Member's Planes and Projects

Alphabetically by first name. Bill through Keith on this page.

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Chris Gill - Murphy Super Rebel - SR2500

This Murphy SR2500 plane was built by Chris and Larry Gill. It was one of the first Super Rebels built (s/n 025). Purchased in 1997, the build took four years. First flight was on July 31, 2001.

Factory support from Murphy Aircraft Company of Chilliwack B.C. during the build and over the past 9 years has been outstanding!

Put her on floats in May of 2003. Floats were built by Keith Kinden of Montana Floats in Libby Montana.

We have over 100 trouble free hours on the plane and could not think of a better plane for a family of four flying in Alaska.

Currently have the plane in the garage installing droop wing tips and possibly vortex generators.    Chris Gill

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Mar 16 2008

Chris Gill - Smith Super Cub (PA-18 Replica)

Here are a couple photos of our new project, a Smith Super Cub (PA-18 Replica).

We purchased the kit last week and our starting the build in our garage in Turnagain.

Chris Gill & Larry Gill

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Chuck May - RV-7A

Started in 2001, Lycoming O-320, as of May 4 2006

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Craig and Debrya Walls - Murphy Rebel

Craig and his wife also have a web site: http://www.alaskanrebel.com/

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Dick Reeve - Lancair Legacy

Why a Lancair Legacy? It's longer, stronger, quicker, and slicker.

All composite carbon fiber pre-preg.

Dec 2002 took a tour of the factory. Ordered kit in April.

Did the 14 day builder's assist course at the factory. The help, instructions and use of the factory jigs was worth at least 6 months of working alone.

Fuselage and wing stubs are 10 feet wide. Lifted the fuselage on the 'rotisserie' and tilted it 45 degrees so that the whole assembly was only 8 feet wide.

Trailered the fuselage up the Al-Can from Oregon.

Started in August 2003 "they said it would take 800 hours to build". Figured it would be in the air in August 2004.

Summer of 2004 - mix epoxy, add micro-balloons, apply, sand off, mix epoxy, add cotton strands, apply, sand off. Spent the whole summer sanding.

There are 60 fittings in the hydraulic system.

Since August 2003 - It's 29 months now and 2,600 hours into the build.

230	Systems - hydraulic, electric, controls
600	Bodywork
164	Engine build-up
16	ELT
100	Avionics
800	Structure (That's where the factory came up with 800 hours!)
2,600	Total Hours

67 years old when started

Demonstration ride at the factory. Powerful, stable. In 3-4 minutes, you can climb to a 9,500 foot cruising altitude. 210 knots cruise speed

You don't move the stick around with your arm, all you have to do is just wiggle the stick a little bit.

Delightful - 240 knots cruise @ 16 gal/hour 230 knots @ 13 / hour

66 gallons fuel 1500 lbs empty

During certification tests statically loaded to 14 Gs. Wings did OK, it was the fuselage at the main spar that wrinkled, so they added some doublers at that point.

Engine weighs 500 lbs 370 HP Continental ??540 "hot-rodded" 1 magneto, 1 electronic "blue laser??" It really runs off of the electronic ignition. It advances the spark, more power, better economy. If he really wanted to, he could turn the magneto off, but why do it?

No vacuum system. Dual alternators and battery, Blue Mountain EFIS

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Elmer Webster - Zenith CH 701

This is what a GPS trail looks like when you're out in the practice area across the inlet for 32.2 hours and do 85 landings at Goose Bay.

Elmer says "While out at the Little Su last Sunday, I happened to catch a couple shots of the shy and wily CH 701 in its natural environment."

There is a skinny vertical line going down across the cowl to the ground. It's not a computer artifact, it's a fishing pole!

Almost ready to fly - as of Sept 3 2006

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Keith Southard - RV-9

Interior is done! Engine compartment is done! All wires and hoses are clamped or otherwise tied into place.

Nose gear leg, wheel fairing, and lower intersection fairing are done except for painting.

Main gear leg and wheel fairings are done except for the intersection fairings and paint.

I am going to be applying the final layer of glass to the lower windshield molding tomorrow night and begin the process of molding the cover strip that goes over the gap between the canopy and windshield roll bar. (you can see some of the black tape used for masking in the photos) I probably have a week of work to finish the windshield and the moldings. Mostly just time waiting for the epoxy to cure.

I'm hoping that my prop and spinner arrive soon so that I can finish the installation of the cowling.

Ordered paint today and will soon start painting the tail and the canopy. Both must be removed for painting.

I'm scheduled to move back into the hangar in 3 weeks to begin final assembly and prepare for the FAA inspection.

Cheers!   Keith   -   as of Sept 19 2005

As of Aug 2006 at Birchwood:

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Mar 2008

Lars Gleitsmann - Dornier Do27-B3

Hi,

Here is my Dornier Do27-B3 Cold-War-Warbird, restoration was started in summer 2005, when finished it will most likely be the only 100% accurate restoration of a GAF (German Air Force/ Bundesluftwaffe) Do27 that is airworthy. It will have 100% original instrumentation, some old radios, and hidden modern stuff as necessary. Naturally it will have the original paintjob. I found it as a total derelict and it will now enjoy lots of new "old stock" parts (NOS).

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Mar 2008

Lars Gleitsmann - Aermacchi-Lockheed AL60-B2

Aermacchi-Lockheed AL60-B2, which was only significantly cleaned up to this day. I bought it in fall 2006. Lockheeds like this one were used in Africa, by the British in Rhodesia for close air support as FAC's, also as liaison aircraft.

Both project airplanes were shipped from Germany to AK successfully in one 40 foot long HighCube Steel shipping conatiner, no damage to them occured, due to 7 welded steel structures, wooden cribbing, lots of foam, 3 months of full time work and the help of relatives and friends in Germany.

Best regards,

Lars

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