Important Information

FAA registrations now expire on a regular basis

In case you are not familiar with this, the registration for your airplane expires after a certain length of time. You may be thinking that registration is not important if your aircraft is on display at a museum, or is just setting in storage awaiting rebuild. Remember though, if you don’t renew that registration, your assigned “N” number can be put back on the “Available” list and it can be issued to another airplane. Not only can it issued to another airplane, the airplane file kept in Oklahoma City might go to archive and these archived files are often had to get. So even if you don’t have immediate plans to fly, make sure you keep the registration current. It is important that you keep the registration up to date. If you are having a problem keeping current on registration or have registration questions, drop me a line at randy@curtisswrightjunior.com

Information on aircraft located in Netherlands PH-AGZ serial 1105

I received an email from Jan Evert Leeuw from Enschede, the Netherlands.  He shared with me a website that had a photograph of this aircraft and another with some hsitory.  Select “Aircraft” above and scroll down to  N10923 (Registration PH-AGZ in the Netherlands.)

This is just one example where friends all over the world are helping in our search for the history of the Curtiss Wright Junior CW-1.  “Jan, thanks for the help.”

Posted Mystery 5 Video

Just posted Mystery 5.  It is another video from You Tube.  “Mysteries” on the left and then “Mystery 5”. Help me find out about the airplane and pilot.

Posted Videos of Brian Coughlin Flying 10991

 

After 60 years 10991 is back in the air.  Since I now know how to embed videos, here is a chance to see it fly.  “Aircraft” on the left and then“10991” will get you there.  You have to supply the popcorn.

Serial number 1086 located

I found this on display in the Yanks Air Museum in Chino California.  While in California a couple of weeks ago, I was able to spend about 20 minutes at their facility before they closed for the day and I had to head back home.  The aircraft is currently N10860, but came put of the factory as N01904.  Yanks Museum will definitely be on my radar for a return trip. Select “Aircraft” above and then “10904” to see my photographs and find the link to their site.

Mystery 4 Has Been Solved

 

Well, it was at least partially solved.  Select “Mysteries” to the left and then “Mystery 4″ to find out more.

A Curtiss Wright Junior on Floats???

This CW-1 Junior is on floats.  Imagine that EDO Corporation put their floats on it.  The photograph is located under Aircraft and 10963.  Select the photograph on the page and you will see a larger version.  Thanks to Jim Ladwig for the photo.

Uploaded history from N11804 and Harold Ladwig

Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Jim Ladwig, a real expert in the history of the CW-1.  I met him and his wife at Oshkosh and Brodhead and he showed me a picture and told me about his father.  His father flew a CW-1 on the air show circuit in the late 40’s and early 50’s, but I will let him tell the story. Read it for yourself and see the video of his dad flying in an air show by selecting “Aircraft” on the left and then the photograph under “N11804”.  Thanks Jim!!!! 

Mystery # 3 has been solved!!!

 

This one was solved by Mr. Bob McBride of Arkansas.  He is interested in building a replica someday, so if you have any information, send me an email, and I will get it to Bob.  Go to the “Mysteries” page and select “Mystery # 3” link and you will find what the helicopter pictured below has to with a Curtiss Wright Junior.

Mystery Number 4 just uploaded

 

This mystery comes from Jim Bradshaw and concerns a relative of his,  Texaco Oil and Shawnee Oklahoma.  Jim is trying to identify the aircraft in the photograph which was flown by his relative.  Select “Mysteries” to the left and then “Mystery 4” and see if you can help us.

 

I Made Contact with the owner of N10966

I have been in touch of the owner of 10966.  He resides in Virginia and purchased the aircraft as a project and brought it down from New Jersey.  Go to the “Aircraft” page and select the photograph under 10966. There you will find photographs he supplied me of how it appeared when he purchased it.  The fuselage had been out in the weather for a number of years, but most everything else had been stored inside.  Looks like the aircraft is complete.  What a find.  More to follow.

New research information included on curtisswrightjunior.com

Last Thursday I received a large collection of research papers from George Copland of Duncan Oklahoma.  I spent most of the weekend digesting the material and only read through a portion of it. George has completed quite a bit of research on the Curtiss Wright Junior and he has entrusted me with  his data.  His research included correspondence from many of the owners of the Juniors from 50 or so years ago.  It appears that he spent quite a bit of time at the FAA records center in Oklahoma City going through their records.  He identified many of the aircraft and I took his research and added it to the aircraft included on serial number page of this web site.  With his serial number list and what I have found,  we have identified about 130 individual airplanes by registration and serial number. Unfortunately many of them are no longer with us.  Click on the link to “Serial Numbers” at the left and see what we have identified.  By looking at the color codes you will find some of what we know of their history. If you know of what has happened to any of the others, I would appreciate any  information that you would like to share.

More later about what I found in his research.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Package Received

I received a requested package from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.  It is a listing of the historical information they hold on the Junior.  I will be ordering some of the drawings at a future date. Help!! Some of the drawings listed on the NASM report are from the 1970’s and include the name “Nelson”.  Does anyone know about these later drawings?  The package also contained a copy of an article published by Paul R. Matt on the Curtiss Wright Junior CW-1 published in Historical Aviation Album No. 11 June 1972.

Mystery Number 2 has been solved

by Jim Ladwig.  He recognized that aircraft as being his and that it was located at the EAA fly in  Rockford.  From what he says there was a Curtiss Wright Junior forum at the fly-in.  Although I was there, I did not know about the forum.  Was there anyone else in Rockford in 1968 that has found this site?   OK, there is one more mystery.  To find the mysteries, look to the left and click on “Mysteries”