Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

[TimHicks]

I was traveling for wark near Philadelphia when I saw a sign for "Wings" airport less than 20 miles North of Philly airport. So I ducked in.

The first thing that caught my eye was Serial #1 of a CubCrafters Sport Cub. The guy in the white shirt is the salesman/ferry pilot who talked to me about this ship. He had just flown it cross country from the factory and was to deliver it to the owner in Maine the next day. It's got an O-200, $100,000 standard, $115,000 outfitted like this one with the Garmin 496 and some other niceties that I can't remember.

Then he mentioned the "Taylorcraft" parked further down teh ramp. When I went to look at it more closely, I was really scratching my head until I saw the dataplate on it that said "Commonwealth" of Kansas City. I'd never heard of a Commonwealth before.

Nice airport. And very nice people there.

[TimHicks]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Whoops, my attachments didn't stick. Let me try again

[1938BF50]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

I almost bought one in Chehalis, Washington 10 years ago.

Specifications:
Wingspan: 34'
Length: 21' 9"
Engine: 85hp Continental
Top Speed: 110 mph
Weight: 1022 lbs

At the end of World War Two, Columbia Aircraft of Valley Stream was bought out by Commonwealth Aircraft of Kansas City. Commonwealth then began the construction of a small civil aircraft at their Valley Stream plant for just one year, 1946. The ‘Skyranger', designed in 1940 and seating two, sold for about $3000. It featured a steel tube fuselage and wooden wing, both fabric covered. As the anticipated post-war boom in civil aviation never occurred, Commonwealth went bankrupt in 1947. In all, 275 Skyrangers were built.

[TimHicks]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Great info. Let me try to attach slightly better quality pictures.

[1938BF50]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

I stole the info off the web.

I did not fly the airplane in Chehalis, but talked to a couple old pilots at the airport who said that if you took the most undesirable characteristics of several popular light aircraft and designed them into one airplane....it would turn out to be the Skyranger. They were very sucessful in scaring me off. On the other hand, I have a vintage Air Facts Reader that gives a glowing pilot report on the 185 Skyranger.

[dedrekon]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

A chap here at Lenhardt (7S9) has a drop dead gorgeous Commonwealth (and the sharpest Stearman I've ever seen). They are a nice flying airplane...not as sporty handling as the TCraft, or as efficient.....but a nice solid bird with full factory electric system, stick controls and it's ALMOST roomy.


Vincent

[NC36061]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

The Commonwealth Skyranger was the final incarnation of the Rearwin series of airplanes, which was a relatively successful builder of prewar personal airplanes. Like so many other makers though, they soon disappeared postwar, and like Porterfield and Interstate, are relatively unknown outside of the old airplane community. I haven't flown one but they use the 23012 airfoil, so it couldn't fly too terribly. I think the Skyrangers used the same large tach/combo instrument the early Taylorcrafts did. See www.rearwin.com for lots of good info.

Dave

[dedrekon]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Speaking of interesting planes.........here's a couple cool ones from the Great Northwest. That's Jack Lenhardt in his 1908 Bleriot replica. It's very true to the original....it even uses wing warping instead of ailerons! It'll be in the Evergreen Museum by the end of the month, sitting under a wing of the Spruce Goose.
Plus a cool shot of a B-17 buzzing the field here (7S9).



V

[Vasey fan]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

I've always liked the Bleriot, a "modern" replica with a C-something in it would be pretty cool.

If anyone's interested, Cleo at Chamberline Aviation in Rodeo, NM has a Skyranger project for sale. I haven't seen it, but I'm told it's a fairly complete airframe less FWF, needs spars.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

In 2004 or early 05 I saw a supposedly flying Skyranger for sale at Gillespie Field in San Diego, but to me it looked like it should be flown directly to a restoration shop. There was a project Skyranger I saw at Corona Airport (near Aircraft Spruce's west coast location) that was for sale too, but he wanted too much for my cheapskate budget.

The 3 in 1 instrument looked SIMILAR to the ones in early Taylorcrafts, but it was not truly the same. I recall the Skyranger's combo gauge had more functions than the T-craft instrument.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

We sat onthe bridge over to Niagara Falls NY for 1 1/2 hr 2 weeks ago to do and to some gliding in Cambria NY.
Is this trip worth it?
No gliding becuase as we sat on the bridge the weather went sour.
But in the hangar is: a Stearman, a Commonvelt, a Curtiss 4 replica with a Tank engine. No not from a tank no built by Kurt Tank sometime in the 30s.
A V8 the ruffnes from the casting is on the cyliders etc.
And it was one more in the other corner what had a Le Blonde radial in it.
can,t remeber the name. yes the trip was worth it for an old Old airplane buff like me. I be back sometime with good weather.
Len

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Tim . You were at the famous WINGS FIELD eh ? Stopped by there as I had a sales call near by several years ago when I was still in the Software Business.
That field has a lot of history. Ever hear of Frank Kingston Smith ? He wrote a great book called WEEKEND PILOT. This recounted his learning to fly in his C-140 which he purchased and learened in while at Wings Field. He was a son (and also a Lawyer) of a prominent Circut Court Judge in Philly.Lived on the Main line in Philly If you read the bookand then look at the field today you can still see where the swimming pool and Tennis courts were/are as in the 1950s when he wrote the book. He went on to write many more books (none as good as WEEKEND PILOT) in my humble opinion and ultimately PIPER appointed him as spokes person when he retired to Vero Beach Flordia. I spoke with him via phone about a year before he died, Reason for all my rant is that if you read that book it will really bring a tear to your eye about the good ol days AND visiting WINGS FIELD........

[TimHicks]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Hi Jim.
Thanks for the tip on the book "Weekend Pilot". I'm looking forward to reading it. Especially after visiting Wings airfield.

I have to spend this week in St Marys Ontario (I think that it's about 2 hours drive west of Toronto). Just like the time I visited Wings airfield, I'll be working nights so I'll have time to poke around during the day. I might try to find another gem in that area.

Tim

[high time cub]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Hi Tim,
Check out the Tiger Boys..... http://www.tigerboys.com/finch.html
Jim

[Jim Herpst]

Re: Interesting airplanes in Philadelphia

Tim There you go. That should be a good trip to the hinterland. The book "Weekend Pilot" is out of print. Perhaps you can pick it up at a Book finder somewhere.... Worth the search believe me!!!!!

Jim