Flymall April 2023 Wheels & Wings Newsletter
Friday, April 28th, 2023
Welcome to the Kraemer Aviation/Flymall.org Wheels & Wings Newsletter. This month our theme is “V-8 Powered”. For May 2023, our theme will be tracked vehicles.
You can view past newsletters here.
Earlier this month, Kraemer Aviation hosted their annual Easter dinner. The weather was perfect. Sunny skies and warm temperatures. Click here for pictures.
On April 22, the Flymall team was treated to a private tour of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center including a stop by the restoration hangar. We learned about the museum’s Martin B-26B Marauder named Flak Bait. Click here for a story on her and the museum’s work on preserving her and her fabric panels. Here’s a nice picture of the restoration hangar highlighting some of the museum’s current projects. Click here for more pictures of the tour. Click here for more pictures of the restoration hangar.
Interested in living at an airport? Visit our Aviation Real Estate page here. You can view price data for airport property in our Market Watch section of the Flymall. Here is the data for all airport property. You can refine the search by “state” simply by searching for the desired state under “Model”. Our new and improved real estate section of the Flymall allows you to submit what you are looking for in terms of an airport and you can also submit information about your airport that you are trying to sell. Check it out here by clicking on the Real Estate tab.
Want to have your business highlighted on the Flymall??? We offer inexpensive rates to have your business featured on our Wheels & Wings page. Contact us for more info.
History Trivia: The first known V8 engine was the Antoinette engine, designed by Léon Levavasseur, which was first built in 1904. The Antoinette was built in France for use in speedboat racing and, later, airplanes.
In 1905, the first V8 engine used in a road-going car was the Rolls-Royce V-8 built in the United Kingdom. This model was initially produced with a 3.5 L (214 cu in) V8 engine, however only three cars were produced before Rolls-Royce reverted to using straight-six engines.
In 1906, Glenn Curtiss built a V-8 powered motorcycle. The Curtiss V-8 motorcycle was a 269 cu in V8 engine-powered motorcycle. With Glenn Curtiss at the controls it set an unofficial land speed record of 136.36 miles per hour on January 24, 1907. The air-cooled F-head engine was developed for use in dirigibles.
Who really made the first V-8 engine? Here’s an interesting story that says that Dale Gentry and Martin Lewis invented the first V-8 engine. Here is the same story as a pdf.
If you enjoy history we have a new aviation history fact each day at the bottom of our webpages. Some days there may be more than one, just refresh the page. And if you like Beatles history, checkout our Events Calendar and select the Beatles category. This is a work in progress, we’re building the most comprehensive calendar of important dates in Beatle history. For those that like to stick with current news, we have an aviation news ticker on our home page. This is updated daily to show the current aviation news.
Achievements & Special Recognition: E.J. Potter and his V-8 powered motorcycles deserves some special recognition, in fact, in 1973 the Guinness Book of World Records awarded E.J. Potter’s V8 Dragbike “Widowmaker 7” the coveted title of “World’s Fastest Motorcycle”. The idea of building a V-8 motorcycle came to him at the young age of 16. He was drawing a Harley-Davidson V-twin motorcycle in class one day when he began wondering if he could build a bike with a V-8 engine. Well, if you can dream it, you can build it! Click here for a Hemmings.com article on these awesome bikes.
Instructors, what to highlight your students first solo or other achievement here? Just send us a short write-up and a picture or two and we’ll post it here for you. Click here for our contact info.
Aviation/Aviators in the news: A Ford Trimotor will be at the Frederick Airport June 15 to June 18 this summer. Rides are available as well as time in the co-pilot seat. Click here for more information. The Ford Trimotor (also called the “Tri-Motor”, and nicknamed the “Tin Goose”) is an American three-engined transport aircraft. Production started in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and ended on June 7, 1933, after 199 had been made. It was designed for the civil aviation market, but also saw service with military units.
The aviation section of the Flymall is full of aviation news, training info, and much more for the aviator.
