Porterfield Airplane Club

Keep the Skinny Birds Flying Safely

Andy Gelston
  • Male
  • Grantham, NH
  • United States

Andy Gelston's Friends

  • Jerry Deanda
  • Harry Taggart
  • Jim Mullin
  • Allen Self
  • David G Reichard
  • Bill Skinner
  • Perry M Chappano
  • Steve Sharpe
  • Tom Porterfield

Andy Gelston's Discussions

Early Hockaday design on Barnstormers, for sale

Before Ed started his Airplane Company, Ed Hockaday was designing airplanes...1932 HOCKADAY EAGLE •…Continue

Started Mar 2

'39 Porterfields for sale: 1 cheap project, 1 wicked expensive restoration

As seen on Barnstormers.com:1939 PORTERFIELD • $2,000 • PROJECT FOR SALE • In Storage since 1942.…Continue

Started Jan 22

CP-50 w/A65 for sale in Bryan, TX

Pat Cole has his Dad's old girl in storage near his motorcycle shop and would like to find a good home for her. Pat is a member and can be contacted through this website if you're interested. I…Continue

Started Jan 9

Jim Mullin's latest video is on Youtube (but not here-harumpf!)

Jim bought old time member LeRoy Blum's Sweet Pea and is caring for her very nicely.…Continue

Started Nov 9, 2023

 

Andy Gelston's Page

Latest Activity

Andy Gelston posted a discussion

Early Hockaday design on Barnstormers, for sale

Before Ed started his Airplane Company, Ed Hockaday was designing airplanes...1932 HOCKADAY EAGLE • $900 • PROJECT FOR SALE • For Runner to Porterfield • Contact Alan Buchner - BUCHNER SPECIALTIES , - located Groveland, CA 95321 United States •…See More
Mar 2
Andy Gelston left a comment for Ross Macdonald
"Welcome to our wee club for the skinny birds, Ross! You will find lots of good information in the forum and blogs sections, as well as the photos and videos sections."
Feb 20
Andy Gelston left a comment for Gary Baca
"Welcome to our wee club for the skinny birds, Gary! Did you get your Collegiate out of Kentucky? There's lots of good information here in the Forum and Blog sections and also Photos and Videos sections. You have a great trainer for completing…"
Feb 12
Andy Gelston shared a profile on Facebook
Feb 12
Andy Gelston replied to Bill Skinner's discussion Aircraft Structural Repair - Wood Aircraft Structures
"I would recommend reading AC 4313-1B, Chapter 1, Section 4, Paragraph 1-40 for spar repairs https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43.13-1B_w-chg1.pdf You can download it from this link. Your USAF/USN manual is a piece of…"
Feb 10
Andy Gelston posted a discussion

'39 Porterfields for sale: 1 cheap project, 1 wicked expensive restoration

As seen on Barnstormers.com:1939 PORTERFIELD • $2,000 • PROJECT FOR SALE • In Storage since 1942. Unrestored •1939 PORTERFIELD • $38,000 • LIMITED TIME ONLY • Newly Restored •Contact Alan Buchner -…See More
Jan 22
Andy Gelston replied to Mark Shayne's discussion Pitch Trim Placard
"I contacted Jerry Turner about reproducing the placards on the drawing (see IMG_6071.jpeg, above) and he replied: "I can make the 8 plate set of Porterfield Aircraft Placards for a total of $1,480.00 which will include insured shipping. We…"
Jan 10
Andy Gelston commented on Terry Bryson's blog post Fuel shut off valve
"I'll have to look through my old documents, but I recall it being a ball valve, maybe a Weatherhead, with an extension on the lever that has a wee ball on it for the shut-off rod that goes over to the left side of the cockpit. There is also a…"
Jan 9
Andy Gelston posted a discussion

CP-50 w/A65 for sale in Bryan, TX

Pat Cole has his Dad's old girl in storage near his motorcycle shop and would like to find a good home for her. Pat is a member and can be contacted through this website if you're interested. I haven't seen her, other than photos, so can't vouch for her, but she might not take much to get her back in the air. You'll need to come with a trailer to haul her to her new home, after paying for her. Price is negotiable. Go look her over and explain to Pat why she's worth whatever your offer is. Bring…See More
Jan 9
Andy Gelston replied to Mark Shayne's discussion Pitch Trim Placard
"Oh cool! I haven't seen this drawing before. I'll send it Jerry at Nostalgic Reflections to get a price quote from him to make up a set. He uses screen printing that looks great. Thank you, Mark! The rear stick can rub the front seatback,…"
Jan 9
Andy Gelston replied to Aaron Smokovitz's discussion Trying to contact TC Holder
"We're all in this together, Aaron! Thank you for your efforts in getting another one of the old gals flying."
Jan 9
Andy Gelston replied to Russell Moriarity's discussion Anybody making 35-70 exhaust?
"Contact Scott Anderson <sanderson@awi-ami.com> He's an old classmate of mine and the Sales Director…"
Jan 9
Andy Gelston left a comment for Russell Moriarity
"Welcome to our wee club for the skinny birds, Russell! There's lots of info here in the Forum, Blogs, Photos, and Videos sections. Are you looking for a Flyabout airframe for your engine? There's a member named Dennis Biro who might be…"
Jan 8
Andy Gelston left a comment for Tom Grafe
"Welcome to our wee club for the skinny birds, Tom! Did you buy your CP-50 from Pat Cole? You'll find lots of info in the Forum, Blogs, Photos and even Videos sections, so take some time to check them out. If you'd like to share any…"
Dec 31, 2023
Andy Gelston left a comment for Jacob Noel
"Cool!  Do you have skis for her, in case we get snow (ha!)? Thank you for the update! Soft landings, Andy"
Dec 31, 2023
Jacob Noel left a comment for Andy Gelston
"27259 is now in London OH. Still flying on what it should be 1800ft of grass. "
Dec 31, 2023

Profile Information

About Me:
Enough about me, let's talk about you...
Do you own a Porterfield Airplane? N#?
NC41VT, 1941 FP-65, S/N 875 Has a Franklin 90 installed by Angelo Forte, under a one-time STC, in the mid-50's, and has had the seaplane conversion done to it (would that make it a FS-90?). I just need a cheap set of Edo 1320's now!
Are You a Pilot? Ratings?
Why yes, I fly...

Andy Gelston's Photos

Andy Gelston's Blog

NC41VT and I are now back home in Vermont! How we got here...

I'm sitting in KMHT, writing this while waiting for my flight which should be wheels up in about 10 hours.  I fly to Newark, then to Seattle, then to Great Falls, and should be wheels down at KHLN about midnight (about 31 hours from now).  Hey, I live in New England!  We can't get anywhere from here!  41VT is at Boulder (K3U9) Airport, about 25 miles south of Helena, MT.  I'll buy a used bike  Wednesday morning (I hope), and pedal on down to Boulder to start prepping myself and 41VT for our…

Continue

Posted on October 14, 2013 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

Ad for NC41VT, a FP-65 converted to a FS-90

DESCRIPTION: NC41VT is a 1941 FP-65, S/N 875, with an STC’d Franklin 90 installation, completed by Angelo Forte in the mid-50’s, turning a Flottorp wood prop.  She has fresh Polyfiber covering and finish with the factory red and silver color scheme (ball with 2 stripes on each side).  Medium weight fabric was used throughout, with heavy weight fabric used on the belly and lower surfaces of the horizontal stabilizers and elevators.  The instrument panel is the deluxe version, made to…

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Posted on July 23, 2013 at 9:30pm

Update on my '41 FP-65 project

After tinkering for over three years on my Collegiate, the novelty finally wore off for Pokey Gordon and he asked me to remove the old girl from his shop in Helena, MT.  Club member Tim Talen, who has a hangar in Boulder, MT, about 30 miles south of Helena, came to the rescue and arranged for a Boulder friend of his to rent a truck and haul the project to his hangar. 

