William Dougherty – Page 4 – Massey Air Museum, 33541 Maryland Line Road, Massey, MD, 21650

46th Potomac Antique Aero Squadron Antique Airplane Fly-In

46th Antique Airplane Fly-In held June 17th, 2017, conducted by the Potomac Antique Aero Squadron (PAAS) chapter of the Antique Airplane Assoc., (Former Horn Point Fly-In). Hosted by Massey Aerodrome MD1.

PAAS Contact: Mike Strieter 301-440-5294, Email: strieterstinson@verizon.net VOLUNTEERS WANTED for next year! This is your opportunity to get involved in a good group with a fine history.

Yes, the weather hurt us again with only 20 planes flying in, but as you’ll see by the pictures below, it was still a very satisfying day. Heavy fog early became a low ceiling until we started seeing some blue patches around 10:30. It’s often the case that there will be weather around us while we remain dry. Helen Woods was the first to arrive – in a Searey from Bay Bridge, she said she made it by following the river at 100’ (hopefully an exaggeration). Planes trickled in and finally the eventual award winners arrived with Mike Pangia’s Bird bringing up the rear. PAAS postponed ending the judging to accommodate the stragglers. Many locals drove in, filling up the parking lot and keeping the Millington Fire company food stand busy. The weather cleared from the south with the heavy rains well north of us in PA. Joe Flood made it from South Jersey in his RV-4, I can’t believe he does it in 15 minutes though. Eventually the sun came out, surprising some of us with a real sunburn.

Massey Aerodrome has initiated an award of it’s own for 2017 – The “Massey Choice Award” from the Massey Air Museum presented to the airplane that best exemplifies the Spirit of Grassroots Aviation. This is in addition to the Awards from the Potomac Antique Aero Squadron. The winner received a bottle of Chandelle Winery Aviation History Labeled Sauvignon Blanc along with a certificate thanking the recipient for honoring Massey with the presence of their beautifully restored aircraft. Started by the family of Hap Arnold, the Chandelle Winery ceased production this year after 30 years and so this is the last availability for this wine (we have stashed away a few bottles for next year and the near future).

Our choice was an easy decision, we unanimously chose the 1930 Brunner-Winkle Bird BK (N727Y), belonging to Mike Pangia of Poughkeepsie, NY. This plane has a special attraction for us because it was restored not that far from here by Joseph & Anna Fichera (Kentmoor Air Park) of Stevensville, MD. This is the actual airplane that Charles Lindbergh bought for his wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, in which to teach her to fly. It had the reputation of being an honest handling plane.

2017 PAAS Antique Fly-in Awards

Potomac Antique Aero Squadron Antique Fly-in Awards:

Antique: 1930 Brunner Winkle BIRD – Mike Pangia, based at Kentmorr Airpark, Stevensville, MD

Military: 1944 Piper J3/L4 Cub – Charles Maples, Fairfax, VA

Classic: 1950 Piper PA-18-125 – Johm/Karen Machamer, Gettysburg, PA

Classic Sweepstakes: 1946 Cessna 120 – Jeremy DeBons, Lexington Park, MD

Custom Built: 2016 Exp. PA-18 Super Cub – Paul Collins, Gambrils, MD

AAA Award: 1930 Brunner Winkle BIRD – Mike Pangia, based at Kentmorr Airpark, Stevensville, MD

Presidents Award: 1946 Fairchild 24 – Kirk Wicker, Bristow, VA

I think you’ll agree that the following pictures show what a great day it turned into, despite the threatening weather early on. Thanks to all who attended!

N57851 1937 STEARMAN, PAUL SCHLOSSER, BETHANY BEACH, DE

N7DW DEHAVILLAND DHC-1 SUPER CHIPMUNK, Mark Meredith, Rockville, MD.

N81201 FAIRCHILD 24W, KIRK WICKER, BRISTOW, VA

N1011A 1950 Piper Super Cub, JOHN MACHAMER, GETTYSBURG, PA

N39991 1945 TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D, RALPH KEW, CHANTILLY, VA

N33573 1945 Piper Cub J3C-65, CHARLES MAPLES, FAIRFAX, VA.

N2168C 1954 CESSNA 195, BRIAN MCCAY, EARLYSVILLE, VA

1930 Brunner-Winkle Bird BK – Massey’s Choice Award Winner, MICHAEL PANGIA, POUGHKEEPSIE, NY

Russell Light Monoplane project donated.

Caption above: 1929 Flying & Glider Manual (Reprint of original Building and Flying Manuals published from 1929 to 1933 by Modern Mechanix and Inventions). The Russell-Henderson Light Monoplane is shown lower right on the cover.

In late June, Rusty Lowry picked up a 1929 Russell Light Monoplane project in Middletown, VT that was donated by John and Elizabeth Barton. The Russell Light Monoplane is a plans-built design dating to 1929, when the plans could be obtained through Flying & Glider Manual, The Sportplane Authority of America and other publications. It was intended to use a converted 4-cylinder Henderson motorcycle engine for power and built of wood with wire bracing much like a World War I Jenney. Covered with fabric, the Russell was relatively easy and inexpensive to build though it was never intended for tall people to fly it as it is really small! Our example, although never completed (fuselage structure & wings only, no fabric or engine), was in storage for more than 80 years but the wood is still in great condition.

