A UNIQUE PROJECT
"Want to learn how to skate? Fall down a hundred times."
--- Mr. Huber, an old farmer in Pennsylvania who taught me how to iceskate on his pond
Early on in the building process, we both agreed that this was going to be a very unique project (we didn't realize, however, just how unique.) And here are three reasons why...
Reason #1: WE SAVE ALL OUR RIVET DRILL-OUTS IN AN OLD JAR!
Want to build an aluminum airplane? Fill a babyfood jar full of rivet drill-outs. It worked for skating. It will work for building.
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This is an old picture. Currently, the jar is almost full, and the plane is approaching completion.
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...
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Reason #2: PARTS OF THE PLANE TRAVELED THE WORLD AND SCALED GREAT HEIGHTS!
Our first bolt and washer started at the base of the trail at 9000 feet. After 8 hours, 5,255 vertical feet and approximately 7 miles, these parts finally made it to the beautiful summit of Longs Peak (14,259 ft.) at approximately 9:30am (tucked away in a backpack.)
And look at how different they now look!
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Bolt and washer #1 make it back safe and sound to be seated in the inner-most z-bracket holding the tank to the main spar.
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Putting the bolt and washer in...
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A small "LP" shows where this one was.
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Bolt and washer #2 start their adventure at the base of Mt. Elbert at 10,010 feet MSL.
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About 5 hours and 4.3 miles later, these parts make it to the highest summit in Colorado! (14,440 ft.)
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The bolt and washer are in my hand. The nut is in the red hat.
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Ok, just a bit more proof. Since Elbert has no geological survey marker, we really weren't totally certain we had reached the summit. Later we learned that the American flag (see the right side) confirmed we had. Some people bring flags to the top; I bring airplane parts. Next challenge - how to get the propeller up to a summit... Would a constant speed guarantee me a better "climb"???
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Reason #3: MEMBERS OF THE "GREATEST GENERATIONS" HONORED US
Col. Bill Bower, B-25 Command Pilot on the Doolittle Raid
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Lt. Lynn Daker, decorated B-25 command pilot Pacific theater
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Sgt. Joe Cress, B-17 radioman, shot down on 32nd mission over Germany, Prisoner of War liberated by Russian army group led by Nikita Kruschev
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Lt. John Holst, C-47 pilot European theater
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Sgt. Major Don Long, B-29 crew chief Korean War, (also Bob Hoover's crew chief)
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