Here is a video of my plane starting up during the pre buy. We had to replace the battery but I love the sound of that Jake coming to life!

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Ha0Wx-pXgqg[/youtube]

And a quick low pass!

[youtube]http://youtu.be/KF0Owk5noJs[/youtube]

I have not flown one. Yet.

Waco Classic is manufacturing new ones based mostly on the old type certificate. Peter Bowers at WC probably knows as much about the type as anyone. He's a great guy and would suggest talking to him.

It's a beautiful biplane. Light, quick, aerobatic. Not as comfortable as a Waco but not built for the same purpose.

Florian,

There are certainly a lot more mechanics around that know their way around flat engines than round ones. Fortunately there are some and they aren't all grey haired. There are two well known and respected shops that specialize in the engine, one of which is 30 miles from my hangar.

There is a huge store of parts and hundreds of surplus engines available.

Actually, after the war, and for many years, the "manufacturer" of the engine was Page Industries located at Clarence Page Airport in Oklahoma City.

The engine is fairly simple and I suspect that a competent AI with a good engine manual could work on a radial without a lot of time spent getting up to speed.

While the metallurgy or perhaps even the technology of the engine may not match that of an IO 360 neither can the IO 360 match the romance, or even the beauty, of the the R 755. It is, in itself an work of art. There is functionality to a modern aircraft engine. But covered by it's cowling it offers nothing to the senses but noise.

A radial, like the Jacobs, is inspiring to look at. It is mischievous in the ways it spits on you, catches your knuckles or snorts on start up. The sound it makes is melodious on the ground and calming in the air. Until it burps! The famous Jake burp when it quits running. Just momentarily. To make sure you're paying attention.

When I look at a biplane with a sharp nose it's a little like looking at a woman with a beautiful figure but an ugly face. It doesn't fit. A biplane, especially an open cockpit biplane, needs a radial engine on the front for it's lines to fit. There are lots of more modern designs, made to fit modern engines. And they have a place, like a Prius in a compact parking space.

But they lack the beauty of design that gives pleasure every time the hangar door rolls back in the same way that a radial does. One doesn't buy a biplane for practical transportation anymore. You buy it to transport you. Not to another place but to another time.

That is worth the trouble to find a Doctor when you need one.

Call John Walkup out in Chandler, AZ. His flight school has been using them for years doing tailwheel and aerobatic instruction. His website:

http://aerobatics.com/

Call John Walkup out in Chandler, AZ. His flight school has been using them for years doing tailwheel and aerobatic instruction. His website:

http://aerobatics.com/

Here's one of my little daughter and me leaving a fly-in last summer.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Zm-WgT9JHes[/youtube]

Anybody here going to this?

I am going to make every effort. I've tried the last 2 years and haven't been able to. It looks like a nice fly in.

I'd like to go as well. But, 383nm in a Waco...

There is NOTHING that sounds as sweet as a round engine, especially when it coughs and belches on start-up!

My Acrosport II that I built a several years ago.My son snapped this shot just as the tail was about to come up ! I thought flying a Beech was fun,but this was a Hoot !

That would be FUN!

I'm thinking about going to OSH in mine. It's about the same distance. If I do I would make sure I had a couple extra days to deal with the wx. After about 2 hours or so I'm ready to get out and stretch.

It is better now that I've solved for the noise and radio clarity. And experience in the pilot's seat helps...I have more freedom to stay on course now that I'm not as boogered by crosswinds.

Coming back from Fred's place last Spring with all of five hours in the airplane, I was looking for airports with runways running in all directions...

Maybe I ought to come to OKC one evening, have a nice dinner, and fly formation with you the next morning up to Kansas...break the trip up a little.

That would be great !

Now, I just need to drag my retired AI to the airport to get the annual done! It's gonna be 80 degrees this weekend! And my annual isn't even started...