This technique is specifically for a wing that calls for metal ribs. I have posted another video on my site about making wooden ribs. The airplane you are building dictates whether you use wooden ribs or metal ribs as well as the dimensions of the ribs in order to accommodate the weight the entire wing needs to be able to carry.

Thank You!

Yes it is a real Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine originally manufactured in 1926. Many folks sitting at their computers in the comfort of their homes probably have the same idea about the quality of the video presented ... though it was not taken on an iPhone ... since they were not in the field on any of the days we actually got to fly the bird. Easy to be an armchair quarterback with 20/20 hindsight critiquing something they are not a part of and therefore not understanding with a first hand knowledge what the obstacles are that we confront when we fly 🙃 Not sure where you obtained your information about the detailed plans for Lindberg's plane and the "exact replicas" made by Ryan Air. There was only ONE more Ryan NYP built after the Spirit of St. Louis and that airplane was sold to a newspaper in Japan where it crashed shortly after it was received in 1927 and was never rebuilt. In actuality there are no fully, complete, detailed plans available for the one and only Ryan NYP.

Thank You! It is all a "learning experience" and it is doing it over and over again that helps us perfect the art. Keep at it and best of luck to you as you continue to learn!

A wing and a prayer are exactly what Charles Lindbergh used to cross the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris in 33.5 hours in May 1927 ... using only the instruments you see on the panel in front of Ron in this video 😉

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to share that bit of additional information on the tack hammer! It may help others be able to locate one for their own use.

Thank You! Yes, we are blessed to have such a skilled pilot in command of the Spirit of St. Louis by JNE.

No! We have never flown with more than about 36 gallons of fuel in the center section fuel tank. There is no need to carry all that extra fuel in the other four tanks simply to fly around the field during the Phase One Flight Testing phase of our flight testing on this airplane!

The big block is going into a roadster (along the lines of a '32 Ford) that John is building from scratch!

Thanks Don! Sweet of you to say!

Thank you so much!

Thank You!

Folks will be looking for the "how to" videos on KZbin to figure out the "old ways" when the "old folks" who used the "old ways" are no longer around! We spoke of this before John's father passed and lamented that we would no longer be able to call him up and say, "I've got an issue I just can't figure out. How would YOU fix [insert the issue]?" Thanks for taking the time to watch the video and for commenting. We hope more folks who know the "old ways" will take the time to capture the techniques on video and share them with the world!

It's the exact same rib that was used on the Spirit of St. Louis. That jig was donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum and they used to have volunteers making ribs to sell as a fund raiser for the museum. We purchased ribs from them when we built the Spirit of St. Louis by JNE replica. John had to make a few extra ribs, so he used one of the ribs produced by the volunteers to make the jig he used in this demonstration. Thanks for taking the time to watch the video!

@@JNEAircraft Thanks for the info!

Thank You so much for taking the time to comment! We appreciate that!

Thank You so much! We appreciate you taking the time to comment.

I'll try to remember that the next time I capture his work on video!

The nails are 1/4 - 3/8" long and they are brass coated, glue nails. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find these specific nails anymore. Those that John used in the video were from a stock we purchased more than 20-years ago.

The sheet is .025. Thanks for watching!

Thank You for watching! Glad you were able to glean some new information from watching the video!

Thank You for your kind words. We've talked about possibly providing some "lost arts" seminars for interested individuals to attend at some point in the future ... but until John stops taking on projects, I simply don't know where he will find the time to add seminars to his schedule!

Thank You for watching!

I have no idea how many years YOU have been building and restoring aircraft to airworthy condition that satisfies the FAA inspectors, but by all means if this method concerns you, do NOT try to replicate what John has created here. You are correct, there certainly are right ways and wrong ways to make ribs and every other part that an airplane requires in order to fly safely. If this method makes you uncomfortable, do NOT utilize it when making your own ribs. If you are EVER in doubt be sure to double check your own preferred method with your local FSDO officials.

The only stupid question is the question that doesn't get asked when you really want to know! The weight of the ribs are about equivalent between wood and metal, but there ARE variables depending on the moisture content of the wood. These metal ribs ARE stronger than wood or even regular "stamped" metal ribs. The wing sustaining a higher "G" force has more to do with the rib spacing ... adding more ribs allows for higher "G" force but sturdier spars would be highly recommended in that case.

