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Glynn Starley (owner & operator of SAS), Rick Pomeroy (SAS A&P) and Richard Long (resident pilot and experimental aircraft builder) are cooperating together to construct three Kelly D experimental biplanes. For some articles about the Kelly D and lots of photos of other folk's Kelly Ds, we encourage you to visit the American Hatz Association's Kelly-D Korner. We have set up the link for you, so just click on it. The AHA site is a great site to visit.
In the first photo (above, left) you can see the work bench that has been used to construct six fuselage sides for the Kelly Ds. There are several scorch marks on the bench from the tack welding that was used during the fabrication of the side frames. The bench has now been modified by adding the wooden blocks on the top and the vertical supports at the end to serve as jigs for the further construction of the fuselages. In the second photo (above, right) Rick and Glynn are placing the first fuselage side on the bench.
In the third photo (above, left) Bill Stair (SAS mechanic), Rick, and John Gormican (SAS A&P) are squaring up one side of the fuselage and jigging it so it will stay in place. In the fourth photo (above, right) John is reviewing the progress that has been made. Two fuselage sides are now in jigged in place and are ready to start having the top and bottom cross pieces tack welded into place. These photos were taken in the winter of 2000-20001. Do you suppose the guys would prefer a heated hanger for their work?
Above, left you can see a fuselage with the empennage center post attached. On the wall in the upper right portion of the picture you can see a collection of fabricated metal subassemblies which have been painted gray. Above right you can see one of the vertical stabilizer assemblies. Since these photos were taken all three fuselages have been constructed and fully welded. In addition all of the empennage frame elements (horizontal & vertical stabilizers, rudder, and elevators) have also been constructed and welded. All of the flat metal stock to be used in the construction of the biplanes was laid out in AutoCAD and the piece were laser cut out of large metal sheet stock by a local vendor. The AutoCAD work is done by another Bob White resident pilot and friend. He has certainly earned the right to try his hand at flying the Kelly Ds once they are complete! Many of these flat stock pieces along with tubing have been welded together to make most of the subassemblies of the aircraft like rudder pedals and various hinges. As these subassemblies are completed they are sand blasted, primed, and painted. Go to the next page for more. Last updated on July 24, 2004 |
