event:

Gardner 2010

Gardner is located about 35 miles southwest of Kansas City, off of route 56. Small airport, no control tower. It is a very informal event. Marv Story does most of the organizing. Most of the folks who trailer aircraft, show up on Friday morning to assemble them.

Rob

I think the confusion on the name lies in the fact that the guys in Kansas City (Dick Starks and friends) call themselves "The Kansas City Dawn Patrol." Yes, the even is called "Gathering of Eagles." You'll see more of the light WWI replicas (not authentic ones) there than anywhere else.

[Jeff_whitney]

Originally Posted by Bookmaker

Hank,

Yes, I considered that, and will call him to check options. Still, reality is that I don't have a lot of extra time from about mid January through April 15. Plus I have some R/C planes to repair.

BUT, I can probably squeeze in a LITTLE time

Question. What is the best way to deburr the inside of drilled holes without a deburring tool? What I have done so far, I could mostly get to the back side, but I know that will be an issue. Or should I go ahead and invest $20 and get one.

I tried out my pneumatic pop rivet gun. Man that thing is great.

Also, does what I have done so far look OK from the photos?

Dale

Dale - glad I noticed your post about this on RC Scale Builder - wish I had time, money and spce for a build like this!

FWIW, when I was in the Navy we were taught to deburr everything. Sharp edges lead to "stress cracking corrosion" - just like what brought down the DeHavialnd passenger jets.

Your work looks great, even the "little white car".

Jeff

[Bookmaker]

Thanks Jeff.

I read some on the reasons for deburring and it pretty much goes along your comments. I suspect that these planes are so slow and subjected to much less stress, and the little burrs, if any, aren't near the hazzard. That said, I have been cleaning them as much as I can. Just in case.

The car is another whole adventure that started out one Sunday morning while watching an infomercial. ".....and you too can build your own classic roadster with the tools in your garage. Just call 1-800-555-1234" Well, I made the call, and the story began. I don't drive it as much as I should. The only part that I did not assemble or rework, the automatic transmission, leaks like crazy. I bought is as a rebuilt from a transmission shop. I need to pull it and have it redone.

Back to the plane. I am looking forward to going to the AA factory in a few months. I have already made most arrangements. Currently, I am looking for a used trailer to bring all the goodies back home.

Dale

[Dart]

Hmmmm, trailers.

While admiring the ones the KC Dawn Patrol guys use, there's a bit of engineering (read cutting and welding) going on there that leaves me a bit hesitant. Last time I threw a bead was in '82. I suppose I could farm it out to my father-in-law (which would be appropriate since he's a farmer), but I'm looking hard at boat trailers.

Used bass boat trailers are pretty common and cheap here and are about the right length, and the rollers could mean taking the wing boxes off in a jiffy for storage (I intend to stand the trailer up it's butt when not in use). Plus they're designed to have the weight of a big motor on the tail end, so the CG point with the wheels should be about right.

I could whip up a tail wheel guide for over the boxes no problem - heck, they could be bolted on.

[Bookmaker]

I spoke with Robert the other evening and he is beginning to work on my kit. As mentioned above, we plan to go the Holden in May (after tax season) to spend a couple of work days there, then trailer the built and unbuilt parts home.

In the mean time, I asked Robert if he could send plans, videos, etc that I can start studying so that I can bombard him with questions when I get there.

One thing I also did was check on insurance. I darn near fainted at the first quote, then I made some inquiries and contacted Falcon Insurance through EAA and they made an estimate way more in line. I need to build up 50 tailwheel hours by the time I get the Nieuport ready to fly to help keep the cost down. I need to find someone in my area that has a Champ or Cub that can rent periodically. Paying for the plane plus instructor/owner would get kind of sporty.

I'm having a lot of fun in the Citabria. The third lesson last Sunday moved on to concrete. A little different, especially going from a 3500x50ft tree lined grass strip to a wide open brand new 10,000 ft concrete slab (KECP). Next lesson is crosswinds.

Dale

[Doc Modeler]

Dale I continue to maintain that you are having WAY too much fun.
Doc

[Bookmaker]

Doc, I do my best to break the stereotype of the nurdy CPA

Dale