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Posted by Tom in Oregon [128.193.15.52] on Monday, February 01, 2010 at 18:47:03 :
In Reply to: Re: Wasted time and gas? I don't think so! posted by Brian Holt [99.199.170.106] on Monday, February 01, 2010 at 14:04:49 :
Staggerwing was the first Beech, I think. My mechanic has one in fully restored condition. It was in the British inventory for the war, and they were all set to burn it after it ended. Someone grabbed it just prior to the burn (already had gasoline dumped on it). My friend and his dad restored this one over seveal years. About 3 MILES of hand stitching. 450 HP, five seats, well over 200 mph. Even the tail wheel retracts. It hasn't flown in years, although stored in a heated hanger. Now he lost his medical from heart trouble, so he may have to sell it someday. Sadly, there are fewer than 40 of them flyable now, mostly because of the wooden spar or the ridiculously complex gear retraction system. First he'll sell both his Boeing Stearmans. One is still "in the box", never assembled, with a zero-time title! I just love old aircraft.
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