[Phideaux]

If you have seen this thing up close and personal then you know how awesome this aircraft is. I saw her in Long Beach many years ago, and then a few years back when they moved her up to McMinnville, OR. That was a great trip because the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is a wonderful place. We spent the entire day there and could have spent the good part of another.

.

Yes, I have. Was in Long Beach in 1985 and saw it there. When I couldn't get the the entire plane in the picture of my 35mm, it drove home the point of just how big it is. I wanted to make a scale R/C model of it, but couldn't see keeping the weight under the legal "model" limits imposed by the FAA back then; that and finding a way to sync 7 R/C slave engines to one master . . .

 

[kaitiff]

Someone mentioned the Mosquito fighter from WWII as being wood.. the Hurricane fighter was only available in the numbers they had because it had a lot of wood in its' construction. Watched a documentary about them, being made of wood and fabric also made the turnaround from battle damage a lot easier and quicker so they could get them back into service quickly when they got shot up. Aluminum was expensive and scarce and I guess there were a glut of woodworkers back then that could apply their skills in almost cottage level industry to build sections of the planes for assembly.
I suppose if wood was strong enough to mount a 1000+ HP engine into and be used in a plane it's good enough to use in frames for cars and bikes.

 

[notaharley]

Someone mentioned the Mosquito fighter from WWII as being wood.. the Hurricane fighter was only available in the numbers they had because it had a lot of wood in its' construction. Watched a documentary about them, being made of wood and fabric also made the turnaround from battle damage a lot easier and quicker so they could get them back into service quickly when they got shot up. Aluminum was expensive and scarce and I guess there were a glut of woodworkers back then that could apply their skills in almost cottage level industry to build sections of the planes for assembly.
I suppose if wood was strong enough to mount a 1000+ HP engine into and be used in a plane it's good enough to use in frames for cars and bikes.

That was me --
I'm a fan of wood aircraft and have built and flown several.
I have one incomplete sitting in my folks barn right now.

Used right, wood is the ultimate composite.

I am always amazed at the engineering and ingenuity of the WWII generation.
No CAD programs - old fashioned engineering. Awesome.

 

[Phideaux]

That was me --
I'm a fan of wood aircraft and have built and flown several.
I have one incomplete sitting in my folks barn right now.

Used right, wood is the ultimate composite.

I am always amazed at the engineering and ingenuity of the WWII generation.
No CAD programs - old fashioned engineering. Awesome.

Kelly Johnson started his work on the SR-71 on a paper napkin at lunch one day.

 

[Ghostrider25]

And 18 months later, the A-12 made it's first flight. Not bad when you consider today it takes 10 years to get a prototype in the air. Not in service and on the flight line, just prototype testing. Technology doesn't always make things better. Of course, back then bean counters didn't drive projects, engineers and real men did.

 

[BrandonM7]

And 18 months later, the A-12 made it's first flight. Not bad when you consider today it takes 10 years to get a prototype in the air. Not in service and on the flight line, just prototype testing. Technology doesn't always make things better. Of course, back then bean counters didn't drive projects, engineers and real men did.

...and people weren't nearly as afraid of having someone die at work, lol. That was an awesome time -- "oh you got it put together already? Sure, I'll go Mach II in it, lemme grab my helmet."

 

[Vapor Trail]

Maybe not quite the charm of the Morgan, but a little more beef at 180HP/185TQ. And the Speedster is pretty attractively-priced at just under $27K: Vanderhall Motor Works

 

[Litre1000]

Now

Maybe not quite the charm of the Morgan, but a little more beef at 180HP/185TQ. And the Speedster is pretty attractively-priced at just under $27K: Vanderhall Motor Works

THAT is kool!