Recent content by gravytime

Thanks for the info, at this point the rest of the plane is pretty much “new” it probably wouldn’t hurt to just get a new tailwheel assembly and sell the old one. By the time I spend labor on an overhaul I’m close to half way there…

it’s already a 100k+ project! 😂. Thanks for the motivation though…trying to keep it somewhat close to the way it was born minus my DDay flare.

I’m not sure they did anything with it but put it back on. I’ll take a look in the logs.

The steering actually works fine it’s the breakaway swivel when you are trying to make a tight turn that is hard to make happen. I can make it break away when I’m pushing it around but not while taxing.

Just finished up the restoration on our L18-C a few months ago and I am having issues with the Scott tailwheel castering. I did the grove brake conversion and the brakes are better (but still not the best) but I can’t seem to get the tailwheel to caster while taxiing. The restoration project...

Interesting, will have to see what they say tomorrow and if they ended up changing anything.

They checked the screen and no metal. Talked to Lee at Don’s dream machines and he thinks it’s fine and possible just cooling on the hot day as they usually only see 180° on a C90 on a J3 with the exposed cylinders. Headed back out to fly it again tomorrow and will check the baffles (they...

Just test flew my L18-C with my Dons Dream Machines overhauled C90-8F and had some interesting oil pressure issues. Started out high after run up and takeoff (right at red line) and then kept on tending lower....to the point that break in cruise 2275 rpm was about 23 Psi in the yellow and...

Thanks for the info Glenn. Lee from Dons Dream Machines said he included some break-in info when he sent the engine back out to Arizona. Haven’t got a chance to look at it yet.

Thanks for the info. Will dig around the EAA website and see what I can find. We like the paint! Was just olive drab when it came off the assembly line for the Army in 1952 but we decided to add some L-4 style D-Day insignia to make it more interesting. One of only 11 other L18-C that are...

We started at Desert Rat Aviation at Ak-Chin (A39) south of Phoenix. They did about 90% of the work including covering and paint. Moved it to Gosshawk Unlimited in Casa Grande last summer to finish it up. Engine was done at Don’s Dream Machines.

Headed out to do the test flight for my L18-C after a 5 year full restoration in a couple of weeks. Anyone have a good plan for the first time back in the pattern or any other good checks after being on the ground for years? Planing for a few turns in the pattern checking trim and rigging on...

Nearing the end of a multi year total restoration of our 1952 L18-C (one of the few left in the US). It has been in the family since 1973. Adding some D-day L-4 style paint for some flare. Just engine overhaul and wing install to go. .

Has anyone been able to track down the military history of your L-18C or L-21? We own one of the few L-18C aircraft to remain in the US and I am trying to track down the military history. I have the build data from Piper and it has our L-18C coming off the line in Dec 1952 in olive drab paint...

Nice set up Charlie. What battery are you running?