Earlier this month, Kelly passed her initial flight instructor checkride with Harry. This is one of the longest checkrides a pilot will ever take. Just the ground portion is about 7 hours long. Harry said that she did an excellent job and that she will make a great instructor.
Kelly started flying in 2018 in Cincinnati where she received her PPL. She got exposed to the wonderful world of aviation while working as an engineer at GE Aviation designing jet engine components. After flying with a coworker in a Piper Cub one day after work, she loved the feeling of being able to pick herself up from the “real world” down below and go anywhere she wanted to, idealistically. She was also looking for a new challenge for herself, and learning to fly was the perfect goal!
After moving to DC, Kelly received her instrument rating in 2021, hoping this would enable her to fly farther and safer without having to cancel so many flights due to low ceilings. She continued on to her Commercial certificate, figuring it was a way to keep improving her piloting skills, but quickly started to see aviation as more than just a hobby. She then went right into CFI training, eager to begin exercising her certificate to share her passion for aviation with others.
The 1917 Liberty L-8— an aircraft engine is unique in that it has a V-angle of 45° (see picture below). Read more about these rare engine below under “Prototypes”.
Air show season is always just around the corner. Want to travel to air shows in your own aircraft? Visit our used aircraft page on the Flymall to view our inventory. We have several nice aircraft in our inventory. Check them out here.
LS7 – P51. Just a couple of numbers and letters, correct? Together they mean a LS7 powered P51 Mustang. Click here for a MotorTrend story on this awesome bird.
The company, Robinson V8 Power in Ontario Canada offers V8 conversions for the Seabee. A very cool conversion for a classic seaplane. The Republic RC-3 Seabee was designed by Percival Hopkins “Spence” Spencer. An aviation pioneer, he built his first hang glider in April 1911 at the age of 17 from plans he found in a Popular Mechanics magazine.
Car/Motorcycle Show News: The Laytonsville Cruise In is the place to be on a Friday night in Montgomery County. The Laytonsville Cruise In was started by Harry in 2010. It has become one of the most popular cruise ins in the area. You can follow Harry on Facebook for daily updates during the many shows and events he attends.
The Laytonsville Cruise In Award Night is the third Friday of the month from May to October.
May 19 2023 is the official opening night for the Laytonsville Cruise In. Kraemer Aviation is sponsoring free ice cream for the drivers and one guest. Free dash plaques sponsored by Kraemer Aviation.
Here is what we have for awards this year:
Debbie Grasso’s Choice Award
Flymall Choice Award
Mel Short Best Original Vehicle
TFR Choice Award
Best Of Show for the “Themed vehicle” – Debbie Roberts, MD/VA/DC/DE real estate expert
Judges Choice – Frederick Flight Center
Second Place (numerous) – Atco Tire of Laytonsville – Just Riding Along Bicycle Shop
First Place (numerous) – Dr. Bobby Mozafari / Integrated Sport, Spine & Rehab
Nina’s Choice
Best Classic by Blue Skies Aviation
Best Paint – Washington International Flight Academy
Best Engine – Maryland Auto Service
Best Sports Car – Great American Landscapes
Best Classic by Randy McPhillips / Trust Partners Insurance
Best Wheels – Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists / Joe Dale
Best Muscle Car – Black and White Kitchen and Bath
Best Custom – Andrew Hyman-BlazeCut Fire Suppression System
Best Corvette – Orthodyne Laboratories
Best Import – UPS Store Milestone
Best British Vehicle – DC Metro Aviation Services
Best German Vehicle – Café Sophie
Judging will start at 6:30 PM. Vehicles must be registered BEFORE 6:30 PM.
