Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: avionix on January 16, 2009, 08:46:07 AM

Title: Oldest Boeing Airliner In "Like Brand New" Flying Condition
Post by: avionix on January 16, 2009, 08:46:07 AM

Something else that was sent to me.  Great looking airplane.

This is as it should be - passengers in closed cabin, pilot in open cockpit so he will stay awake. The airplane is in Spokane, WA, and is the oldest flying Boeing in the World.

After 8 years and 8,000 hours of toil the Boeing 40C rolled out last winter as a finished airplane. They had to wait a few weeks for the snow to melt to fly this baby. They received their Standard Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA and completed the engine pre-oil and fuel flow tests for the first of the taxi tests.

Facts for the Boeing 40 project:

221½ gallons of dope/reducer and 120 yards of 102 ceconite fabric. 12 gallons of poly urethane paint for the sheet metal. The wings have 33,000 individual parts in them. The airplane weighs 4080 lbs empty, has a gross weight of 6075 lbs. It is 34 ft long and 13 feet tall with a wing span of 44½ feet.

Wing loading is 10 lbs per sq ft and power loading is 10 Pounds per HP. It should cruise at 115 mph using 28 GPH, and 32 GPH at 120 mph. It carries 120 gallons of fuel in three tanks.

350 - 2 inch brushes were used to apply 6 gallons of West Systems epoxy, and 181 rolls of paper towels for cleanup.

There were a total of 62 volunteers who worked on the project to some degree. 21 of the volunteers did a significant amount of work, and 9 of the volunteers worked continuously during the 8 year project.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3201681990_3101dac4e9_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3201682070_fa522e85a4_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3200837293_e06c202a9e_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3201681974_bf61cd1c3a_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3201682028_2e38889d2b_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/3201682012_ca1661dc64_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3201681956_e77eeffbef_m.jpg)

Title: Re: Oldest Boeing Airliner In "Like Brand New" Flying Condition
Post by: Sabre on January 16, 2009, 10:11:34 AM

That looks totally awesome.  Do you have the link to the site?  Thanks for posting it.

Sabre

Title: Re: Oldest Boeing Airliner In "Like Brand New" Flying Condition
Post by: avionix on January 16, 2009, 10:36:55 AM

Most of the pics I get are from customers that send them to me.  They know that I am into the antique and military aircraft.  Unfortunaely, they don't send me the links, only the pics.  Need to quit helping them out until they do.   :D

*edit* Spoke to soon.  Did a general search and here is the website. 

http://www.vintageaircraft.org/news/2008%20-%2002_21%20-%20Boeing%2040C%20Flies%20For%20the%20First%20Time%20in%2080%20Years.html (http://www.vintageaircraft.org/news/2008%20-%2002_21%20-%20Boeing%2040C%20Flies%20For%20the%20First%20Time%20in%2080%20Years.html)

Title: Re: Oldest Boeing Airliner In "Like Brand New" Flying Condition
Post by: Cobra516 on January 16, 2009, 05:02:03 PM

Wow, that looks like an outstanding restoration!  Too cool. 

My grandad flew mail in those for Pitcairn Aviation late 20's, then for Eastern Air Transport in the 30's.

I really want to see someone restore a DC-3 into Eastern livery, always thought that was the best looking airline paint scheme, before they went to the "hockeystick" logo.

Title: Re: Oldest Boeing Airliner In "Like Brand New" Flying Condition
Post by: oakranger on January 16, 2009, 05:55:08 PM

man, them pilots had it rough.