Tuesday 24 January, 2012 12:20 pm | Maintenance,Museum | djenkins

We have decided to take the wings off of the Cessna 120 for a touch up on the wings and to pull the engine off of the front end to detail the engine and firewall.

We have removed the wings and the fuselage needs one more cut of compound. Having the wings and the doors off of the fuselage will make this process much easier.

The cowling all sanded and ready for buffing.

All of the baffeling has been removed so it can be cleaned and detailed.

Ready for the engine to be removed so detailing of engine and firewall can begin.

Tuesday 24 January, 2012 11:59 am | Museum,Restoration | djenkins

Fabrication of the Bulldog stabilizer begins. The rear spar starts at inch and a half by .120 wall thick ness down to inch and a quarter by .120 down to one inch by .058 down to 7/8 by .058 all fish mouthed and welded.

Here is the fabrication of the Stabilizer. Notice how the tubes neck down this is to maintain strength while saving weight.

Fabricating more structure to give the stabilizer its shape.

A look from the other end of the stabilizer. Notice that the whole Stabilizer has been drawn out on the paper for proper tube alignment.

Tuesday 24 January, 2012 11:38 am | Museum,Restoration | djenkins

After getting the bulldog up on the gear fabrication of the wing attach fittings, rudder pedals and brake pedals begins.

Here is one of the wing attach fittings getting welded up. Two 1/4 inch plates make for a half inch plate that is super strong.

Here is the whole fitting bolted together ready to be fit on to the fueslage and welded.

Here is the fitting being welded onto the right hand side of the fuselage.

Heres the Rudder pedals being fabricated.

The finished rudder pedals with finished brake pedals now ready for fitting and installation into the fuselage.

Rudder pedals installed with new fittings into the fuselage.

Monday 2 January, 2012 11:35 am | Museum,Restoration | djenkins

The moment that we have all been waiting for has finally come. After 80+ years and  hours of fabrication and welding the Bulldog is finally sitting on the gear.

The Bulldog finally on its gear.

Looking at the right hand gear from the landing gear pivot points inside the fuselage

Looking from the rear at the Bulldog finally up on its gear.

Here the instrument panel for the bulldog laid out on the bench

This is what you will see when you are sitting in the fuselage. The instrument panel looks really good in the fuselage.

Thursday 29 December, 2011 2:30 pm | Museum | djenkins

The museum recently acquired Fred Ludtke’s 1940 Monocoupe 90AW145. The well known Fred Ludtke from the Pacific Northwest flew this Monocoupe in over 200 airshows up and down the west coast. The Monocoupe was discovered in California by Eric Minnis of Burlington, NC. Eric shipped the Monocoupe was sent to Burlington, North Carolina with hopes of restoring the it for a customer. Skagit Aero’s Jim Jenkins saw the airplane advertised on Barnstormers and contacted Eric with the hopes of acquiring the project and bringing it back home to the Pacific Northwest. Over a few phone conversations a deal was struck to acquire this historic Monocoupe for our collection.

The Monocoupe is scheduled to return to the Washington State at the end of Jan 2012. We hope to reunite Fred with his long lost steed. A complete ground up restoration will commence upon arrival at the museum.

Here is Fred taking off in his Monocoupe  from an unknown airport sometime during the 1980′s

Here is Fred standing with his son next to the Monocoupe.

Thursday 22 December, 2011 11:24 am | Airport | djenkins

So after three weeks of visits from these very big, curious, smelly animals we have decided that Santa lost his reindeer and decided to replace them.

Tuesday 20 December, 2011 11:38 am | Maintenance,Museum | djenkins

The cosmetic restoration for the 120 is in full swing. Lots of sanding and lots of buffing but the time and effort is paying off. The plane is going to be a real beauty

Liz Kaiser a volunteer at the museum sands the fuselage while Drew gets ready to buff the already sanded areas.

The rear top section has been buffed now moving to the next section.

Sunday 18 December, 2011 11:24 am | Museum,Restoration | djenkins

The time has finally approached where the bulldog is almost up on its own gear. Both shock struts have been fitted to both landing gears. Bushings for the pivot point have been made and installed. The only thing left to do is to trim the bottom of the gear legs and weld on the axle tubes.

The gear installed on the bulldog. Axles are next.

Shock strut attach points.

Landing gear pivot point.

This is where the axles will get welded on.

Thursday 15 December, 2011 1:31 pm | Maintenance,Museum | djenkins

This 1946 Cessna 120 purchased by Harold Hanson back in 2000 is an original airframe with fabric wings. The Engine is a C-85-12 without electrical system which keeps the airplane light and is how it came  from the factory. Our goal for this 120 is to bring the cosmetic appearance of this airplane up to the standards that everyone has come to expect at this museum.

We have removed the Stabilizer, Elevators, Fin and Rudder for some light re-skinning as there is slight damage due to hail.

With removal of all of the tail feathers and then removal of the stripe with paint stripping sanding has begun to remove all surface scratches and light oxidation on aluminum skins.

After the first cut of compound the skin is starting to shine right up. Pretty soon it will be like looking into a mirror.

A good clear view of the sanding that is being done. When we are finished the airplane will have been sanded with 800, 1000,1500,2000,2500 and 3000 grit sandpaper. Takes a toll on the fingers but the outcome is worth it.

Thursday 15 December, 2011 1:10 pm | Museum,Restoration | djenkins

The Pietenpol Sky Scout ailerons are finally covered and progress continues on.

Taping the ailerons.

Final shrink of the tapes.