July 2003
Article by Mike Whaley
The first M14P engine from George Coy arrived in mid July, although shipping caused failure to the structure attaching the motor to the pallet (a seemingly very sturdy structure.) Fortunately, damage to the engine is minimal so we are able to forge ahead. Steve Culp (creator of the Culp Special) arrives for a week or so to help out, and among other things, he welds up the new motor mount. By the 22nd, the fuselage had gear legs, the whole structure had temporary paint to protect it from the weather, the engine had been mounted, seat backs and floor panels were installed, and the prototype was put on a trailer and wrapped up ready for the long drive to Oshkosh. Several folks have already climbed in and made airplane noises.
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- The Rusky engine awaiting installation on the fuselage. Kinda like a good Ukrainian woman… “Strong like buuull – smart like traktor”…
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- Mike Hughes, Andy Friend and Paul Goetsch hang the engine. The bolts just slide in.
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- Paul honors the timeless tradition of getting in and trying things on for size at the earliest opportunity.
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- July 23, 2003: The Model 14’s humble beginnings on the trailer to Oshkosh.
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- A layer of stretch wrap, then one of blankets, then a top coat of stretch wrap. Snug as a bug in a rug.
