For the next series of b+w photos, I'll be the first to admit that they're not the best in terms of overall quality. I believe that over 35 years have probably taken their toil on the negatives. That being said, I have approximately 85 photos of this plane. I won't post all, but I'll be glad to hear from anyone who wishes for me to post a particular part of the plane to help satisfy their curiosity. I thought I'd start with the landing gear and go from there. I'm sure many of our fellow members would like to see the cockpit interiors and I will be glad to post them as well. However, I'd like to remind everyone that this is a replica and it's also airworthy. To be airworthy meant many changes had to be made to accommodate the latest safety measures needed and also to be in compliance with the FAA regulations.
Bill Turner said that the plane handles very nicely in flight. The controls are all harmonious and well balanced. The Gypsy engines are extremely reliable and easy to manage. The extreme nose makes it very difficult to land or takeoff. The plane is also somewhat temperamental on the landing roll out or during the takeoff.
To wit: For some reason, I just picked out the right main landing gear. It was just a random thought and went with it. The third photo clearly shows an inside view of the right main landing gear and the disc brake. This is just one of many modern requirements needed to make this plane airworthy. The last photo, I thought everyone might get a good bang out of it is: a shot of the wheel well looking straight up. I placed the camera on the floor and set off the timer. The wheel is on the bottom of this picture.