Kraemer Aviation October 2019 Newsletter

Click here to view our October 2019 Wheels & Wings Newsletter. Click here to view past newsletters.

This month: Ira Walker’s EZ Rider, the Autobahn, Enzo Ferrari, 3Wheelers.org, and more.

On October 20 2019 Pat, Jett, & Harry attended the Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum Hall of Fame Ceremony and Open House.

Inducted into their Hall of Fame this year was:

Ensign Jesse Leroy Brown, Naval Aviator

Annabelle Fera, Designated Pilot Examiner

Elaine Danforth Harmon, WASP

Max Ulf Miller, Civilian Airmail Pilot no. 1

Harry had the privilege of accepting Annabelle Fera’s certificate inducting her into their Hall of Fame.

Here is Harry’s short speech accepting the award on behalf of Annabelle Fera:  “I met Annabelle in 1983 when I started flying.  I took 4 checkrides with her.  We became very close over the years.  She nominated me for the Instructor of the year award which I received thanks to her.  She inspired me to become a DPE like herself.  Becoming a DPE was a career goal that I set shortly after meeting her.  That career goal has become a reality 36 years later. I am happy to accept this certificate on her behalf”.

Click here for more pictures from the event.

In the early to mid 1960s, Harry’s father would take him the the Frederick Municipal Airport to watch the planes.  Little did Harry know, that Annabelle was most likely there giving checkrides.  And Harry would eventualy meet her about 20 years latter and be so inspired by her, that he would follow her career path to be just like her.  

Here is Harry at the Frederick Municipal Airport in the 1960s.

Earlier this month Pat & Harry attended the Laytonsville Volunteer Fire Department’s all you can eat shrimp & beef dinner.  Their events are always a lot of fun and very well attended.  Here is their restored 1930s Brockway fire truck.

History Trivia:  Sept 4 1891 autobahn designer is born.  For more information click here. 

While on the topic of the autobahn, here is a map of the 1908 New York to Paris race.   Click on the map for a larger view.

Achievements & Special Recognition:  Harry currently conducts about 5 to 6 checkrides per week.  You can follow him on Facebook to get updates on the success of his applicants.  Each and everyone deserves some recognition. 

Aviation/Aviators in the news:  This month we have some sad news regarding the Collins Foundation B-17 crash.  Harry was lucky enough to log some right seat time in this aircraft back in the mid 1990s.  He flew as copilot from KGAI to KCBE.

How many of our readers know of Robin Olds of the Vietnam War?  He is credited with developing a plan, an aerial trap for the Vietnamese.  It was a risky plan, however it worked.  And on one mission, Robin Olds and his squadron were able to shoot down about half of the Vietnamese MiG-21s with no US aircraft lost.

Visit the used aircraft section of the Flymall to view our inventory of used aircraft.

Car/Motorcycle Show News:  October 5, 1919 Enzo Ferrari enters his first race.

Visit our Events Calendar for local and national car/motorcycle show events.  Our “Day Tripper” section of the Flymall is also a great place to search for fun thing to do.

A little car show humor for this month:  Recently at a car show we saw a wooden car complete with wooden wheels and a wooden engine.  We asked the owner to start it for us however it wooden start!!!  However this reverse flow small block Chevy engine does start.

Barn Finds/Hangar Finds:  Here’s a Barn Find that you do not see too often as a “barn find”.  A 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24.  Check it out here on BarnFinds.com. 

We have a garage find for sale.  A classic Jaguar!  This would be a great car to get started in the collector car hobby. 

Need an appraisal on your Barn Find?  Visit our appraisal page for information on our appraisals.  You can also research prices in our Market Watch section for the Flymall.  The “Test Drive” section of the Flymall is a great resource to read reviews on classic cars, aircraft, motorcycles, and more.

How about a Walmart find???

CFI / DPE Notes:  Need a checkride???  You can view Harry’s schedule on his Practical Test page.  He is usually booked 2 to 3 weeks in advance.  

Weather in the news:  In to the second week of October 2019 the Northeast sees the affect of a  Nor’easter.

Three Wheel Association (TWA):  About a year ago Harry was offered a chance to purchase 3wheelers.com.  This would be a great addition to the Three Wheel Association and the museum.  While the purchase is still being discussed, Harry was able to acquire the following URLs: 3wheelers.org, 3wheelers.net, 3wheelers.info, 3wheelers.co, and 3wheelers.us.  These all point to Flymall.org for now until a new site is developed.

This month we’re featuring Ira Walker of Walker Aviation.  Ira built Harry’s rare Briggs & Stratton Midget Mobile pictured here.

Plans to build this vehicle were published in a November 1936 magazine called Mechanics and Handicraft. Harry acquired a copy of the original plans and had Ira build this one. The other one that is known to exist is also a reproduction.

Ira, being the expert fabricator he is saw ways to improve on this 1930s design.  He and his son came up with this:  The EZ Rider 3 Wheel Electric Race Car.  While Harry’s has an authentic 1920s vintage Briggs & Stratton engine, Ira’s has a new electric engine.

Who would have thought back in the  1970s and early 1980s, that off road 3 wheelers would have been a good investment???  Kearney Powersports in Kearney Nebraska did.  They have one of the largest collections of the ATC type 3 wheelers.  

The off road 3 wheeler actually entered the market in 1967.  The first three-wheeled ATV was the Sperry-Rand Tricart. It was designed in 1967 as a graduate project of John Plessinger at the Cranbrook Academy of Arts near Detroit. The Tricart was straddle-ridden with a sit-in rather than sit-on style (similar to the contemporaneous Big Wheel toy). In 1968 Plessinger sold the Tricart patents and design rights to Sperry-Rand New Holland who manufactured them commercially. Numerous small American manufacturers of 3-wheelers followed. These small manufacturers were unable to compete when larger motorcycle companies like Honda. Honda entered the market in 1969.  

Krause Piccolo Trumpf 

Prototypes:  This month we have a Ford prototype that appears to have been Corvette inspired.  The 1965 Ford Bordinat Cobra.

While on the topic of Corvettes, here is a 1980 factory 4 door corvette.  This is said to be one of two left in existence.  Built by General Motors to test the market for such a car.  

1960s – General Motors took a novel approach to improving winter traction with the Liquid Tire Chain Traction Dispenser.

Animals in the headlines: This month we’re simply highlighting this picture of a mother Polar Bear going for a walk with her cub.

Enjoy this picture of Jett by a jet at the Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum Hall of Fame Ceremony and Open House.

And here’s Jett making friends at the airport.

We close this newsletter with these words:  Follow the Sun. ☀️ Search out the sunshine in life, even on the cloudy days. There’s always good to be found.

And this: Most smiles are started by another smile.