District XI Report
The Project
At a Red Apple Fliers banquet in February 2002, the beginnings of the Spirit of Wenatchee project were first brought to the attention of a group of model airplane builders from Moses Lake. During the May 2002 Apple Blossom festival, this group from the Moses Lake club visited the Spirit of Wenatchee’s Pangborn Field headquarters.
During the visit, club members obtained a 1/7-scale set of plans for the Bellanca J-2 special long-range airplane. The first major decision was to build it bigger. The plans were enlarged to a full 1/4 scale and the builders began the conversion from paper to reality.
Construction and Assembly
Frank Wright immediately began manufacturing the wood needed from supplies in his woodworking facilities. Bob Heikell set a flying deadline of October 2002 and began the tedious building project once the wood was delivered. As various parts were completed, test fits were made to assure accurate final assembly when the wings were attached to the fuselage. Mating of the various surfaces was studied and calculated to make the model true to the original Bellanca configuration.
Photographs and studies gathered from visits to the Spirit of Wenatchee and Century Aviation at Pangborn Airport (named after one of Miss Veedol’s famous pilots) proved immensely helpful in recreating the original lines and configurations of Miss Veedol.
The time-consuming job of covering and preparing the assembled frame for final painting followed, along with installation of the radio controls. The covering used was Dacron fabric, chosen to recreate the look of fabric-covered aircraft. The color was matched from a swatch of original covering stored in the museum and applied as construction allowed.
One major decision was the final powerplant. After many false starts, the builders chose a Zenoah G-62 two-stroke gas engine turning a 26 x 10-inch propeller, hidden behind a 1/4-scale Williams Bros dummy Pratt & Whitney nine-cylinder radial.
Master metal-bender Frank Wright created a splendid 1/4-scale duplicate of the cowling used on the original Miss Veedol, along with a set of handmade scale wheels and the control horns needed for the pull-pull control system. The speed ring surrounding the radial engine proved a unique challenge; a method was found and the challenge was met.
Flight Testing
With the major pieces fitted, radio gear installed, and the engine tested and mounted, it was time for an engine run on the airplane. AMA Associate Vice President Gene LaFond assisted in the preflight checks and helped calm nerves. Taxi tests were conducted on the grass runway maintained by the Red Apple Fliers model club.
Gene, at the controls, made several runs both directions on the runway, testing ground handling before lifting briefly to confirm the airplane would fly. True to her design, the Bellanca performed magnificently to rousing cheers. After a sufficient shakedown flight, Gene brought the aircraft to a perfect two-point landing—much to Bob’s relief after some 1,000 hours of labor.
On the next flight, Gene handed the controls to Bob, advising him on what to expect. Bob then experienced the nerve-jangling thrill of bringing Miss Veedol back to earth.
The group scheduled the official inaugural flight for October 5, 2002, the 71st anniversary of the Pangborn flight from Japan to Wenatchee, Washington. This commemorative flight took place at the Red Apple Fliers model airplane field in East Wenatchee.
Aircraft Facts
- Wingspan: 12 feet, 5 1/2 inches (tip to tip)
- Chord (leading to trailing edge): 21 inches
- Fuselage length: 7 feet
- Flying weight: 39 1/2 pounds
- Engine: 62 cc (3.8 cubic inches); 4.75 horsepower
Until next time.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
