Stinson Project for Wathan Foundation

the project:

In the fall of 2004, this 1948 Stinson Voyager Station Wagon model 108-3 was a donation to the Wathen Foundation from the 57 Victor Flying Club near Shabbona, IL. One of the main members of the club was Alan Shackelton

In February of 2005, the Wathen Foundation initiated the restoration project with 8 students under the project management of Jan Buttermore. The project meets each Saturday morning, 8 a.m. till noon, in hangar 3, Flabob Airport, except on Young Eagles days when we are assisting in the Young Eagles activities. See the EAA Calendar for those dates. Visitors are welcome.

The initial efforts have been on the Right wing as it needed the most work. To date, the wing has had the steel parts removed, cleaned of corrosion, and replaced. New spars were obtained to replace the extensively coroded ones. The many trailing edge rib parts and a large number of the leading edge rib components have been replaced. A new wing tip was purchased and installed. Drag-antidrag wires were cleaned and reinstalled.

The fuselage is pretty much as we received it. However, some more stingers have been spliced onto the fuselage. When the new vertical stabilizer has been installed along with the tail control surface's rigging, the fuselage will be ready for its new Polyfiber covering.

We have just purchased a "parts plane". We now have all the major parts we need to finish the project. We have a Franklin 165 hp engine, a correct propeller, many additional instruments, two good ailerons, and two good flaps, and most importantly, a complete set of usable tail feathers. Some minor damage to the tail feathers will have to be attended to. Otherwise, they only have to be cleaned up and painted.

At the current time, we are finishing the work on the right wing, removing the vertical stabilizer from the parts plane, and removing the engine for overhaul from the parts plane. According to the log books, the engine has approximately 600 hrs since major overhaul, so this should be relative easy. We opened up an unused area in the project hangar for the students to tear down, inspect, determine which pieces need replacement, what goes out for rework, and what only needs cleaning. After that the kids will reassemble the engine

March 14, 2009. A milestone. The vertical Stabilizer has been fully repaired and is being fitted to the fuselage. Once the fitting is finished, it will be stripped and primered prior to installation on the fuselage. The Right wing is nearing its odesey of restoration with only a few rivets left to install. The propeller has been sent out for overhaul and the engine has been disassembled for inspection. The oil cooler was sent out for inspection and pressure testing. Unfortunately, it will make a good shower head so we are on the lookout for a good oil cooler.