Yes, the aluminum DOES shrink ... about the height of the bead (or crease) you are rolling into it; so you will want to make allowance for that width in the material when you lay it out. Thanks for watching!

@@JNEAircraft thanks for taking the time to answer.

You're welcome, @@amtpdb1. It sometimes takes me a few days, but I try to get every question answered as quickly as possible. I think we all appreciate it when we get our questions answered.

Thank you for taking the time to comment! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

You're welcome! Thanks for commenting!

Yes! They are 985 Pratt & Whitney, 218 cubic inch. cylinders. John got that far on the custom motorcycle he built from scratch ... and then took on a 1942 Hawker Hurricane restoration project and all forward progress on the bike came to a screeching halt! LOL. Maybe one of these days when he stops working on airplanes, he'll get back to the bike. In the meantime, she's pretty content right there in the cubby watching all the activity taking place around her!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

That's what it's all about! Sharing techniques to inspire others to be creative so they can do their own projects without having to hire outside help if it's not necessary! Glad you felt inspired after watching this little video clip! Thanks for letting us know!

It only helps while on the ground. It's useless for take off or landings as there is no depth perception using it. But, at least the pilot can know for certain there is nothing in front of him while on the ground!

Some people think it is ugly, and some people think it is beautiful! All in the "eyes of the beholder"! But I think we can all agree it is a plane with a lot of history! Thanks for commenting!

Not sure what you are asking? Is WHAT by specs?

@@JNEAircraft I assume he means "according to the original specifications", i.e. is it exactly as it was, or is it modified.

@@JNEAircraft To design and construction specs/specifications. In other words an exact copy. Things like fuel tanks. frame, skin and instruments. Would it be able to make the trans Atlantic flight.

This is the most authentically accurate reproduction "Spirit of St. Louis" that has ever been built. There were no plans drawn for the original, but we were able to gain access to the original when it was on the floor in 2015 where we took measurements, photographs and tracings in order to ensure our replica was as accurate as we could possibly get it. More information about the build is on our website : www.jneaircraft.com ~ and more details are provided in the documentary "A Dream Takes Flight" which will be publicly available sometime next year.@@brettbuck7362

Yes, it was constructed to "specs." It is as exact as it can possibly be. All 5-fuel tanks are constructed like the originals and are installed in the aircraft. The fuselage frame is the same as the original. The wings, tail feathers, and cockpit area of the fuselage are covered with Grade "A" cotton and the aft fuselage is covered with linen just as the original is since she landed at Le Bourget and the French Government replaced the aft fuselage fabric with linen after it was damaged upon landing in 1927. This airplane is equipped with all the same instruments the original was, including the Earth Induction Compass. This plane is capable of making the Trans-Atlantic flight again if anyone wanted to purchase the plane and make that journey! We have made a removable tail-wheel that attaches to the tail-skid that Lindbergh used in order to be able to take off and land on tarmac, but we put the skid off when on static display so people can see it in original configuration. We also use a removable forward facing camera in order for the pilot to know there is nothing in front of him on the taxi / runway when we fly. It is useless for landing though because there is no depth perception with the camera. @@nightwaves3203

Certainly if you don't know what you're doing!

It would, wouldn't it!

Oh no! Please don’t sell her! This airplane belongs either to you guys ( the builders) or a museum. It’s to precious to risk being sold to someone who may or may not care for it as much as you guys do.

We'd love to see her go to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, or some other museum where she could be seen and appreciated ... but that requires a desire on THEIR part to have her! In the meantime, she will be tucked away and only brought out from time to time as our own time and finances can afford to provide. Which means she WON'T be seen or appreciated as much as if she were in a museum somewhere! @@brianskeens647

In order to accommodate the size of the fuel tank necessary to carry the amount of fuel required to make that flight. There was absolutely nobody else flying across the ocean to be concerned with in 1927 when the flight took place, so the only time he might have needed forward visibility was during take off and landing. That was accomplished by looking out the side windows on take off and by slipping it in on landing ... just as our pilot does with this replica.

Thanks for sharing!

In order to build this plane authentic to the original, "YES".

Something special about that sound!