The Morane A-1 Tailcone As ‘Fantasy Of Flight Week’ Begins!

Entrance to the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City, Florida 

 ’Fantasy of Flight Week’ begins

 I was at Sun n’ Fun in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday just over a week ago, but Sunday turned out overcast and rainy so I decided to scoot on over to Polk City to the Fantasy of Flight Museum.  I’ve actually known about this museum since long before it was built, but I’d never had the chance to visit, so I was pretty pleased to finally be checking it out.

 My dad had been there several times, including just a few weeks before he passed away in January of 2009.  He was a really big fan of the Gee Bee R-2 and Delmar Benjamin, so he’d stop by anytime he could to see the amazing R-2 that Delmar flew at so many airshows thru the 90’s.

 There are many unique experiences to be had at the museum, and thru this week I’ll be sharing a wide variety of the ones I had .  I’ll start off by saying that this really is a fantastic facility that’s definitely a must-see for any avgeek.  It’s especially exciting to know that there are plans for so much more to be built here as time goes by!

 So, I've decided to start off ’Fantasy of Flight Week’ in an usual way, by looking closely at a small portion of one of the airplanes on display.  First, I love what flying represents in the form of freedom... breaking the bonds of gravity while also giving us the most amazing opportunity to see God’s creation from above.  But I’m also a fanatic about ’design’, especially as it relates to flying machines.  Sometimes the smallest details can really get me worked up.

 That’s exactly what happened when I saw the tailcone of the Morane A-1 at FoF.  Here’s an airplane built in 1918, not far from 100 years ago(!) with a tailcone execution that stirs me big time in 2010.  It’s really a very simple design, just a smooth tapering cone down to a very small point.  But it’s a pretty rare design element.  Very few airplanes carry a circular cross section all the way thru the tail surfaces, and in fact a large portion of the aircraft from that early era had square or rectangular cross sections.

     
The 'pointy' tailcone of the Morane A-1

I love this fabric covered tailcone with metal faring underneath!

 I realize there’s a fair chance you’ll think me crazy for fixating on such an insignificant part of a French built fighter aircraft from WWI, but you’ll get over it.  I spent almost half an hour looking at it and I’m ready to go back and see it again!

 Another thing I really like is that this it reminds me of an airship tailcone.  I’m a bit of an airship freak as well, so this Morane feeds that fire a little too.  Another part of my fascination comes from the fact that this tailcone is fabric covered.  Seeing the shape of the stringers as they all taper down to a point and then covered with cotton and reinforcing tape just tickles my core in a way that’s hard to describe.

 I’ll finish off my odd little obsession with a mention of just how cool that tail skid is, and the metal faring that runs all the way to the aft point underneath.  Wow, all this coolness in 1918!

 The rest of ’Fantasy of flight Week’ won’t be quite this eccentric, but it will be entertaining as there was a lot to see.  Lastly I’ll say that this would be a good time for any other 'tailcone freaks' to stand up and be counted!  Leave me a quick comment to let me know you get what I’m talking about… and if you think I'm a kook, then please move along, nothing more to see here : )

Unusual round cross-section tapering to a point

  
WWI French monoplane fighter: the Morane A-1

Video: AVweb And The Waco Classic At SNF10

 A really nice and fun video from AVweb covering the Waco Classic on display at Sun n' Fun last week.  You might also want to check out the Waco Classic post I put together recently, which includes a link directly to their nifty 360 virtual cockpit experience.

CoolPix - Homebuilt: John Moody Flying The Easy Riser At SNF10

(click pic for hi-res)

 I might be throwing a lot of new CoolPix images at you in the near future since it’s so much more interesting to see an image fill your monitor so you can get in on the details.  This ‘Homebuilts’ entry is a picture I took last Saturday morning at Sun n’ Fun of John Moody flying the Larry Mauro designed Easy Riser. 

 As I mentioned in the SNF 35 picture post from several days ago, John Moody pretty much started the ultralight movement many years ago flying a foot-launched Easy Riser up at Oshkosh.  Prior to that event, it just wasn’t really thought by the masses that a small powerplant could transform a hang glider into a self-motivating flying machine.  I just think it’s so cool to see him still flying an airplane like the Easy Riser about 35 years later!

 The large version of this image really pulls you in and lets you see details like the many cables used for bracing the airframe, the translucent wing and rudder covering, and John having fun in the morning sunshine.  It’s also interesting to ponder just how advanced this little airplane is with its biplane, swept wings and no horizontal tail.  There are even kits available for the Easy Riser which allow you to get yourself off the ground in style for not much cabbage.

 You can learn more about John and get more info on the Easy Riser kits at PioneerFlyer.com.

