My 1946 120 Resto project N77220

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Aerowerk » Sun Jun 08, 2014 7:28 am

First lesson today ever or in a 140? Or both? Good luck!

Bryan
Former N72362 restorer
C77

Kazoo120 » Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:07 am

Ever. Will be training in a 172, until this 120 is ready.

Aerowerk » Sun Jun 08, 2014 10:18 am

Andy,
You have some serious vision and drive to take on this project without any flying under your belt! That is pretty awesome. The 172 is a good airplane but the 120 will be a great trainer. Just find the right CFI!

Bryan
Former N72362 restorer
C77

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Kazoo120 » Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:29 pm

Walkaround Youtube Video No. 2! (taken several weeks ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8q0VR7iKfY

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jliltd » Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:15 pm

Great, Andy. Get after it. Learning in a taildragger from the get go has many advantages. Similar to learning to drive an automobile with a standard transmission you can avoid lazy foot habits due to lack of exposure. If you can't find a tailwheel CFI there is nothing wrong with using a nose dragger to get your new private pilot "license to learn". It is but a formality and necessary evil. Subsequently you can learn how to really fly in your fresh C120 taildragger without the distraction of a PPL syllabus. If you need any help or advice your fellow Cessna 120/140 listees have your back. Right here.

Nice shop, by the way. But I suppose I would expect nothing less with your being in the heart of the American automotive enginuity Midwest.

Jim Ivey

PS. PM sent on the wing vent thing
Cessna 140 NC77442

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Kazoo120 » Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:52 pm

Had a great trip up to Road America for some auto racing this past weekend. And on the way, had a chance to meet up with Jeff Tourt over in Newark, Illinois, and also met with Bryan Cotton finally face-to-face at his fine hanger up at Poplar Grove airport. Great to visit fellow association members. Jeff's 140 is fabulous and he's always up for airplane discussions, and great to actually meet Bryan, I've referenced HIS restoration thread so many times I can't count them all.

Prior to heading out last Thursday, we got brave and cut the holes in the lower engine cowl, for the 150 style exhaust pipes! I tried the "drop a plumb bob to the floor and then back up to the cowl" method, but just didn't trust it. I couldn't level the plane in my shop, as the ceilings are only 8' tall, so it just didn't seem to work.

So I triangulated from the lowest common screw hole, and got some pretty reproducible readings, then we just closed our eyes and hole-sawed away. After some more opening with the die grinder, we were clear of the pipes. I need to finish grinding to a common clearance around the pipes, then reinforce the holes. I think we're in good shape.

So then we triangulated from the lowest cowl installation screw hole. This seemed better/more accurate/repeatable

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Then just fearlessly cut holes in your 68 year old, unobtanium lower cowling! It actually went well.

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Kazoo120 » Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:38 am

Finished the doublers around the exhaust pipe exit holes in the cowling. Great to have this done, as Pro Painter Greg was back over last night, to review plans for painting the cowls and remaining parts of the airplane. Remember that he painted the fuse late in October on the last warm day we had here in Michigan. Will be fun to finish the pieces.

On to the wings now. I'm installing the outer bay new drag wires, beautiful pieces from Univair (and they ought to be).

I'm getting prepared to cover the wings, the Poly Fiber manuals and video, make you believe you can do it! More on this soon.

Cut out by hand

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Cleco in place

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Riveted on

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Working on the Drag Wires

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Kazoo120 » Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:53 am

After a couple of weeks delay for weather and other human reasons, I completed flight lesson #1 out of AZO this past Friday. While I've been in the air with friends in the area, fine pilots who have shared time in their planes with me, the endeavor is now quite different. I'm the one in the left seat, listening intently to the instructor, working the throttle, yoke, rudder pedals, trim tab, and all else as my ability to concentrate widens beyond only how to keep the plane in level flight. This is definitely something to do! I like the challenge of it, it is not something you just do the first time you sit in the seat, it will take these hours of time spent training, to gain the muscle memory and learning of procedures, etc, to explore the world this opens. I am humbled by the magnitude of it, and thrilled to have the chance at this time in my life, to pursue what many of you have known of the realm of flight. There most likely won't be time for me to set any aviation records, or log thousands of hours, but if I can learn to fly a machine with respect and precision, and slip into the skies as many have done before me, I will consider it a great privilege to join you.

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gene karmann » Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:07 pm

Wow!! Are those truly your words? You could be an aviation writer, just starting out of course! Welcome to the world of flight. This will also help you get your project done so as not to spend all your money on a rental & finish up your training hours in your own airplane. Good Luck, and blue sky's as the saying goes.

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Kazoo120 » Mon Jun 30, 2014 12:25 pm

Thanks Gene, yes those are my own words, heartfelt. I will be learning in a 172, and transitioning later to the 120, whenever it makes sense to do so. Given the summer's activities, I can see that it should be possible to transport the 120 project to a hangar before end of this year (read, before major snows). This of course, depends upon finding a willing party to rent or otherwise supply such space where I can install the wings, and final rig the plane and all other preparations for an annual sign-off after 40+ years of storage and a rather complete restoration... This is the current plan.

Back to the installation of new drag wires in bays 3 and 4. It's a good two man job given all the trammel measurements to be taken as you draw the wires taught. The old wires and pivoting blocks looked great, and actually the whole wing structure looks pretty darn good, no corrosion or damage or signs of ugliness. I'm ready to re-install the tanks, need a new Pitot tube, am adding the cabin vents, and a Leading edge landing light. Will be ready to re-cover them soon.

New drag wires in the outer two bays

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Wires use standard locking nuts

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Wires tied at the intersection

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Kazoo120 » Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:28 pm

Primed the engine cowling's, they turned out great. Worked out a couple of small dents, and the topcoat of primer is sandable on the outside. Next step is to paint the red on the top cowling, then install everything and mask for the striping. should look great. Also painted the gauge panel, and stuck it in place to stare at as well.

Exciting news related to wing re-covering, I have made contact with the Gal that does the covering for the WACO aircraft facility! WACO is about 7 miles down the road from me, where the Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 and WACO YMF-5D biplanes are still built. With luck we'll have some help from her on our covering job. More to come on this.

Primed lower cowling

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Primed upper cowling

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Gauge panel

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Visual Progress

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Kazoo120 » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:16 pm

Lesson #2 is in the Logbook, with lesson #3 scheduled for this Friday. I've signed on for training with a full time CFI out of AZO. This is exciting and challenging at the same time. The CFI (I'll respectfully call him, Mr. C) is a tasker, I was warned abit by people that have trained with him, that I would need to adapt to his manner of instruction, and so far that has seemed like a very good idea. He is well regarded in the area, not cheap, and the list of his past students who I know of, is extensive. I can imagine that you are only as good as who you have learned from, and in my very short # of lessons so far, I can see something of the intent and intensity, this CFI brings to the endeavor. A.

Flynlow » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:45 pm

It can be good or bad. I had an easy instructor that let me dictate my training. On stage checks, I had a tough instructor who I couldn't stand. He ended up being my tailwheel instructor. I learned more from him than the easy instructor... then again, if they're too rigid, they think they know everything and you should find a new instructor quickly!

I wrote a story here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=589
Jack Fleetwood
1946 Cessna 140
http://flynlow.blogspot.com/
Round Rock, TX