"Here’s the website with his ruminations: http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/engines.htm#harry"
Keep the Skinny Birds Flying Safely
-
Andy Gelston
- Male
- Grantham, NH
- United States
- Blog Posts (5)
- Discussions (113)
- Photos (7)
- Photo Albums
- Videos
Andy Gelston's Discussions
Andy Andraka’s Eaglet project on Barnstormers
1931 B-31 AMERICAN EAGLET • $13,500 • OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY • Complete project, registered as…Continue
Started Oct 3
Trade-A-Plane Collegiate
If you like white, TJ Neff is still advertising his pimped out LP-65 with a spare, pickled O-145, for $24.9K. He’ll add an electric start for an extra $2.5K. She already has an electrical system…Continue
Started Sep 15
Oshkosh Bound
I'll be there, but 41VT won't. The Franklin 90 has a chipped exhaust valve and I ran out of time to get it replaced, so I'm driving the wee Echo and the old gal will again languish in her hangar…Continue
Started Jul 18
Club member featured in Air & Space Magazine article
Unfortunately, the article isn't about her Flyabout project...…Continue
Started May 21
Andy Gelston's Page
Latest Activity
"IIRC, installing .020 over bearings requires an STC. Is that what the issue is?
Check with Harry Fenton, he's the A-65 guru."
Andy Andraka’s Eaglet project on Barnstormers
1931 B-31 AMERICAN EAGLET • $13,500 • OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY • Complete project, registered as standard category, with full drawings, and large stock of several Szekely SR-0 engines/parts. New fuel tank, overhauled carb, and all the difficult to find parts needed for an easy restoration. Unique opportunity to fly a Flivver with tons of 1930's charm. Trades considered, transportation to New…See More
Painted Hills Loop by Air - Porterfield Collegiate
"Thanks, Matt! I hear the Northwest calling me..."
Trade-A-Plane Collegiate
If you like white, TJ Neff is still advertising his pimped out LP-65 with a spare, pickled O-145, for $24.9K. He’ll add an electric start for an extra $2.5K. She already has an electrical system and strobes (I’d like to see the 337’s for them, and the starter).See More
"I’m saddened to hear of your Grandpa’s stroke. I'll be keeping him my prayers and I hope the Army leave approval goomer is compassionate."
"Nice job, Carl! Fly her off grass for your first 30 hours in her, then transition to pavement. That Scott 3200 tailwheel is a bit overkill, but she’ll track and turn better with it. Thank you for returning another one of our girls to the…"
"Howdy hey thanks for the welcome! He talked about the Porterfield Club ALOT! He truly loved it. Unfortunately about a week ago he had a massive stroke and his time is nearing an end. I hope the Army approves my leave so I can go see him one last…"
"Welcome to your Grandpa’s wee club for the skinny birds, Luke! You’ll find lots of info in the Forum and Blog sections. Please tell your Grandpa I said Hello!
Soft landings,
Andy"
"S/N 875 first flew 13 Jan 1941. The assembly line was smoking in early ‘41!"
"Welcome to flying behind a Porterfield gas gauge! You can make a new one with 1/16” welding rod and two or three wine corks with a diameter that will just slide through the opening in the top of the tank. You’ll want to seal the cork…"
"That looks good, Steve! I wish Slick made a mag for the Franklin 90, with my unshielded Eisemann mags, I sound like a cross between Kathryn Hepburn and Henry Kissinger on the radio. While parked in the hangar, do you put a clothespin on your gas…"
"I met a nice Wisconsin-based couple, Jim & Debbie Seip, who had an indoor exhibit booth. Through their business, The Pilots Cross, they make elegant, customized aviation jewelry. I showed them a photo of a Collegiate and they said they could…"
"No Porterfields were registered attendees at Oshkosh ‘21. It’s hard to generate interest in the type when we don’t attend, folks. I’ve heard the argument that the tourists might beat up your plane with cameras hung around…"
@ Oshkosh ‘21
So far, no Porterfields...there’s a replica of a Rearwin Sportster, though. I don’t think that counts, though, but still, she's here and she’s upstaging us. The old Porterfield/Rearwin rivalry is alive & well!
