Wings On, Day 1

[Airplanejunkie]

Attaching Wings at the Eagles Mere Air Museum, with apologies in advance for my lack of skills with the camera.

Thunderbird Before:

After:


KR 31 before:


Progress


And after

[Canso42]

Good pix from where I sit. Could you id the airplanes please? Gotta have some interesting history behind them too.

[Airplanejunkie]

The first one is a 1928 Thunderbird

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This particular aircraft was used, among other things, to test a early parachute recovery system. The engine was stopped and a parachute deployed from a specially constructed compartment in the upper wing. Interestingly, when we were assembling the airplane we found remains of the parachute deployment system in one of the struts.

The second is a Kreider Reisner KR 31

I do have some more info and history that I will post soon.....

[BigGrey]

Is that Thunderbird the one that was offered in the estate sale in Iowa last year? I liked the looks of that plane and kind of had my eye on it for a while.

Les

[Airplanejunkie]

Yes. All of 5 of the "wings on" airlanes came from the Trone estate. The "Swanson" that was under restoration was also acquired (six airframes total.)

Additionally, the owner acquired the majority of the engines from that same collection.

They will be on public display and flown when the weather gets nice and plans are firmed up.

Best Regards,

Steve