Porterfield Airplane Club

Keep the Skinny Birds Flying Safely

Andy Gelston's Comments

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At 11:22am on July 24, 2021, Dan Roose said…

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 12:47pm on December 8, 2020, T Doug Stewart said…

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 1:01pm on October 27, 2020, T Doug Stewart said…
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, David Trost said…

Is there a place where I can find any airworthiness directives for the Colliagiate?

At 4:56pm on April 2, 2020, David Trost said…

Collegiate SN 938 NC37709 We hope to have it ready to fly soon

I will say Hi to Ken for you

At 9:01pm on September 30, 2019, Harry Taggart said…

That Porterfield for sale in Kansas is in a Facebook Airplanes For Sale Group. Doing research on it is what led me to your group. I won't be able to act on anything until Spring at the earliest. Looks like a sweet plane at a good price though.

Small world about the Starlite for sure! I didn't berlong to the Yahoo group. There was another Starlite owner about 40 miles away from me and we always got together at fly-ins around Tennessee. I was not the original builder of mine. I acquired it from a guy who bought it from the builder (who was afraid to fly it) and then promptly ground looped it, collapsing the gear, which drove a wheel through the right wing and hit a runway light with the left wing leading edge.  You, of course, know how close coupled the controls were and you just cannot get heavy handed or heavy footed with a Starlite on the ground. I traded a 1980 Cadillac Eldorado for it, put it back together and had a ball flying it. As you know, Starlites always draw a crowd wherever they go. I took it to Sun 'N Fun twice and eventually sold it to get the Champ.

As for the Starduster, I did not build that one either. The turtledeck (aka 'storage area') was fiberglass. It was a dream to fly and one of the best landing taildraggers I ever flew. But I outgrew it (weight-wise) too quickly.  At 210# I could barely get my hips in and out of the cockpit opening and a parachute was definitely out of the question. My lifelong dream was to own and fly a Stearman. The Starduster was as close as I ever got. No matter. It always put a smile on my face.

I'm looking forward to learning more about the Porterfield from you and your members. Thanks again for adding me.

At 8:08pm on September 30, 2019, Harry Taggart said…

Thanks for the welcome, Andy. I'm more interested in a flight worthy A/C rather than rebuilding. Just looking for now. My center of gravity has "shifted" significantly since my days with the Starlite and Starduster.  I'm 5'10 but close to 250#. I can handle close quarters at the controls. Just concerned about CG problems at this weight. The Porterfield caught my eye due to its close appearance to my Aeronca. This is the first I've ever heard of a Porterfield.

At 9:50pm on September 11, 2019, Luigi Ricci Moretti said…

The Fleet is a Model 7B, N174RS. 

Thanks for the add. 

Luigi

At 11:58am on August 26, 2019, Richard Nelson said…

At 9:41am on August 26, 2019, Richard Nelson said…

Hello Andy

We just found a couple old planes in the backwoods of Louisiana( a 42 PT26 and a Porterfield. They have been taken apart and stored in various sheds, barns and old cars. I found the serial id tag in the back of a 59 Edsel wagon, the wings stored in the rafters of an old barn... Still searching the jungle for the rest of it( engine ,cowl etc) 

I need help to id which plane i have. The wheels are dated 1937, id tag 36-70, august 1938, serial # 337

Will post pics soon. 

Thanks Dick Nelson

At 3:41am on August 13, 2019, Al WARD said…

Hi Andy thanx for the reply note... funnily enough I knew Doug Sales quite well in the mid to late 60's as we used to hang out together And have been to many of the Hot air ballon shows in Hamilton.. but on another matter on the 2nd page of the groups photos there are  4 pix of 3 Porterfieds labelled Red White & Blue.You wouldnt have the "N" number of the lite blue (taking off) one would you as thats the color I have used on the model I am building!! If you know it  I will put it on my model......Thanx a lot...Regards Al Wqrd..NZ

At 1:54pm on August 5, 2019, Bo case said…

Hello Andy.   The skinny bird I just acquired is a CP-65,  very good shape but hasn't flown since 09.  Lewis Mitchell owned this aircraft for many years here in TX. Lewis is a WWll vet and retired from a flying job with the FAA.  He is 95 now.  I've been running this plane off and on for him for the last 3 years and will fly it soon.  I'll send pics. bo case rhome tx

At 4:34pm on April 18, 2019, kevin feauto said…

Thank you for the add Andy. I have recently acquired NC37716 which suffered a nose over accident. Last week I returned from Aberdeen SD where it was to St. Could Fl , where I now live. I have approx 650 hrs in my old aircraft Nc25563 ser # 641. I sold it years ago for the equity I needed for a bigger plane for a growing family. I have always have fond memories for my old airplane. I bought 255623 as a rolled over basket case , built it and learned to fly in her. I now have her sister!. NC37716 left the factory as a land or sea plane. It has EXTENSIVE documentation. I Spoke with a prior owner , James Gooding, last evening and he is ecstatic she will fly again. Ill keep you all updated on her progress as i intend to commence work on her in late summer. In the mean time, I need a copy of the fuselage drawings so I may facilitate repair of some broken and or kinked structure. Can anyone help me out? ALSO. I have LOTS of rubber biscuit shock absorbers should anyone need any. Feel free to contact me at clearprop75r@hotmail.com. 

At 10:23pm on February 24, 2019, Matt Haines said…

Hi Andy, I just purchased one of these gals out of Sonoma Valley airport #816.  I haven't brought it back to Oregon just yet but I plan on visiting this site frequently and keeping up with you guys.  I will certainly share the fun stuff when it comes along! Thanks for keeping this up.

At 7:41pm on December 4, 2018, Chris Porter said…

That'd be a twofer. Never flown a Porterfield. Never flown off of skis! That would be super fun! If I have an open weekend (with a 5 month old baby, those are tough to find!) I'll let you know! Thanks very much for the invite. 

At 1:32pm on December 4, 2018, Chris Porter said…

Thanks Andy! Lucky for me I'm under 180 and just a hair under 6 feet tall. Maybe I'll get up to see 41VermonT one of these days. 

At 11:08am on July 13, 2018, Eric Kaufmann said…

Sounds great - I will stop by sometime in the next few days.  I have a friend visiting who has flown Werner Griesbeck's bird in BC.  So he can show me which is the front and which is the back.

At 2:54pm on July 12, 2018, Eric Kaufmann said…

"Andy - my apologies for a tardy (understated) response . But I am still interested in trying 41 VT on for size - any chance a day next week would work?""Andy - my apologies for a tardy (understated) response . But I am still interested in trying 41 VT on for size - any chance a day next week would work?"

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