The next set of plans are those by Super designer, Dick Barron. The quality and detail on these plans are surpassed by none. These plans are of the Stearman PT-13 (or PT-17) which ever you prefer. Wing span is 96 1/2" with a 15" cord and total approximate area is 2600.50 square inches. No projected weight is given but I'm guessing 30 to 35 pounds, at 32 1/2 pounds the wing loading would be 26.75 ounces per square foot.

At that weight I don't think the Quadra shown would do too good a job. I'd go to a big Kawasaki or again the Sachs Dolmer. Eastcraft starter details are shown. I count Dick Barron as one of my friends, and when he draws plans, you can bet it's scale, Museum Scale. I will not have the room in this column to do this set of plans justice, so I will just whet your appetite, and if you really want to drool, get the Barron Plans of the Stearman. Believe you me, it isn't over priced. There are five sheets with a full scale side view on one with some details noted, and also how to construct them. For instance, the scale tailwheel really intriques me.

The flying wire construction and the brackets to hold them. The windshield construction, the seale shock absorbing landing gear, now there is a piece of engineering. The empennage construction is the best I have seen. The fuselage even has the static ground wire and lift handles, scale hinges on the empennage. The next sheet has a full scale front view showing a v4ry unique outer wing panel attachment. The mooring or tie-down loops on the bottom wing, instrument panels for both cockpits.

Cabane struts and their attachments, landing gear fairing that rides up and down in the filleted part attached to the fuselage. Internally sprung shocks struts so the gear hangs down like the real one, with no weight on it. Man, I'm gonna dream about this Stearman. Flying and landing wire attachments, Interplane construction and attachment. Even a tow ring on each landing gear leg. A full scale drawing of a full scale prop.

Third sheet has fuselage construction on it. It is built up of quarter inch dowel with formers of balsa and ply. A three quarter in plywood firewall, all full scale diagonals and braces are shown. You can not begin to imagine the detail in these plans, and it is all figured out for you. I know that it works because Dick had this model fully constructed and uncovered on display at his booth in Toledo in 1981. He did not design this plan in a couple of weeks. Now I know why he said he was going to do a Beech Staggerwing and retire. Too bad, it's our loss.

Sheet number four are of the wing construction, and as usual, leave nothing to be guessed at or desired. Like I say, "Get the Plans", even IF you never built it you can spend days going over it and about once an hour discover something you didn't see before. The last sheet has the top wing with the center section on it. Nuff said... As I mentioned, I could spend days going over these plans and take this whole issue describing them, but I've got airplanes to build and others to repair. Once every three months I take on this job, but I like airplanes and to look at plans. I guess that is why I have collected them since 1950. I will never live long enough to build half of them, but I do have fun.

I mentioned the building and repairing. To set some of the people who live in the south ang west straight, some of us who are dedicated don't have any more time to build and fly than you do. The only difference is the days are shorter and colder, but we put on Snow Suits, put skis on our planes, start our engines with raw gas and have at it!

We do get in a lot of flying for a shorter time, but I will tell you, you haven't lived 'till you've shoved the throttle forward and have seen the snow fly from behind your bird and watched it gracefully take to the air. I fly almost every weekend.

If you get the impression that I favor some plans over others, it is not true. It's just that I cannot review them if they are not here. I refuse to knock down any plan but some are basic drawings, and others go all the way. Either way, an airplane can be built from all of them, it depends on you.