DH-4 and the Liberty V-12

[astixjr]

I have always wanted to hear the sound of a V-12 Liberty engine translated through fifteen feet of dual exhaust pipes. This would have been the sound some of the early mail pilots would have heard before most of them did away with the long straight pipes. Thanks to Glen Peck at Creve Coeur Airport, I finally got a chance to hear that sound on Saturday. It only lasted for about ten seconds but let me tell you guys, it sure sounded good.

The short run was due to a failure of the oil sump/pump housing. Ouch! So, if any of you WIXers know of somebody with a spare for this item as well as a spair set of points, one of ours is in bad shape, we would be very greatful for the help. The plane was about one week away from the FAA sign off for test flights but until we find some parts, it's grounded. I'll try to post a photobucket video mpg link of the brief engine run this week.

[APG85]

Ouch! That's a shame...

[Obergrafeter]

Better to happen now than in the air. Oouch is right.

[MSchindler]

"Oil Out" is right! Can you weld that crack up or is that piece a writeoff? What is the aircraft?

Matt

[astixjr]

Matt,
It was welded back together and has since run for about 20 minutes without any further problems. At least as far as the oil system goes. The 80 year old, but freshly overhauled radiator has become the next problem. It's leaking like a noodle strainer. This is a DH-4M2A, a Atlantic Aircraft (Fokker) modification of the wood fuselage DH-4B. Both Boeing and Fokker's U.S. division built (maybe rebuilt would be a better word) steel tube fuselage versions of the wood fuselage post war DH-4Bs. The engines, wings, tails, and most other components were taken from the DH-4Bs. Boeing built more steel tube versions than Fokker and the Boeing looked just like the wood fuselage version. The Fokker fuselage is a bit "taller" than the Boeing or DH-4B model. As far as we can determine, the Fokker model was built in smaller numbers but served longer in military service. This one is painted in the Robertson Flying Service CAM 2 scheme, like the one's Lindbergh flew in St Louis before flying the NYP to Paris.

[MSchindler]

Thanks for the information. It looks like a great plane and I am sure will be even nicer once it gets back in the air. Good luck with getting everything sorted out.

Matt

[MSchindler]

Albert, one more question, this one from my wife. I am restoring a 1931 Curtiss Wright Travel Air model 12W. I still have quite a bit to do before it is airworthy, but we have been looking at colors. She really likes your color and would like to know what the fuselage color is. Do you have a manufacturer/name or a color formula?

Matt

[astixjr]

Matt,
Glen Peck was able to do some research on the colors that Robertson used and he also scanned the color on a scrap of fabric from one of Robertson's DH-4. It has been said that Robertson used a "Tuscan Red" for the fuselage and silver on the wings. We have some Beryloid color samples from this period that also helped sort out the most likely shade of dark red. I can get the formula from Glen but I may be able to help you find some original Curtiss Wright colors, I think the model 12s were built here in St. Louis. What engine did yours have when built? Thanks,

*The DH-4 went out for for a short walk this evening. It's getting very close to being ready for test flights. It might even make some high speed runs down the runway by the end of next week.

[MSchindler]

Albert,

Thank you for the information. Actually, from what I can tell, my airplane was built in Wichita. Mine was the first 12W built (s/n 12W-2002 since they did sequentail serial number for all 12 models, 12Q with the Wright Gypsy, 12W with 125 Warner, and 12K with Kinner) My aircraft was originally registered as X434W (I have a picture with this marking) and used for flight testing for the type certificate. From the history that I have read, the Travel Air factory was down to a skeleton crew by early '31 (when mine was built) and built the first 12, 14, and 16 models. Soon after that they shut down the Wichita factory and moved everything to St. Louis.

If you can find original colors, that would be good. I have a B/W picture from when it was new below (hopefully).

[img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k230/MattS_06/CWTAX434W.jpg[/img]

Matt

[Raven]

Try this:

Matt's 'plane, working link.

Nice!

[MSchindler]

Raven,

Thanks for fixing it. What did I do wrong?

Thanks,
Matt

[Raven]

Raven,

Thanks for fixing it. What did I do wrong?

Thanks,
Matt

If I knew, I'd tell you! Your post looked fine to me.

Try editing it, reposting with the link as you've got it, but rehighlight it and click on the 'Img' button and see if that helps.

[MSchindler]

Let me try this again. I looked at the FAQ, and found that I need BBCode, and it was turned off.



That seems to have fixed it!

Sorry everyone for posting this boring stuff on here.

Matt