|
Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association CLUB NEWS  NEW L-5 WING KITS??? Non-airworthy wings and tails are the #1 reason for grounded aircraft and stalled restoration projects. There are also too many L-5's still flying with casein glue in their wings and tails, which is NOT SAFE, and many other's assembed with resorcinol glue (the good stuff) simply have wood that is too old and tired to keep going for much longer. The SOPA has formed an exploratory committee to tackle this problem and the plan is to make WING KITS and STABILIZER KITS (spars, ribs, leading edges, etc) available IF ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED to make tooling up for this effort worthwhile. We already have a manufacturer lined up to produce pre-formed leading edges, and wing spars and CNC precision cut rib blanks are in the works. Economy of scale is the key to making the kits affordable, so the more people who express a serious interest in purchasing a wing kit the greater the chance of this becoming a successful endeavor. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INDIVIDUAL L-5 BLUEPRINT DRAWINGS AVAILABLE Due to the time it takes to retrieve and process these drawings, the minimum order is $20, even if you only need one drawing. Postage and handling also applies unless you can accept them electronically over the internet. You can pay by personal check or by internet via PayPal if you wish to use a credit card. Contact Jim Gray at 602-795-0413 or send email to: akdhc2pilot@yahoo.com PERSONALIZED L-5 RESEARCH SERVICE NOW OFFERED! To enhance the information in the L-5 book currently under way (see the book announcement in the Winter 2005 newsletter), I have acquired the entire microfilm series of L-5 aircraft record cards from the AFHRA at Maxwell Air Force Base. In addition, I have had these microfilm reels digitized and put on CD, making this the only such compilation of L-5 record cards in existence. As a means of financing my book project and paying for the cost of acquiring these records, I am offering to make digital and paper copies of these Individual Aircraft Record Cards (IARC's) for club members as well as non-affiliated L-5 owners. There is a $10 fee for this service, plus printing and postage if applicable. For $25 more, I can also provide a basic summary of the coded information printed on the card. For an additional charge (see schedule below) I will do a thorough, in-depth analysis of your record card. This comprehensive review will include historical information on the units your plane was attached to and the places it went, as well as the "big picture" of how this all fit into the events of the times. Of course, this is something you could learn by spending a lot of time digging for information yourself, but little of what I provide can be found on the internet, so you would really have to know how and where to find it. Because the record cards have been digitized, I can also provide copies much faster than the AFHRA, NASM, or National Archives. Admittedly, these institutions will send you copies of your IARC for free, or for a very small fee, but it typically takes them 3-6 weeks to fill a request. Most times they will not decode the card for you, other than giving a brief statement indicating whether it stayed in the U.S. or went overseas. I can usually supply your record card in a week or less with a far more detailed description, even with my "basic" interpretation of it. The schedule of fees is as follows: A typical record card of 15 lines will cost about $100-150 for a very thorough and well-presented package In cases where there is minimal information, such as for aircraft transferred from the factory directly to the Army Ground Force or Navy, only the minimum fees will apply. Particularly difficult research projects will be charged by the hour. The information I provide will not only increase your appreciation for your airplane, it can enhance its resale value too. To receive a quote for your airplane, write, call or e-mail me with the USAAF number. Hesitant about the price? It isn't much to pay for personal research since the average in-depth report takes about 4-6 hours of my time to compile. I can e-mail a sample copy of a report before you buy if you are still skeptical. James Gray * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEW AEROMATIC PROPELLER BLADES NOW AVAILABLE! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *CAF SWISS WING L-5 photos and news can be viewed at the following link, courtesy of SOPA member Werner Meier: Website: www.caf-swisswing.ch * * * * * * * * * * HISTORIC AIRCRAFT GROUP of Italy run by SOPA member Andrea Rosetto. read news and see photos of L-5's and other antique aircraft. Website: www.hag-italy.it  L-5 BLUEPRINTS AVAILABLE ON CD-ROM !!! Thanks to the efforts of club member Duncan Cameron, the entire set of L-5 blueprints (over 2,000 drawings) has been transferred from microfilm to CD-ROM. The files are in TIFF format and can be viewed on your computer monitor or exported for editing and printing. A small database program is bundled with the set and is used to manipulate the files. The bigger drawings can be printed by anyone with a large format printer (Kinko's, for example) and the standard 'A' size drawings can be reproduced by most home units. This is another "must-have" item for anyone doing serious restoration work. NOT FOR MACINTOSH COMPUTER SYSTEMS THE PRICE FOR THIS INDISPENSIBLE 2-CD BLUEPRINT SET IS $200(plus postage)for club members, and $275 for non-members. Copies are now ready for shipping. To order, call Jim Gray at 602-795-0413or send an e-mail to akdhc2pilot@yahoo.com. * * * * * * * * *  |