Guest Post - The Top 5 Advances in Avionics

Your Comments are Invited:

The following is a short article by Philip J. Reed, titled "The Top 5 Advances in Avionics".  I have agreed to post this article, although Barnstmr's Random Aeronautics neither endorses nor intends to promote Redstone College, Cirrus, Chelton Flight Systems, or any of the companies mentioned.  The topic is intriguing to me on several levels. Increasingly, these new avionics technologies are finding their way in general aviation and in antique airplanes. And so I believe it is pertinent to the readers of Barnstmr's Random Aeronautics who primarily have interests in vintage airplanes and general aviation.

I am requesting feedback from our readers.  Please click the "Post a Comment" link below and write to tell your experience with old airplanes and avionics equipment.  Please give your opinion on the following:

1. Have you seen, flown, maintained, or noticed any of these 5 types of avionics equipment in old airplanes? If so, tell us which ones and the type of airplanes.

2. Do you think these devices (portable or installed) take anything away from the "vintage" flying experience?

3. Have you experienced an event in which one of these devices improved (or might have improved) the operational safety of the aircraft or the intended flight mission?

4. Have you experienced an event in which one of these devices caused a problem?  (anonymous responses are recommended here).

5. Which of these devices would you consider a "must" for the old airplane of your choice?  Why?

Thanks for your participation in my poll.  TLB

 Click on Article to Enlarge Image

 

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A Visit with Jerry Ferrel to see his Monocoupe

This past Saturday morning, my friend Jerry Ferrel called and invited me out to see his wonderful Monocoupe 90A, NC 11767. Jerry is 84 years old. His airplane is 76! But both are in great shape. Jerry hasn't flown the 'coupe since June this year. "Its just been to 'blame' Hot!", he exclaims! And he's right. Certainly this summer has been brutal in Texas. Its good that Jerry has a nice insulated hangar to keep his bird protected from the weather. He'll not make it to Blakesburg this year but hopes to keep flying around Central Texas this fall. Here are some photos of NC11767.

This is another one of those Central Texas airplanes restored in the mid-1980's by Stuart Holmes. Jerry has sure kept 'er in great condition.

Stuart K. Holmes: Kept 'em flyin' for 60 + years

One man stands out in my memory as an honest, hard-working, promoter of aviation. He did so in his own quiet sort of way. He wore khaki clothes and kept a serious face. A simple man of few words, Stuart K. "Stu" Holmes touched the lives of many as he lived his lifetime keeping old airplanes flying. Well... when he started, the airplanes weren't all that old. He just grew old with them.


Holmes (left) discusses aircraft restoration with John Bowden, circa 1974.

The following is a piece first researched and printed by Mr. Jerry Ferrel of Temple Texas. In some places, I have added a little more I have learned about Stu.

His Story began in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas where Stu Graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1927. His family was returning to Michigan as hard times had come to the south Texas valley. But, Stu decided to stay in Texas... a very young man now on his own.

Around that time, another young man, Frank Ray, came to the Valley. Frank had finished Army Air Corps Flying School at Kelley Field (San Antonio) in the Spring of 1927 and came to Harlengen with a new OX-powered Waco 10 to begin his business called "Valley Airways". Stu recalled about his days with Valley Airways, "Frank gave me a place to stay and in return, I helped with the ground handling of the airplane and passengers." Unfortunately after only a short time, a tragic accident brought an end to Mr. Ray's life and to Valley Airways.

So, in 1928, Stu left Harlengen with the road construction crew. He helped build some of the very first concrete highways in Texas over the next three years. Then his travels brought him back to the valley in 1931. Before long, Stu met Mr. C.W. Blackwell who had brought two Travel Air biplanes to Harlengen. Blackwell hired Stuart in October 1931 to work as a mechanic in exchange for flying time and groceries. Stu got training in a Travel Air, a Kreider Reisner KR-21, and a Curtiss Robin. By May of 1932, he had soloed a Travel Air and had earned his airframe and engine (A&E) license # 11701.

So-began Stu's long association with flying and airplane mechanic work. Through the depression years, the bachelor Holmes worked his way from the valley to Central Texas. Work was found in Corpus Christi, Palestine, and Taylor Texas working on Wacos, a Travel Air 6000, and converting Travel Air biplanes to dusters.

