Can We Make This 1920s Harley-Davidson Powered Airplane Fly?

Dale's Wheels Through Time Museum, located in Maggie Valley, NC, features over 375 American motorcycles, unique cars, and transportation history.

[internetkilledthevideostar]

From a retired USAF B-52, C-17, C-5 mechanic, with a few years of QA and training detachment experience…don’t let people get in the prop “destruction” area/plane of rotation. Your cameraman walked right through it. What do I mean? Think if the prop broke, disintegrated, etc., you would never want to be on the sides of the centrifugal area of it…you know…where all the pieces would be in line with your body. In addition, what others have said…”two hands, one blade” of the prop, to start.

[gabrielsturdevant]

As a pilot, your hand propping technique scared the shit out of me. I highly suggest watching a youtube video on how to handprop and for the love of god have an FAA inspector go over it before you put that thing in the air

[retiredguyadventures]

My father was born in 1921 and was a life long motorcycle enthusiast. He told me about these Harley Davidson air planes and claimed he actually tried to fly one in the 30's but crashed on takeoff. I had never seen one though until now... Thank you!

[jbl]

"It seems like everything's fine." LOL. Love this guy's spirit of adventure. Not many people like that anymore. The old helmet was a perfect touch. Ditto on the hand prop technique. Scared the hell out of me. Two hands on one side and get back! Watch the videos on how to do it. Great job. I have a Yamaha R3 and was wondering if I could use the engine for a homebuilt. Now I know. The guy who built this was a genius. Thanks. I just subscribed !

[BikingVikingHH]

If you ever do this again, don’t use both hands on either side of the propeller to start it. Very dangerous. Just turn it until you get it on the top of the compression stroke, just like a motorcycle, then use both hands on one side making sure that you follow through with your down pull and clear the propeller path. By the way this is my new favorite channel, I absolutely love the host.

Edit: after revisiting this comment and thinking about it, with a hand on either side of the blade, if the engine were to kick back with your hands on it, it would kind of twist you into the blade, pulling your chest right into the spinner.

[upsidedowndog]

Real cool relic! As a 30+ year aircraft mechanic with 40+ years of motorcycling in a word "if HD built an airplane would you fly in it" is a resounding "NO"! Glad it exists, thanks for preserving and showing it off.

[devilsreject]

That prop spinning looks utterly amazing it looks like it's bending but it's just the shutter on the camera that is
The things people made back then.
The genius

[zachatttack]

That's an awesome little airplane. Like some others have already said, I HIGHLY suggest getting that thing officially checked out. It'd be amazing to see it fly.

[ColtonRMagby]

Starting takes 2 people: 1 to spin it, and 1 to work the engine controls in the cockpit. When you spin the propeller, use both hands on one blade for safety.

[ca]

I've seen that thing in the museum for years but never thought anyone would be crazy enought to fire it up. Love the video and thanks for sharing ! See you this Spring!

[fatherguse]

Man .. love to see you continuing the family adventure .. my wife and I used to visit you guys back when we attended bike rallies there in Maggie Valley .. still miss y'all and the Apple Cover Inn (back when Derrick and his wife owned it) .. it's just amazing to see that old metal still working .. thanks for doing what you do and taking the time to share it with us ..

[brentonsmith-pwrp]

This has got to be the best. All ended well. Thank you for the sheer excitement/anticipation value.

[bryanmcleod]

Now, "Wings through Time!!"
This Airplane really should go to the EAA at Oshkosh, Wisconsin for its 100th Anniversary.
It wasn't too far behind the Wright Brothers.
Amazing how a Twenty year old could devote all of his thinking and resources to such a unique project that was on the cutting edge of technology at the time.
Try to think of anything, that a contemporary Twenty yr old is capable of, a century later.

[tomheitzman]

What a thrill to see this running! The guy who built this plane, Wilson Miller, was from nearby Oneida, NY. When I went in the antique business full time in 1986 the 1st major aviation collection I bought was from an old friend, Sam Rinaldo. Sam was a watchmaker, flight instructor, Piper CUH restorer & model builder. He was lifelong friends with Wilson Miller & when Wilson passed he bequeathed his aviation stuff to Sam. Not having from to keep the airplane Sam sold it to a legendary local antique dealer, Ed Evans of the Green Door in Rome, NY. The plane eventually found it's way to a HD guy in the Midwest before Dale bought it for the museum. I ended up with most of Wilson's aviation collection includin magazines, books, models, photo albums etc. I'd always wanted get the stuff associated with this airplane back together with it! When I found out Dale had bought it for the Museum I had a mutual friend Frank Westfall (of Cannonball & Art Deco Henderson fame!) take it to a swap meet and sell it to Dale for me. It's great to see it running! BTW if you tip it over I thinl I have a spare prop in the garage! Tom Heitzman (aka stuffinder.com)

[ehrenkrause]

Sorry to hear about your dad I've always enjoyed watching you guys and the history you've preserved for the last two decades and to see the legacy continue is really awesome. I hope one day I can visit the museum

[corsairmotorwerks]

Man I love every video y’all make, but as an aircraft mechanic and motorcycle enthusiast, this video is just on a different level. Nothing quite like hand propping a small aircraft.

[JeffBishop_KBQMT]

I'd ask around the local airports to see if there are any Experimental Test Pilots in the area. They would look everything over to insure it's air-worthy, and if so pre-flight and fly the thing for you. Having been flown recently would probably increase the value substantially. It would be nice to see it in the air, too.

[justinkeller]

Even with all the hard work you all do, you are living the coolest lives I could ever imagine. Thanks for sharing

[roadkingrider]

Wow that WAS INCREDIBLE! Such a amazing piece of history and was so cool doing this and documenting it!

[neilis]

Cool video, but as soon as he called the elevator a "flap" I was like "Oh please don't let this guy be planning to take this thing in the air.".