1935 Sportster S/N 403, N-14485 Now Back in the Air

by Tom Weston

Been meaning to get a short history of N14485 to you for your use. The airplane has been a lot of fun to fly and it turns a lot of heads at the various Fly-Ins here on the west coast.

N14485 is a Rearwin 7000 'Sportster' built in 1935, serial number 403 and built under the ATC number 574. It is pulled along with a LeBlond 5DE 70 h.p. engine. I have all the log books from day one when she made her maiden fly away from Kansas City, June 22, 1935. N14485 was originally owned by a G.A. Berting of Galion, Ohio and has had several owners since then. Bill Hazelton of South Bend, Indiana acquired N14485 as a project in 1962 and spent two years restoring it to its present day condition. Right after he had her flying again the logs show an appearance at Ottumwa, Iowa in September 1964. In 1970, the aircraft was donated to the EAA Foundation at Hales Corner and was later flown to Oshkosh, Wisconsin where it sat on display and later in dusty corners of the Pioneer hangar.

Early in 1994, I was perusing my latest issue of Trade-A-Plane and noticed an ad for a Rearwin project and decided to call the phone number for information. It turned out that EAA was selling excess aircraft from its inventory and would be accepting sealed bids for several aircraft. A friend of mine with a Rearwin helped me put together a bid for a project we knew noting about but hoped for the best. In late March, I received a phone call from Oshkosh saying I was the lucky bidder on the aircraft. I immediately thought, what the hell have I gotten myself into this time!

In April of 1994, 1 took time off from work, flew to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and rented the biggest Budget rental truck available. I drove to Oshkosh and proceeded to hang the wings and tail feathers on the walls and anchor the fuselage to the floor of the truck. It looked like a massive spider web inside that rig. After a drive of 2100 miles, N14485 arrived at her new home in Olympia, Washington.

With the help of my mechanic/IA friend, I spent about 4 months refurbishing the airframe and stuck valves in the engine. With the help of Brent and Bob Taylor I was able to get a new valve. Thanks to Bill Hazelton's notes I was able to get the Randolph dope color he used in 1964. The top of the wings were a bit bleached but one coat brought them right back to looking great. On August 17, 1994, N14485 flew again!! I have enjoyed taking her to many Fly-Ins in our area and everyone thoroughly enjoys examining her. The aircraft has accumulated just over 500 hours TT. Not bad for a 62 year old aircraft.

The 24 years sitting in Oshkosh did take its toll. I was checking the gas and filling up the oil tank at every stop. During the winter of 95/96 I did a top overhaul and put in new rings. Viola!! I had 70 horses back and oil consumption was back to normal for an old round engine.

Right after the transfer of registration was complete in Oklahoma City in 1994, 1 received a call from Bill Hazelton. What a blast from the past. We had a wonderful discussion about N14485. In September of 1996, Bill called and said he was in the western Washington area visiting and would I be able to let him look at the old girl once again. After a bit more hangar flying we launched into the wild blue yonder and Bill got three T&G's and felt right at home.

Brent and Bob have been a great help. I appreciate the blueprints they faxed to me. The prints have been a great help. I have extra intake/exhaust spanner nuts from those prints and will sell them at cost. More can be made if the order is large enough.

Tom Weston
Olympia, WA