Left, Stu servicing a Curtiss Robin with oil.

For a time, Stu owned and flew his own airplane, a Salmson powered American Eaglet. Stu later related that the 9-cylinder French engine had trouble with carburetor ice. After several forced landings and other bouts of bad luck with the airplane, Stu ended his airplane ownership. In 1939, Stuart landed a steady job in Austin with Mr. Harry Hammel working at the Austin municipal airport maintaining Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) airplanes, including a Waco F, Fleet, and Piper J-3 Cubs.

Then in 1941, Holmes was transferred to Coleman Texas to serve as Line Chief for the U.S. Army Primary Training Program, working on Fairchild PT-19's. While in Coleman, he met Estel Doggett and they were married in 1942. The Coleman operations closed in 1943, so Stu and Estel, now expecting a child, moved back to Austin. Stuart got hired by Ragsdale Aviation, where he spent the next several years maintaining Cubs, Taylorcrafts, N3N's and other airplanes for the University of Texas' ROTC program. Stu and Estel's children were born during those years; daughter Gail first in 1943, son Kenneth in 1946, and daughter Kay in 1947.

As the war ended, Stu worked in several locations rebuilding airplanes and doing free-lance mechanic work. For more steady income, Stuart joined Industrial Generating Corp of Rockdale TX to work as a powerplant mechanic. He continued doing part time A&P work and in 1956, he and Estel became the fixed base operator and manager of the Taylor Municipal airport, Taylor TX. This became their home until 1980.

Curtiss Robin and Cessna 150 on the tarmac
Taylor Municipal Airport, Circa 1974

During those years, the Taylor Airport became a favorite spot for air travelers passing through Central Texas. An ice-cold Coca-Cola was always available, as was some fine hospitality by Stu and Estel. Many earned their private pilot's license in Stu's 1956 Champion 7EC under the flight instruction of Stuart. This included his three children. Both of their girls have their pilot's license and son Kenneth stayed in the business to become flight operations director of the Aviation Department of Texas Utilities. Just as he taught many to fly, Stuart also mentored several folks in the art of aircraft restoration. This included my dad, who has the utmost respect for this man. Stu retired from his job at the power plant in 1970 and was able to continue his passion of airplane work in Taylor for several more years. The following is a partial list of award winning antique airplanes that Stuart restored while working in Taylor.

• Luscombe 8E, owner Dave "Doc" Connolly
  
• Ryan SCW, owner Dave "Doc" Connolly
• Stinson 108-3, owner John Bowden
• Curtiss Robin C-1, owner John Bowden
• Fairchild 24G, owner Stuart and Estel Holmes

N16866 "My Fair Child", owned and restored by Stuart Holmes circa 1976

Stuart enjoyed flying his pristine Fairchild to area fly-ins. Stu enjoyed telling the story of his airplane (NC16866) which was the first 4-place built at the Fairchild factory. Many came to know Stu as a master restorer and expert in radial engines. In 1980, Stu and Estel "retired" from the Taylor FBO and moved to Burnet Texas. There Stu continued his passion and restored many radial engines in his backyard shop. He also restored two more J-3 Cubs, a Monocoupe 90A (N11767 owner, Jerry Ferrel) and completed a full-scale replica of the Williams-Texas "Temple" Monoplane (owner, Jerry Ferrel).

In the Summer of 1991, Stu became the first (or one of the first) person in the state of Texas to receive the prestigious FAA Charles Taylor - Master Mechanic's Award for serving more than 50 years as an A&E/A&P mechanic. Many of Stu's friends and colleagues joined his family to celebrate this momentous event.


Sadly, within a short time, Stu became ill and passed on from this life. A solid man of passion for flying, we know Stu is looking down on us from Heaven with a serious smile on his face and his favorite screwdriver in his hand.

- End -

My Favorite Biplane - Travel Air C-4000

My all time favorite biplane is the Travel Air model C-4000.

You can click on the "Travel Air" word above in the title to go to the Travel Air Restorer's Association Website.

Here is a really cool photo of one towing 3 gliders at one time.

