Travel cover installed

My friend Steve came over yesterday afternoon and helped practice install the travel cover on the V-77. It was educational!  I learned I needed a rope so I could attach it to the cover and toss the rope over the wing….and then I could pull the cover lengthwise over the top of the airplane.  It also helped when trying to pull the cover width wise across the fuselage.  I tried to only use the ladder I will have at Oshkosh….it is possible, but a second ladder sure makes it easier.  It took 30 minutes to install the cover, though I think it will go faster next time.  Afterwards, we got it folded back up and into the storage bag…along with the piece of rope.

Last Oshkosh item in hand

I received the final item for my Oshkosh preparation today.  I ordered a Travel Cover for the V-77 from Bruce's Custom Covers.  This cover encloses the windshield, side windows, and extends over the top section between the wings (see picture below).  My main reason for getting it is in case there is a large rainstorm during the week we are parked outside at Oshkosh.  I am not sure just how waterproof the cabin is, and this will protect the radios and upholstery from water damage.  I will keep it off at other times so the judges and general public can see inside.  But for future trips, we can use it to minimize the effects of excessive heat and potential theft.  Now I have to decide if I will do a practice installation before we go or wait until it is needed.  I am not sure I can fold it up as neatly as it currently is.  I'll post a picture if I do.  

All nicely folded.  This will easily fit in the baggage area.

A Stinson on the Bruce's web site with a travel cover installed

 

Another Gullwing pilot

We had light winds yesterday after several days of rain. In fact, this is the second wettest June for Wichita in history, only being beaten by 1923! Given the good weather, I took my friend Korbin for his first Gullwing flight. He flew the Voyager twice about 3 years ago. Korbin picked up where he left off making good turns, including steep turns. We did a few touch and goes at El Dorado and then headed home to Stearman. We flew 1.1 hours total and Korbin is the 16th person to experience Gullwing flight. He cleaned off the bugs and oil afterwards and then he showed my some of the photos he took last week at the Stearman Field Fly-in as well as an airshow he attended in Saint Louis a week prior. He has a great eye for capturing the action and had a few with special effects he made in Photoshop.  Korbin plans to start working on his pilot certificate soon.

Korbin in copilot seat

Korbin and the Gullwing

More Oshkosh essentials

I ordered a few more items recently for the Gullwing.  One is a 10.5-foot collapsable ladder for use if fueling somewhere without a tall enough ladder.  I will put a heavy towel on the leading edge to protect it from damage.  I also bought a 3-step ladder, which will be used to clean bugs off the leading edge of the wing at airshows.  It can also hold the informational sign I had made as well as the book describing the restoration.  To top it off, I got new tie downs for Oshkosh when I realized my others had gone with the Voyager.  The remaining item that shipped yesterday is a travel cover from Bruce's Custom Covers.  It essentially will cover the windshield and cabin area of the plane if there is a lot of rain.

Ladder collapsed

Ladder extended

Step ladder with sign and book

Stearman Field Fly-In

Today was the annual fly-in at my home base, Stearman Field (1K1).  We ended up with at least 50 airplanes on display.... maybe more.  We had 3 Stinson V-77s and 3 Stinson Voyagers.  Several airplanes were from the Tulsa area.  This was the coming out party for my V-77, being the first fly-in it has attended.  All the pilots who brought an airplane to display received a free breakfast buffet at the Stearman Field Bar and Grill.  Many of us left about 1:00 before it got too hot or the weather changed in the wrong direction.  It was a fun warm up for Oshkosh, which is less than a month away!  Here are a few of my better shots:

I heard this was an Italian jet trainer

Stearman coming in

A Piper Pacer

Bret's Stinson V-77

My Stinson V-77

Jody's Stinson V-77

Stinson Voyager

Another Stinson Voyager

And yet a third Stinson Voyager

A Nanchang

Jody's V-77 landing

A Piper J-3 in military colors

My friend Nick and family stopped by in the
 afternoon to see my V-77

Prop no longer naked

When I ordered the new propeller blades a few years back, they came from Germany.  MT propellers had bought the rights to produce these.  Once the prop was on, Wade noted the blades were naked.  I asked what he meant and he said there were no identifying decals or stickers saying who made them.  Wade showed me in the Aircraft Spruce catalogue what stickers were period correct for Hamilton Standard props in the 1940's.  I ordered a set and then waited a while as they were on backorder.  When they finally arrived, I was too busy with other things to get them installed.  And then I lost them.  I knew they had to be in the hangar, and all of the grandkids swore they had not taken them.  I finally found them this morning and promptly installed them.  One more pre-Oshkosh task complete!  Only a few tasks remain.

One label goes on each blade

On the threshold

I noticed a few weeks back that the fuselage fabric covering that wraps around the door thresholds was getting frayed on the edge.  This is probably from when folks climb in or out of the V-77 and use these areas to assist in the effort.  I already had a stainless-steel threshold along the bottom edge to protect everything.  I decided it was time to make three other pieces to complete the entryway.  I contacted Mark Wiebe in Halstead, and he agreed to give me a hand.

I went up Tuesday and we made the 3 necessary pieces.  I got 2 installed yesterday but needed a few adjustments to the third.  I went back today and Mark helped with that task.  I installed it when I got home and everything looks great.  One more pre-Oshkosh task finished!  

Mark busy cutting metal

Aft threshold before.  If you look closely, you can
see the fraying fabric on the left edge.

Aft threshold after

Here you can see the lower, aft, and top pieces

I've been framed!

I took the article on the V-77 restoration in Sport Aviation which I posted about on May 1, 2026 and took it to Hobby Lobby about 10 days ago to get framed.  They called last night and said it was ready for pickup.  Debbie picked the colors and framing style.  We think it turned out nice!

Transponder Checked

I flew over to Wichita's Eisenhower Airport (KICT) today to get my transponder checked for VFR operation.  This is required every two years.  My friend Steve went with me.  This is a larger airport, so you get to talk to approach control and tower on the way in and out.  The folks at Bevan Aviation did the check, which took about 5 minutes for the test and 30 minutes for the paperwork.  The weather cooperated with ceilings just high enough, winds mostly down the runway, and no rain until we were back home and safely in the hangar.  So, one more item completed on my Oshkosh "to do" list. 

Not every day you see an old plane like this among all the modern planes