Bellanca Cruisair Restoration: Chapter 5

The work continues with our Bellanca Cruisair Restoration. This post-war vintage aircraft keeps on me as we get closer to piecing it together. Most of our time lately has been spent fabricating the controls, after replacing some hardware, and fabric stitching. Fabricating an airplane is becoming a lost art so it's been awesome to learn from Brian and a very handy Poly-Fiber book. This craft must be passed along and kept alive. I haven't been able to film anything of Brian covering a control with fabric yet, but I am going to do my best to capture that soon. After the fabric is applied to the controls, some tape is placed where the stitches will be made to help reinforce the areas where rib lacing will be applied. After measuring the stitch length, based on a diagram, stitching can begin. Rib stitching is one of the more enjoyable parts of this project so far, in my opinion, because it doesn't involve any chemicals and offers a flow state at times. Among covering controls and getting them ready to be painted, we have acquired some great new parts for the instrument panel, new windows, an auxiliary tank, packings for the gear, and a missing piece for the cowling. Brian also had to do some pretty intense work to get the landing gear ready for re-assembly. Thanks for watching! It sure is fun sharing this project with you. Let me know if you have any questions.

#vintage #aircraft #restoration #bellanca #cruisair #airplane #plane #flying #pilot #tailwheel #taildragger #airport #fabric #stitching #polyfiber #history #bradyskye

[homegrownshow]

This series deserves more views.. Love the restoration updates!

[lievenlauwers]

Brady, i am always eagerly awaiting your next upload.
They are showing a realistic picture of a real vintage restoration - the research, never ending parts quest, frustration, getting your hands dirty, learning lost arts along the way...
A great journey to follow, one step at the time.
Thanks a lot for sharing the experience.
Greetings from a European fan :-)

[daveaustin]

Thanks Brady. Keep up the videos. I’m so glad to see this 14-13 being restored- I ached over a couple that were left derelict years ago when I lived in Wichita, but could not begin to take either one on. You’re so fortunate to be part of such a capable crew. It won’t be your last project....

[carmiandhanssimpleliving]

good restoration...I like to watch learning this skills...
enjoy watching here from philippines

[markberman]

Beyond awesome Brady! There used to be one at our field but it disappeared awhile back. Hopefully being restored like yours! Keep up the great work! Pulling for you guys!

[nrolrpsswd]

Amazing work! Yes, please do a video on how you're doing the fabric stitching. I'm very interested in learning this skill!

[jarodofficer]

Hey, Brady. I'm a Cruisair owner (N86806). Good to see you working on getting another tail # back on the registry. I have a suggestion, if it's not too late. The NOS instrument panel blank and the deco overlay are, as you know, pretty much extinct (unless Alexandria magically still has one). If you haven't installed them, consider taking them to a 3-D modeling / printing shop to have them scanned. I don't think it would cost much, but it would be a great historical benefit for future restorers to have the potential to get one made up again. The deco overlay would be an easy job for a laser or water cutter. The panel front would be more involved, but at least you would have the scans, so someone could make a mold. You could share them/sell them on the Bellanca club's website. I would even chip in for the scans. I may redo my panel some day. This will all be much more work if someone has to use an old one for reference. I highly doubt there are more than a few left with no additional holes, etc. Mine is way beyond original and is beat up. Most I have seen are like that. Your pieces may be one of the very last ones left. Food for thought. Good luck on your restoration!

[brianlott]

Nice to see your progress! Looking forward to more.

[patrickvanvals]

I just met your video, s bye luck and i have seen your 5 videos . it is great to follow you. I did had the luck to fly in one as a passenger. It is a great plane and whas far ahead in its time when it whas build. i hope to see some more video.s

[mikelayzell]

Hey Brady. I may have a Bellanca parts plane for you. It is intact and has been hangared for a decade. I’m not sure if she’ll ever fly again, but all the little fiddlybits bits are there.

[TXBULL]

I am not sure if he would do an airplane yoke but steering wheel bob out of Stockton, NJ does great car steering wheel restorations but also you may want to look into bakelite molding for the yoke and even some of switch gear.

[mtoutflying]

Im late to the party on this video, but if you're still looking at something for the yokes look at getting them plasti-dipped. Never done it myself, and don't know where it could be done but I've heard of some guys doing it.

[williamh.arthuriv]

Hi Brady, working-on the original panel, did you come across any replacement vibration isolators? There are 2; left and right mounted sort of towards the center.

[lievenlauwers]

Hi Bray, any update on the resoration?