The Project is now underway!

Cross-posted to the EAA Forums at Oshkosh365:

It's about time for an update on our Venture Crew 50 activities with regard to our FP-101 ultralight project!  We're very, very close to finishing the restoration of our 1940 Case VC farm tractor so it was time to start getting the airplane ready for work.  If you've read my blog before you'll know that we received the airplane as a donation from a very generous pilot in Iowa.  I drove out there last fall and brought the airframe back to our base at the Succop Conservancy in Butler, PA.  The airframe, including the fuselage, tail feathers, one complete wing, parts of the second wing, and some miscellaneous items, was cleverly packed into a trailer that was built to carry the COMPLETED plane.  All we have to do is remove the sides of the trailer and the plane will be able to roll right on with a special fixture to lock down the tail.  That's the good news.  The not-so-good news is that we will not be able to restore this aircraft to flight status for a number of very good reasons:  

• First, we're just not comfortable with the condition of or materials used in the airframe.  While it's still fairly sound there are lots of cracks, small breaks, and other minor damage that adds up to an airframe that would need a complete rebuild.  Also, it's apparent from our examination of the airframe that it was made at least in part from a packing crate.  Some components have an address stamped on them and the plywood is definitely not aviation grade.
• Second, the cost of an engine to power this plane, either a small Rotax or 1/2 VW, is beyond our budget.  We may reconsider this point on our next project, but for this plane it isn't feasible for us to come up with a powerplant.
• Third, the plane is a single-seater and Scout regulations would prevent our members from flying it.

So what are we going to do with the plane?  We think we've come up with an excellent way to make very good use of it.  We're going to restore the plane structurally using non-aviation grade materials, cover it right down the centerline so one half is finished/painted and the other is open/skeletal, connect all the controls, add folding wings, and use it as a training tool for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.  We'll still be able to gain valuable experience through the build/restoration process and our local Scout organizations will gain a valuable teaching tool.  While we may be a little disappointed that this particular plane won't be ours to fly we're still very excited about the project and the opportunity to use it to bring aviation to life for other youngsters and Scouts.

At this point we're just getting the trailer unpacked and preparing our shop space.  I'll try and make more regular postings as the work gets underway but in the meantime I've posted a link to some pictures of the Crew working with the fuselage to reinstall the landing gear and add new wheels and tires.

Exciting times for Venture Crew 50!

Photos of Venture Crew 50 working on the fuselage

Whew! So much happening I haven't had time to blog!

It's been months since my last posting and in the time that's passed since then our Crew has accomplished quite a lot.

First, we brought our project plane home to the barn at our base at the Succop Conservancy.  The trip out to Iowa and back took two days as it's 13 hours each way but the drive was well worth it.  We now have a complete airframe for a Fisher Flying Products FP-101 ultralight thanks to Bill Russell of Central City, IA whose generosity will go a long way to building enthusiasm for general aviation with our Venture Crew members.  It's the dead of winter now and we're still finishing our 1940 Case farm tractor restoration but the whole Crew is itching to get started on the plane.  It won't be long now until the weather warms enough to start on the Fisher!

Second, in November we became aware of a major engineering design contest for youth and decided to enter as a non-school-based team.  The Real World Design Challenge (www.realworlddesignchallenge.org) is a contest sponsored by business, academia, and the government that seeks to engage young people in solving real world engineering problems using state of the art tools and methodologies.  This year's Challenge involved designing a tail configuration for a business jet and I'm very pleased to report that our little Venture Crew 50 team of 3 high schoolers completed the Challenge.  They used structural analysis, fluid dynamic, and CAD/solid modeling tools to design a unique tail for a business jet.  They did a great job and learned quite a lot in the process.  Their entry is now being judged at the state level and we'll know on February 8 if we'll be moving on to the national level of the Challenge.  Wish us luck!

I'll try and make an effort to post more regularly once we get into the restoration of the FP-101.  Until then, I'll leave you with a CGI rendering of the plane designed by our Venture Crew for the Real World Design Challenge.