Here's the January 2012 edition of the Florida Antique Biplane Association's newsletter.

Mark Zilinsky in Naperville, IL sent some photos of the latest progress on the Bird Model A project in their shop:

This is the first time it has been assembled and everything seemed to fit together very well. The sheet metal is being worked on now and the OXX-6 should be back from the machine shop after the first of the year. We are looking for a set of 30X5 wheels and a couple of OXX-6 cylinders. There are more pictures on chandelleaero.com. I’ll keep you updated as the project progresses. Have a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Mark Zilinsky

Addison Pemberton has jumped in headfirst and bought a Goose project. Here's the story:

With the Wonderful Waco project coming to an end Wendy always gets antsy about seeing me go crazy with a lack of airplane projects, this will be project #19 for us. So what better project than a fuel sucking monster that I am not qualified to fly? Sounds perfect!!

I still remember a trip to Catalina Island in 1964 when I was 10 years old like yesterday. My dear Mom took us all to Avalon from San Pedro by Goose in 1964. When we touched the water and came off the step at Pebbly Beech the emergency exit door I was sitting next to fell off and we got totally drenched. Water landings and take offs in a Goose are extremely dramatic. I remember my Dad got to sit in the co-pilot seat and the pilot was 10 feet tall looked just like Clark Gable.

Pemberton and Sons now owns N95467 sn 1161 a 1942 JRF-6B (G21A) Grumman Goose. Like all old airplanes its history and story will be fun to learn. This airplane went to England and flew with the British during WW 2. Maybe it even picked up a bomber crew or Spitfire pilot from the channel who knows? It will be fun to find out.

This is a project a with a very very straight and corrosion free airframe, new center section, keel and nose. Two zero time R985’s and props will need overhaul again as they have been sitting for 18 years. The airplane is mostly complete with all the primary controls systems installed but lacking electrical, fuel, oil and other systems.

Our Goose disassembly trip in December went perfect. We were very impressed with the airframe and find the structural integrity sound. The center section is new and it has never had fuel in it. I do not think the airplane has been in the water after all the nose and keel repairs were done. Station 29 was free of any damage or corrosion. It looks as if all the repair work done to date was to a high standard. The airplane was within 1/2" cross check from wing tip to tail listed in the Grumman repair manual . We also found the wheel track and alignment with in tolerances.

As you can see in attached pictures we were able to remove the FWF's, outer wing panels and the tail group and bring all but the center section fuse and wing panels back to Spokane this week. I will move the rest of the airplane to Spokane in March. The engine mounts slipped smoothly from the firewalls.

Our goal is to bring this great airplane back to life over the next 3-4 years and try to learn to fly the beast. At his point I am unqualified to fly the aircraft but feel that even at 57 I am still teachable. If not I am sure my boys are and I can sit in the back when flying then sit in the left seat on the ground when the engines are shut down on the ground and make airplane noises if they let me.

If all works out we plan to fill the airplane full of grand kids for swimming trips to local lakes and many adventures with dear friends. It is fun at my age to still get excited about a new dream and goal. Our biggest Goose fan was my dear wife Wendy who is already buying up water wings and rubber pool toys for our future adventures. I think 300-500 hours would look good in my log book before I depart the pattern to the west for my last flight. I think there are biplanes and seaplane in heaven right??

Mike Weeden, based at Brodhead, WI, sent some photos and background on his Stinson 10A when renewing membership in the AAA:

Robert asked for some information about my Stinson. I found it in southern Minnesota in 2009. It is serial #8018 NC34618. The previous owner is the late Tom Mengis of Mabel MN. He put a Lycoming O235 on it years ago. The firewall forward more resembles a PA-12 than the original 10A Franklin 90. Vi Kapler covered it in the late 70s and the fabric and finish has held up well. I finished the Cleveland brake conversion last year and have checked out a couple friends and family in it. My Dad, Dick Weeden has not flown much since he sold the Rearwin and no longer seeks a medical but if they extend the Drivers License medical to Recreational privileges as rumored, he will probably fly it some as it is easier to get into and I believe flies a bit nicer for cross country than the Sportster. It is in need of some interior work and some repainting of the sheet metal but otherwise in good shape. The logbooks seem to indicate some conscripted military history in 1942 and 1943 and some correspondence in the records claims of patrol history off Corpus Christi. I'm still trying to verify that from another source. I have included some pictures of it here at Brodhead.

Mike Weeden

Chuck Doyle sent us a sampling of the Dakota Territory Air Museum's main hangar, after installing his replica Curtiss Pusher for display.

Colorado Chapter January 2012 Newsletter	Texas Chapter January 2012 Newsletter
Florida Antique Biplane Association December 2011 Newsletter	Florida Cub Flyers December 2011 Newsletter

See all the chapter newsletters.

Also, the Arizona Chapter would like to remind you of the season-opening Cactus Fly-in coming soon March 2nd and 3rd: