EAA Chapter 176 Historic Photos
Contributed by Keith Caulton
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR FULL SIZE VIEW
1. An Aeronca C-2 owned by the Smela family. The Smelas managed the FBO at Twin Pine at the time of the fly-in.
2. An Arrow Sport A-2 was flown in from Long Island. That’s Wade Caulton in the maroon T-shirt, behind the airplane.
3. Bill Weasner brought out his Beech 17 Staggerwing for the fly-in.
4. This Bensen Gyroglider was the product of one of our chapter members.
5. John Prokop’s Bowers FlyBaby was under construction, and was hauled out to show the public a work in progress.
6. This Corben Baby Ace was a welcome guest.
7. The Curtiss Fledgling was flown in from Long Island. It was later sold to a Brazilian Museum.
8. This Dart was owned by Bill Post and was a long time resident at Twin Pine.
9. An EAA Biplane attended.
10. This is the Flaglor Hi-Tow. It is a modified Fleet used as a glider tug.
11. A Civil Air Patrol Airman guides a Fleet into the parking area.
12. The Parks P-2 belonged to Billy Howell and was based at Twin Pine. The airplane took its nickname, “The Spirit of Outlaw Jct.”, from the airport.
13. A Ryan PT-22 was another guest.
14. The very rare Tipsy Nipper is a VW powered Belgian airplane. This type was certificated in Belgium and the “OO” registration is its original Belgian registration.
15. The Waco was another visitor from New York.
16. This original design was either too heavy or very underpowered. It later received a new black and red paint job, which didn’t do anything for the performance. Ultimately its owner broke it up because he thought it was unsafe.
17. This Cassutt racer was one of the visitors at the Chapter’s 1968 Fly-in. Its race name was Idjets Midget, and it used race number 9.
18. The Pat-Bar Special was a modified EAA Biplane. Not all of the modifications were well thought out, and when it crashed a few years later the pilot was killed due to part of the redesigned turtle deck failing in the worst possible manner.
19. By 1968 the Parks P-2 had lost the Spirit of Outlaw Jct. Identification as it was being restored. The airplane is currently in the hands of a Connecticut restorer.
20. BobSweeney’s Smith Miniplane was eventually acquired by chapter member Bill Hill who repainted it in a 1930’s military scheme.
21. Tony Spezio arrived at the 1968 fly-in in his original Spezio TuHoler.
22. Frank Tindall or one of his Robbinsville associates brought the Taylor E-2 Cub to Twin Pine all the way from Robbinsville in 1968.
23. At the 1968 fly-in this Waco RNF was owned by the Smela family, the operators of the FBO at Twin Pine. Eventually the airplane was purchased by chapter member Jim Course who restored the plane in a red and silver with black trim paint scheme.
24. This Wittman Tailwind showed up at the 1968 fly-in. It is believed that it was built and flown by Dick Blair.
25. The 1976 hailstorm severely damaged most of the planes at Twin Pine. This is Bill Marx’s Aeronca L-3.
26. Several chapter members flew in to McGuire AFB’s open house in 1976. Joe Wieger, Dick Behrmann and Matt Cawthorne are sitting next to the Hedgehoppers’ Cub.
27. Joe Wieger and John Warren restored Joe’s Aeronca 11 AC Chief.
28. This shot shows Joe Wieger’s Aeronca Chief at a Willow Grove NAS open house. In the background are John Biggs Aerosport Scamp and Lex DuPont’s Eastern Aircraft FM-2 Wildcat (Grumman F4F-3).
29. Joe Wieger taxis the Chief into a parking spot at Twin Pine.
30. Here is Joe Wieger’s Aeronca 11 AC Chief shortly after he restored it the second time.
31. Joe Wieger stands proudly in front of his Chief after its second restoration.
32. This is Bill Schneider’s freshly restored Aeronca 7 AC Champ at Robbinsville.
33. Bob Marciniak bought this Aeronca 7 AC Champ and based it at Twin Pine. Eventually he sold it to a buyer in England.
34. This Aeronca 7 AC Champ was restored at Parks College by John Gagnon, as a senior project. Member Keith Caulton did some minor work on the airplane, but it significance to him is that it is the first plane on which he did any real work. John and Keith camped under the plane at Oshkosh 1971.
35. Bill Marx and his son attended the 1976 McGuire open house in his Aeronca L-3.
36. After the 1976 hailstorm Bill Marx restored his Aeronca L-3 to this configuration.
37. Members Dave Kellner and Mildred Hohl tended the Airtex booth at Oshkosh. That’s Joe Wieger with his back to the camera.
38. Carol Stretch manned the Airtex display at Oshkosh. Members Dick Behrman and Joe Wieger are in the background at the left.
39. Joe Wieger and Andy Moscarelli are examining the construction of the main spar for Andy’s Polliwagen.
40. In downtown Oshkosh Baxter’s hosted several of our chapter dinners. Here we can see Ken and Linda Roberts, Jim Beaumont hidden behind Linda, Dick Behrmann, Andy, Mildred Sally and Arnold Hohl, Keith Caulton, unknown, Charlie Schrey’s friend and Charlie, Joe Wieger, Lee Weiss (facing opposite), Betsy Jackson (hidden) and Steve Jackson.
41. Another picture of the chapter dinner at Baxter’s. From the left are unknown, Charlie Schrey’s friend, Charley Schrey, Joe Wieger, Gary Burns at the head of the table, Ken and Linda Roberts, Jim Beaumont, Dick Behrman, Andy and Mildred Hohl.
42. Another year at Baxter’s in Oshkosh. Shown a Pat Hohl, Arnold Hohl, unknown and Don and Carol Stretch.
43. We’re still at Baxter’s. Dick Behrman is facing the camera and clockwise are unknown, unknown, Joe Wieger, Arnold Hohl, Sally Hohl, Suzy Wieger’s friend Jennifer, and Suzy Wieger.
44. Here is the chapter at Baxter’s again. Clockwise are Murray Rozanski (in the hat), Lee Weiss, Tom Weiss, Don Stretch, Jon Dunbar and three unknowns.
45. Baxter’s continued to host us in Oshkosh for several years. From the left are Dick Behrmann, Yolanda and Joe Dunbar, and the Dunbar’s neighbors Frank and unknown.
46. Lee Weiss built the Bede BD-4 with the original fiberglass wing. He didn’t like the way the fuel tanks made the bottom of the wings sag, so he rebuilt it with this metal wing.
47. Lee Weiss built this Bede BD-4 per plans, and using the kit parts. It is shown at Oshkosh with the original fiberglass wings.
48. Dave Kellner and a friend bought this Bellanca Cruisair and flew it in to Twin Pine. Later they found a rotted spar, and bent fuselage. They began a restoration, but sold the plane shortly before the restoration was complete.
49. This Bensen Autogyro is believed to belong to an early chapter member. It is shown here at Twin Pine.
50. A Bensen Gyrocopter at Twin Pines.
51. A Bensen Gyrocopter is shown here at the 1968 fly-in.
52. This is Bill Schneider climbing out of his Stolp Starduster Too. Frank Liberti is in the front seat and is also about to exit the plane.
53. Bob Riegel is shown here with his Grumman AA-1 Yankee at Robbinsville Airport.
54. John Prokop is about to depart the open house at Willow Grove NAS. That’s Wayne Hayes in the yellos Stinson jacket.
55. John Prokop settles into his award winning Bowers FlyBaby at Robbinsville.
56. John Prokop was the oldest active member of the chapter. Here he is in the FlyBaby at Twin Pine.
57. Vic Meznarsic of Alton IL provided several rides for Chapter 176 members at Oshkosh. The airplane is a Bowers FlyBaby that Vic built and later converted to a two-seater. Among those lucky enough to receive rides were Dick Behrmann, Joe Wieger, Gary Burns, and Keith Caulton.
58. Bud Bachman speaks with some admirers in front of his prize winning Fairchild F-24 R.
59. Bud Bachman
60. Mick Hart inspects the work on Charley Byron’s one-of-a-kind Byroncraft A-1.
61. Charley Byron is about to lift off from Robbinsville in the Byroncraft A-1.
62. Charley Byron taxis in at Robbinsville. This original design was destroyed shortly after the picture was taken when a freak tornado struck Robbinsville. The tornado dropped a Cessna 150 on top of Charley’s airplane, and both burned.
63. John Dunbar and Suzy Wieger’s friend Jennifer camping at Oshkosh.
64. Suzy Wieger and her friend Jennifer camping at Oshkosh.
65. John Hood taxis out at Robbinsville. John built this airplane, a Cassutt IIIM in a twenty-five foot moving van.
66. Charter Member Paul Musso’s Real Sporty parked next to a C-5A at a McGuire AFB open house.
67. Paul Musso and crew at Robbinsville. The airplane, Real Sporty appears to be a Cassutt racer with a new wing.
68. Paul Musso and Real Sporty at Robbinsville.
69. Tom Weiss camped under his Cessna 140 in the Oshkosh classic camping area.
70. Victor Holmlund brought his Cessna 140 to a picnic at Twin Pine.
71. Arnold Hohl and son Andy are heading for VanSants. VanSants seemed like a good fuel stop after a fly-in breakfast at Pottstown.
72. Jerry Duick is airborne in his Cessna 172. It was a beautiful day for putting holes in the sky around Ringoes and Flemington.
73. Pat Duick sits in the shade while Jerry, Belinda and Andy Duick sun themselves at the 1976 McGuire AFB open house.
74. John Eckel owned this Cessna 172 in partnership with Steve and Betsy Jackson. The airplane is shown at a chapter picnic at Twin Pine.
75. That’s Sam Calaby preparing his Cessna 172 for departure from Oshkosh.
76. Charley Byron sits on the float of his Cessna 180 while camping in the classic area at Oshkosh. Joe Dunbar is forward of Charley on the float.
77. Charley Byron brought his float equipped Cessna 180 into Twin Pine for a picnic.
78. Wayne Choper and son camped under their Cessna 180 at Oshkosh.
79. Harry Askey brings his newly acquired Cessna 195 in for a landing at Twin Pine.
80. Frank Pearce and Fred Siegel are seated under the tree, and Joe Naphas is walking toward the grill in this picture of an early chapter picnic at Twin Pine.
81. Suzy, Mary and Gregory Wieger wait for the corn to boil at a Twin Pine picnic.
82. Wayne Choper’s Breezy waits to give rides at a Twin Pine picnic. Harold and Eddie Beck are standing just to the left of the nose wheel.
83. Charlie Dekle and Del Teeter look over the Cessna 150 that Del just purchased.
84. Dick Blair’s Christen Eagle II at Oshkosh. The Christen crowd later insisted he had to repaint the airplane with a “proper” eagle paint job.
85. Cy Mehling hosted a chapter meeting in his Doylestown hangar. He moved the Cirrus VK 30 that he and his son built out of the hangar so that chapter members could sit in the shade.
86. Bill Weasner’s Citabria soars over Twin Pine on a beautiful day.
87. Bill Weasner restored the Citabria after several years of hard use as a trainer.
88. A Corben Baby Ace visiting Twin Pine.
89. Dave and Connie Kellner relaxing under a tree at a Twin Pine picnic.
90. Dave Kellner, center, and fellow aircraft owner Hal visit Joe Wieger’s basement workshop in the Polliwagen days.
91. Ed Flynn and Spencer Robertson found some shade under a Cessna 195 while watching the airshow at Oshkosh.
92. Bud Bachman’s Ercoupe at the East Coast Fly-in when it was still held at Martin State Airport outside of Baltimore.
93. Charlie Schrey’s Ercoupe parked next to Don Stretch’s Ercoupe at a Twin Pine picnic.
94. Charlie Schrey and friend shut down after arriving at Twin Pine.
95. Don Stretch’s freshly restored Ercoupe parked for maximum exposure at Oshkosh.
96. Joe Dunbar’s Ercoupe shortly after he purchased it. That’s Bob Riegel in the right seat.
97. Joe Dunbar’s Ercoupe showing off its brand new paint.
98. Robin White and Lisa Bennett pull their Ercoupe into a parking spot for a Twin Pine picnic.
99. This airplane didn’t stay at Twin Pine for very long. It’s Frank Vitellaro’s Fairchild 24—one of the old three seaters.
100. This is Bud Bachman’s Oshkosh Grand Champion Fairchild F-24R. The setting is a private strip outside Newtown, PA.
101. The Fairchild PT-26 flew in for the 1968 fly-in, and the pilot is believed to be Bob Sellers.
102. Ocassionally the Chapter takes a field trip. In this photo we’re visiting Princeton University’s aeronautical research center on the Forrestal Campus. The aircraft is an ornithopter (wings that flap like a bird). Chapter members that are identifiable in this picture are Joe Wieger, Joe Naphas and Fred Siegel.
103. Personnel at the aeronautical engineering research center of Princeton University developed this ornithopter. The craft is powered by compressed air.
104. Inside the aeronautical research center at Princeton University we found this highly modified and heavily instrumented Navion. The tall fellow in front of the aircraft is Rich Fleming and Joe Wieger is looking down into the cockpit.
105. Charley Byron and his wife are seated at the left end of the table and Joe Naphas is in the foreground of this photo shot at a Twin Pine picnic.
106. Our first chapter picnic was held at VanSant Airport, Erwinna, PA. The people at the right are Mark Liberti, Frank and Violet Liberti, and Mary Wieger.
107. A few of the airplanes that showed up for our first picnic at VanSant are a Pitts S-1, Dick Blair’s Steen Skybolt, John Prokop’s Bowers FlyBaby, and Bill Schneider’s Stolp Starduster Too.
108. This is Fred Siegel sitting in a FlyBaby Biplane at one of our early Twin Pine picnics.
109. Our first well organizes fly-out was a trip to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York. From the left the participants were Lee Weiss, Bill Schneider, Fran Cawthorne, Joe Wieger, John Warren, Bob Crossland, and Bob Keller. Keith Caulton was the photographer.
110. Frank was among the chapter members that greeted Sam Burgess as he made the promotional trip to the forty-eight contiguous states in the EAA Biplane. The picture was taken in the Amerada Hess hangar at the Trenton-Mercer Airport.
111. Frank Liberti was a mechanic and sometimes pilot for Dow Jones. Here he is in the company’s Gulfstream II
112. Frank Liberti is about to take off in John Prokop’s Bowers FlyBaby. John is giving him a quick cockpit checkout before departure.
113. John Prokop is giving last minute instructions to Frank Liberti who is about to take off in John’s Bowers FlyBaby.
114. Frank Liberti standing in front of Wayne Hayes’ Waco YKS at the Robbinsville Airport.
115. Gail Henks Naphas and Joe Naphas stroll the ramp at Robbinsville. Gail’s dad Tom Henks was an early chapter member who couldn’t get enough of the P-47. Gail is an aviation artist and former Luscombe owner. Joe was chapter secretary for two years and had the Luscombe for several years.
116. Cy Mehling was a prolific builder. Here he is taxiing his Glasair RG. Over several years Cy built a Mitchell Wing, VariEze, Glasair, and the incredible Cirrus VK 30.
117. The HedgeHoppers formed in 1971 and incorporated in 1972. Dick Behrmann and Bob Keller are doing some of the early work on the wing of the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2.
118. Bob Keller, Dick Behrmann, Joe Wieger and Ray Bertles are shown covering the fuselage of the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2 Cub.
119. Chapter member and HedgeHoppers founding member Carl Catob is fixing a scroll saw in John Warren’s barn.
120. Chapter member Charlie Weischadel adjusts a turnbuckle on the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2 Cub.
121. HedgeHoppers Tuesday work party in John Warren’s barn. Left to right are Matt Cawthorne, Jerry Duick, Harold Beck (hidden behind Jerry) Larry Weeks (head behind the engine), Frank Liberti (hidden behind Larry), Scott Sellers, and Joe Wieger.
122. Frank Liberti, Doc Reed (veterinarian and Cub owner) and Harold Beck with John Warren’s Aeronca C-3 in John’s barn.
123. Frank Liberti and John Warren working on the aileron of the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2 Cub.
124. Frank Liberti flies the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2 Cub over Hopewell, NJ during the fall of 1975.
125. Frank Liberti installs the interior in the HedgeHoppers Cub.
126. Keith Caulton treats his father Gerry Caulton to a flight over the Hopewell area in the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2 Cub.
127. The hailstorm in 1976 damaged almost all of the aircraft based at Twin Pine. The damage to the HedgeHoppers Cub required a complete recovering job. Someone tried to count the holes in one wing of the Cub, but lost count at some point over 200. The year old fabric on the wing still tested at 80 lbs. per inch!!
128. Harold Beck applies the first coat of dope to the fuselage of the HedgeHoppers J-2 Cub.
129. John Warren chats with Dick Cherry (A&P, IA) just before Dick did the annual inspection of the HedgeHoppers’ Cub. The FAA required an annual inspection before they would reissue an Airworthiness Certificate. Before the FAA began issuing permanent Airworthiness Certificates they used to expire annually.
130. Harold Beck, Frank Liberti, John Warren and Joe Wieger working on both the Hedgehoppers Cub and Joe’s Aeronca Chief. The individual in the foreground with the pencil has not been identified, but the name tag on his shirt says Jerry.
131. Joe Wieger’s basement was a busy place. Joe and Frank Liberti are working on the tail surfaces of the HedgeHoppers FlyBaby.
132. Joe Wieger, Keith Caulton and Carl Catob are putting the first coat of silver on a wing of the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2.
133. Joe Wieger sandblasting the fuselage of the HedgeHoppers Cub.
134. Joe Wieger epoxy priming the fuselage of the HedgeHoppers Cub. This was the restoration after the hailstorm.
135. Joe Wieger puts the first coat of color on the HedgeHoppers Piper J-2.
136. John Yaniro, Frank Liberti (back to camera) and Harold Beck working on the final assembly of the HedgeHoppers Cub.
137. The HedgeHoppers on the day their Cub was given its pre-licensing inspection. Left to right are Keith Caulton, Dick Behrmann, John Warren, Joe Wieger, Harold Beck and Frank Liberti.
138. The HedgeHoppers Piper J-2 Cub at Lincoln Park. This was the first fly-in for the Cub. Frank Liberti flew it in on Saturday and Keith Caulton took his turn on Sunday.
139. Mark Liberti, Joe Wieger and Frank Liberti work on the engine mount for the HedgeHoppers’ Cub.
140. Mario D’Errico and Don Paric work on the wing of the HedgeHoppers J-2 Cub.
141. Matt Cawthorne steadies the tail for the HedgeHoppers weight and balance calculations.
142. Mick Hart works on a part for the HedgeHoppers’ Cub.
143. The HedgeHoppers bought this TriPacer, and eventually sold it to C. J. Alexander.
144. Dick Behrman, Harold Beck, Larry Weeks and Joe Wieger work on the engine of the HedgeHoppers’ J-2 Cub.
145. Dick Behrman and Joe Wieger work on Joe’s Chief while Keith Caulton cleans the horizontal stabilizer of the HedgeHoppers’ Cub.
146. The HedgeHoppers’ Cub behind John Warren’s barn on the evening before it first flew.
147. The rusted stabilizer was one of many problems with the HedgeHoppers’ TriPacer.
148. This shot of the prototype for the Helio Courier was taken at Oshkosh. Member Bill Weasner did some of the welding on this historic airplane.
149. Bud Bachman’s rare Helton Lark at a fly-in on the Queen City Airport, Allentown, PA.
150. Harry Askey owned this Howard DGA-15 for a few years. The airplane had some unorthodox repairs and modifications, and it is believed it never flew while Harry owned it.
151. Joe Wieger makes vroom vroom sounds in his Polliwagen while Gary Burns observes.
152. Dick Behrman and Joe Wieger in front of Joe’s Aeronca Chief at a McGuire AFB open house. Because of the sunburst paint scheme, some in the crowd of about 150,000 thought the airplane was Japanese.
153. Joe Wieger putts along happily over Hopewell, NJ.
154. Bob Riegel. Jerry Duick, Dick Behrman and Joe Wieger work on repairing some damage to Joe’s Chief.
155. Pete Whittam, Joe Wieger, Keith Caulton and Dick Behrman building the stabilator spar for Joe’s Polliwagen.
156. Joe Wieger touring the Shuttleworth Trust restoration facility at Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, England. The second person in the photo is Gil Baker, and EAA’er from Minnesota. The airplane is a German LVG bomber from World War I. The Shuttleworth Trust tries to keep all of its aircraft in flying condition.
157. Jim Beaumont and Joe Wieger fiberglassing the inside of a Polliwagen wing.
158. Pete Whittam, unknown, Joe Wieger, unknown (hidden behind Joe) and Bob Marciniak working on the fuselage of Joe’s Polliwagen.
159. Joe Wieger is installing the structural members of the vertical tail on his Polliwagen.
160. Joe Wieger busy working on the control fittings for his Polliwagen.
161. Joe Wieger, unknown, Pete Whittam and Ralph Bodenweiser at a Twin Pine picnic.
162. Jim Younkin’s replica Howard DGA-6 Mr. Mulligan being flown at Oshkosh by chapter member John Turgyan.
163. The Aeronca Chief owned by Joe Dunbar, the first chapter president and Joe Wieger the first chapter secretary. Joe W. bought Joe D.’s share and restored this airplane twice before selling it to Dave Platzer.
164. Jim Course and Wayne Hayes sanding between coats of paint on a Waco cabin biplane.
165. Andy Moscarelli and Andy Jr., and Joe Wieger fiberglassing the fuselage of Joe’s Polliwagen.
166. Joe Wieger and Harold Beck installing the spar in Joe’s Polliwagen.
167. Joe Wieger levels the center carry-through section of the main spar for his Polliwagen.
168. The left aileron controls installed in Joe Wieger’s Polliwagen.
169. Joe Wieger installing a dummy instrument panel in his Polliwagen.
170. Public Broadcasting did a 15 minute segment on EAA and homebuilding in the late seventies. John Prokop and his FlyBaby were stars of the broadcast.
171. John Prokop stands in front of his Steen Skybolt. John was a master craftsman, and the word around the chapter was that he built this airplane five times in order to be sure every part was perfect. John flew in the airplane but never flew it himself. He was in his late eighties when he completed it, and felt he was to slow to handle a hot airplane.
172. John Warren stands in front of a Curtiss Robin at Oshkosh. Although this airplane is not John’s, he bought his first Robin so that he and his brother would have an airplane in which they could learn to fly.
173. Bob Sweeney climbs out of a Jungster that he and Jim Course built.
174. Bob Sweeney (hidden) and Jim Course invited the chapter to Jim’s garage for a meeting, just before the Jungster was completed.
175. Jim Course in the Jungster at Robbinsville.
176. Jim Course’s Jungster in the hangar at Robbinsville.
177. Keith Caulton, 1st Lt., USAF took his first flying lessons at the aero club on McGuire AFB, NJ.
178. Keith Caulton camped at the Antique Airplane Association in Blakesburg, IA in the seventies.
179. Keith Caulton in a Grumman Tiger at Alton, IL in the early eighties.
180. Keith Caulton had a great time at Oshkosh. Keith said, “I don’t know who these people are but they were having a good time and invited me to join them.”
181. Phil Abrams Kolb Firestar at Twin Pine.
182. Phil Abrams taxis his Kolb Firestar at Twin Pine.
183. John Warren’s Kolb, the “HELLO BIRD” at a Twin Pine picnic.
184. Charley Byron, chapter president in 1970 and 1971 always owned amphibious airplanes. This is his Lake LA 4.
185. In the early 80’s the chapter had a booth at NAS Lakehurst. Dave Kellner, Linda and Ken Roberts are manning the booth in the picture.
186. Frank O’Brien’s WAR Corsair was a featured display in the chapter’s display at NAS Lakehurst’s open house. Ken Roberts and Frank O’Brien are standing behind the Corsair.
187. Lisa Bennett taxis in after an early solo flight. The airplane is Cessna 150 ’60 Foxtrot. ’60 Fox probably had more flying hours than all the other airplanes at Twin Pine combined.
188. Joe Naphas’ Luscombe at a Willow Grove open house.
189. In the Oshkosh classic camping area Mildred, Sally, and Arnold Hohl discuss the previous night’s rainstorm with Joe Wieger.
190. Charter member Jack Boscarell’s Mooney spent very little time on the grass at Twin Pine, but this is one of those rare times.
191. Bud Bachman’s Mooney M-18 Mite at the 1968 Twin Pine fly-in.
192. Robin White and Lisa Bennett pass over Princeton in their Navion.
193. Robin White and Lisa Bennett camped in the classic camping area at Oshkosh.
194. Award winning newsletter editor Peter Obst poses in front of a PZL Dromider at the Johnson County (NC) Airport. Peter and Keith Caulton were in North Carolina to do a story on the PZL M-26, but a picture of the Dromider agricultural/firefighter was too much to resist. Peter won the EAA best newsletter award for the chapter.
195. Peter Obst gets a cockpit check in the PZL M-26 military trainer. Peter makes a living translating books from Polish to English and English to Polish. He was at Johnson County (NC) Airport to do an article on the M-26 for a Polish magazine.
196. Betsy Jackson flips burgers at a Twin Pine picnic.
197. Bud Bachman in his Piper J-3 Cub at Sky Manor.
198. This clipped wing Cub attended the 1968 fly-in at Twin Pine.
199. This modified Piper J-3 belonged to Aviation Enterprises International, and as such was the first airplane in which Keith Caulton held a financial interest. In the photo the plane is flown by Bryan Lynch at Lakeside Airport in IL.
200. The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe was photographed at the 1968 Twin Pine fly-in.
201. Joe Dunbar’s Piper PA-28-140 at Twin Pine.
202. Larry Weeks and Frank Liberti repaired Larry’s wind-damaged Piper PA-12 in John Warren’s barn. Larry is shown just before getting the airplane back into the air.
203. This Piper PA-18 Super Cub belonged to Aviation Enterprises International. Keith Caulton was a principal in AEI, a crop dusting outfit that lasted only a year and a half.
204. Piper Pawnee 235 of Aviation Enterprises International. At the nose of the aircraft is Bryan Lynch, Maurice McClure in the cockpit and Tom Niebuhr is standing at the wing. These three, along with Carl Sharp, Ralph Supinski, and Chapter 176’s own Keith Caulton were all owners of the company. The AEI planes were based at Lakeside Airport in Illinois and the business consisted of spraying horseradish, strawberries, corn and trees. The area around East St. Louis is the horseradish capital of the world.
205. Robbinsville was the home to Steve Pitcairn’s Pitcairn PCA-2 for several years. Steve Pitcairn is climbing out of the cockpit. At the right is George Townsend, probably the most prominent autogiro mechanic and pilot ever. Chapter 176’s own Joe Rommel is walking toward the tail. The crew had just finished tracking the rotor blades. Joe has been employed by Steve and the Posey Brothers restoration company for many years.
206. Bruce Toter is shown in front of his Pitts S-1.
207. Joe Wieger and John Prokop prepare the roof trusses while Jim Course operates the crane and Ralph Bodenweiser guides the trusses into place.
208. Bill Marx installs the lag bolts in the chapter’s pole barn.
209. Jim Course operates the crane while Andy Moscarelli, Jr. and Joe Wieger put the trusses in place. Andy Moscarelli is supervising the whole operation.
210. Jim Beaumont, Joe Wieger and Joe Raimondo put the poles in place for the chapter’s pole barn.
211. Joe Wieger grades the pole barn floor in anticipation of more concrete being poured while Jim Beaumont takes a break.
212. Andy Moscarelli, Jr. and Joe Wieger about to install roof trusses on the chapter’s pole barn.
213. Even before the roof was complete Joe Wieger’s Chief and Dick Robertson’s boat were in for repair and Dick’s tractor was ready for more work on the floor.
214. Joe Wieger and Gary Burns installing the siding on the pole barn.
215. Joe Wieger, Dick and David Robertson framing the top of the pole barn which was located on Dick’s farm property.
216. Ralph Bodenweiser, Jim Course, Andy Moscarelli and Gary Burns take time out during construction of the pole barn.
217. Ralph Bodenweiser runs the front end loader to fill in around the poles while Joe Raimondo, Joe Wieger and Jim Beaumont do the grunt work of smearing on the preservative and tamping down the area around each pole.