Pitcairn Autogiro: Sun n’ Fun 2010 Grand Champion Antique Winner!

(click pic to enlarge)

 I’m easily mesmerized by Pitcairn Autogiro’s.  Classic curves, a round engine, lots of dope, fabric and flying wires… and then there’s that graceful rotating wing overhead.  What’s not to like about this beautiful flying machine?  What a fabulous sight and sound it was at Sun n’ Fun on Saturday to experience this gorgeous red Autogiro flying in the early morning sunshine.  I caught up with it shortly after it landed and got several pictures, including the one above.  This one special aircraft alone made the whole trip to SNF worthwhile!

 I wasn’t the only one impressed by this Pitcairn restoration, it also won the Grand Champion Antique award at SNF 2010 (after getting runner-up at Oshkosh).  I wasn't at SNF long enough to see what the competition was for this award, but it would be hard to find a more impressive aircraft.  

 You can learn a lot more about Pitcairn Autogiro’s in general, and this one specifically by checking out the Blades of Glory story in the January Sport Aviation magazine online. 

 The 20’s and 30’s were the era of the Autogiro, but when true helicopters arrived on the scene, the Autogiro was quickly forgotten.  But there are few helicopters that can stir the soul like a Pitcairn.  Less than 50 were built, and only a handful remain, so it's a pretty big deal that this one is back in the air.

 In an interesting turn of events, I decided to make my first trip to the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Polk City (just down the road from SNF) on Sunday since the weather was overcast and scattered rain.  I was quite surprised to see the Pitcairn was in one of the large museum display hangars being disassembled for a truck ride back home.  It was a unique opportunity to get some pix of it as the crew carefully broke it down.  I thought it was especially cool that it was being done where it could be seen by anyone visiting the museum rather than off in private.

 This Autogiro even has a Facebook page so you can keep up with what’s going on with it.  I’m also planning to do a detailed Pitcairn post before long with more info on the interesting history of the Autogiro’s.  Hopefully by then I’ll have more specifics on this one to share.

 Also watch real soon for an extensive post with details and lots of pix from my time at the Fantasy of Flight Museum.

Main gear, wings, tail & prop already off... rotor next up in the Pitcairn disassembly

The cable-braced blades are removed one at a time

One blade headed for the trailer, 3 more to go

The Pitcairn Autogiro all buttoned up and ready for a road trip home!

35 Pix From Early Saturday At Sun n' Fun 2010

Hot air balloons got the day underway Saturday at Sun n' Fun.  Balloons are such a great morning sight, especially when they drift right over the aircraft display area!  The winds were fine, but the balloons were definitely covering some ground.

Looking to the east as they make their way down range.  Citabrias and Decathlons from the American Champion Aircraft display area.

A couple of great views of a single seat balloon that was part of the morning launch.  The colors sure look great in the morning sun, and I think he was having some serious fun!

A 350hp, 4-blade prop Skybolt in the morning sun.

The true Ultra Lights were up early... and it was fantastic to see John Moody flying this Easy Riser!  I don't remember the year, but I do remember being part of a small crowd many years ago watching him up at Oshkosh in a field away from the main activities when he made the first powered flights.  The Ultra Light movement began that evening.

I'm not up on my specifics when it comes to powered parachutes, but this was a very colorful one enjoying the morning flying.

A weight shift Ultra Light trike looking good in the sunshine, and at touch down.

A Kolb aircraft powered by a Volkswagen engine with a speed reduction unit.  It sounded great and seemed to climb really well.

 

This Fleet biplane with a military paint scheme looked so classic in the morning sun.

I had a nice time talking to the owner of this rare Call-Air airplane.  The 125hp, low wing and strut-braced taildragger definitely has a unique look.

He specifically pointed out the prop to me... it looks like wood, but it's really a metal prop PAINTED to look like wood!  Seriously, you could not tell it wasn't a wood prop - amazing paint job.  The 'metal' leading edge is all paint too.  A very cool little detail to this unusual aircraft.

 Cessna 195's and an Airmaster nestled together and looking really sharp.

Shortly after, the Airmaster taxied out.

Also had a great conversation with the owner of this beautiful Farchild 24 (he's on the right).  It's such an awesome classic design.

This big old Stinson Detroiter was great to see.  I never get tired of seeing the design and engineering of aircraft from the early age of aviation. 

 

The Pitcairn Autogiro is pretty much beyond words.  What a beautiful and amazing flying machine!  It flew early in the morning and then they were doing a little work on it here afterward.

Another rare and unusual aircraft - the Anderson Greenwood AG-14.

A Vans RV-12 LSA.

  

Little Toot homebuilt... I'm not certain, but I think this one was originally built in the early 70's.