Below is the schedule for the Laytonsville Cruise In award nights:
May 19 2023 – American Muscle Cars – Best Of Show Award for American Muscle
June 16 2023 – Motorcycle night – Best Of Show Award for a motorcycle
July 21 2023 – Race cars – Best Of Show Award for a race car
August 18 2023 – Corvette night – Best Of Show Award for a Corvette
September 15 2022 – Imports – Best Of Show Award for Imports
October 20 2023 – British Cars – Best Of Show Award for a British Car
The Flymall team attended the annual Gas & Steam Engine and Tractor Show at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood Maryland. The number of tractors and engines on display was very low as compared to other years. Usually there will be at least 2 dozen vintage/antique tractors on display and this there there were only about 9. Click here for more pictures from the event.
When you’re talking about V-8 engines and how good they are, wouldn’t a V-16 be twice as much better? Here is a Duesenberg 3,393 Cubic-Inch V16.
Here’s a view of a Harry A. Miller DOHC V-16 that is simply artwork.
Did you know that General Motors made a V12? They made one from 1961 to 1965. Know as the twin Six. It was basically 2 V-6 engines stuck together end to end. Click here for an interesting story on this very cool engine on Hagerty.com.
One way to get more horsepower from your V-8, was to give it more fuel. You could add a 4 barrel carburetor or maybe two 4 barrel carburetors. One idea that never quite caught on was the five 2 barrel carburetors setup. These intake manifolds were usually modified from a factory 2 barrel setup. The way they worked was the stock center carburetor would provide good idle characteristics and decent low-speed drivability, while the four outboard carbs provided the high-speed breathing and fuel capacity. Each two barrel outboard carburetor was ideally located right on top of an intake port pair for good air/fuel distribution.
Our Events Calendar has the most current info regarding local and national car shows, air shows, and more. With nearly 30 categories, there is something for everyone. The Day Tripper section of the Flymall has dozens of day trip ideals and interesting places to visit. Check it out here.
Want to set some records in the snow. Here’s the perfect vehicle for it. This is an Arctic Cat snowmobile called “Death Wish Freak Show”. The custom snowmobile is powered by a 5.3 L LSx V8 (Vortec 5300) from a Silverado truck with a turbocharger running 8 psi of boost. Behind the engine sits a Powerglide two-speed transmission. The snowmobile went 137.6 mph at a drag race event in Wisconsin.
Barn Finds/Hangar Finds: Need an appraisal on your barn find? Visit our Appraisal Page for information on our appraisals. This month we have a “sidewalk find (s)”. A local bicycle shop had a few used bicycles sitting outside and Harry noticed them. There were 2 Flandria 10 speed bicycles. The owner of the shop knows Harry and came out and told Harry that he could have them for free. He went on to say that someone dropped them off there and they are not bikes that he would sell. So free is a very good price. Flandria bicycles are made in Belgium. So these 2 bikes are the first vehicles in the collection from Belgium.
Visit our online store to search for hard to find car parts, aircraft parts, and much more. You can pay online in our secure store, just click on the Store button on our home page.
Visit the Test Drive section of the Flymall for reviews on automobiles, aircraft, motorcycles, and more. Read about it before you buy it. You can also research price info on a wide variety of vehicles, collectibles, and more in the Market Watch section of the Flymall.
If you’re restoring a fabric aircraft, Ira Walker of Walker Aviation is your resource. Visit his page on the Flymall by clicking here.
CFI / DPE Notes: Visit Harry’s Practical Test page for information on his checkrides. You will also find useful information there to help you prepare for your checkride. You can also visit Harry’s Lesson Plan section of the Flymall for other flight training information. Visit our Flight Training page for information on our aviation training classes.
Earlier this month, Gil Levi passed his private pilot checkride with Harry. What makes this checkride so special is that his daughter, Nir Levi was his flight instructor. Harry did 3 of Nir’s checkrides, her commercial, CFI, and CFII. Gil’s brother Ziv, owns the flight school that Nir teaches at. Gil has been flying for a long time. He holds a light sport equivalent pilot certificate in Israel. Gil actually got Nir into flying 9 years ago. He prepared her for her enrollment in a flight school in Israel.
Weather in the news: On April 5th, we had a storm system that stretched from Mexico all the way up into Canada.