Tim's is a master restorer who specializes in Interstate Aircraft.  I restored an Interstate Cadet back in the 80's…

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Posted on April 12, 2013 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments

Seen on Barnstormers: 1940 PORTERFIELD CP-65 for $25K

FOR SALE • 1940 PORTERFIELD CP-65 Collegiate $25,000 LSA Qualified. First Collegiate 499.9 SMOH. 5519.1 TT. Hangered since restoration in 1967. Flying Airplane. All logs Books available on PDF. Current annual good to 01/31/2014. Located at AJO. Corona municipal airport, CA USA. Telephone: Contact Eric 951-247-9541 • Contact…

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Posted on March 3, 2013 at 1:10pm — 1 Comment

Comment Wall (51 comments)

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At 9:33am on December 31, 2023, Jacob Noel said…

27259 is now in London OH. Still flying on what it should be 1800ft of grass. 

At 4:04pm on May 20, 2023, David Davis said…

Thanks for adding me to your group Andy! I'm interested in finding a Porterfield as I've lived my entire 53 years in the Kansas City area. A good friend of mine had a project when we were in A&P school but he never finished it before letting it go. Dave

At 5:00am on February 20, 2023, Danny R. Linkous said…

Thank you, Andy.  That certainly clears up some of the mystery about front/rear seat solo flight in the Porterfield.  The airplane I plan to purchase (John Elliott’s Collegiate) has had the little Lycoming 65hp engine replaced with a Continental C-85, which I imagine is heavier.  With John’s help, I’ll be taking a close look at the W&B before I fly her.

At 6:17am on February 19, 2023, Danny R. Linkous said…

Thank you very much, Andy, for welcoming me to the club.  

I have sat in both seats of the Porterfield.  When I sat in the front seat, it reminded me of the two Dehavilland Chipmunks I owned.  The instrument panel in the Chipmunk is very close to your face, also, though not as close as the panel in the Porterfield.  

Regarding solo flight from the front seat…there are pictures and videos online of Porterfields being flown solo from the front and the back seat.  I look forward to learning more about that mystery.

You asked what happened to my DH-1.  I assume you mean my second DHC-1 Chipmunk, which was sold about 18 months ago to an individual who keeps it based on a grass field east of St. Louis. I replaced the Chipmunk with the aircraft that replaced the Chipmunk in  RAF service as a primary trainer, the Scottish Aviation Bulldog.  Nice airplane, but the little wheel in the back isn’t there…they put it up front, under the engine, and made it larger!  Sacrilege!!!  After 18 months of no tailwheel time (and really missing that kind of flying), I started looking for something with a tailwheel that was different from Cubs, Champs, etc.  Since there were no Spitfires on the market at the time (that I could afford), I began searching for a Porterfield.  Happy to say that I found one.

Again, thanks for the welcome.  Looking forward to continuing my education regarding the skinny bird.

At 6:43am on November 10, 2022, Steve Ahrens said…

Hi Andy, is new member James Pollard a hacker?

At 3:08pm on November 7, 2022, NaHeMeKa said…

Thanks,

What'cha mean? Don't all engine heads have to be re-torqued every dozen hours? :)

At 7:50pm on October 21, 2022, Jim Beaumont said…

Thanks, Andy, and thanks for letting me join!

 I know very little about Porterfields and that tip about the Collegiate helps!

At 10:51am on July 5, 2022, Trevor Burns said…

I have a copy of a pilot manual and maintenance manual and that is it so any additional information you might have would be fantastic!

At 10:44am on July 5, 2022, Trevor Burns said…

Thanks a lot! Figured I would have to go that route, not a big deal but it’s always nice to find one on a shelf, one the the struts has some airworthy but ugly repairs which really takes away from the rest of the ground up restoration. 

At 10:22am on July 5, 2022, Trevor Burns said…

Also, is there anyone that might have a replacement front RH wing strut?

 
 
 

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