Ryan Navion B
In the 1940s and ’50s, the sight and sound of P–51 Mustangs from the local ANG unit roaring over my house in Peoria, Illinois, left its lasting impression on a young boy’s mind, fostering a dream of flying someday. My first ride in a Navion, at age 15, with the canopy slid back, taxiing past rows and rows of those same P–51s, I felt that I was almost one of them already, and it helped foster that dream even further. Years later, my 74-year-old sturdy and stable Navion B helps me put that dream back into reality every time I fire up that Lycoming GO-480.
Paul Jachman
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1948 Ryan L–17B
The Navion was North American Aircraft’s initial entry into the civilian aviation market following World War II. A number of these aircraft were also purchased by the USAF and U.S. Army and were given the designation L–17. The L–17 was used for liaison and tactical air control duties, primarily during the Korean War. My “poor man’s warbird” is a 1948 Ryan L–17B (North American eventually sold the type certificate to Ryan Aeronautical). The L–17 is a joy to fly, and I have displayed it at a number of airshows. It is definitely a labor of love to keep an aircraft of this vintage flying; however I like to feel I’m doing my part to preserve a bit of aviation history.
Michael Downs
Titusville, Florida
1941 Waco UPF–7
The old saying with any Waco airplane is ‘ask any pilot.’ It’s a wonderful flying machine, it has great flying characteristics, it’s nostalgic, and it has a history in the pilot training program. But I just consider myself the caretaker. Here, I’m with my flying partner John Damgard.
Cliff McSpadden
Athens, Georgia
Fokker DR.1 replica
I found an unfinished full-scale DR.1 project in Colorado that was started but needed to be finished. Friends at the field and I installed a Lycoming 290-D and wood prop; had enormous help from an ex-Lockheed engineer friend, Jim, with a lot of the fabrication. I painted the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen scheme; maiden flight was a year ago, and since, I have logged 67 flights. Poor viz on taxi, need to use lots of rudder on takeoff until the tail flies. Landings? Well, let us say you need to pay attention!
Kenneth Eckstein
Simpsonville, South Carolina
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