Author: William Wynne

Builders;

Here is a look at a rebuilt/ upgraded engine that got its first start snd break in run at my hangar today .

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William

Builders;

There are two phrases that people use around aircraft construction and maintenance that make my skin crawl, challenge my anger management training, and earned me the ancient moniker “The Worlds Worst Buddhist” (for my talk of tolerance, but failure to demonstrate it) These phrases are:

“It will be alright” – If that was certain, there would be no need to say it around in an attention to justify the corner being cut;

“These are just as good” – If they were, the original product would have never been developed, nor would I have specified it by brand name.

In this story we will look at hose ends, and see how the second phrase should not be uttered in my presence when I speak of Earl’s brand hose ends.

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On the Left, Earl’s Brand “Swivel Seal” hose end. These are the only hose ends I use on anything. I may drive junk trucks, drink cheap beer and have the wardrobe of a homeless person, but when it comes to hose ends, these are the only ones I ever use. If you care to know their pedigree, read the Earl’s site and find out that every single car that finished the Indy 500 for 30 years was 100% equipped with Earl’s hoses and fittings. They cost about 30% more than run of the mill ‘ok’ hose ends.

The hose end on the right is a Summit house brand fitting. It has an end like a certified Aeroquip, but it doesn’t work like one. Lets look at the next picture to see an issue.

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Above, same Summit hose end. The shoulder between the nut and the flare is disintegrating. This was overtourqued by the person who installed it, but still, it should not have done this. This is junk. If you look above, the person who made the hose also put silver anti seize on the nipple, and that is a no-no. The only thing that goes in the hose is oil.

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Above, these are Swivel Seal hose ends. Notice how different the nipple end is. (Earls also makes a barbed style end that is not called “Swivel Seal” , do not use them, they are for low pressure applications. ) This nipple end cuts its own o-ring of sorts out to the Earl’s hose. (While we are on it, the ONLY hose to use is Earl’s Auto-Flex) Lets look at the next picture……

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Above, a hose that was assembled, that I took apart to show you how the nipple end of the Swivel Seal hose end cuts a prefect circle into the end of the hose. This stuff isn’t just good, it is also easy to assemble.

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Pay attention to conversation and internet posts, and look for people using the two phrases above. They are not just phrases, they are a mind set, one you want to give a wide berth in aviation.

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PS, I thank everyone in advance for not using either of the phrases to me, even joking, as I try to watch my blood pressure, and because the title “Worlds worst Buddhist” may sound funny, but no one wants to meet him.

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William

Builders,

Here is a look at a freshly rebuilt motor which will run tomorrow.

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Above, the engine. It came off a flying Dragonfly in California. I have known the builder a while, he flew the plane to Corvair College #37 in chino, in 2016.

If you look closely, this is a non-standard motor. The builder is a skilled machinist , and he made many of the one of a kind parts on the engine. Normally, a avoid working on such engines, but this is the exception, as it is well thought out and exhibits a high level of craftsmanship. It has also been flying a number of years. Most one of a kind motors do not have these qualities.

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Unique engine s take me a lot more time to overhaul, and more money. Take this a a small lesson: Build one of my standard engine layouts. it will make us both happier people.

Thanks

William.

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Thus is a plug I took out of an engine that ran one hour. Notice it is he wrong plug, and it was installed without any lubricant. This is how threads get torn out of heads, and how time serts come out on the plugs . If you want your motor to go better than this, follow the directions in the MOP manual .

0300 Maintenance Operations and Procedures Manual

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Above, this plug is bone dry and rusty. The correct plus have nickel plated bodies which are comparatively immune to rust, and I have always specified Champion Spark plug lube.

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I knew the original builder of this engine. This was not a simple oversight, he wanted to debate about 50% of the things in my manual. it’s a free world, no one has to follow my recommendations. Your engine, your choice

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William

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Builders;

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Shad Bell is 99% done with an 18 month restoration/upgrade on the 500+ hour Pietenpol that his father Gary built many years ago. His goal is to fly it top Brodhead, and perhaps onto Oshkosh next month.

