Epps 1907 monoplane at NBAA 2007

"Bertie the Bunyip" wrote in message
.. .
Errol Groff wrote in
:


Indeed it was a flying replica. I recall one day I was with him and
as we turned base for landing a P-51 zoomed in from the right on a
high speed fly by down the runway. We hit the wash from that plane
and rocked wildly. Ford's flying skill saved our bacon that day I do
believe.

I have no knowledge of what happend to the craft after he sold it. He
moved on to building a Steward Headwind. A sort of Aeronca C3 looking
plane. As plans built it had lift struts but Ford re-designed it to
have flying and landing wires. One night as we were working in the
loft assembling a wing another ai port ner- do- well came in a
commented "HA! I see you built two left wings!" We looked at the
wing leaning against the wall and the one on the saw horses and sure
enough that is exactly what we had done. We were able to save the
spare and two evenings later we had a RIGHT wing built and things
moved on. That was a long time ago now but I still miss my friend
greatly.


Brilliant!
I know the headwind allright. I have some plans for it buried somewhere.
Excellent idea with the flying wires.

I've seen warnings about building two of the same wing alright, but I
didn't think anyone actually had ever done it! I made some wrong side root
ribs, having said that!

What engine did your friend stick on the Epps?


Bertie


IIRC, in the early days of the Vari-Ez, Bert Rutan maintained a BBS to
assist builders in exchanging as many as practical of the duplicate parts
they created. I have no idea how many there were, and no longer recall
whether the BBS was electronic or part of a paper newsletter, but it was
apparently not unknown at the time.

Peter