Hi All, Today was my last day in Virginia so I got to go flying with Willis, John Tate, and Steve Fitton! The wind was really up so we all went off to see a fantastic WWII Air Museum where in was stored a Hurricane, a P-51D, a P=39, a Moska, a Devistator, and an SBD not to mention an authentic Nazi Buzz Bomb! There was much more but I forget fast at this advanced age! Any way Willis too has an AFR Nobler in need of a nose job and as the two of us chatted we determined that two sheets of 5 ply birch aircraft plywood should be adequate to reinforce the front end to accept an RC type motor mount. The sandwich will be fore and aft of the original firewall with 6/32 bolts and blind nuts to attach the RC unit. I also plan to brace up the front end just a bit but expect to use the original cowell or a replacement for the same with the same. I never had any trouble with it over 3 full seasons of use. Once I get into this I'll try to post a picture or two of it!
After returning to the field Steve and I did fly a bit. The wind was still brisk but both his P-40 AND my old FW 190, both sporting LA .46's, negotiated the winds well. Wellis left me use his 11 X 7 3 blade MAS prop which helped quite a bit. Ten years ago he gave me this plane...today he gave me the prop! What great friends I am so lucky to enjoy!
Phil Spillman