Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, September 17, 2021

McMURTRY, from 6 NORTHROP GRUMMAN, from 5
a sign that has the word ‘Cub’ on it. Dope and fabric work is a craft that and payload. demonstrating its capabilities to col- culture that made Scaled Composites
During World War II, Piper advertised has almost been lost in time. I enjoy The show-and-tell segment was lect intelligence from multiple sources a leader in productivity, world famous
in aviation magazines with this quote: doing it. It is tedious, time consuming brought to the world by Northrop in incredibly sneaky fashion just eight and a magnet for some of the most
“Piper Cub Points the Way to Wings and the glue-like dope doesn’t do a Grumman’s friendly and mutually months later. Firebird was unveiled in brilliant aerospace designers and en-
for All Americans.” thing for keeping soft hands! beneficial courtship and acquisition of public on May 9, 2011. gineers. Founder Burt Rutan remained
The U.S. Army designation of the The two-place, tail-dragger Cub has Mojave Air and Space Port’s legendary Thus began a 2007 corporate ac- as senior manager for Scaled until he
Piper J-3 was originally the O-59 (O a wingspan of 35-feet, 3-inches and a Scaled Composites. quisition that more closely resembled retired in 2011. Long time senior ex-
for Observation). Some were known as fuselage length of 22-feet, 5-inches. It In early 2009 Northrop executive a courtship, wedding and a happily, ecutive Cory Bird became president of
the Piper L-4 “Grasshopper” (L was weighs only 1,200 pounds fully load- Rick Crooks floated the idea of build- so far, family life in which Northrop Scaled in April 2019.
for Liaison). The Army ordered these ed. The stock engine is a Continental ing a pilot-optional airplane to Scaled. Grumman, already a major shareholder, Bird says the people at Scaled also
aircraft for liaison and observation du- O-170, 65hp with a maximum speed Calling it Model 355, Scaled delivered acquired Scaled Composites outright, celebrate the emotional paycheck that
ties in direct support of ground forces. of 80 to 85 mph. They land close to Firebird, a composites creation that but with provisions to protect the strat- comes when they make impossible
Piper produced more than 5,000 L-4’s 40 mph. It is a “low and slow” bird, a made its first flight 12 months later and egies, facilities and organizational things possible.
for the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945. classic airplane.
The wings were wood and fabric. McMurtry loved the monthly Plane
The spars were made of spruce and Crazy Saturday event at Mojave Air
each rib in the wings was constructed and Space Port and always came to
with wood and glue, with stitching enjoy time with his flying friends.
around each rib. Rib stitching is best We miss him so much. He passed
accomplished with two people, one from this Earth in 2015 and now flies
person on each side of the wing push- with God’s angels.
ing the long needle with the heavy
thread through the wing to the other
person.
The horizontal stabilizer, elevators
and rudder were constructed with
wood, glue and fabric, as well. All
the flying surfaces needed rib stitch-
ing also. The fuselage frame was
metal with wooden stringers. The
fabric used during World War II was
cotton linen that had several layers of
nitrate and butyrate dope brushed on.
The last couple of coats were sprayed Photograph by Cathy Hansen
on with the olive drab color for the
Army. Traditional civilian Cubs are Tom McMurtry and Phil Schultz at a Northrop Grumman photograph
Plane Crazy Saturday event at the
always yellow, kind of a school bus Mojave Air and Space Port. The Firebird, Model 355, flies a test mission.
yellow.

NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A

Financial contribuaons made to the NRA Foundaaon and the
NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund provide necessary resources
for programs that rise to the challenges threatening our
consatuaonal rights, and preserve the freedoms our
country was built upon.
BE OUR BEST DEFENSE.

Make us your charity of choice in
the Combined Federal Campaign.

CFC #11872
Veteran Owned/Managing Partner nrafoundaaon.org

California’s Premier Builder

Pool & Spa Service CFC #10006
nradefensefund.org
661-273-7231 Find us in the Naaonal/Internaaonal Unaffiliated Secaon of the CFC booklet.
The CFC is the only campaign authorized to solicit and collect contribuaons
www.alanjacksonpools.com from federal employees in the workplace on behalf of charitable organizaaons.

Aerotech News and Review
September 17, 2021 www.aerotechnews.com ........ facebook.com/aerotechnewsandreview 7