The Little World

Ol’ 340 is finished and will take her place on the main runway of RCAF WET DOG, Students of aviation may wish to adopt the methods of Sherlock Holmes; observe and then make deductions.

The basis for the decision to build this plane this way came from Harold Skaarup’s vast collection of Canadian airplane pictures. Specifically MIKAN No. 3616062 and 3616063. Harold has an amazing store of images that are readily accessible, and I am very grateful to him for his scholarly zeal. Several of my models have directly benefitted from his images.

What can we say? Perhaps the wind whistling around the ears of the trainee pilot – note that they left the canopy off the plane – distracted him. Perhaps the handle that lowers the landing gear broke off in his hand. Perhaps one of the mechanics played a practical joke on him and put glue into the wheel wells just before he took off. Whatever the cause, he has landed without wearing any rubber off the tyres…

You would have expected him to remove a fair bit of aluminium from the underside of the Grumman but this is a plane with a secret. There were two thick rubbing strakes that flowed backwards from the cowling to halfway through the lower wing. They were sufficiently strong to allow it to skid to a stop on an even keel. Of course the propellor was bound to take a beating, but the balance of the plane was such that it did not nose over. A new prop and it might be set on its wheels to fly again.

Note that the buzz codes under the lower wing are printed with the new decal paper from Dr. Decal and Mr. Hyde and are all that one could desire.

The struts and wings went on perfectly well, by the way. I’ve nearly got back all my biplane courage. Just as well – I note that there are eight more of the things in the stash.