1st N3N fly-in ever!!

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:25 pm

Just wanted the wixers to know that a small grass roots effort to have a N3N gathering is about to happen.

AUG 9 in Longmont Colorado.

Should be as many as 6 N3N's will be there. If any of you guys are close, stop by and check it out. I will not be there because of another commitment.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:43 pm

For those of you that dont know what a N3N is, here is a pic

This is a pretty big deal, I dont think their has been more than 3 in one location.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:45 pm

Oh yeah.................a Stearman with big tires. Just kidding I love the N3N.

Jiggersfromsphilly · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:15 pm **Posts:** 951

How about Mustin Field in South Philly?

Just kidding!

Thats great I hope it grows with the years.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:52 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:

Oh yeah.................a Stearman with big tires. Just kidding I love the N3N.

HAHA

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:56 pm

Here is our bird, I was hoping to get up to VT this weekend for the annual insp but I am driving up monday and will be there for 2 weeks. We are going to do a bunch of flying next weekend..........cant wait!!

Also another note, our airplane was featured in the 2nd week issue of the NAVY TIMES. Pretty cool, not 2 days out in circulation, we were contacted by one of the mechanics that worked on them at Annapolis in 1959. For him, his saddest day in the Navy was when he recieved the orders to take them apart and put them on a barge to Norfolk for Auction.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:57 pm

You probably wish you had a nickel for everybody you heard call it a Stearman at airshows. Most people couldn't tell a Mustang from a Wildcat so they think all bi-planes are the same.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:57 pm

Jeff, that is a beautiful ride man.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:00 pm

Obergrafeter wrote:

You probably wish you had a nickel for everybody you heard call it a Stearman at airshows. Most people couldn't tell a Mustang from a Wildcat so they think all bi-planes are the same.

You have no idea!!!! My family has owned it since 1969. My wife was looking at my dads log book last week while we were in VT, it so happens that she found the 1st flight entry. We have been flying her for 33 yrs last week.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:32 pm

Jiggersfromsphilly wrote:

How about Mustin Field in South Philly?

Just kidding!

Thats great I hope it grows with the years.

I would love to see a N3N return home. There is plenty of the old runway left to do it but I doubt that PHL ATC would like it.

Eventually some day I would like to go there. Most of the old factory buildings are still in use today.

Neat story.

My uncle had delivered a C-45 to his private airstrip in VT by flat bed. To take it off the 45 deg frame work, my uncle hired a guy with a boom truck. The guy brought his dad who was into airplanes all his life. After we unloaded the beech, we showed him the inside of the hangar. Instantly he pointed at the airplane in the corner, "Hey thats a N3N" he shouted. He then began the stories on how he worked at the Naval Aircraft Factory in 1940. He also told me that every once in a while, he would hop in a test flight for a ride.

I am trying to get him back to the airfield in July for a ride.

yakdriver · **Joined:** Mon May 17, 2004 11:58 am **Posts:** 127

Jeff, Have you ever come across my old ride N3N N1120. It is in Coast Guard colors and has an original cowl. It is in Upstate NY. Don

Ryan Keough · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:12 am

N3Njeff wrote:

Obergrafeter wrote:

Oh yeah.................a Stearman with big tires. Just kidding I love the N3N.

HAHA

I actually thought it was a really slow Waco that's painted like a Stearman

How many N3Ns are out there flying with the speed ring? I really like the look of them like that. I constantly pass by the collection of hulks down here at Falcon Field and think about rustling one up as a project... of course, I think about doing that with one of the BT-13's Kropp has and... well... I only THINK because my wallet doesn't HAVE :-)

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:15 am

Ryan,
I believe there have been 3 with the speed ring and the Wright 760. The most common one is the one out of islip NY. I think the other 2 are in hiding or the ring has been removed. In military service, they were all removed because the increase of cruise by 3 mph did not outway the visibility it reduced.

I would love to see you pick up one of those projects at Falcon Field. I would also love more pics and any info you can find on their identity. I am still working on the registry for the WIX site.

krlang · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:19 pm

Just found this on the NTSB list.....

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 991PT Make/Model: N3N Description: N3N
Date: 06/27/2008 Time: 2124

Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Minor

LOCATION
City: ODESSA State: TX Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON LANDING, WENT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A RAILROAD
TIE, ODESSA, TX

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
Activity: Ferry Phase: Landing Operation: OTHER

FAA FSDO: LUBBOCK, TX (SW13) Entry date: 06/30/2008

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

What a beautiful airplane.

How many N3N's are currently airworthy?

I have Stearman time, but have never flown in an N3N. In flight, how does it compare to a Stearman?

Is the rudder pretty effective? That thing is HUGE!

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1st N3N fly-in ever!!

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