Local Spokane craftsman / dentist turned airplane builder Larry Howard is at it again. Larry had finished a beautiful Laird LCB project a few years ago and has stepped back in time. Larry is scratch building an exact LeRhone-powered Sopwith Pup. As you can see from the pictures the work is truly remarkable and to a very high standard of which Larry is known for. The airplane is comprised of an endless compilation of tiny little parts that make up complex sub-assemblies. All wood parts are routed, tapered and function optimized for strength and weight savings. This airplane is more like a piano than a flying machine. Larry's LeRhone is currently at Antique Aero in Calif on the test stand being test run as we speak.

Cowl, wheels, wing spars, ribs and fuse are nearly finished. Look for this treasure in a few years possibly at Blakesburg arriving by period ground travel to protect the fly in from enemy attack. It seems Larry's skills doing root canals blind-folded for many years is paying off with tiny Sopwith do-dads and jingle sifters.

Here's the March 2012 Colorado Chapter Newsletter: Great photos, gearing up for the flying season, and the story of "Little Bit".

Dick Russell sent us a photo of his Meyers OTW with an engine conversion:

I am aware that Jim Jones and the other Greg Schildberg have brought their OTW to Antique Airfield as have I when we lived in Kansas. I have installed an engine I believe is more sustainable long term than the Warner or Kinner (Continental W670). Attached is a picture of our OTW serial # 93, here in Florida. This is licensed in Standard Category whereas the other OTW with a W670 in California is in Restricted Category. Dick Russell

Look for more information on this conversion in the next issue of the Antique Airfield Runway.

Here are some photos of the Vought V-173 "Flying Flapjack" that was rolled out from restoration last week. The aircraft is heading for the Frontiers of Flight museum in Dallas. The night shot is by Jay Miller. The other shots are by AAA National Director Joe Haynes who worked at Vought. A driving force in the restoration was AAA member Jack Brouse.

Here's the Florida Cub Flyers February 2012 newsletter.

Today we rolled our NC16591 Waco project outside for a bit of fresh air and a chance to reorganize the hanger a bit. It's been a 3 year effort and it's fun see the project looking like a new penny eager for flight. We have all the new FWF sheet metal off and out to paint. We are now finishing up the 12ea wing strut and 4ea wing root fairings. Brakes and plumbing are finished and wheel pants are mounted. We have yet to fabricate the gear leg shoulder fairings and telescoping brake fairings. These Waco's are a bit fairing-intensive as we all know. These days our Yoder and English wheel are being used almost daily. Our to-fly list is getting pretty short and May/June looks like the airplane should get some air under her wings. We plan to wring the airplane out this summer and make friends with it. My son Ryan and his wife Taryn will fly the airplane to Blakesburg for the fly on Labor day Week end. I will fly our Boeing 40C in trail and paddle as hard as I can to keep up.

Addison Pemberton