Aeronca C2 - Wings And Things

A viewer asked about the Aeronca C2 project. It seemed like a good idea to look at progress so far. Appropriately for such a slow aircraft, it's taken quite some time! The aircraft is a recreation, using what original parts I could find. Drawings are available via Todd Trainor and the Aeronca Museum. $35 per year gives access to a lot of information.
www.aeroncamuseum.org/
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[@ericohara2582]

Had missed this one... thank you

[@edstoro3883]

Paying off the maid: Sounds familiar, I used to cut pinking tape and convert it to "5 warp thread" for the Bristol Fighter. Lots of fuzzy Stitts fabric left in the rug. Fun layovers.

[@elosogonzalez8739]

Years ago I had a ride in an Aeronca C-3. What a fun machine. It was powered by a Continental A-65. Great for the higher altitude of New Mexico. Carry on! Looks very nice.

[@edwardtuijl7517]

Quite a story. Look forward to much more on the C2!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Thanks, more coming soon. I deleted your other comment,only because it was a duplicate of this one. KZbin posts twice sometimes, I blame technology 🤣

[@kirbyn2010]

i really admire your persistance! Cutting plywood in a hotel room is hilarious. Kudos to you, sir. also, thanks for making these postings.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

[@SimonWallwork]

I remember Air Southwest emerging from BRAL/ Brymon. We were all very surprised when it shut despite allegedly being very well supported from the start. Great job with the Aeronca.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Air Southwest was a great airline, probably the happiest days of my flying career. Plymouth City Council and Sutton Harbour Group should be ashamed of the subsequent debacle, still ongoing to this day. I must get on with the Aeronca!

[@tennesseered586]

Building light means building complex. Great work so far.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I think you are right. The piano wire bracing is very strong for its weight. As much as I'd like to fit more simple rod bracing, it would definitely add weight, which is unacceptable.

[@47stampe]

I did try to reply to your reply and it bounced back. Brantford is our Sunday morning go to bacon butty and tea venue. I am recently retired from the warplane museum at Hamilton. I am still involved at the museum as an engineer and museum pilot. Look me up Next time you are passing by , Rick

[@nevillesutherland6069]

I've stop-started thru this film several times, savouring the detail. You make light of the work completed to date but perusal of the parts confirms a craftsman at work. Marvellous! Those corrugated alloy ailerons are an intrigue in store.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I will probably use the British Aeronca wooden ailerons. My good pal Miles drew them up a while back for his project and, as much as I'd like to have a go at making the tin ailerons, they are unbelievably thin gauge material, not particularly easy to find in the UK; wooden ailerons will be quick and easy in comparison. Likewise, having spent a few days reviewing the wing construction, I might well simplify the drag bracing to save vast amounts of constructional nit picking and lots of turnbuckles. I do have the turnbuckles but need lots more for the next project - a biplane. If the C2 donates 30 turnbuckles to the biplane then I save myself finding an extra £2000. Simplified drag bracing will speed up wing construction by months and none of it will show once covered.

[@Volksplane1]

I made two model aircraft in my hotel room years ago. I did the sanding in the bathroom bath in the end and hosed the dust down afterwards..Dedication to the cause. Wonderful to witness this hard work and dedication being manifest in a much larger project. Great mental stamina to keep it going it must be said. Something to be very proud of.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Thank you; slow but steady progress.

[@paulslevinsky580]

That's quite an international effort

[@jeffboatright]

I'm surprised that the wings are that complex, but there it is. Thanks for the interesting presentation!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I must admit that, were I to do another set of wings, I’d simplify the drag bracing and compression ribs; would save a fortune in turnbuckles alone and weigh no more.

[@mikeparsons84]

Brilliant, Nick

[@chrisoneil8459]

Hi what an amazing story and such a rich build story!! I am in Canada and think a replica registered in our ultralight category would be amazing. Are there drawings available?

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Some drawings are available from the online Aeronca museum at www.aeroncamuseum.org it costs $35 US to join and then you can download all manner of useful stuff. The drawing list is not complete, I have produced replacements for some of the wing ribs etc. but I also have the benefit of owning the C3 for practical measurements. Good luck!

[@dcmflydude6320]

I have to keep an eye on you in case you might have a poo poo idea😀 Really looking forward to the C2 work. Thanks for these videos….Dale

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

My pleasure! Thank you for the good questions and ideas, it keeps me on my toes 😂

[@davepowell3293]

Looking at starting our Aeronca C 3, we need to make complete wings too.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Drawings available from the Aeronca museum. Lots of work but worthwhile. The main issue (for me) is space, the blighters are enormous.

[@davepowell3293]

I did get most of the drawings I need from John Houser ,years ago,I think I didn't get the compression rib drawing.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

@@davepowell3293 I can email stuff to you trecanairatgeemaildotcom

[@davepowell3293]

Just sent you a note with some photos, last night

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

@@davepowell3293 reply sent

[@kbjerke]

All good things take time! She'll be a beauty when she flies in 2025. At 1:40 - there's a darn good possibility that I installed all the nacelle hydraulics in that bird. Or ran and rigged all the control cables from the flight deck to wherever. Hope she behaved for you!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Oh yes, the mighty Dash 8, a fine machine!

[@pcka12]

How do you get all of this certified in the UK?

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Single Seat Deregulation. Self certified under those rules.

[@pcka12]

@@FlyingForFunTrecanair thanks, I didn't realise that there was such an 'open' arrangement for aircraft lighter than a bit less than 1/3 metric ton; Reading about this lead me on to the 'piloting' arrangements: how does a pilot qualify if these aircraft are strictly single seaters? I gather that you are in fact a professional pilot so flying such a small & antique type of aircraft is no issue for you, but there must be many whose ambition is limited to microlights like Henri Mignet & his flying flea.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

@@pcka12 A very pertinent question 👍 The ‘minimum’ licence to fly such a machine would be a microlight licence and with suitable differences training; in the case of the Aeronca C2, that would be a tailwheel endorsement and is the reason I operate my Thruster TST as it’s a suitable Two Seat Trainer (hence TST). I operate on an Air Transport Pilots Licence with a Single Engine Piston rating. Any licence, from Microlight to ATP, is OK. I have a bit of a thing about the Flea, content on the way! As for training on single seaters, a briefing has to suffice - or nothing.

[@pcka12]

@@FlyingForFunTrecanair so piloting can be like 'the good old days' when you climbed into it & flew it? Early aircraft where a bit of a topic when I was a boy because my Great Uncle Harold had been an RFC 'turner' posted to France & he paid for my dad to have a flight with Alan Cobham's flying Circus, so we knew about the Flying Flea & it's apparently lethal fault due to the limited separation of the wings - all things scientific being issues for discussion at home.

[@ralphjohnson4041]

Don’t all stages of the construction have to be approved by an LAA inspector? Can’t have been easy in Abu Dabi!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

It's officially a 'microlight' and just fits in the 'single seat deregulated' category. No formal inspection process required although the machine must be kept in a responsibly airworthy condition.

[@marttimattila9561]

Still Nylock nut would be better solution for that Aeronca oil cap but now it is too short for that. But that makes me fee good because I could do that better.

[@loomisgruntfuttock]

Rubbish! Nyloc would be ugly; peening that thread appears to have been a much better way.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Nylock isn’t exactly vintage?

[@marttimattila9561]

There is a older fashion lock nut where the Nylon is replaced with Bakelite. That would suite the timeline. But you Englishmans seems to know everything better.