The PiperSport LSA.

A mean screamin' machine!  Pitts Model 12.

I'm pretty sure this Commemorative Air Force Curtiss SB2C is the only one still flying.  It's fantastic to see that it's still looking great and flying regularly.

Here it is with the wings folded up.  That's a lot of airplane!

Great view of the rear seat / gunner position with all the windows opened up.

Friday Night Airshow At Sun n' Fun 2010

 Matt Younkin's Twin Beech in the evening waiting for darkness to come for him to put on his night airshow.  Several performers flew Friday night from twilight thru until pretty much completely dark.

 One of the four T-6's from the AeroShell Aerobatic Team firing up.  By the time they flew it was getting pretty dark in the east and some gentle light still off to the west.  The airplanes are well lit up and make a lot of smoke.  It's pretty cool seeing and hearing formation flying in such low light!

 The Aerostars team in their Yak 50 aircraft flying in the twilight and looking great.  The Aeroshell team flew in a darker sky and Matt Younkin's sky was basically black.  The sight and sound of the Twin Beech covered in lights and pouring out huge smoke was certainly spectacular.

 There were several other aircraft that flew in the night airshow including a sailplane and a helicopter.  I'm pretty sure this is the biggest effort by SNF to do a night airshow and it seemed to be very well attended.  I think the crowd enjoyed the wide variety of aircraft and the relaxed nature of the presentation.  The cool night air felt great, and the sliver of the Moon in the western sky was a beautiful sight.

 After a driving trip that took me exactly 24 hours elapsed time, the SNF Friday night airshow was a great way to get my first experiences of Sun n' Fun 2010.  Watch for more updates tomorrow.

AirPigz-mobile Headed For Sun n' Fun!

 It's true my little HHR Panel doesn't fly, but if you keep it pointed south long enuf, you'll wind up at Sun n' Fun!  

 At the last minute I was able to work out a way to make the trip, and I'm hoping to arrive well before Matt Younkin flies his beautiful Twin Beech in the night airshow.  I'm really looking forward to that!  If you haven't done so already, you might check out the podcast I did with Matt (and Kyle Franklin) as it gives some nice insight into their airshows.

 If things go well, I'll have some updates to post late tomorrow night and Saturday.  Between now and then, I've got LOTS of driving to do.  And hey, if you see the AirPigz-mobile on the road, be sure to honk : )

Sun-n-Fun 2009 And My Encounter With The Sbach 342

A little slice of Sun-n-Fun 09... and the Sbach 342 that I got to ride in!

 I did the math and have determined that I've slept an average of 4.25 hours a night in the preceding four days! Why? Sun-n-Fun of course!

 Too bad a lot of  those hours awake were spent 'ground bound' on I-75 covering the 1,150 miles between my house and Lakeland Linder Regional Airport!  But if you're an airplane nut like me, lots of white-line-fever and not much sleep is a pretty good trade for seeing so much aviation in one place. Plus, now more than ever is the time to be supporting any aviation event.

 I hadn't been to Sun-n-Fun since the early 80's when I had the incredible opportunity to travel there (and back) in the very rare 1936 Stinson Model A Tri-Motor.  So I was curious to see what the event was like now in 2009, and in the midst of "this economy" as so may are prone to call it.

 I'm really glad I made the trip, it was very well worth the time spent and the lack of slumber.  Especially when you make sure to dig in a bit and take in the details. If you only go to see the biggest or mostest of something, you really miss the heart and soul of events like this.

 It's the things you learn, the people you meet, or maybe even the best picture you ever took that make the experience extra special.  Even unforgettable.

 I don't know what the attendance numbers look like for 2009 compared to previous years, but I sure saw a lot of very happy people covering the grounds the time that I was there. There was a ton of cool things to see and do which translates to: if you weren't there, you should have been.

 It was especially cool to meet up with lots of people from twitter. It was like going to the event with a big pile of friends, even tho we'd never actually met before. I've never experienced an event like that before, with a lot of people to continually interact with.  I liked it.  More on that later as well as several posts with SNF details.

 My SNF highlight came from meeting Kevin Eldredge from www.sloair.com. He's is the U.S. distributor for the Sbach 300 and 342 airplanes, and he's also known for flying around in circles (really fast!) in 'Relentless', his awesome Nemesis NXT.  As for the Sbach 342, it pretty much drained my saliva glands the first time I saw it at OSH 08.

 It wasn't just the meeting him that was cool tho... it was the 15 minute rocket ride I got in the Sbach 342 that was out-of-this-world!  I'll have much more about that to come before long, including a bit of video, but right now I've got 1,150 miles of white-line-fever that's calling me back home.