May 14, 2009 - Z-21 going, going

...going. I am both pleased and a little sad to say that I have located a buyer for Walter's Z-21 project. Jim Hail, a Texan who joined up with the Flitzer group in July of 2008, had expressed interest early on when I first posted that I was going to offer it for sale. Having worked through all the inventory and valuations and reinventory and revaluations, we spoke this evening and arrived at an agreement that will put the Flitzer kit in the hands of an experienced pilot and builder--he flies an all-metal two seater that he built 15 years ago, and is now looking to build a sport plane for some REAL fun.

Jim has been a lurker for the most part thus far on the Flitzer-Builders listserve, but I expect you will hear more from him once he has the little beastie in his hands. This will be his first experience building an all wood airplane. We are looking to make the transaction sometime in early June; he plans to drive up to Albuquerque and pick up the kit, which saves me the trouble of crating everything up.

Jim noted with a laugh that several of the people on this list have a peculiar way of expressing themselves. I don't have a CLUE what he is talking about. But since we are on the topic, it is my intent to remain in contact with the group, addressing issues of aesthetic impropriety and linguistic obfuscation as time permits. Do not imagine that I have relaxed in my vigilance; the ghost of Von Schneer will not allow it in any event. You should have heard the rattling in the walls as he debriefed me on the MS Comic Sans Serif affair... suffice to say that crispness and attention to detail are always in fashion; the current infatuation with slackness and informality will run its course, but not until after it has degraded our aesthetic sensibilities to the point where one will hardly notice anymore that a 1990's Ford Taurus looks like a well-sucked, unarticulated lozenge, or may think that the blunt edges of a foam wing on a RTF model airplane really do look o.k. after all. We might even come to believe that Britney Spears can actually sing. The slippery slope shall carry us all away, though we doth claw and protest, unless we stand firm against it.

David von Schneer-Shatten, aka David WNHMN/WHYTBN

May 15, 2009 - Z-21 going, going

Hello Group.

I must say that I am relieved to be able to purchase the Kit from David. I was not looking forward to buying the wood kits, metal kits, and tubing supplies from various places and having to pay the large shipping bills. I am also pleased that the kit is partially completed. I spend 5 and one-half years building the RV 6-A that I now fly and I was hoping to build a Flitzer in a shorter length of time (we'll see--I am now retired). As David said I am looking to take advantage of the Sport Pilot ruling concerning medical exams here in the U. S.

I hope to do the Flitzer justice as it will be a new learning experience for me (concerning the wood construction) although I have built many model airplanes in my youth and have SOME woodworking experience.

I live in the country between Waco, Texas and Crawford, Texas just off of Texas Highway 6. I keep my RV 6 hangered at a grass strip (1900 ft long) called Scott Field which belongs to a friend. The air strip is only a mile from my house.

I am a member of the local EAA chapter and have several members who will be of help during the construction of the Flitzer I am sure. We also have excellent EAA technical advisors at the national level available by phone or computer on all subjects concerning the construction of airplanes.

I am definitely not the eloquent writer that David or his brother have proven to be and as David said I sometimes do not "get" the phrases or meanings by you who live in Good Ole England and Australia. One quick example is from a few months back when some of you wrote that you were "huffed" about something or another. In Texas when someone is "huffed-up" that usually means that they are MAD, ANGRY, and ready to fight. But not to worry because I have a good friend and EAA member Nick Pocock who flew with Lynn's brother when they were doing air shows years ago and I just put the word or phrase to him for clarification--"What do the Brits mean when they say they are "huffed" about something?" Nick just laughs and tells me...

Anyway it will be good to get started on the building and I plan to do a bang-up job (oh in Texan that means a good job, Ha) and to make Von Schneer and his brother David proud.

By the way Albuquerque, New Mexico is approximately 700 miles from Crawford.

"Hail, Hail, the gangs all here...." Go ahead, I've heard them all (I think).

Jim
PS. I am thinking of arming the Flitzer...replica of course.

June 15, 2009 - Changing hands

Thanks David,

The Flitzer project made it to my shop in Waco, Texas, last night (Sunday) safe and sound. Rain threatened almost all the way (700 miles) but didn't. The project was well packed and covered in case it did rain. The 12 ft. tube with all the important sticks of wood in it got curious looks along the interstate (with its little red flag flapping in the wind) but made it just fine. What really helped was that David had everything boxed and taped before hand and we had it loaded and tied down within an hour after arrival Saturday. So now the tedious work begins in building an airplane (although there are a few things to finish around the house so my wife Sue will do any sanding at all). My shop will have to adjust to wood and sawdust instead of aluminum and rivet guns--but I am sure it will.

Thanks again David it was a pleasure to get to meet you. Closing down your brother's house and settling his estate is hard I know...I've had to settle an estate before also.

I hope one day in the not too distant future You'll have a picture of the completed Z21 that your brother started.

Jim and Sue Hail "Flitzer Z21A builders"