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SPAD S.XIII
History
The SPAD project started with an idea shared by Bill Rodgers and Dick Sprague in September, 2006 as an endeavor for the woodworkers, machinists, and fabricators of the Yankee Air Museum.
Bill and Lou Farkas, head of the Restoration Department, gave a presentation to the Finance Committee. After gaining the approval from the Finance Committee, the project was recommended to the Board of Directors, and approved.
Plans for the SPAD XIII were obtained, and planning commenced. At the present time, this is expected to be a three-year project. Although the aircraft will not be flown, it will be built exactly to specifications and regulations as if it were to be flown upon completion. The reason for this is to make the aircraft as authentic as possible, without it appearing as a "display model".
Early February saw the arrival of the wood for the aircraft from Aircraft Spruce, of Peachtree City, Georgia. A construction table was built adjacent to the wood shop in Hangar 2 and work commenced in mid-February. As of early March, wood had been laminated, cut, and tapered for the longerons; upright stringers have been cut and routed.
The coming weeks will see the completion of the interior frame, which will be square, with caging built on the exterior to round the fuselage. Machine work is progressing on the metal fittings that will be required, and other hardware is being designed on CAD programs for fabrication.
March 2007 Update
Mid-March finds the temporary fuselage framing being assembled by a team consisting of Joe Kosek, Larry Arnett, Tom Ismond, and Ray Wall. The rudder post has been completed, involving more than 30 hours of effort. Temporary bulkheads and stringers have been fabricated and test-fitted.
The first of the main frames for the motor mounts are being laminated, while A.J. Shimon has assembled the prototype for the rudder. Shimon will fabricate four rudders, one being for the aircraft, while the others are designated for display purposes. Earl Loeffler has assumed responsibility for the assembly of the vertical stabilizer.
Chris Dackson has completed the prototype assembly brackets for the fuselage, as well as the magneto switches. Dick Sprague has completed the aircraft's seat, that was temporarily installed on a prototype seat mount (a cardboard box) and test flown by Co. Ray Hunter.
We have reached the 1000 man-hour point as of March 14.