Three Wheel Association (TWA) & 3-Wheelers.com: Harry started the Three Wheel Association in 2013 to promote/support the industry of three wheel vehicles of all types. Visit the Three Wheel Association page on the Flymall for more info on the association.
We hope to have the new 3-Wheelers.com site up by the end of May. Look for many new features and some cool 3-Wheelers.com products.
Above we mentioned E.J. Potter and his V-8 powered motorcycles. He also built a jet powered trike that went nearly 200 mph.
Want a reproduction vintage 3 wheeler. Walker Aviation can scratch built from pictures or drawings. Visit his page on the Flymall.
Want your own V-8 trike or V-8 powered motorcycle? Boss Hoss Cycles, an American motorcycle manufacturer, founded by Monte Warne in 1990, has some awesome bikes.
Prototypes: The Liberty L-8 (also known as the Packard 1A-1100) was a prototype of the Liberty L-12 engine designed by Jesse Vincent and Elbert Hall. Fifteen L-8 prototypes were manufactured by several companies including Buick, Ford, Lincoln, Marmon, and Packard in 1917. The first of those built now resides in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., while fifteenth L-8 (the only running example) powers Liberty the Second housed by the Conneaut Lake Historical Society in Conneaut Lake, PA. Another L-8 is stored at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, OH.
The Czechoslovakian automaker, Tatra built a streamlined, rear-engine, V-8-powered car in 1937. It was a three litre V-8 that competed in endurance racing. It was air-cooled and featured hemispherical combustion chambers. Power output was 75 hp, which rivalled the contemporary Ford Flathead V-8. The Czechoslovakian automaker thought it had a winning formula with the design and continued producing a version of the V-8 throughout 1975. The final iteration produced 166 hp—more than a Chevrolet Corvette of the same period.
Did you know that Honda built a V-8 motorcycle? The Honda NR750. In the early 1990s, Grand Prix racing was dominated by two-stroke engines, but Honda wanted to put a four-stroke on the grid. Specifically, a four-stroke V-8 packed into a motorcycle frame. The catch? The rulebook stipulated just four combustion chambers. So Honda went the unconventional route and blended the eight cylinders together to create four oval cylinders. That makes an engine with a bore x stroke measurement that requires three numbers. The 101.2-mm x 50.6-mm x 42-mm bore and stroke made for a final displacement of 748 cc. Each of the oval pistons is supported by two connecting rods.
Nautical Notes: The Flymall team had their classic Walker Bay 8 out on Little Seneca Lake for the first time this year on April 13 2023. The weather was perfect for a day on the lake. Click here for a video montage from the day. Click here for more pictures.
Here’s a one-off 1975 Fiat 850 Amphicar. She’s powered by a Fiat 900cc four-cylinder coupled to a four-speed transmission while on land, however, the aquatic propulsion comes from a Berkley jet engine attached to the crank of the Fiat engine via a clutch drive mechanism. Click here for an interesting story (on AutoBlog.com) on this one-off vehicle.
Riding The Rails: Here’s a cool straight 8 cylinder engine designed for trains. This EMD® 710 Series engine is available in 8, 12, 16, and 20 cylinder configurations with continuous power ratings from 2,000 to 5,000 horsepower. These engines are made by Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company.
Enjoy this YouTube video of a CAT V-8 powered road train.
Native American Indian Transportation: Did you know? Racecar driver Cory Witherill, who is a member of the Navajo tribe, was born in California in 1971 and has remained a resident of that state. In 2001, he made motorsports history when he became the first full-blooded Native American to compete in the Indianapolis 500 (also known as the Indy 500) annual automobile race. Cory has raced in the Indy Racing League, Infiniti Pro Series, Indy Lights, and ARCA series.
Here is Cory with his No. 16 car.
Animals in the headlines: While not a V-8, here’s something from a bygone era. A 1915 Ford Model T dog catcher truck. From the days when men would drive around in these trucks looking for stray dogs. Some form of animal control has existed in the United States as early as the 18th century.
We close this newsletter with these words: Look for opportunities to make people feel important.
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