"Hi Andy,
Thanks for letting me join you all. Looking forward to finding an aircraft at some point, a Flyable one first with a project a little later. "
Profile Information
- About Me:
- Enough about me, let's talk about you...
- Do you own a Porterfield Airplane?
- 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?
- Why yes, I fly...
Andy Gelston's Photos
Andy Gelston's Blog
@ Oshkosh ‘21
So far, no Porterfields...there’s a replica of a Rearwin Sportster, though. I don’t think that counts, though, but still, she's here and she’s upstaging us. The old Porterfield/Rearwin rivalry is alive & well!
Posted on July 25, 2021 at 8:36am — 2 Comments
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…
ContinuePosted on October 14, 2013 at 6:30am — 1 Comment
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…
ContinuePosted 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…
ContinuePosted on April 12, 2013 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments
Comment Wall (39 comments)
- At 5:38pm on August 26, 2021,
Luke Lebrecht said…
Howdy hey thanks for the welcome! He talked about the Porterfield Club ALOT! He truly loved it. Unfortunately about a week ago he had a massive stroke and his time is nearing an end. I hope the Army approves my leave so I can go see him one last time. I look forward to seeing everyone's posts on here and learn a thing or two! Im glad he opened my eyes to aviation (Im normally a car guy) and maybe one day Ill be up in the air too.
- At 11:22am on July 24, 2021,
Hi Andy,
Thanks for letting me join you all. Looking forward to finding an aircraft at some point, a Flyable one first with a project a little later.
- At 9:29am on May 3, 2021,
Steve Ahrens said…
Thank you for the warm welcome Andy. I’m looking forward to doing my tail wheel endorsement with my new bird!
- At 5:49pm on April 26, 2021,
I'm 2005 lbs. and 5ft. 11 inch's a little tight, but with practice no problem. Okay once in.
- At 12:47pm on December 8, 2020,
Hi Andy. I’ve not received to data pack yet on the 90 Franklin install. Actually I made a error on the engine I’m overhauling for my FP 65. It is actually a 80 hp with starter and generator. I’m hoping to use your data as the basis for this engine. Would also like to get info on other installations of 80 or more hp. The starter and generator do not stick back any further than the mags. I’m thanking one of the small lightweight starters just might work. From my measurements it seems that the gas tank and starter clearance are the issue. Thanks for your help
- At 10:22am on November 3, 2020,
Carl Gingras said…
Thanks for the welcome. Greg hadn't started on the project yet. He has a bunch of other restorations going on right now so that how I ended up with the project. He is guiding me as this is my first restoration. I currently fly a quicksilver gt400, and this project is a viable means to get into a 2 place aircraft.
- At 1:01pm on October 27, 2020,
- Andy I have a 41 fp65 that I plan to have flying summer 2021. I see you have a Franklin 90 in yours with a one time arc. I just bought a 90 with starter and gen. It will be overhauled to new specs this winter. Can I please get a copy of your STC. It will make it much easier to get mine approved. Thanks in advance
- At 1:16pm on May 9, 2020,
Allison H. said…
She is a project. I bought her from Jason Algra back in 2015, then immediately had to find a new job. Been concentrating on flight training but 368, also known as Maggie Lou, is never far from my mind. She's housed at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, TX.
I'm really hoping factory drawings are still available. I'm used to working from parts catalogs.
- At 5:06pm on April 2, 2020,
Is there a place where I can find any airworthiness directives for the Colliagiate?
- At 4:56pm on April 2, 2020,
Collegiate SN 938 NC37709 We hope to have it ready to fly soon
I will say Hi to Ken for you
About
© 2021 Created by Tom Porterfield.
Powered by
