District XI Report - 2003/02

February 2003 161
THE PROJECT: At a Red Apple Flyer
banquet in February 2002, the beginnings of
the Spirit of Wenatchee project were first
brought to the attention of a group of model
airplane builders from Moses Lake. During
the May 2002 Apple Blossom festival, this
group from the Moses Lake club visited the
Spirit of Wenatchee’s Pangborn field
headquarters.
During the visit club members were able
to obtain a 1/7-scale set of plans for the
Bellanca J-2 special long-range airplane.
Team members: Bob Heikell, master
builder and flier; Frank Wright, master
craftsman and skilled carpenter; David
Knannlein, photo credits, documentation.
The first major step decided upon was to
build it bigger. The result desired was to end
up with an aircraft that would leave a lasting
impression upon those seeing it. So, after
having the plans enlarged to a full 1/4 scale,
the builders began the conversion from paper
to reality.
Frank Wright immediately began
manufacturing the wood needed from
supplies contained in his woodworking
facilities. Bob Heikell began planning his
assault on the completion of the project, with
a flying deadline of October 2002.
Once the wood was delivered, Bob began
the tedious building project. As various parts
were completed, it came time to test fit to
assure accurate final assembly when the
wings are attached to the fuselage.
This done, the mating of the various
surfaces needed to be studied, calculated,
studied again, and a plan developed to make
it true to the original Bellanca being copied.
The photographic evidence/studies
gathered on various visits to the Spirit of
Wenatchee and Century Aviation at
Pangborn Airport (which was named after
one of Miss Veedol’s famous pilots) proved
to be of immense help in the re-creation of
the original configurations and lines existing
on the original Miss Veedol.
Then the time-consuming job of covering
and preparing the assembled frame for final
original color painting took place, followed
by the installation of the radio controls. The
covering used was Dacron fabric, used by
model builders to recreate the look of fabriccovered
aircraft.
The color of the original aircraft, color
matched from a swatch of original covering
stored in the museum, was applied as
construction allowed.
One major decision to take place during
this time was the final power plant to be used
for flight. After many false starts, it was
decided to use a Zenoah G-62 two-stroke gas
engine, turning a 26 x 10-inch propeller,
hiding it behind a 1/4-scale Williams Bros
dummy Pratt & Whitney nine-cylinder
radial.
Meanwhile, master metal-bender Frank
Wright had created a splendid 1/4-scale
duplicate of the cowling as used on the
original Miss Veedol, along with a set of
handmade scale wheels and the control horns
needed to execute the pull-pull system used
on all the control surfaces of the aircraft.
The speed ring surrounding the radial
engine proved to be a unique challenge to
duplicate. A method was found, and again
the challenge met.
Finally, the big pieces fit together, the
radio gear installed, the engine tested and
mounted, all necessary equipment in place, it
was time for the engine to be test-run on the
airplane.
The test went as well as possible for the
first run. Photographs recording the event
were taken, and plans made to fly it!
AMA Associate Vice President Gene
LaFond assisted in the preflight—and the
calming of nerves—and the engine was test
run. The taxi tests were run on the beautiful
grass runway that the Red Apple Fliers
Model club maintains at its flying facility.
Gene, at the controls, made several runs
both directions on the runway, testing the
ground handling before lifting into the air
briefly to confirm the airplane will fly. True
to her design, the Bellanca performed
magnificently, to a rousing hurrah from those
gathered!
A few more tests, and into the air! The
sight was breathtaking as the orange Miss
Veedol rose as if it were the queen of the
skies.
After a sufficient shakedown flight, Gene
brought the aircraft to a perfect two-point
landing, again to rousing cheers from those
gathered—and Bob’s large sigh of relief that
his 1,000 hours of labor was again safely on
the ground!
On the next flight, after Gene took off he
handed the controls to Bob—with Gene
advising him about what to expect. Bob then
had the nerve-jangling thrill of bringing the
Miss Veedol back to earth!
The test flight over, the group scheduled
the official inaugural flight for October 5,
2002, the 71st anniversary of the Pangborn
flight from Japan to Wenatchee, Washington.
This commemorative flight took place at the
Red Apple Fliers model airplane field in East
Wenatchee.
Bob and Dave shown in one stage of the
building process.
Aircraft facts:
Wingspan: 12 feet, 51/2 inches from tip to tip
Leading to trailing edge: 21 inches
Fuselage length: 7 feet
Flying weight: 391/2 pounds
Engine: 62cc (3.8 cubic inch); 4.75
horsepower
Until next time.
Associate Vice Presidents
Darrell Anderson, 132 Fifteenth Ave NW, Great
Falls MT 59404
E-mail: [email protected]
Al Culver, Box 86, Wilder ID 83676
E-mail: [email protected]
Jerry Holcomb, 1010 NE 122nd Ave., Vancouver
WA 98684
Reeves Lippincott, 4400 Gray Wolf Dr., Wasilla
AK 99654 E-mail: [email protected]
Mike Hazel, 1073 Windemere Dr. NW, Salem OR
97304 E-mail: [email protected]
Gene LaFond, 840 Stevens St. Wenatchee WA.
98801 E-mail: [email protected]
Richard Snaer, 781 Lillooet Ct., LaConner WA
98257
Chick Young, 7411 154 Ave. E. #14, Sumner WA
98390
Frequency Coordinator
Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA (509) 299-5102
District XI Report
Alaska / Idaho / Montana / Oregon / Washington
Bruce Nelson
Vice President
807 E. Vicksburg St.,
Spokane WA 99208
[email protected]
Day Tel.: (509) 326-3635
Day Fax: (509) 327-3867
Eve. Tel./Fax: (509) 467-1852
Cell: (509) 953-4418
Web page:
http://www.olywa.com/yosemiteflash/xiama.htm
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