Click on the photo for a larger image where you can see all three tow ropes.

Someday I want to fly a Travel Air, and my biggest dream is to restore one of my own. I have been collecting some parts but I have a long ways to go. So far, I have some rusted-out stuff and a few repairable parts. The C-4000 was the model powered by a Curtiss Challenger 185 hp engine.

I've flown as a passenger with a few friends in the past and there is nothing like open-cockpit flying. You are really in tune with the airplane when you feel every breath of wind as you zip along over the countryside. I was fortunate to have a chance to sit in the pilot's cockpit once in a Travel Air model 2000. Everything fit me just right. Ever since then, I have wanted to fly one so bad. I am sure you will see more writings about these wonderful old biplanes on here in the future. For now, that's my dream.

The timeless journey - Blakesburg 2007

Last summer, God blessed our family with a wonderful trip to a place where time stands still. I have been able a few times in my life to make the journey from Texas to Antique Airfield in the Iowa heartland (near Blakesburg). Unless you've been there before, you just can't imagine it. The place has a mystique about it that is indescribable. It's the closest I know to flight as it was years ago in a simpler age, with fewer restrictions, and with the camaraderie and spirit of goodwill among men and women of aviation. This trip was especially nice for me. Partly because it had been 17 years since my last trip there. But mostly because I got to share it with Leann, Lon, Carolyn, Travis, Hannah, and Rachel.

Leann and I flew up in Lon's '39 Taylorcraft. The first day started off a bit rocky with weather concerns all the way up through Oklahoma. We made fuel stops in Decatur TX, McAlester Oklahoma as the weather declined all the way, dodging rain showers the best way you can at 85 mph. We finally gave up the push in Vinita Oklahoma. By the time we landed, there were small Thundershowers to the east, north, and west. McDonalds' golden arches awaited us there and gave us a great place to rest while the ground crew in the family Suburban caught up with us.

Our crew arrived and helped us secure the airplane for the night and it was off to the hotel.












The next day didn't look much good at first. A line of storms was pushing through but seemed almost stalled to the north. By 1 pm we made the decision to give it a try following the highways. As it turned out the farther north and east we went, the better it looked. And before long... the days of scorching hot Texas summer were gone and we were in the most beautiful cloudless sky one can imagine. This weather held for the entire remaining time of our trip, adding to the blessing it already was. Here are some photos... including the Missouri Church pond... an enormous back-hoe used for strip-mining coal in the wetlands of Eastern Kansas... the Missouri River... and pretty soon.... Blakesburg!














Three days are barely enough. Here are just a few of the sites, including some unforgetable moments like Lon's first open cockpit ride in a Biplane.















































Starting home, though somewhat sad, was another adventure in itself. More sites of the beautiful midwest USA and fun along the way like the "Three" thicket in northern Oklahoma. We even found a new use for Lon's old stopwatch holder on the instrument panel. Max altitude for the trip was 3,500 ft. MSL. It was cooler there, but the best scenery was at 2,000 ft. A couple of stops and then we stayed the night in Adair Oklahoma with friends Jim Markle and his family who sure put on the hospitality for us. The next day... Leann traded spots with Lon who flew the rest of the trip with me. Lon's a good pilot and it was a rest for me to sit in the right seat for a change. The closer we got toward home, the realities of life set in. I needed to make it to work the next day. The weather was not cooperating. Visibility deteriorated to a point it was no longer safe to continue past Decatur TX. Luckily we have a friend there who offered a cozy spot in his hangar for the plane. Our ground crew met us a few hours later and we drove through rain to make it home. Lon and I drove back up a couple weeks later to bring the little airplane home. It was nice to have the airplane safely tucked back in at Tick Hill.

Somehow, it seems that God gave us beautiful weather and blessed us all the way for this trip. I think anyone who attended Blakesburg in 2007 would agree. Since my first trip as a kid in 1975 that place has hardly changed at all. The kids have been asking to go back this year... but we may have to miss it for 2008... we'll see.



To leave you with a touch of the feeling of Blakesburg... click on the following link to see a wonderful photo montage put together by Brent Taylor of the Antique Airplane Association. And don't forget to visit the AAA website... http://www.antiqueairfield.com/