The cosmetic restoration for the 120 is in full swing. Lots of sanding and lots of buffing but the time and effort is paying off. The plane is going to be a real beauty

Liz Kaiser a volunteer at the museum sands the fuselage while Drew gets ready to buff the already sanded areas.

The rear top section has been buffed now moving to the next section.

The time has finally approached where the bulldog is almost up on its own gear. Both shock struts have been fitted to both landing gears. Bushings for the pivot point have been made and installed. The only thing left to do is to trim the bottom of the gear legs and weld on the axle tubes.

The gear installed on the bulldog. Axles are next.

Shock strut attach points.

Landing gear pivot point.

This is where the axles will get welded on.

The 170 sits under the unique clouds on Dec 18, 2011

Yesterday marked the passage of 108 years of flight.  Hard to believe that manned flight has been possible for over 100 years.  When you stop and think about it from the first flight by the Wright brothers to walking on the moon... that was 66 years.  That is quite a leap in just 66 years!  In 2011 my interest still takes me back to the 1930s thru the 1950s.  Our Cessna 170 has been flying since October of 1955 and is still going strong.

Ginger, Tyler and Eric after a ride in the 170

Last weekend I gave a ride to some friends from church and explained to them that flying in a 1956 Cessna is like going back in time.  We cruised around the sky in a time machine that took us back to another time.  Tyler sat in the front with me and did a fine job of flying on his first flight in a small airplane.  Sharing our time machine is always fun!

This afternoon I made a quick flight over to Cowtown Aerocrafters to visit their T-6 project.  It is coming along nicely and the polished aluminum is really starting to shine.

T6s at Cowtown Aerocrafters

Tom polishing on the wing of the T6

Lanny starts the polishing on the other wing

So two good weekends of flying here in Texas.  Best wishes to all you vintage airplane enthusiasts, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!

This 1946 Cessna 120 purchased by Harold Hanson back in 2000 is an original airframe with fabric wings. The Engine is a C-85-12 without electrical system which keeps the airplane light and is how it came  from the factory. Our goal for this 120 is to bring the cosmetic appearance of this airplane up to the standards that everyone has come to expect at this museum.

We have removed the Stabilizer, Elevators, Fin and Rudder for some light re-skinning as there is slight damage due to hail.

With removal of all of the tail feathers and then removal of the stripe with paint stripping sanding has begun to remove all surface scratches and light oxidation on aluminum skins.

After the first cut of compound the skin is starting to shine right up. Pretty soon it will be like looking into a mirror.

A good clear view of the sanding that is being done. When we are finished the airplane will have been sanded with 800, 1000,1500,2000,2500 and 3000 grit sandpaper. Takes a toll on the fingers but the outcome is worth it.

The Pietenpol Sky Scout ailerons are finally covered and progress continues on.

Taping the ailerons.

Final shrink of the tapes.

Fabrication on the landing gear continues at a rapid pace. The day of the bulldog sitting on its own landing gear is fast approaching and will be the first time a Bulldog has been on its landing gear in 80 years.

After measuring and marking and triangulating the fuselage is ready for test fit

After Fabrication, cutting and welding the left hand gear is finished and ready for mating to fuselage.

Right hand gear installed in proper place ready for left hand gear to be mated to fuselage

Left hand gear mated to the fueslage and welded in place.

Welding of the left hand drag strut. The drag strut keeps the gear from walking fore and aft.

Forming the steel wrap plate on the left hand drag stut.

The wheel and brake assembly is a four puck from a Cessna 421 which should give the Bulldog the proper braking power and ground handling. The torque plate gets welded to the axel stub for the brake attachment.

Finished torque plates.

Tonight was the MAAG Christmas party at Savute's Italian Restaurant in Wichita.  88 people were in attendance.  The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award to Ed Merkel.  Many of Ed's friends from his distinguished career were on hand, traveling from both coasts and other parts of the U.S.

Ed was in the Air Force and also the Kansas Air National Guard.  He received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Wichita State University and designed, built, and flew his own airplane design, the Merkel Mark II Biplane. Ed's engineering career included time at Cessna, Learjet, and Boeing.

Jim Lamb from the FAA Flight Standards District Office in Wichita was on hand for the presentation, assisted by Greg Pavlish, who did much of the research and application preparation.  Don Grunke, Dick Curtis, and Al Strasser prepared letters of recommendation on various aspects of Ed's career and were also part of the presentation.  Ed's wife Bonnie and Sharon Brown did a lot of behind the scenes work to make the presentation a success.  It was fun to listen to the stories from Ed's career as told by his many friends in attendance. Congratulations Ed!

Our next MAAG event will be on Sunday, January 15 at the Stearman Cafe in Benton at 1:00 PM.  We will plan events for the remainder of the year, enjoy some good food, and do some hangar flying.  Hope to see you there.

Some of the crowd enjoying a lasagna dinner.	Lots of airplane pictures and other items covered the walls and hung from the ceiling, making this a perfect location for pilots to gather.
Jim Lamb (FAA) on left presenting the award to Ed Merkel.	Gary Pavlish says a few words.
Ed and Bonnie	The Master Pilot Award
Let them eat cake!	The Merkel Mark II Biplane Ed designed

Late Fall and Winter time can be some of the best flying days in Texas.  This past weekend our friend Jed Keck hosted us at Fort Parker Flying Field for the day in conjunction with the annual Christmas at the Old Fort celebration at historic Old Fort Parker.  Rachel and I flew the yellow '46 Taylorcraft in from Deer Pasture airfield after having to wait out low ceilings for most of the morning.  When we arrived, Leann was already there with the rest of the kids in the Suburban and also her Mom and Dad had flown in via their '39 Taylorcraft from Tick Hill Airfield.  It was a fun day with an 1800's style visit from Santa, a re-enactment of a Native American-Indian wedding ceremony, a cowboy shootout, black-smithing, glass-blowing, and other period craftsmanship.  This was my second trip to Fort Parker Flying Field.  It was certainly not the last.  In fact, we are now talking about holding a Texas Taylorcraft Fly-in there on March 31, 2012.  In addition, we are looking forward to attending the International Biplane Association's - Old Fort Biplane Music Fest (Fly-in) there on June 2, 2012.

Enjoy these photos taken by Jed Keck.

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