Fuselage cleaning

Everything on the fuselage is now disassembled. That sounds like a lot of work, but on a Piper Cub it's really not that bad. Carefully taking notes and lots of photos to document how it all should go back in place. Then starts the fun: rubbing off the old ceconite that (no matter how carefully you take the old cover off) will stick to the tubes.

I'm very careful when it comes to using chemicals - probably too much. I asked the old guys at the airport what type of glows they used and their reply was "Glows ?...". But you should see their hands...

Found one slightly bent tube on the right side under the elevator. Will have to get this repaired and assessed by a mechanic.

Project formal approval

Due to holidays, the formal acceptance of the restoration project came only a few days ago. However, I knew the EAA had recommended it before the summer. Nevertheless, this is a final GO for the complete restoration of LN-MAV (now called "Maveric"). It's a good thing that the Norwegian CAA approves this type of projects as EAA Experimental Category. This is the only way to rebuild these wonderful old Cub's for a reasonable price tag.

Older photos of MAV

Helge Brun, previous owner and restorer, sent me some very nice photos of MAV, both before and after last restoration. I especially like the photo of MAV on ski's with the horses... What a tru norwegian winter experience! Thanks for the photos, Helge!

Status: another 5 hours and the fuselage will be completely stripped, ready for wash and a coat of paint. Wondering if I should buy new parts from Univair or if I should bid on a similar L-4J which is 70% finished... Would give me all restored firewall, cowling, struts (new), propeller... And the kit includes restored floats for J3, skis, new tires, engine in unknown condition... and a pair of newly covered wings. Tempting. I might give a bid.

New leather seats arrived from Don, new canvas slings as well. Got an extra 2 inches put into the rear seat so I can see better. Plywood floor and shelf will be made soon. Must get some paint soon, with the original Olive Drab color. Summer holiday now so I should get some more time.

Garage has become hangar!

The garage is now converted to hangar. However, my wife insisted on space for her car, but she never bothers to drive into the garage anyway... :-)  Having the aircraft at home is the only way I can throw in a little time every day. I have a 25 min drive to the airport, so then an hour is lost in driving only.

Part by part is now coming off while taking photos so I can get it all back in the same way! Will soon start to rub off the remains of the old seconite.

..and the new panel will look real nice!

Engine comes off

Restoration is initially a backward process... the airplane will look less and less like an airplane for a while now. And then right at the end, it all (hopefully) comes together!

For a software engineer like me, there is something "masculine" about removing a C90 engine without the help of a professional mechanic! :-)  The Piper Cub is said to be a simple airplane, but there is still a lot of wires and stuff going through the firewall. But, it was easy and now the engine is at the local workshop Aeromech where it will be overhauled later this year. Lets hope there is no corrosion found... At least it runs smooth. With the engine off, the fuselage is now just short enough to fit on my garage at home. Will shortly bring it home where I will be able to do a little each day. Things are looking good!

13157 Build Sheet

Today I received the build sheet from Clyde Smith Jr. in the mailbox (thanks to Clyde for being such a fantastic resource to all restoring old Cub´s!). It´s a transcript of the original manufacturing record. It was produced and rolled out (same day? don´t think so...) on December 9th 1944, signed out by D. Snyder. Now I can check if the original fuselage and wings are still on, or if major parts has been replaced during the years. The original C65 engine is changed to a C90, as with most L-4´s around today. Yet another piece of the big puzzle is now in place!

Cub bear & x-rays...

My daughters Ingelin and Linnéa thought I could need a "lucky-bear" in my Cub...

One of more than 20 x-ray images taken by AIM Norway, the company that performs heavy maintenance for the Norwegian Air Force. They spent 5-6 hours including report and documentation package! Great job, so much easier than cutting into the tubes.

Back from X-Ray corrosion check

Picked up MAV today from the military side of Kjeller airport. They took more than 20 X-Ray images of selected tubes and joints. Conclusion: No significant corrosion! Infact, almost nothing at all. Will try to scan and post some examples of the X-ray images soon.
Very happy for the result! And, my quick-fix to pull the L-4 worked very well!

Removing lower fabric

After engine warmup once again, it was time to start preparing for the x-ray corrosion check. It feels terribly wrong to put a sharp knife against aircraft fabric... at least if you´ve never done it before. I invited a good friend, Knut, who is a qualified glider technician. He was keen as anyone on removing cover! If I had´nt stopped him ti would only be a skeleton left.

We started making a long split under the fuselage. By gently using the hands, the fabric came off easily from the bottom tubes. It´s hard to tell, as little experience as I have, but I thought the tubes looked remarkably "fresh" considering it´s more than 30 years since they last had sunshine. With some luck, Maverick is off for x-ray by the military F-16 maintenance facilities this week. Will bring over the wing struts too for x-ray once they´re at it. Will be very exciting to see the result. Heaven or hell. :-)

Testpilot found!

What a find! And I was getting worried how to get hold of an ice cool test pilot who would remain calm whatever happened on that first flight. I think I´ll call him "Iceman".
Iceman in a small L-4.

45-4417 Military Records

The following email was received this morning, confirming that "Maverick" (LN-MAV) was used in real WWII missions. I´m very grateful to AFHRA and the free work that the friendly archivists do over there, thanks!!

Dear Mr. Johnsen

Thank you for your request.  Attached is a copy of the assignment record for the L-4J, s/n 45-4417.

According to the records, this aircraft was delivered on 20 Dec 1944 and shipped to Europe by sea, via Horsehead and Elmira NY.  It arrived in France on 26 Dec 1944 and assigned to the US Army Ground Forces (not the USAAF.)  It was declared surplus on 28 Aug 1946 and transferred to Norway on 15 Apr 1947.  This is all we have on its assignments.

For information on markings and colors, we recommend you contact the National Air & Space Museum archives at the site address listed below.


http://airandspace.si.edu/research/arch/


Sincerely
ARCHIE DiFANTE, Archivist
AFHRA/RSA
600 Chennault Circle 
Maxwell AFB AL 36112 USA
(334) 953-2447
DSN 493-2447

Perfect J3 restoration

Great inspiration! Take a look at Steve Young´s J3, that´s quality restoration!
http://youtu.be/7d04DkIRPCo

Second engine startup

Delighted to see how easy the engine started the next day (second time started). Warmed it for about 10 minutes. Will repeat this a few times before I hand the engine over to the local mechanic. I think it might look better inside after some regular use.
See the startup video clip here

IT STARTED!!!!

After some attempts... All these C90 engines has their individual little secrets. Will try again, perhaps tomorrow to see if it starts easier then.

1980 photo of LN-MAV

This is the only photo Google comes up with when searching for "LN-MAV". It´s taken in
Leicester (EGBG) 5th July 1980 by Dave Mangham. As a curiosity, I turned 8 years old the next day after this picture was taken... The previous owner (Eidar) has an old newspaper clip of this aircraft flying Norway´s prime minister Mr. Borten to his hunting lodge in the norwegian mountains. So even if I don´t find any records of WWII missions, at least it´s been a "VIP plane" for the norwegian government in the late sixties. :-) I´ll try to get a scanned copy of that article.