Henderson was a manufacturer of 4-cylinder motorcycles from 1912 until 1931. They were one of the largest and fastest motorcycles of their time. Many of the Henderson “DeLuxe” engines were converted by the Heath Airplane Company as Model B-4s which featured a modified lubrication system, different valves, and removal of the transmission. The B-4 mainly powered the small and economical Heath Parasol monoplane, which Heath sold in kit form for homebuilders in the 1920s and ‘30s. https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/heath-henderson-b-4-line-engine

Power rating: 30 hp at 3,000 rpm

Displacement: 83 cu in

Weight: 119 lb

3 Images below are of the Salmson powered Russell at the Kelch Museum, Brodhead, WI. http://www.kelchmuseum.org/collection/1932-russell-lightplane/

Massey Aerodrome – first in AOPA-Aviat Hidden Gem Airport Contest

Massey Aerodrome received the most votes in AOPA’s Hidden Gem Airport Contest sponsored by Aviat Aircraft.

June 1, 2017, AOPA announced the results of the voting with two lucky pilots receiving the prize of a four day weekend flying an Aviat Husky in the Idaho backcountry for having nominated one of the top two airports.

Thanks to all of Massey’s friends and Museum Members who voted, we look forward to getting recognition in the AOPA magazine. Thanks to Jeff Auen for nominating Massey, Jeff owns an AirCam based in Essex, Maryland. Let’s face it there was no “luck” involved, we wanted it and we got it – even if it’s only the “Bragging Rights.” Jeff Auen is a Member of the Massey Air Museum and a good friend of Massey Aerodrome (plus an outstanding builder of a beautiful Air Cam). He is a worthy winner! The contest ran on AOPA’s Facebook page in May and asked pilots to submit their favorite Hidden Gem airport with a brief description of why they loved it, plus a few photos.

2016 Museum Chatter (Jan. 2017)

New Museum Models

Massey’s Mission to promote Grassroots Aviation includes illustrating the history of aviation in our region especially Maryland and Delaware with emphasis on the “Golden Age of Aviation” as well as the immediate post WWII era.

In June 2016 we accepted two large scale (1:5) models that enhance this mission.

Ron Board of Bridgeville, DE has loaned the Massey Air Museum his replica 1940 Fairchild 24W-40 w/Warner Scarab engine built by Gene Hannah of Montgomery Alabama: 1/5 scale R/C, 91” wingspan, weight 18 lbs. (actual aircraft size: 36 ft 4 in wingspan, Length: 23 ft 10 in). The model F-24 was produced from 1932 ($3,360) until 1946 ($8,500).

Fairchild became a Maryland aircraft manufacturer when in 1929, Sherman Fairchild purchased a majority stock interest in Kreider-Reisner Aircraft Company of Hagerstown, Maryland. The company moved to Hagerstown in 1931 from Farmingdale, NY. A Fairchild 71 monoplane, the Virginia, was taken as one of three aircraft by Richard E. Byrd on his 1928–1929 expedition to the South Pole. Aircraft production was ended in Hagerstown, Maryland in 1984. Among other models, Fairchild produced the model 24 (2232), PT-19/PT-23/PT-26 “Cornell” WWII trainers (6397), C-119 “Flying Boxcar” (1183), C-123 “Provider” (307) and most famously the A-10 “Thunderbolt II” (716).

Dick Stewart of Newark, DE donated this large scale R/C model of famous 1935 Air Racer “Mister Mulligan” NR273Y. Ben Howard and “Mister Mulligan” were the only pilot and aircraft to capture both the Bendix and Thompson trophies in the same year when they did so at the 1935 National Air Races in Cleveland, OH. — Dick Stewart of Newark, DE donated this large scale R/C model of famous 1935 Air Racer “Mister Mulligan” NR273Y.

Ben Howard and “Mister Mulligan” were the only pilot and aircraft to capture both the Bendix and Thompson trophies in the same year when they did so at the 1935 National Air Races in Cleveland, OH.

The DGA-6 (first flown in 1934) was the only racer of the thirties that had the distinction to be developed into a successful production aircraft for both the civil and military market (Howard DGA-8 through DGA-12).

NR273Y, the only DGA-6 built, was powered by an 850 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp S.E. nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine (DGA stood for “Damn Good Airplane”). In the 1936 Bendix race the aircraft lost a propeller blade and crash-landed in New Mexico, USA, Howard and his wife were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

It was the only airplane ever designed for the specific purpose of winning the Bendix Trophy. The plane was designed and developed by Ben Howard and Gordon Israel , who later became an engineer for the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. Mister Mulligan was designed to fly the entire length of the race nonstop and at high altitude. Neither had ever been done before. Mister Mulligan won the trophy, and thus changed the way in which long distance airplanes were designed.

The Bendix Trophy was a cross-country race from the west coast to the site of the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio, and typically was the starting event of the week-long aviation festival. The Thompson Trophy was awarded to the winner of the unlimited division in closed-course pylon racing at the National Air Races.