After many months of research and thought, both the airframe and engine of the Benoist are slowly making progress as we narrow down on the 100th Anniversary of the first scheduled aircraft airline flight we hope to re-create on January 1st, 2014!
Fantasy of Flight restoration specialist Ken Kellett has single-handedly made a number of wooden components including; all 100 laminated ribs, all the interplane struts, all the wing spars, and both control sticks.
He began by building a mock-up of the critical center part of the plane where the pilot, engine, propellor, chain-drive, radiator, fuel tank, and main structure are located. This will give a basic idea of where everything fits in relation to each other.
Mock-up of the center part of the Benoist.
Ken built a jig for construction of the wing panels and currently has the top wing center-section assembled in it and ready for gluing.
Top Wing Center-Section in Wing Jig.
He also began gluing up the ailerons . . .
Aileron in Jig
and is putting the final touches on the two wing floats.
One of the two lower wing floats with a wing rib on top.
Ken has also begun laying out the structure of the fuselage / hull on a large table top jig. He built a six-foot dummy pilot (me actually) for use is making sure everything is somewhat ergonomical!
Dummy Pilot with one of two control sticks! Have I lost my mind?
One of the cool things that happened recently was that many of the Benoist descendants came by for a tour one day. I was out of town but Ken showed them what we were doing, as they are all following with keen interest.
Ken talks to the Benoist family descendants.
Later, after I got back, early engine expert Steve Littin came by for a visit to check on our progress and tell us how he was progressing on the six-cylinder Roberts engine for the project, which he’s building from scratch!
Ken, Andy, Steve (kneeling), and myself discussing the issues of airframe and engine.
Many of the smaller machined components have been made including hardware, oilers, and carburetor parts.
Brand new engine oilers!
Some of the larger ones like the crankshaft continue to be whittled down to finished size.
Roberts crankshaft undergoing final touches!
As seen in a previous blog post, most of the casting patterns have been made and some casting has begun. Ideally, we’d like to be assembling the airplane with the engine by the end of this year, as the time is flying by and the Anniversary will be upon us in no time!
We offer a wood shop tour every day at 12:45 pm so come on by Fantasy of Flight and check out the progress!
Kermit