218. Dick Robertson, Joe Wieger and Jim Kaiser doing the concrete work in the pole barn. Some airplanes have already moved in for repair and storage.
219. Ralph Bodenweiser spreads a gravel base for the pole barn floor.
220. Once all the poles were in place, Dick Robertson said he had a Greek ruin on his property.
221. Don Tarcza taxis his Quad Cities Challenger II into a parking spot at Twin Pine. There’s another happy passenger seated behind Don.
222. The chapter set up a display in Quaker Bridge Mall. Two of the featured exhibits were Cy Mehling’s VariEze and Paul Musso’s Real Sporty racer.
223. John Prokop’s partially completed Skybolt and two ultralights were part of the chapter’s display at Quaker Bridge Mall.
224. Dave Kellner (sunglasses) give the crowd a close-up look at Paul Musso’s Real Sporty. The crowds were drawn by the fact that they could purchase a model kit of the airplane they were looking at.
225. Danny Pinelli’s Republic Seabee at a McGuire open house.
226. A Republic Seabee visited Twin Pine.
227. After Baxter’s closed the chapter began holding their Oshkosh dinner at Robbins Restaurant. This one was attended by C. J. Alexander and three of his friends, Don Stretch and friend, Bud Bachman, a friend of Frank Liberti, Frank Liberti, Keith Caulton and Dick and Kathleen Behrman. Seated at the second table are Joe Raimondo and Joe Jr., and Sam Calaby.
228. Dinner at Robbins in Oshkosh included unknown, Joe Wieger (glasses), unknown, unknown, Jim Kaiser, Joe Raimondo and Joe Jr., Sam Calaby, Don Ruffner and unknown.
229. Cy Mehling’s VariEze at the chapter’s Trenton Mercer fly-in.
230. Sherry Burns caught a ride with Bob Krauss at Oshkosh. Bob was a resident of Kewanee WI, but after he met some of our chapter members he became a defacto member and attended all of our Oshkosh dinners.
231. Bill Weasner kept the Sikorsky S-51 at Twin Pine for years. He eventually sold it to a museum.
232. Bill Hill taxis his Smith Miniplane at Robbinsville.
233. Bob Sweeney brought the Smith Miniplane into Twin Pine.
234. Bill Hill’s Smith Miniplane at Twin Pine. The shorter of the two ladies at the tail is Mary Smela, probably the finest FBO that ever ran the operation at Twin Pine.
235. The chapter took a trip to the Smithsonian’s restoration facility at Silver Hill, MD. Frank O’Brien, Bob Marciniak, Murray Rozansky, Jim Beaumont, Bob Riegel, Frank Liberti, Lance Jensen, Pete Whittam and Sam Calaby can be identified.
236. In the Smithsonian’s restoration facility the chapter examined the hull of a Felixstowe F.5L, a British flying boat patrol biplane from World War I. The chapter members that can be identified in the picture are Dave Kellner, Bob Riegel, Bob Marciniak, Pete Whittam and Sam Calaby.
237. John Turgyan owned this Spartan 7W before it was purchased by the Mennen family and then donated to the EAA Museum.
238. John Turgyan bought this Spartan 7W as a replacement for the one he sold to the Mennen family. It is shown here at one of the chapter’s Twin Pine picnics.
239. Harry Askey flying his Stearman over Hopewell, NJ. This is the third of four Stearmans that Harry owned.
240. Harry Askey is airborne in his 450 Stearman, the fourth of four that he owned.
241. Dave Kellner and his Stinson 108-2. This was shot in 1976 when the chapter took a flight of five airplanes into an open house at McGuire AFB. Other participants were Joe Wieger in the Chief, Bill Marx in the Aeronca L-3, Keith Caulton in the Cub and Jerry Duick in his Cessna 172.
242. This is Dave Kellner flying the Stinson 108-2 over Hopewell, long before all the development took place.
243. Jim Beaumont is loading the Stinson 108-2 at Robbinsville. Jim owned the airplane in partnership with Robin White. Jim’s destination on this flight was Oshkosh.
244. John Warren flying his Stinson 108-2 enroute to Rhinebeck and Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
245. Jim Beaumont’s Stinson 108-3 parked at Oshkosh. Just before he wanted to depart Oshkosh the airplane was rammed by an ultralight and he had to leave it with Basler Aviation for about two months of repair time. The airplane was recently featured in the June 2008 issue of Sport Aviation.
