1956 Tri Pacer project in Pittsburgh

[westypilot]

Hello All,

I fell into a barn find that was stripped for a recover back in the 90's. The price was right and I needed something to pass the time. I'm lucky to have a good friend who's an IA who specializes in Stearman restorations. I've purchased the drawings pdf's, tip & techniques books, and have a parts manual. Much of the airframe was stripped when I took possession. I still have to inventory all of the bits. The frame is being media blasted now and the engine has been broken down for inspection and yellow tags.

I've already learned a lot by paging through many of the posts on this forum. I hope to pick your brains over the next few years as I work on this project.

Here are a few pictures of the project....
IMG_2272.jpgIMG_2270.jpgIMG_2224.jpgIMG_2223.jpg


Dave

[JPerkins]

Any mods in mind?

Sent from my SM-G930V using ShortWingPipers.Org mobile app

[Steve Pierce]

Literally was in a barn. Look forward to following your progress.

[westypilot]

Any mods in mind?

Sent from my SM-G930V using ShortWingPipers.Org mobile app

For now I'd like to put vortex generators and the skylight in it. Maybe LED nav/strobes?

[westypilot]

Literally was in a barn. Look forward to following your progress.

The farm has a grass strip that I use to land on when I had a J-3. I had no idea that he had it until recently. Really nice guy. We got to talking about airplanes and he mentioned his project. The rest is history.

You seem to be very knowledgeable Steve. Please be free with any advice.

Dave

[westypilot]

Back from the media blaster today. I'm very happy with the results. Solid frame. Only a few u channels on the belly need replaced.
IMG_2282.jpg

Dave

[McDaver63]

Are you gonna leave as Tripacer or convert to tailwheel? While the fuse is in this state don’t forget to do the door frame insp. SB 819 http://www.shortwingpipers.org/photo...509/SB_819.pdf
When you get to the point of covering consider Stewart Systems. I was real happy with it when I did my PA-22/20. I could not have done as good as I did on my project without this forum and information from experts like Steve Pierce.


Sent from my iPhone using ShortWingPipers.Org

[westypilot]

Are you gonna leave as Tripacer or convert to tailwheel? While the fuse is in this state don’t forget to do the door frame insp. SB 819 http://www.shortwingpipers.org/photo...509/SB_819.pdf
When you get to the point of covering consider Stewart Systems. I was real happy with it when I did my PA-22/20. I could not have done as good as I did on my project without this forum and information from experts like Steve Pierce.

I'm going to keep it as a Tri Pacer. I enjoyed flying my J-3, but this will be a trainer for my kids to get their private. (I know you can use tail draggers for training, but don't want the added expense for the conversion and extra insurance). Thanks for the AD advice. I just looked at the window area and was happy to see no corrosion.

For covering, I'll be using Airtech. My A&P really likes it. He's won awards with it at Oshkosh for his Stearmans.

[westypilot]

Recently got back to work on the project airplane. I bought a flying 1955 PA-22 last summer to ease the flying itch. My IA/friend had a stroke and has recovered more than anyone could have hoped for. He's been motivating me to finish. I hired an A&P to do some welding. We had to repair a pitted piece of tubing, a bent piece of tubing, fabricate the bulkhead for the skylight stc, and replace much of the u channel on the belly.

Here are some pictures.





IMG_0539.jpegIMG_0602.jpegIMG_0631.jpegIMG_0636.jpeg

[Steve Pierce]

Looks like it is definitely going in the right direction.