Bernie the Bunion wrote in message ...
Ken Sandyeggo wrote:

I owned 3, but not all at the same time....a 66 Alon A2A which was the
prototype A2A and started as a leftover Forney, a 49 G model and a 46
C model.


Well that impresses the Bejeesus out of me.

Any chance you could post some info as to your involvement with
these planes.

When you got them, what were they like to own, maintain, fly etc.

For us arm chair pilots ( and lurkers ) what are the main differences
between the models.... For instance do the numbers indicate model
numbers or years they were produced in.

Don't know about others in the group but I'm always interested in
those types of stories and details.

Speaking of pictures - I don't ever recall seeing pics of these planes
on your website, do you have any - please and thank you.

And finally if your site is still up could you post the URL. I'd like to
see your latest $100 hamburger shots of you and your bottomless
sidekick.

Bernie

Bernie, maybe your post will be the thing that kicks me in my ass to
update my website. I've been flying the AAI conversion for months and
still don't have any photos of it in the new configuration on my site.
Here it is anyway:

http://www.geocities.com/kenj_sandye...l?942383509800


When I get around to updating, I'll scan some 'Coupe photos and give
them a section.

The letters give a general time frame. The "C"s were the originals,
but most were upgraded to "CD"s or "D"s if I recall. Mostly had to do
with the elevator range I believe. The Alon had factory pedals and
the "G" (around 1949) had them added with an after-market kit. The
"C" was the original rudder-pedal-less version and was the one that I
liked flying the best. There's no rudder trim, so I was always
dancing on the rudder pedals to keep her straight. You just forget
about it in the "C." If she flies sideways, you just keep your feet
flat on the floor. You landed it the same way, in a crab. She'd
straighten right out when the mains touched, and then you lowered the
nosewheel so you could steer. If someone was so used to rudder pedals
and had a hard time adjusting, you could glue 2 big rectangular
sponges on the floor and then they could press their feet to their
heart's content.

They were pretty easy to maintain, except there's been a lot of
corrosion showing up in the aluminum ribs and at the wing roots as
most are well over 50 years old now. One AD calls for making Swiss
cheese out of the bottoms of the wings for inspection holes. I think
an alternative is a borescope inspection of some kind. If anyone buys
one, make sure the wing-corrosion AD is taken care of or at least
reflected in the price. I loved flying them and if I ever went back
to FW, I'd probably get another. They're not as cheap as they used to
be. You could get a really nice one for around 6-8000. I paid a
premium price of 10 thou for my polished "G" model as it was a superb
restoration. A few owners later it went for around 17 thou. Probably
worth well over 20 today if it's in the same condition.

Ken J. - Sandy A. Ghowe