Ted's Aircraft Shop
Restoration Resources and Links, page 2

EAA provides a wealth of information for builders.  Its website is www.eaa.org.  Its publishes several magazines, the main one being Sport Aviation.  EAA runs training programs for builders such as the EAA SportAir Workshops.  See http://sportair.org/. It runs two-day training programs around the country on welding, composite construction, fabric covering, electrical wiring, RV assembly, sheet metal basics, kit building, and test flying.  All the skills needed by the novice builder can be learned at the EAA SportAir Workshops.  EAA also runs hundreds of video webinars for free off the web for the price of an EAA membership.  In these videos, every aspect of aircraft building is demonstrated on your computer screen.  EAA has chapters of local pilots and builders at many local airports around the country.  I belong to EAA Chapter 857 located at Zelienople Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.  These chapters often have EAA technical advisors who can provide hands-on training and guidance when you run into a problem.  See http://www.eaa.org/techcounselors/.  Then there are the “magicians” who do repair, maintenance, and rebuilding as their livelihood or lifetime avocations.  I spoke of John Waltrowski, who ran Cubs Unlimited at Finley Airport for a number of years.  He is retired, but still available to us at his hangar at Rostraver Airport south of Pittsburgh. My other magicians are Jason Jodkin who runs the shop at Zelienople.  My good friend, Charlie Potts, is a walking talking expert in Aeronca champs.  He and I do the annual work on my Aeronca L-16A every year.  Charlie is an FAA inspector by profession but aircraft mechanic at heart.  Keep your eyes open and you will find the magicians. 

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Every airplane model has its aficionados.  They gather in “type clubs” around the country.  Just Google the name of your favorite airplane and up will pop the website for the club that supports that type.  The “Cub Club” is the club that supports the long wing Piper Cubs including the J-3, J-4, J-5, PA-11, and PA-18.  See www.cub-club.com.  Through the Cub Club you can get newsletters on restoration, official blueprints and drawings, and technical support articles.  They also have a vigorous section of classified advertising.  Clyde Smith Jr. writes a column for the “Cub Clues” newsletter called the “Cub Doctor”. These articles go back nearly 30 years and provide all the information you would ever need to put together a Piper Cub J-3. Clyde’s website can be found at www.cubdoctor.com. 

Restoring a Piper Cub J-3
 
The Shop
 
Essential Tools
 
Resources/Links
 
Aeronca L-16A
 
Moni Motorglider
 
Learn to Fly a Taildragger
 
It All Starts with Modeling
 
About Ted and His Aircraft Shop
 
Contact Ted
 
 
 
 
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