A Tale of a Time Machine  
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A Tale of a Time Machine - 11/28/2007 7:30:07 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Just had to tell this story, and it is not done yet. If ya don't like long storys, quit reading now.

This is about an old original BUSA Phaeton bipe I built in about 1984. It was my 1st. bipe & took about 6 months to build on my wifes kitchen table. It had a Fox .40, and about a pound of lead wheel weights in the nose. It flew good but was not over powered off of the rough grass fields I flew off of. I changed out the .40 for a Fox Eagle I .60 and that engine brought the plane alive! After over 200 documented flights, the plane was retired to hanging from the cealing of my sons room. It hung there for a long time, then was returned to me when his Mom and I split the sheets. It stood in whatever corner I had available for the next couple years til I met my current wife. She thought it was "cute", and it was re-retired to a overhead plant shelf in her kitchen along with a buncha potted plants!
It lived there with Ivy growin all thru it for about another 8 years. We decided to move, so I gave it to a friend down the street. About 2 years ago, I saw Leo (my friend) and asked about the bipe? He said he gave it to another guy, who had it hangin in his garage, but thought he could get it back for me. Two weeks later Leo called, and had the plane. I picked it up and it looked like it had been outside for years! I brought it home and after dusting it off, hung it in my workroom. It has hung there for about a year with a broken horizontal stab, and some holes in the monokote, but still looked pretty good. Never considered flying the ole-girl again til this morning.
edit; to keep from timing out.....
Took it down, and removed the wings for the 1st. time since about 1989.
Found that the Dave Brown motor mount, Sullivan fuel tank, Du-Bro wheels and hardware were still like new. An iron tightened up the monokote, and I will fix the stab. The "elmers-glue" joints and devcon epoxy joints look like they were done last week.

What a great airplane this is!
What great products thease are!
This old girl will be re-powered with an LA-.65, (don't wanna risk the old Fox) but will use all the old parts that are still in good shape.

She WILL fly again, then be re-re-tired after she has flown 200 more times.
Just wanted to tell someone about a plane that against all odds, is now my 1st. and only ARF!



< Message edited by quepasa -- 11/28/2007 7:52:27 PM >

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"If ya think that was somethin, hold my beer and watch this!"
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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 11/29/2007 2:44:57 PM   
jagnweiner



Posts: 822
Joined: 2/18/2003
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline 		I like long stories.

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WACO Brotherhood #61

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 11/30/2007 5:54:31 AM   
papermache



Posts: 703
Joined: 9/26/2002
From: Gary, IN, USA
Status: offline 		especially when they have happy endings.

papermache

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 11/30/2007 3:12:29 PM   
WEDJ



Posts: 1076
Joined: 2/21/2007
From: East Haddam, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Very nice story, but.........

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Pilot dog FTW!

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/1/2007 11:26:59 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Guess I shoulda taken some before and after photos...sorry.
I also shoulda titled this as a time-capsule, instead of time machine.
I will do better and attach some documentation if I can figure out how to do it.
The point is that the wings haven't been off of this plane for YEARS. (I was afraid to look inside, and never considered flying it again.)

I flew with a guy that has a 33" stand-off scale model of a WWI Russian bipe he built in 1977. It was majestic and his skill as a pilot was premier. We started talking, and I told him of the old Phaeton. He said..."well then geter out here!" I thought...why not see how she has fared?

The 1st. thing that blew me away was how the Sullivan fuel tank looked. The Dave Brown motor mount, Du-Bro hardware and wheels, MonoKote, hinges, etc. looked brand new. I looked at joints, epoxy, elmers glue, wood, etc. and could not find a single place that was not still sound. The wood in this plane looks brand new! The craftsmanship is better than anything I've done in years, (tho I could see alot better in those days.) and the fit of the parts of the kit is so far beyond some kits that are available today its not funny.

After tightning up the monokote, I decided to strip it anyway, and see what may have broken. Next thing I know, the old Fox is on the shelf, and a new LA-65 is on the table.

This ain't meant to tell ya'll anything other than this plane was retired about 27 years ago after about 200 flights, and is gonna fly again. It flew with Chuck Cunningham at Thunderbird field in Ft. Worth years ago.

It's going to be re-fitted, modified, and take it's place on the flightline where it belongs. This time with a new radial cowel made from a 64 oz. mayo jar, and a glider tow hook just for the hell of it.

Against all odds,,,this old gal will fly again!

Why did I tell ya'll this? Cause this plane matters to me, and some of ya may understand why. Photos will follow if there is any intrest. Q.

_____________________________

"If ya think that was somethin, hold my beer and watch this!"

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/3/2007 1:11:06 AM   
Black Drape



Posts: 117
Joined: 9/9/2002
From: Missoula, MT, USA
Status: offline 		quepasa

Post your pics and I will post some of the one I just rebuilt. I think it is funny that you put a radial cowl on yours, cause I did too. That stock cowl is with out doubt the ugliest cowl I have ever seen. I also replaced the swept back fin and rudder. I did it up in army trainer colors, and it looks pretty official now.