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Above is a video we shot at Oshkosh 2019, where Shad give a walk around talk about the plane as it was. While it retains the same look, the plane now has a completely revised engine, new mount and exhaust, and a new cowling.

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Many years ago, I worked with Shad’s father on his original installation. Gary and I go way back to Corvair College #7. The plane served the family well, but in November of 2019, Gary and Shad brought the engine to my hangar for an overdue switch to a 5th bearing and to take advantage of many of the things we learned in the previous 16 years. The plane still has a lot of Dads original work in it, but it has some prudent updates.

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I’m looking forward to seeing them in Wisconsin, and having a part two video to companion with this one. The Bell’s are great people, and when you see this plane, make sure you introduce yourself to your fellow corvair builders.

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William

Builders;

I spoke with Vinnie Maggiore of upstate NY, and he is flying his 750 STOL to Oshkosh this year.

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Above, Vinnie’s 750 in my hangar in Florida during a visit this spring. Plane has a bit more than 100 hours on it, and has now flown the east coast. He will expand this by flying to Airventure 2021. It goes without saying “Weather Permitting” when I make a statement like that. No ethical person in aviation encourages another airman to challenge weather on any flight.

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The plane is a good example of how simply the 750 can be built. It isn’t bare bones, but I have seen a number of them where the builders spent three times as much money. Fine for them, their money, their choice, but it is good to have examples on the other end of the spectrum represented, so that potential builders with different budgets or tastes for simplicity falsely assume the project is outside of their reach.

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Vinnie is a great guy, clever, skilled and good company. If you are building a Zenith or not, keep an eye out for this plane on the flight line at Oshkosh and make sure you stop in and meet your fellow Corvair builder.

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William

Builders,

The annual Pietenpol Gathering at Brodhead Wisconsin is just a month away. It is held the weekend before Oshkosh, 90 miles south east of air venture. It is the very definition of a grass roots aviation event, held at one of America great small airfields. I have only missed it twice in the last 26 years, and I will be there this year.

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Above, a picture that hangs on my shop wall, it is my Pietenpol, photographed at Sun-n-Fun 2000.

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You need not be a Piet builder to attend Brodhead, but you might be when you leave. there will be many known Corvair / Pietenpol pilots on hand like Kevin Purtee, Randy Bush and Shad Bell. Come meet them in person, and get to know your mechanical brethren.

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I do parking lot tour / engine inspections at both Oshkosh and Brodhead, but the logistics are a whole lot easier at Brodhead, as the parking lot is 35 feet from the forum hangar and there isn’t any chain link fencing anywhere at Brodhead. I’ll gladly look at your engine or core at either setting, so please bring it, it is a big part of why I travel 1,375 miles from Florida.

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William

Builders,

The silly picture below captures the moment Chris Pryce’s 3,000cc Corvair engine started for the first time, at the Barnwell SC Corvair College in 2015. This same engine now has 100 flight hours on it, and it will take Chris’s fantastically finished KR-2s from California to Oshkosh next month.

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Chris scratch built one of the nicest KR-2’s in the country. Oshkosh 2021 will be the planes first major public appearance. If you appreciate craftsmanship, and a hard core homebuilding attitude for persistence, I highly suggest looking up the videos on Chris’s YouTube Chanel. Just search the same thing I did in the picture above. He has several dozen short videos, much of which applies to most homebuilts, not just KR’s.

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Why go to Oshkosh? There are a lot of reasons, but let me give you a really good one: You can meet Chris in person, and appreciate a really outstanding person, the kind of person you wanted to meet from your first days in homebuilding. I have known him 15 years, and will attest he is a builder who is a real character, and right at home in the world of Corvair powered flight.

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If the people who attend your local EAA chapter meeting and those who populate your airport on the weekends fall short of your idea of who your would be sharing your flight ambitions with, Come to Oshkosh and meet Chris and many other fellow Corvair builders like him. It will recharge your batteries and affirm there are still many great creative people in homebuilding, and you have your place to claim among them.

