Wings first...

December 2013...I decided to start with the wings.  It's going to be the biggest part of the project - nothing usable survived.  Everything is going to have to be made new:  Spars, ribs, drag/anti-drag wires, all the fittings, etc.  Fortunately, enough did survive to use as a pattern. Andy (my friend who I purchased the project from) and his son Dennis agreed to help.

All the Sitka Spruce sorted and ready for laminating

Being laminated

Spars:  I got some spruce with the project, but required a lot of planing to clean it up enough for use.  The remaining came from my friend Sean Soare and some I purchased at McCormick Lumber in Madison, WI.  Andy, Dennis and I got it all planed to size, laminated and finished dimensionally.  

Spars were hand-planed to the final dimensions

Fittings:  Some of the wing fittings were also started on.  Andy bought a plasma cutter which made cutting out the .100" thick 4130 very easy.  I bent them on my brake, and TIG-welded them together.  The original ones made in 1928 were pretty crude - these came out very nice!

Original lower wing attach fittings and new plasma-cut blanks

Completed lower wing attach fittings

Misc. photos of all the bits and pieces

Andy and his son, Dennis helping with the delivery in 2011

Fuselage is in great condition - no wood, all the stringers are metal

Original Curtiss OX-5 in great condition

All that's left of the wings - partial lower and upper right

Factory hand-painted logo from tail of aircraft on original cotton fabric

History of 5735

5735 at Lincoln-Page factory in Lincoln, NE awaiting new owner - Chuck Balling

Chuck Balling with his new LP-3

5735, S/N 212 was manufactured on 5/31/28.  Its first owner, Chuck Balling flew the aircraft for approximately one year and in the process, changed the original silver/red color scheme to orange and black.  In 1929, the aircraft was involved in an accident and put into storage - a chicken coop.  Unfortunately, this did not preserve the wooden portions of the aircraft all that well, the wings basically rotted away.

In 1966, Eric "Andy" Anderson of Elmhurst, IL purchased the aircraft.  Andy started some of the work on the sheet metal components and repairs to the steel tubing, but his work as UA Captain, aerobatic pilot and aircraft restorer kept him busy with other things.  The aircraft remained in storage in his barn.  

In 2011, I purchased the aircraft - its third owner in 85 years.  It is basically a complete aircraft, including obscure things like original wheels, instruments, seat belts, fire extinguisher, etc. The original Curtiss OX-5 is completely intact and well preserved.   What's most amazing is this aircraft has been in storage for 85 years with about 100 hours total time since new on the airframe and engine.

One of the first things I did, was to see if the original registration number, 5735 was still available.  When I logged on to the FAA's website, I was shocked to see it was!  I quickly reserved the number.

Original data tags.  Note matching serial number
(5094) of engine on airframe tag!

I couldn't start on the restoration right away.  I was finishing up a 1946 Funk B85C project that I wanted ready for EAA 2013.  We were very fortunate to win Grand Champion Classic with this aircraft, plus other awards throughout the year - we couldn't be more thrilled!  Late 2013 was going to be the start of the Lincoln-Page restoration.

New Project

I've started a new blog for the restoration of our 1928, OX-5 powered Lincoln-Page LP-3.  Feel free to view and comment on the progress over the next few years.