246. Jim Beaumont’s Stinson 108-3 Station Wagon at Twin Pine shortly after he purchased it.
247. Larry Cook heads for his hangar at Robbinsville in the Stinson L-5.
248. This is Bill Schneider’s Stolp Starduster Too parked for an event at Robbinsville.
249. Bill Schneider took his Stolp Starduster Too to the open house at NAS Willow Grove.
250. Don Harnsberger built his Aeromirage TC-2 at Princeton and flew it to Oshkosh.
251. Bob Crossland brought his Taylor Monoplane to our first chapter picnic at VanSant.
252. Bob Crossland stands in front of his Taylor Monoplane on a cold day at Sky Manor
253. Bill Schneider in the Starduster Too and Bob Crossland in the Taylor Monoplane enroute to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
254. Doug Corlette flew Martin B-26’s in World War II but after that his flying was done in this 1946 Taylorcraft.
255. Doug Corlette’s Taylorcraft BC-12D got a new paint job and moved closer to the Twin Pine runway in the ‘90’s.
256. This is Doug Corlette’s freshly restored Taylorcraft BC-12D parked on the back row at Twin Pine.
257. Cy Mehling in the Glasair RG is greeted by John Warren at the chapter’s Trenton Mercer fly-in.
258. John Warren, Dick Behrmann and Don Ruffner were the judges at the Chapter 176 Fly-in at Trenton-Mercer Airport.
259. Dave Platzer and Joe Dunbar parked their Piper PA 28-140 Cherokees next to Jim Course’s Stearman during our Trenton-Mercer fly-in.
260. Bob Bittner brought his Piper J-3 to the Trenton-Mercer fly-in.
261. Jim Course is greeted by a couple of admirers at the Chapter 176 Trenton-Mercer Fly-in.
262. Because our members airplanes were precluded from winning awards at our Trenton-Mercer Fly-in, this Thorp T-18 was judged the best in show. Steve Kidd did a painting of the plane and that was given as the award.
263. The Twin Pine gang—Joe Kowalick, Charlie Dekle and Lloyd Rinker.
264. Bill Weasner’s Varga Kachina parked behind the hangars at Twin Pine.
265. The Varga Kachina became a monument to indifference and neglect at Twin Pine. It’s a shame that the airplane was hardly ever flown.
266. Art Glaser built this Volksplane I, and after he parked it at Princeton we never saw him again.
267. Todd Raison built this Volmer Sportsman, and Charley Byron flew it to VanSants for our first Chapter picnic. Todd got interested in boats and the wood in the airplane began to rot. Dick Robertson bought the remains and is incorporating as many parts as possible in his own Sportsman.
268. John Turgyan pulls his Waco CTO onto the taxiway at Robbinsville.
269. John Turgyan is an antiquer that is able to get his old airplanes to Oshkosh. Of course it helps to have a relatively fast antique. This is his Waco CTO.
270. John Turgyan taxis for takeoff at Robbinsville.
271. Jim Course and Joe Rommel in Jim’s Waco RNF at Sky Manor. The Smelas who formerly were the FBO’s at Twin Pine sold the airplane to Jim, and they were the FBO at Sky Manor when this picture was taken.
272. Jim Course in his Waco RNF at Robbinsville. Just in front of the Waco is Jim’s Jungster.
273. Jim Course’s Waco RNF at Sky Manor.
274. Wayne Hayes’ Waco YKS enroute from McGuire AFB to Robbinsville.
275. Wayne Hayes’ Waco YKS enroute from McGuire AFB to Robbinsville.
276. Charter member and Technical Counselor Dick Blair and his wife Shirley watch the airshow at a Willow Grove open house.
277. Frank Liberti took twenty-one years to build this Wittman Tailwind-Cougar. Can you see that he’s happy that he’s finally done?
278. Harry Askey prepares another passenger for a ride in his 450 Stearman.
279. Harry Askey explaining some of the details of his 450 Stearman to admirers at Martin State Airport, Baltimore, MD.
280. Harry Askey prepares for takeoff at a gathering of Stearmans.
281. Dick Blair was a serial builder of aerobatic aircraft this is his Skybolt. The picture was taken at a McGuire AFB open house, and Dick was one of the airshow performers.
282. Dick Blair taxis his Steen Skybolt behind the Blue Angels’ C-130 Fat Albert. Dick was about to put on an aerobatic performance at a Willow Grove open house.
283. Dick Blair’s Skybolt was one of the airplanes that flew into VanSants for our first chapter picnic.
284. Harry Askey heading for home at Twin Pine in his 450 Stearman.
285. Steve Kidd was the first of our chapter artists. He is shown here displaying his work at one of our Twin Pine picnics. Other artists in the chapter were Paul Burrows and Ray Moats.
286. Connie and Aaron Kellner spend a few minutes with friends while Dave Kellner prepares his Stinson 108-2 for departure from a McGuire AFB open house.
287. Dave, Connie and Aaron Kellner camped in the classic camping area at Oshkosh.
