Builders:
Below are 200 stories on aircraft building that I wrote in the last 2.5 years. This is just the top 40% most popular ones from our blog. They are loosely grouped, but you can scan through the titles, and you can read the full story by clicking on any colored title.
There are some real classics like “Unicorns vs Ponies”, but most stories are directly about flying planes and running engines. You don’t have to read it in one sitting (it is about 250,000 words, half the length of “War and Peace“) But keep it handy for a reference page. -ww.
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Building:
Basic Corvair information
Shop perspective: Mastery or ?
Concerned about your potential?
A visit to the insane asylum
Glider flying – a funny story
The Cherry Grove Trophy
Model T of the air?
Model T of the air, Part #2 – Leeon Davis notes
More Thoughts On Economical Aircraft
Testing and Data Collection reference page
Why Not the Panther engine?
What is a core engine worth?
Corvair College reference page
Corvair College History….in photos
College Tech
Basic Corvair College Skills, examples of learning
Zenvair’ Information board formed
Calling All “Zenvair” Flyers……601 / 650 / 750
New Numbering System, Final, please print.
College engine build options for closing the case
Getting Started in 2013, part #1, Crankshaft process options.
Getting Started in 2013, Part #2, Group numbering system
Getting Started in 2013, Part #3, The Camshaft Group (1100)
Getting Started in 2013, Part #4, Case Group (1200)
Getting Started in 2013, Part #5, ‘Allan Able’ short block.
Getting Started in 2013, Part #6, ‘Bob Baker’ short block
Getting Started in 2013, Part #7, ‘Chas. Charlie’ Short Block
Getting Started in 2013, Part #8, ‘Davie Dog’ Short Block
Getting Started in 2013, Part #9, ‘Eddie Easy’ short block.
Getting Started in 2013, Part #10, Piston and Cylinder options.
Getting started in 2013, Part #11, Comment of the day
Getting Started in 2013, Part #12, Piston Choices
Getting Started in 2013, Part #13, Basic piston/rod/cylinder combo.
Getting Started in 2013, Part #14, 2,850 cc piston/rod/cyl. Kits
Getting Started in 2013, Part #15, 2,775cc, (imaginary piston)
Getting Started in 2013, Part #16, 3,000 cc Piston/cylinder kits
Getting Started in 2013, Part #17, Short block cost chart.
Getting Started in 2013, Part #18, A look ahead
Getting Started in 2013, Part #19, Cylinder Heads
Guest Writer: Pietenpol builder/flyer Kevin Purtee
Guest Editorial, Arnold Holmes On Affordable Aircraft…
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Planes:
Planes flying on Corvair Power
Corvair planes and projects on You Tube
Corvair Powered Davis DA-2, w/EFI
List of Corvair Powered Zeniths
Zenith 750 / Corvair reference page, October 2013
Zenith 601/650 – Corvair reference page November 2013
Corvair power for Panther and Sonex reference page
Pietenpol review in pictures, 15 more Corvair powered Piets
16 Flying Corvair powered Zenith 601/ 650s
Corvair – Pietenpol Reference page
Gary Burdett, 2,850cc Zenith 750, now flying. (engine selection)
New 3,000 cc Cleanex, Dale Williams, SC
Panther Roll out.
Zenith 701- Corvair reference page, November 2013
New Photos of JAG-2, a Corvair powered twin.
JAG-2, Corvair Powered Twin, Jim Tomaszewski, N.Y.
Zenith 601XL-3100cc Dr. Andy Elliott
Zenith 601XL-2,850cc, Woody Harris
Zenith 650-2700cc Dave Gardea
2,700cc-Skycoupe-2002 Photos
New “Zenvair-750″, Jeff Cochran, 2,850cc engine, N750ZV
Flying Zenith 750 w/3000cc Corvair, Doug Stevenson, California
Corvair powered Dragonfly, Charlie Johnson, aka ‘One Sky Dog’
Zenith 750 Flying on Corvair Power, Gary Burdett, Illinois
KR-2S at 700 Hours – Joe Horton
New Zenith 601 XL(B), Conventional Gear, Jerry Baak, S.C.
New Pietenpol, 2700 Corvair, Don Harper SC
New Pietenpol, Gary Boothe, Cool, Calif.
Two More Flying Planes: Merlin and VP-2
Corvair Powered Merlin Flying Over Newfoundland
Floats on Snow, Corvair powered Merlin
Flying 2,850cc Cleanex, Clarence Dunkerley
New Pietenpol, EAA #1279, French Valley CA
New Pietenpol #3, Mike Groah, Tulare, California
Guest writer: Phil Maxson, flying a 3100cc Corvair in his 601XL
Another new “Zenvair” 601XLB, Jim Ballew, 2700cc
Flying Zenith 750, Tom Siminski, 2700cc, PA.
Flying 2700 cc Zenith 601 XL(B), Alan Uhr
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Engines
Complete Engines for Sale
2012 Corvair Engines For Sale: 100, 110 and 120 HP
World’s Strongest 3,000cc Corvair, built by Greg Crouchley
Panther Prototype Engine 3,000 cc/120 hp to OSH
3,000 vs 3,100 cc Corvair engines
3,000cc/Billet Crank Shortblock, Destination: Waiex
High Volume Oil Pump
3,000cc Engine Running
3,000cc Case Modifications.
Billet Cranks Made In The USA
Chinese Crankshafts
Chinese Crankshafts for Corvairs, update 2/17/13.
