Update: Nov. 19, 2005

Gene is installing some inspection covers (sitting on the floor, under the plane) after his Airworthiness Inspection and we are just slowing him down with all the questions! The plane looks wonderful and Gene anticipates an effortless first flight. He is going down to the Titan Factory in Austinburg, OH for some transition training.

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

Gene has been working full-time on this project, I think he said he estimates 2,800 hours over the past 2 years.

First Flight report to be posted when received.

January 7, 2004 and November 3, 2004 

Gene Swartz's Titan T-51
4105 Albon Rd. (map)
Monclova, OH
419-865-0560

Gene is building a Titan T-51 a 3/4 scale replica P-51 Mustang. It is a retractable gear high performance aircraft with full cantilevered wing, and aluminum construction. Give Gene a call if you want more info.

These pictures are from the November 2004 meeting. The fuselage is coming together very nice! Gene says the next time he has a Builders Meeting it will be a "Polishing Party", I'll be there for that one too, will you?

These pictures are from our first visit to Gene's in January 2004. 

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.
 

The following info taken from Titan's website.

March 16, 2006
Thursday @ 6:30PM

Fred Shiple's Kitfox Lifting Crane Design challenge.

We have a project that I think will be both fun and interesting for everyone!  Fred has purchased amphibious floats for his Kitfox. Now all he needs is a device to lift his airplane to change from wheels to floats. After some conversation with Fred we decided that this would make a great group project. Put your thinking caps on and meet us at Fred's hanger at Toledo Suburban (KDUH), look for all the cars in the "T" hangar rows, you'll find us.

Click on the image for a larger picture.

June 12, 2004  

Wally Rojem's RV8
1016 Bedford Dr. (Mapquest Link)
Temperance, MI 48182

Too bad you missed Wally's Van's Aircraft RV8 Quickbuild project visit. Bev had a GREAT spread of food! Sorry we couldn't eat it all, I tried my best. Here are some of the pictures, give Wally a call if you want more info.

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.
 

RV-8 Specifications

This table was taken from Van's Aircraft website.

July 7, 2004 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Hank Povolny - Sonerai IIL
TDZ (Metcalf airport) Hanger # 14 

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

The following was taken from the Great Planes Website.

The Sonerai II (original) is one of the most versatile two place homebuilt aircraft ever conceived. In its original form, the standard Sonerai II is a mid-wing, two place tandem aircraft, that is flown from the rear seat solo. The II-L is the same aircraft but with a "low-wing". The low-wing version is especially popular with 6 foot plus pilots, as the pilot legs go over the main spar carry through structure. The Sonerai II-LT (Low-wing, tri-gear) is the same as the Sonerai II-L, but has a steerable nosewheel added to the structure. Many builders with limited or no taildragger experience opt for the tri-gear addition.

All models of the Sonerai II use a minimum of different sizes of materials to reduce the cost, without hampering the integrity of the design. The wing is all aluminum and is composed of two panels that easily fold along side the fuselage enabling the Sonerai II, II-L and II-LT to be towed tail first on its own gear. Stainless steel cherry rivets are used to skin the wing. The fuselage and tail surfaces are constructed of standard sizes of 4130 steel tubing that are fabric covered. All aluminum sheet used is 2024-T3 .025" except for the spars which are .040".

The fiberglass cowling removes easily to allow complete access to the engine, magneto, tank and instruments. The landing gear is a formed aluminum spring with 5" wheels and 3/4" axles. A tapered tailspring rod is used for the tailwheel (II and II-L) All Sonerai II's feature a l0 gallon main tank with the option of a 6 gallon auxiliary tank carried on the passengers floor board (without passenger).

The Sonerai II, II-L and II-LT are an excellent choice for the individual who desires a high performance, two place VW powered sport aircraft. The Sonerai II series will accept VW powered plants in size from 1700cc - 2180cc.

Keith Browne's Sonerai II-L, Low-wing Taildragger

October 5, 2005

Kendyl Peters Avid Flyer Mark IV

You probably missed the Builders Meeting to see Kendyl's beautiful Avid Flyer project since only about 6 of our members showed up. Sorry to see Kendyl and Dawn go through all the effort for such a poor turn out.

Anyway, Kendyl is doing a great job customizing his Avid and will have a beautiful airplane when he finishes it.

Kendyl has extended the fuselage 18". It is a tube and fabric airplane and he is completing the finishing touches prior to putting the fabric on it this fall. It sports custom built fuel tanks and he made his own engine cowling and many other custom fabricated parts.

I continue to be amazed by the extremely nice airplanes OUR chapter members are putting together. I can hardly wait to see the fabric going on this bird and to see it flying, maybe in 2006.

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

Keep up the great work Kendyl.

John McAvoy's Rutan Long-EZ
28701 Lemoyne Rd. (Map Link)
Millbury, OH
419-666-0503

John is performing a 10-year rebuild on his Long-EZ. He currently has the wings and engine removed and has installed a retractable landing gear system and a new instrument panel and avionics.
See John's Website for more info.

Click for larger pictures.

January 9, 2007
February 4, 2004

Dr. Barry Knotts, LANCAIR IV/P
Perrysburg, OH

Some pictures from the Builders visit. Click each for a larger photo. The fuselage is upside down while Barry works on the retractable landing gear. Close-up of the nose-gear linkage. The right main-gear retract cylinder and lines.   The main wing spar carry-through. The elevator linkage passing through the pressure bulkhead frame. Hey Tom... I think it's a little too soon to cut the umbilical cord.
 
Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

Tony Kirk - RV-6A

UPDATE - N57TK IS FLYING! First flight 9/5/05 was flawless.

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

Tony reports that the RV flys like a dream, it's everything that Van's says it is and more.

Tony flew his RV-6A to the EAA Regional Fly-in in Virginia in October where his aircraft was awarded Second Place for Homebuilt Kit! Way to go Tony! See their website and click on Award Winners.

Tony's Builders Meeting 4/5/06

Tony had 120 hours on the Hobbs at this meeting, exactly 7 months after the first flight!

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

August 3, 2005 Builders Meeting at Tony's hanger at Toledo Suburban (KDUH).

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

Tony Kirk hosted a builders meeting in 2003.

Tony and his RV6A were featured in Plane Talk in November 2002. Review this newsletter for all the information on Tony's plane and other happenings around Toledo 582.

         

    
Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

May 5, 2004

Jeff Horkey’s Zenair CH 701

UPDATE: The First Flight was Successful and the FAA restricted flight time is currently being flown off.

If you missed the last Builders Meeting look for Jeff Horkey’s beautiful Zenair CH 701 at the Plane Fun Fly-In.

Jeff is applying the finishing touches and says his Zenair CH 701 will be ready for it's first flight real soon. He has his floats back from the painter and they look great.

I continue to be amazed by the extremely nice airplanes OUR chapter members are putting together. You really need to see Jeff's wonderful plane.

Click on the thumbnails for the full-size picture.

This chart was taken from the great Zenair website, be sure to check it out!