The main spar, being held here by friend Don Detrick, is ready to close. Flanges are laminated Douglas Fir and the blocks near the center, for the gear fittings, are laminated ash. Faces of the box spar are birch plywood. Don built a version of the Sportfire with a retractable gear and Continental power.

The spar was mounted in a fixture made of 2 X10s and 1/2" steel plate and subjected to a load equivalent to 6gs. A hydraulic ram was used and the load applied in increments while measuring the deflection of the spar. It was designed for an ultimate load of 9g.

Building the mold for the cowl.

The mold was made around the engine while it was mounted on the airplane. 2" extruded styrofoam was used to establish the outline then foam blocking was added, carved, sanded and finished with latex house paint.

After several coats of paste wax, the cowl was laid up using 10oz. glass cloth and Dow epoxy resin.

Span...........19'                  Empty wt.......548 lb.
Length........17'                 Gross wt........780 lb.
Wing area..72 sq. ft.       Top speed .....140 mph.
Loops, rolls and spins were done with no problems. Stalls strait ahead were docile but the addition of rudder input precipitated a rapid rolling entry into a spin.     

              After enjoying the Sportfire for over 70
              hours of flight time, a change in my physical
              condition led to the airplane being donated to
              the Sun 'n Fun museum in Lakeland. It was
              on display there for over ten years but is
              now  in the possession of the Western North
              Carolina  Air Museum in Hendersonville,
              N.C.
                                                                   Bob Gilbert  

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