1929 Monosport Model 2
Built in 1929 by the Mono Aircraft Corp. at Moline, Ill. The Monosport was a slightly larger and higher powered version of the Monocoupe 113. It also had modernized landing gear and elliptical wing tips. In all, 16 Monosports were built, 9 powered by the 110 hp Warner Scarab, and 7 Model 2 with the 100 hp Kinner K-5. This is the fourth Monosport, the second Model 2, and unfortunately the last known Monosport remaining.
Brand new at the factory with the first owner
Arrival at the shop
Going into the shop
Wing is off
Tail is off
Tail is off
Fuselage sandblasted and painted
Window frames finished
Floorboards and control system installed
Cutting seat pads to size
Cutting leather seat covers
Sewing seat cover
Seat finished
Seat installed
Cutting out aluminum window frames using a router
Right side window and door frame
Covering fuselage
Fuselage covered
Finish tapes applied
Silver applied
Painted
Interior nearly finished
Ready for the instrument panel
Masking to paint the logo
Logo painted
Peeling off the masking
Setting up the wing and strut rigging prior to covering
New fuel tanks finished
Covering tail surfaces
Instrument panel nearly done
Fitting motor controls
Fitting the windscreen
Reinstalling wing leading edges
Wing is ready for cover
Rolling out fabric on the top
Top is on
Covering the bottom
Heat tightening the bottom fabric
Rib lacing in progress
Ready for painting
Oil tank finished
Oil tank installed
Fabricating cowling
Nose is original
Left and front windows installed
Motor installed ( original from the factory )
Fabricating exhaust system
Exhaust finished
Tail surfaces ready for color
Tail surfaces finished
Markings on the vertical tail
Tail mounted on the aeroplane
Balsa fairings installed on landing gear legs
Wrapping with finish tape
Assembling the brakes
Gear legs finished
Fitting the door
Door is finished and installed
Instrument panel finished
Cowl fitted and ready for paint
On its own feet waiting for wings
Top of wing silvered……12 feet added to paint room
Being turned over to paint the bottom
Bottom painted
Masking the numbers
Bottom finished
Turned over to finish the top
Wing finished
Struts and ailerons in the paint process
Ailerons finished
Sunlight at last
Painting cowl parts
Cowl finished
All together
Motor running properly
Waiting for a nice day to fly
On the grass at last
High speed run with the tail up
Another run with just a little bit of air under the wheels
Let’s go see if it will fly
Yep it does !!!
Now let’s see if it will land straight
Do it again !!!
Low fly-by
In the air up high
Before ( August 1929 )
After (April 2012 )
Niece Alysa after her ride
A year later…We should fly again for a while. Where should we go?
How about OSHKOSH??
Is this a good place to park?
Hear interview at http://eaavintage.org/multi-media/video-gallery/
AirVenture Oshkosh 2013
Outstanding Closed Cockpit Monoplane
Silver Age (1928-1935)
Maybe we should go on another adventure…. to the Northwest this time
Blakesburg Antique Aeroplane Flyin
Sweepstakes Award
AAA/APM FLY-IN
Blakesburg, Iowa
On the way home
All Done