Notes on Corvair flight engine oils.
Shipman Engine at CC#22
A Tale of Two Spark Plugs……
The Panther’s engine, worlds strongest Corvair flight engine.
Panther Engine Is Alive … ALIVE
Engine Operations reference page
The case of the Murphy Rebel, “eyeball vs. testing”
Corvair vs O-200…. weight comparison
Testing Head Studs
Balancer Installation
Gold Oil Filter Housing, Standard and Reverse
Front and Rear alternators, their part in numbering system
Thoughts on cold weather operation, minimum oil temps, etc.
Cooling with J-3 style cowls. (Pietenpols, Cubs, Biplanes, etc)
Spark Plug Installation
Starting procedures on Corvairs, 2,000 words of experience.
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Systems:
Stromberg Carbs
Carb applications, choices people make
Fuel Injected Corvairs
Carburetor Reference page
A question of Carb location…..
Mechanical Fuel Injection Testing
Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
Fuel Injection – Corvair flight engines reference page
New die spring landing gear on a Pietenpol, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Pietenpol Products, Motor mounts, Gear and Instalation Components.
MA3-spa carb pictures, Wagabond notes.
In Search Of … The Economical Carburetor
Pietenpol Box Spar Construction, 6/27/13
Pietenpol Mount on airframe
Panther Engine propeller test
Kitfox Model IV with Corvair mount
Corvair Motor Mount for Bearhawk LSA
Inexpensive Panel……..part one.
Inexpensive panel…….part two.
“William, you ignorant troglodyte”…….(instrument options)
My favorite Tach; Stewart Warner 82636.
Ammeters Pro and Con, & Flying like there is no tomorrow.
Corvair Oil System, information on oil pressure gauges.
MGL vs Corvair ignition issue
Measuring Cylinder Head Temps on Corvairs.
Corvair Cooling
Corvair Cooling, Three 2007 examples from our hangar.
Cylinder Head Temperature measurement
Cowling Inlet Area, marketing, accident stats, Darwin where are you?
Corvair Cooling, something of a human issue…..
CHT part #5, flight data from Zenith 750
Engine Cooling Factory Sheet Metal
Pietenpol Fuel lines and Cabanes
Three Pietenpol Motor Mounts
Zenith 601/650 Motor mounts, P/N 4201(A)
Intakes and Internet myths
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Communications:
Welcome to The FlyCorvair.net Blog
Back from the road, notes on Communications
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Philosophy:
Unicorns vs Ponies.
Sunday, a long day at the airport.
Fixing America is going to cost each of us $1.69
Greatest Book on Flying Ever Written, (Is your life worth $16?)
A thought on Easter….
In defense of plain speaking……
Turtles and Cell Phones, 6/24/13.
2,500 words about levels of aircraft finsh……
Steel tube fuselages, “Safe” planes and 250mph accidents
Cessna’s Chinese adventure a failure.
Communist Chinese government at Oshkosh
Risk Management, Experience vs Judgement.
Risk Management, Wrong airframe, Wrong experience level.
Effective Risk Management – 2,903 words
Risk Management, Factor #1, Judgement.
“If only someone had told him……”
Expert Witnesses in civil Aviation trials.
Great tales from discussion groups…….part #1
Vern’s Aero-Cars
Fun with Agkistrodon Piscivorus and Vern’s Aero-Trike
Cloudn’t have happened to a nicer guy……
Built by William Wynne? Built according to The Manual?
Risk Management, Judgement Error, money in the wrong place.
Flathead Ford, 71 cid. Freedom to pursue happiness.
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History and aviators:
B.H. Pietenpol, Patron Saint of Homebuilding
Robert Hedrix, Aviator, Nha Trang, 1975
The Quote, 1927, C.A.L.
James Stockdale – Philosophy
Sterling Hayden – Philosophy
A Father’s Day Story – Lance Sijan
Three Aviation Stories
Charles Poland Jr., An American of whom you could be proud.
Carl Sagan, Corvair Owner, Practical Philosopher, Individual.
William Edward Wynne Sr. – Father’s Day Notes
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Events:
Corvair College #22, March 9-11, 2012 in Austin, Texas
Panther Prototype Engine 3,000 cc/120 hp to OSH
John Moyle, noted aviation enthusiast, passes -1/16/13
Corvair College #25, In Photos
Corvair College #23 – 2850cc Engine, Roger Grable, CH-750 Builder
House Call on Pat Green’s 1,000 Hour Pietenpol
Brodhead, Oshkosh and Beyond 2013
Wisconsin 2012 Air Adventure
Zenith 750 Builder Blaine Schwartz
Corvair College #23, 2700cc Engine, Spencer Gould, SP-500
Sun N Fun 2012
Randy Bush’s Pietenpol hits 500 hours.
Corvair College #27 run on film
Franklin Engine Runs at CC ##22 KGTU Spring Break 2012
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Hi William,
great idea posting a list of the stories. I started reading after supper and before I realized 2-1/2 hours flew by!! I enjoy reading anything about Corvairs; there is always something to learn.
I’m still flying off the ice here in Newfoundland when time and weather permits and having tons of fun!!.
Jeff
William
When people show an interest in my Corvair engine I direct them to this site knowing everything they need to learn is here including the perspective. Why we need to do things a certain way is as important as how to do it. Thanks for making it so easy to access the information.
Any chance for a future article on Corvair specific differential compression testing?
Gary