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I really value all of the collective wisdom that has been shown on this forum. As a result, I need your collective help.

My son was watching the movie "Flyboys" with me at home and while the movie was playing the two of us got to thinking about building one of the planes . I went to a branch of the local library (I like to do research the old-fashioned way- book reading) and hit a dead end. Does anyone out there have any suggestions where I could begin to look for resources for undertaking such a project? I am looking for how the planes were constructed, materials used, type of wood for the fuselage,engine motors, how the canvas was maintained, etc. I figured that there is someone on this forum that may be able to get me pointed in the right direction. While it may seem to be an impossible task, it would be a fascinating piece of research.

Thanks,
BPR

I haven't seen the movie "Flyboys." Is it good?

If you wanted to build a real, flyable aircraft, the first place to start would probably be the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA. Their web page is http://www.eaa.org. I know they conduct workshops of all sorts on how to build your own planes.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Once every two years, the United States Museum of the Air Force hosts the "Dawn Patrol" fly-in. Dozens of pilots/craftsmen who have built their own WWI-era aircraft come to this, put on flying demonstrations, and sell stuff. I would suggest you contact the museum and ask when the next Dawn Patrol is scheduled -- it will give you a chance to talk to many people who have built these planes, compare them, see them fly, collect a list of potential resources, maybe even buy some plans.

The museum also has several complete sets of WWI aircraft enigineering drawings in their archives, and you should contact the archivist to see what those may be. I know one is the DH-4. Two additional sources of plans would be the Garber Facility of the National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC and the Royal Air Force Museum in London, England.

My own favorite WWI aircraft is the BE-2c. This was introduced in England in 1913 and is considered to be the first of the "second generation" airplanes -- the first time that engineers produced an airplane that was inherently stable and fully controllable. All of the fighters you saw iin "Flyboys" can trace their roots back to this one aircraft. To my knowledge, there are no flying replicas of this historically significant aircraft in America.

With all good wishes,

jfran2 wrote:I haven't seen the movie "Flyboys." Is it good?

If you wanted to build a real, flyable aircraft, the first place to start would probably be the Experimental Aircraft Association, or EAA. Their web page is http://www.eaa.org. I know they conduct workshops of all sorts on how to build your own planes.

Keep us posted on your progress!

I thought it was great! One of the things it brought home was what the pilots had to go through. I thought the portrayals were relatively accurate, especially after reading letters my grandfather wrote back home when he was over there. WW I has always held a fascination for me.

I hope to begin doing some research this weekend. I will keep you posted on my progress.
BPR