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See you at Oshkosh.

William

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Builders, we are just 37 days away from Oshkosh. After it’s cancelation in 2020, these is a lot of pent up enthusiasm for Airventure, and just like every other year, I will be there with my display, giving forums, and meeting builders. I highly encourage anyone to attend, particularly if you have never been before.

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Above: The tip of the pencil is the Forums area and buildings. My display is #614, the same location as 2019.

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I will have a display tent, I have already spoken to the builders of 10 corvair powered planes who are planning on flying in, and there will be many, many fellow builder from the world of corvair powered flight to meet in person. If you have core pars or engines for inspection, bring them, I will be conducting my traditional “Parking Lot Tours” to inspect these engines. I can also bring core parts back to Florida.

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Oshkosh is a big place, and these are typically 800 vendors there. If you are coming for your first visit, study the layout in advance. The EAA has some new on line system called “MyExpo”. I’m not fond of putting ‘apps’ and email and ‘user names’ between people and events they simply want to attend, but it is evidently the way of the world these days, and in the end, if you wade through it, get in the car and drive there, you will be glad you did.

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Hope to see you there.

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William

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Builders,

On Friday May 21st, I will be hosting a one day gathering of WW Flycorvair planes and builders in central Illinois, at Shelby County airport ( Identifier 2HO ). This event is aligned with the regional the Corvair society of America/Corvair Preservation Foundation Mini Convention , themed: “Corvair – The Next Generation”. Its in Springfield. I’m the guest speaker at their dinner on night of the 22nd.

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The land based Corvairs that attend the CORSA meet do several area road trips, and on Friday the 21st, the cars and their owners will come out to the airport so we can both appreciate each others machines. Over the years we have looked for an opportunity to do this, but until now, have never had the perfect setting to accomplish this connection.

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Above, the central location of the event puts in close proximity to a number of Corvair powered planes in the midwest.

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I will be at the airport on the 20th, stay all day on the 21st, and mid-day on Saturday head over to the CORSA meet. If you are building a Corvair, or even thinking about it, this is an excellent opportunity to see flying planes in person, in a relaxed setting. I love Oshkosh, but it can be a logistical challenge to park, pay, get through the gate, refinance your house to pay for lunch, and then find the aircraft that interest you and then talk over the sound of overspending props on T-6s. Shelby County is going to be the exact opposite of this. Make plans to attend today.

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Please note; This is a fly in of WW Corvair planes so you can get a look at the layout and performance of these conversions, and directly speak to their builders. Logistically we will not be set up to run a ‘Corvair College’ type event. However, I will be very glad to inspect core engines and pick up cores. I’m not bringing inventory. I will have manuals for sale there, but if you are seriously considering building your own corvair in the future, the best thing to do is order your manual well in advance of the event, and read it closely. You will be much better prepared to get the most out of our hours there is you have done some reading first. If you have a spare core motor you would like to offer another builder, bring it, oof you have core parts you would like me to take back to Florida, bring them.

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Our local host is airport manager Scott Jeffson. He welcomed this idea from the beginning. If that doesn’t impress you, perhaps you have not been in aviation long enough to understand that most airport managers are preprogrammed to say “NO!” to every question asked of them. Jeff has been gracious about every aspect of this, and we are going to demonstrate our gratitude by maintaining a very high safety awareness, leaving the place cleaner than we found it, and cheerfully and immediately following every thing he asks, no matter how big or how small. I have written about my fathers standards of how guests behave, we will still have fun, but will do so while meeting my father’s deffiniton of ‘guest’.

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Special thanks to Eva “The Corvair Lady” McGuire. She has been the driving force on getting this event to dovetail with the CORSA meet. If you are on FB, check out her documentation on “Meet the Makers of the Chevrolet Corvair” , it covers stories and interviews with the men and women directly connected to the design and production pf the Corvair.

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More news on this to follow, please ask questions in the comment section.

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WWjr

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