Warbird Information Exchange

Any L-5's out there. Got some questions. Thinking about buying a L5 project.

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

I've got an USMC OY-1 (L-5E-1). Forgotten Field has an L-5E. And Jim Gray - SOPA (Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association) President and has multiple L-5's.

What's the question? I'm sure one of us can help.

Projects are great, but incomplete projects are NOT. 3300 L-5's of all types were built during WWII. Some spare parts were built after WWII to support Korean War Aircraft, but spares and hard to find parts are as hard to find as P-51 parts, or probably worse, as I have owned more P-51 spares in my short time as a parts dealer than L-5 spares and I actively look for them. Jim Gray is a VERY knowledgeable owner and runs the Sentinel Owners and Pilot's Association.
http://www.sentinelclub.org
I want to say this in the strongest terms: I think ownership of my L-5 would be EXPONENTIALLY more difficult without him doing what he does. My recommendation for a first stop in looking at an aircraft would be to call him. You are looking at as much work to build an L-5 as to build a Stearman or F24. My one piece of advice in buying one would be to buy one that is complete. They are a dream to fly and quite a few of them (like mine) have combat history.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

Yoosta be! Watch out for termites and dry rot... Either the wings were rebuilt or you will need to rebuild them. Mostly, when you remove the fabric they disassemble themselves (especially the leading edges of the wings).

Thanks guys. I been E-mailing Jim about some stuff and questions. One thing that is GREAT about the rare airplanes. Its the people that love them that stick together and help each other out. We have our N3N, only 816 -3's were made. We figure that there is less than 100 flying.

The only thing about the L5 that has bothered me was the woodwork. My skills are as far as my 7th grade woodshop. My uncle had offered me a beech Staggerwing project but thats WAY too much wood and too much damage after the forced landing in the 60's.

You guys recommend any parts to start finding now????

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

Hey Jeff here at the Keystone Wing of the CAF we have an L-5 as well.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'll second what John said. If it's not complete (all the necessary parts to make it fly) then you'll probably want to walk away. I've looked at projects that came with 6 of some items, and 0 of other rather important items.

I believe wing hardware (castings and lift struts) are a major stumbling block. If you don't get them with the project, you're going to be dead in the water. I've been told by a guy who rebuilt his wings that they are not hard to rebuild. Although that's probably subjective. My woodworking skills are probably at the same level as yours.

The blueprint CD's from SOPA are a good resource. You'll need them if you're going to do a project.

I have a few people keeping their eyes open for L-5 parts for me, and I have scored some good stuff, but there just isn't much out there to find anymore.

My recommendation is to make sure it is complete if you're going to buy a project. They are a wonderful aircraft to fly, and mine is happy patrolling that skies over the city where she was built 60+ years ago.

Struts, oil coolers and front dishpans are the hardest parts to find outside of right(?) cowling sections. The wing rebuilds are dead easy, other than doing the spar face plys.

Jeff: I'd trade my L-5B project for a Staggerwing project without a second thought. The wood on it isn't real complicated...maybe just bit more than the L-5. My Fairchild has probably the most complicated woodwork of anything. The front spar has something like 1200 pieces of wood and nearly 500 pieces of steel and aluminum.

To give you a good idea on skills levels, if you can properly do crown moulding on inside and outside corners, then you have enough skill to handle a wood airplane project.

just did crown molding in the living room..................glad it does not fly!

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Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005