More uses for Hobby CNC (Pictures)

[Adobe Machine]

Our oldest son is an Airline Pilot ( Capt) who really likes Antique Bi Planes, so we decided to look for "project"..Boy did we find one: 1929 Travel Air Bi plane,that although completley disassembled , had not been modified for agriculture or other uses.An inventory disclosed none of the parts were missing, but several were really worn out ( fastner holes enlarged, cracks at welds etc.and the wood was in terrible shape.) But we drug it home ( should have seen our wife's faces when we drove up tp the house ! 1st thing they both said " Not in our garage !)

We further tore it apart, sent the wings to a real craftsman who had jigs for that plane. The motor mount was junk,the landing gear was real suspect, and a lot of the joints in the fuselage were cracked. We blasted the airframe with crushed walnut shells, really cleans, won't damage.Carefully disassembled the wood parts and made patterns. I tig'd in new bracing, fabricated and machined a new motor mount and landing gear parts, son made new wood parts and finished them as they did in the 1920's. When I got the Tree CNC Mill all converted and tested I was able to make a lot of small parts that would be impossible to find, was able to use Vector to draw and spit the tool paths out on some really one off parts. Even made new control cable pullys,using sealed ball bearings intead of metal to metal contact.
I also used Vector to draw up a pretty complicated compass bezal, and am working on the rest of the insurments.

This is a slow project, my accident and a couple of moves have slowed it down, but we are moving foward...The wings are almost done, and soon will start covering the fuselage and the wings, tail etc.

The engine may be a stopping point for awhile..We sent the cylinders out for re-chrome, and they got lost..They were insured,and we are looking for another set , but so far no luck..

CNC has really helped us build parts, that with out that ability, we could never duplicate them correctly. I am amazed how well these parts were made in the 20's, I know some had to be hand filed out from stock..just no other way could they be built, but they were completley accurate..really neat, detailed pieces.

As we make progress , will up date this thread. Who flies it first ? We are both going to take tail dragger lessons, then flip a coin !

Does a crash on the 1st flight count as " He who dies with the most toys , wins ?"

Picture 1: This picture is dated 1934 in Ohio the plane was 5 years old. note the tail numbers, they will be the same when the plane is done .

Picture 2: Brought home the " Project", grandson real happy.

Picture 3: New motor mount, and machined and fabricated landing gear. The frame had been reinforced and TIG'd at this time.

Picture 4: All new spruce on the upper fuselage.

Picture 5: Different view of new spruce ( could not believe the cost of Aircraft certified Spruce..Gold is cheaper )

Picture 6: This is the compass bezal, copied in Vector, and G code to Desk CNC.. made the job easy..Wonder how they did that in 1929 ? Lots of skill and labor..

Adobe (old as dirt)

[flakker]

could you fly this thing under a sport pilot license?

[ImanCarrot]

That is a truely awesome project. Thank you very much for sharing your story and piccies.

[Ken_Shea]

I sure missed this thread when it first started, very interesting.

How is it coming along ?

If you find the time more pictures would sure be welcome.

Also, larger pictures

[One of Many]

Even after reading this way back then, I still get feelings of anguish over those missing cylinders!

It's just not right......it is a crying shame, one can't help but suspect sinister motives!

DC

[Geof]

Has anyone noticed that Adobe has not posted since 02-05-2007?

Anywhere that is.

[Adobe Machine]

Thanks Geof..yep, I was missing..short explination on my thread "manual to CNC lathe"

Still will be awhile before I can go back to work, but I'm much better,

Thanks again !

Adobe (old as dirt)

[One of Many]

Glad you are back Adobe!

I was hoping to hear you went on a "Postal" cylinder hunt!

DC

[Geof]

Thanks Geof..yep, I was missing..short explination on my thread "manual to CNC lathe"

Still will be awhile before I can go back to work, but I'm much better,

Thanks again !

Adobe (old as dirt)

Good to hear.

[svenakela]

Adobe, (nice to see you back!)

This looks like a really fun project! My way into CNC-business was through a friend in the same glider club. I was only 15 when I first met him, he was 65 and had a big prototyping company. He's still a very energy giving person and uses all of his airplanes as much as possible (he got 12...). So of course there was a lot of "extra fixing" done late at night.
He and another guy converted a Cessna 172 and a Piper Pawnee to Volvo engines, with a lot better fuel economy and less service fees, and they are running so smooth!

I must say, that saving an old airplane like you do is heroic! Those are lovely machines.

Regards,
Sven

[Gonzo007]

What a great find. Its great to see that people with the skills and the resources are the ones getting there hands on these planes and not the scrap yard people that just what the metal.

Look forward to seeing the end result even if its years away.

Colin

[sdantonio]

Very nice work.