FROM THE SCRAP BOOK
June 1994
Prepared by Lloyd Embleton
$13.00 And An Airplane Ride
Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to France in 1927, a feat that had been attempted for years without success. A few years later, during the Depression, called the dirty thirties, an airplane equipped with skis came to Harvey from Saint John and landed on the ice on Harvey Lake to do a bit of barn-storming. The airplane which held two passengers at a time took residents for a 10 minute ride costing $5.00 per person.
My school was two miles away and we had to walk – no school buses then. Some of the boys had a trap line along the way. I had about a dozen traps, mostly for weasels, getting 6 or 8 weasels per season at 25 cents each. Luckily one evening I caught a mink and sold the pelt for $13.00. I could have sent to the T. Eaton Co. and bought a coat, a pair of pants and a new pair of boots but I wanted to fly, so this is where the $13.00 went.
Flying apparently was my first love. I tried to join the Air Force as a pilot during the Second World War but was informed that first year university was necessary so I ended up in the Army – The Royal Canadian Engineers. I spent four years in England and Europe.
After the war ended I still had the urge to fly so I spent two years and finally received by Private License to fly light aircraft, which I received in 1948. Renting airplanes became a costly business so flying was shelved until 1962 when some American returned veteran pilots got a movement going to allow a person the freedom to build his or her own airplane with a final inspection before flight. Now the average Joe could build his own airplane and this regulation soon caught on in Canada. This was marvelous news for aircraft enthusiasts. By getting a set of plans the airplane was underway. There had been a few changes in licensing so I had to go back to the books and renew my license.
The airplane I was building was an all wood, fabric covered craft which took me three years and two months working my spare time to complete and fly. The wood used was Sitka Spruce and then plywood gussets glued with waterproof glue. The engine was a 100 H.P. aircraft engine which had been used. It was a thrill to say the least, and I must admit a little scary to take off for the first flight. But it did fly perfectly – hands off as they say.
There are four commonly used materials for airplane construction one being wood and plywood which was used to build the famous Mosquito bomber during the war. The wood is protected with a good varnish then covered with fabric. Then there is the 4130 steel tubing or aircraft steel welded usually with acetylene. Another is the modern aluminum using the 2024-T3 which is a tough material we call aircraft aluminum. This is folded and riveted together to form the airplane. This method is used now in factory constructed airplanes making a light weight airplane and great for the sheet metal worker. The other material used now is fiberglass, usually epoxy.
There are Chapters and Clubs in New Brunswick that normally meet one a month, usually at a home where a project is under construction. Here ideas and storytelling take place ending up with coffee and a lunch.
I found flying very relaxing after a day in the classroom. My “high” was taking someone along, flying for an hour or two over Fredericton, Woodstock, Saint John or St. Stephen and landing at another strip, taking off and being home before dark.
On the lighter side, like snow-mobiling, biking or boating, there are funny happenings to chuckle over. One incident happened during one June when I was taking members of the graduating class who wanted to have a flight over the village. I was always careful not to frighten my passengers on their first flight. While taxiing down to take off position I reached over to secure the passenger door. The passenger, looking a little frightened, said “Oh! Mr. Embleton, please don’t lock the door, I might want to jump out.”
The bottom line is if you are retired or have some spare time, are reasonably handy and are tired of looking at the television and are interested in some kind of hobby in which you can use your hands, this is a good one.
The secret for anyone building is not so much the skill because that is acquired as you progress, but the ability to finish a project. There are a number of unfinished airplanes in barns or garages. Build one part at a time, as the song says “One Day At A Time”, and only work when you feel like it. If you like working with wood go to it. Some are welders and like working with metal. Sometimes two or more get together on a project similar to the ladies quilting.
The picture here is my fifth airplane. Steel tubing is welded together and covered with Dacron. The welding is tested by the Department of Transport by cutting a sample joint in two and examining the inside to determine the penetration of the weld.
O.K. now let’s get started.
— Lloyd
Source: Rev. Bill Randall’s “From The Scrapbook Vol. One.”