Ron

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/3/2007 2:44:30 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Ron, I'd love to see your plane! I have an un-built kit of the Phaeton II, and agree...that cowel is terrible. I've been making radial cowels from plastic bottles for a long time, and the bestfoods brand plastic mayo jars are my favorite for shape. This old Phaeton is the original design, which didn't have a cowel at all. What did you use for a cowel? Please post some photos of your plane and tell us some of its history. I was so moved watching that little Russian plane fly, I wish everyone could see it. Everything now a days seems to be all about how fast and slick it is, but even the "go-fast" guys had to stop what they were doing and watch! Ya gotta love those old airplanes!

Anyway,heres the kicker...I have photos on my computer, but don't know how to post a picture. If anyone would be willing to shoot me a PM with step-by-step instructions on how to do this,,,I would really appreciate it. I use the Kodak Easy Share camera. Thanks! Q.




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"If ya think that was somethin, hold my beer and watch this!"

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/4/2007 5:49:21 AM   
Black Drape



Posts: 117
Joined: 9/9/2002
From: Missoula, MT, USA
Status: offline 		Quepasa

Again I'm in the same boat with you. I have never posted a photo. I was hpoing you could tell me how to do it. My Pheaton was given to me as a wreck. The lower wing was broken in two, and the top wing's covering was in shreds. the fin and stab had been torn off, and the elevaters broken. I was also given a GMS 47, which I put in the plane. It had had the carburetor broken off. I ordered a new carb and put it on. Our club meets Tuesday mornings for breakfast, then if it is nice we go flying. Well on this particular morning after breakfast it was nice so we all agreed to meet at the field. I'm thinking that I don't want to drag this plane up there if it's not going to run, so I decide to try it out at home before I head out. I tied it to the fence and opened the needle up to where I thought it would be a nice rich run. WRONG! The engine is screaming, I reach over to adjust the needle, and came down on top of the prop. So enstead of going flying I went to see my friends at the emergency room and pick up a few stiches. That really torqued me off having to miss a good flying day. I did get to try it out the next weekend and it flys great, I call it the meat eater now. I will try to figure out how to post the photos, if anyone reading this knows how please let us know.
Thanks
Ron

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/4/2007 1:06:45 PM   
Scar



Posts: 2313
Joined: 10/1/2002
From: Peoria Hts, IL, USA
Status: offline 		When you hit the reply button and the page comes up, look down in the bottom left of the text screen. There is a link that says "Click here to upload images and files". Click it and a box will come up, you can browse your directories and select files to upload.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/4/2007 3:29:10 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Ron, I'm glad yer ok! I stuck my finger in the fan years ago and cut it to the bone with a .10 engine. I stay WAY away from spinning props since then.

Scar, well still no luck. Thanks anyway. Q.

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/4/2007 5:59:24 PM   
jagnweiner



Posts: 822
Joined: 2/18/2003
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Q.-

Make sure that the picture is saved somewhere on your hard drive as a .jpg file, usually in "My Documents" or "My Pictures." Hit the "Reply" option to the last post. (Don't just use the "Fast Reply" option that shows up at the bottom of the thread. It doesn't allow you to post pictures.) You will see the reply page which contains the box where you type your message. Just below the box is a link that says "Click here to upload images and files!" Click on that and a box will pop up that allows you to do it. (you might need to make sure that you don't have a pop-up blocker turned on)

The pop-up box then tells you to select a file to upload. It has a bunch of blank spaces and next to each space a button that says "Browse." Click that and it will take you to your hard drive. Find wherever you saved the photos and select the photo you want. You have to repeat the process for each photo you are uploading. When done, click OK and wait for it to finish. You will get a message that it is uploaded and then you can submit your post.

Let us know at what point the process becomes derailed and we can probably walk you through it.

_____________________________

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WACO Brotherhood #61

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/5/2007 11:00:18 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Sure hope this works! Edit; SOB! It worked!!!!! Don't even ask me how I did that photo thing as I ain't got a clue. Anyway this is the old girl with her snoot in a mayo jar.

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< Message edited by quepasa -- 12/5/2007 11:04:23 PM >

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"If ya think that was somethin, hold my beer and watch this!"

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/5/2007 11:08:29 PM   
quepasa


 

Posts: 211
Joined: 2/2/2007
From: Golden Valley, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Scott & Dave...Thanks boys!

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"If ya think that was somethin, hold my beer and watch this!"

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/6/2007 6:21:51 AM   
Black Drape



Posts: 117
Joined: 9/9/2002
From: Missoula, MT, USA
Status: offline 		Quepasa

I can't get my pictures out of Kodac East Share, how did you do it. If I can't figure it out soon I will send you a pm.

Ron

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RE: A Tale of a Time Machine - 12/6/2007 2:22:35 PM   
jagnweiner



Posts: 822
Joined: 2/18/2003
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline