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. I kept falling down and I learned to skate. We kept adding drill-outs to the jar and the plane took shape.

This is an old picture. Currently, the jar is almost full, and the plane is approaching completion.

The jar is now full (actually it overflowed). And, we are now flying the plane. ...


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!

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.

Putting the bolt and washer in...

A small "LP" shows where this one was.

Bolt and washer #2 start their adventure at the base of Mt. Elbert at 10,010 feet MSL.

About 5 hours and 4.3 miles later, these parts make it to the highest summit in Colorado! (14,440 ft.)

The bolt and washer are in my hand. The nut is in the red hat.

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"???


Reason #3: MEMBERS OF THE "GREATEST GENERATIONS" HONORED US


This is Joaquin "Jack" Moreno.

Jack was a BAR-man (Browning Automatic Rifle),
a sniper, and a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge.

After putting in a few rivets in the engine compartment, Jack signs the plans.

Col. Bill Bower, B-25 Command Pilot on the Doolittle Raid, and a man with a great sense of humor. We had a brunch and, of course, a few drinks including some special Scotch, when the WW2 men put in the rivets. A few weeks later, Bill remarked to a mutual friend, "I don't remember the rivets, but I do remember the Scotch."

Lt. Lynn Daker, decorated B-25 command pilot Pacific theater. A true gentleman who last year was able to return to the site where he was shot down on a straifing raid in the South Pacific. They located the B-25's engines in the water but the major aluminum pieces were long-ago salvaged by the natives.

Sgt. Joe Cress, B-17 radioman, shot down on 32nd mission over Germany, Prisoner of War liberated by Russian army group led by Nikita Khrushchev. Joe and Lynn are no longed with us, but a recent story by Joe's daughter says a lot about the man. Joe was flying from Denver to visit family after the 911 attack. Someone asked him if he was uncomfortable flying with what had happened. "After what I've been through, nothing can scare me away from flying."

Capt. John Holst, C-47 pilot European theater, P-40 Pilot, and Army Air Corps Flight Instructor. Tells about his check-out in the single-seat P-40; "They told me to familiarize myself with the controls, they blindfolded me, then asked Where's the throttle, where's the ..., then said, You're ready, Go fly it."

Sgt. Major Don Long, B-29 crew chief Korean War, (also Bob Hoover's crew chief) A man who was a continuing help on this project and who always spoke with fondness for the "Gooney Bird", his favorite airplane.