New clipwing rebuild

[Tom Baker]

Hello all. I'm hijacking my dad's account since I can't post on my account yet. Just thought I would let everybody know that the Margret Ritchie clipwing is almost ready to take to the air again. The airplane has been totally rebuilt. It still has the Continental C90. I have attached a picture, but it was a little dark when it was taken. I will try to add some better pictures, and maybe a flight report in the next week or so. Tom D baker (the son)

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Well fire up your own account , you have the money. Maybe let the others know who was Margaret & why u have the ship?

[Tom Baker]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Hi Forrest, I signed up for a account but my access is still denied.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Ya must have missed something... maybe try again. Bob Ollerton is the guru contact him.... In athe meantime Dad's works good..

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Hello all. I'm hijacking my dad's account since I can't post on my account yet. Just thought I would let everybody know that the Margret Ritchie clipwing is almost ready to take to the air again. The airplane has been totally rebuilt. It still has the Continental C90. I have attached a picture, but it was a little dark when it was taken. I will try to add some better pictures, and maybe a flight report in the next week or so. Tom D baker (the son)

Tom/Tom Jr.

Is this the Clipped-T that used to live in Greenville IL?

dd

[3Dreaming]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Tom/Tom Jr.

Is this the Clipped-T that used to live in Greenville IL?

dd

My account works now! Yes Dennis this is the one that spent some of its life a Greenville, IL. It came there from So. Cal., and it looks like it will be going back to California. Tom

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

The Lord moves in strange & mysterious ways, especially on the internet.... welcome 3Dreaming aka the other Tom Baker....

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Tom Jr.:

Great to hear the Ritchie Clipped is back on its feet--ah, gear. If I am not mistaken (which I am often) this was the Tcraft Ritchie flew (eventually with 150 hp) before she moved on to the Stephens Akro.

I was stationed at Scott AFB and renting a hangar at Greenville when the T-craft arrived. The simplicity and capability of this aircraft is what convinced me to build a Clipped-T. I remember the wings were all wood to keep the weight down and the interior was very rough--please confirm. I would be very interested in seeing pictures of the restoration--especially how the aircraft was built.

Thanks (again) for saving a bit of aviation history. Next time I am in the Effingham area, I will stop by your father's shop and chat.


dd

[3Dreaming]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

As far as I know the airplane always had a C90 in it. The wings are wood spar with pre war built up ribs. It has a single surplus military seat mounted in the center. We cleaned it up some with a new panel, but it is still very sparten inside. I just weighed the airplane this morning to check the C of G. It came out heavier than I expected. I want to do some checking to make sure my numbers are right. Dad is coming down this afternoon so we can do the initial start up and adjust the carb. I will try to get some better pictures when we have it outside. As far as pictures during the rebuild we have some, what details do you need? Tom

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Tom:

Thanks for the offer. Here's what questions we Clipped-T builders have been asking.

What is the wing span (estimate is OK) and where were the reductions made--which bays were taken out (inboard, outboard or both). Angle of the wing struts and were the original attachments used or were they modified. Are the leading edges covered with aluminum or ply? Are the ailerons counter balanced or are they stock? Were the stock aileron hinges used--pre-war I would guess. If I remember, the controls were cable, not push tube like the Swick.

OK, I over stepped the bounds of your friendly offer; however, there are many Clipped builders on this site that would be interested in the simplicity of the Ritchie Clipped-T. The Swick conversion is a heavy-weight in comparison to the Ritchie Clipped-T and this aircraft would suit the aerobatic needs of 90 percent of the Clipped-T owners/want-to-be (like me).

Again, I am sure all on this site would love to see pictures of the restoration and hear any of the construction details of this aircraft. Remember, you, and your Dad, are the few who know how this unique aircraft was built. Thanks for the offer and whatever info you can provide.

Respectfully,

dd

[Acroeric]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Tom- Great to see the plane back together. I have some original photos of it when Margaret had it. I will have to make you a few copies. My 1st clipwing was built just after hers by the same folks and had a 180hp engine in it. It flew well but was 1100 pounds or so empty.

You mentioned weight- what did it come out at? Mine will weigh 700 pounds or I will start removing parts. A good friend has a little 0-200 powered Cole at 703 pounds so I know it is possible.

The little clipwings are really weight sensitive- they fly really nice when kept light. I am lightening everything possible on mine - even using low profile nuts to get the weight out. There is alot of areas you can reduce the weight especially on a Swick. The swick stick could double as a grenade launcher- I saved 4 pounds on the stick alone by using appropriate sized materials.

[3Dreaming]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Well had it on the scales this morning, and was a little dumb struck by the results. It shows an empty weight of 830. The last weight and balance for this airplane showed a empty weight of 770. I don't know how we could have added that much weight.
Our start up this afternoon didn't go to well either. We had a small pinhole in the fuel tank. It's really frustrating because we had the tank leak tested before it was put in the airplane. We'll get it fixed and back in there next week.

Here is a list of items from the back of the 337 when the wings were modified.
1. Shortened front and rear spars by 30" at inboard end and 12" at tip end.

2. All existing ribs (except one) were used by decreasing the rib spacing from 15" to 11" (Approximate average).

3. Length of outboard compression bay was shortened to match existing bays.

4.Additional reinforcing plates of 3/8" spruce added to rear face of the front spar, and to the front face of the rear spar in the area of the fittings. 48" in length.

5.New strut attach fittings fabricated from .065" 4130 steel.

6. Butt fittings adapted from original strut fittings. Birch reinforcing plates added to butt end of both spars.

7. Replaced .012" 1/4 hard Alum. leading edge with .016" 2024 t3 Alum. and extended to front spar.

8.Used existing tip bow, aileron bellcrank, andaileron hinges.

9. Shortened aileron at outboard end 12" to match wing. relocated outboard aileron hinge point.

That is all that is listed on the 337. During the restoration we added a second set of tail brace wires. We also changed the fuse strut fitting angle (it had unchanged fittings). The control system is all cables as Dennis mentioned. We also installed a Christian inverted oil system.

[Dennis D'Angelo]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Tom:

Thanks for the information. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year.

dd

[Acroeric]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

"unchanged strut fittings"

My 180 HP clipwing had unchanged fittings too and flew airshows for 12 years like that (Sid Nelson)- it was as I understand it a sistership to the Ritchey Clipwing. I guess that answers my question about modification of that fitting! Since I am staying light- I may just leave mine alone.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: New clipwing rebuild

Hi Guys, Merry Christmas. Wouldn't mind doing the Clip Wing myself. Please keep me posted of any for sale, or a good project that I can use to do this with.