Starduster One pros and cons

[[email protected]]

Greetings,
I've been looking for an open cockpit biplane to have fun with (already
own and fly a 172) and was curious what opinions are about owning and
flying a Starduster One. Especially with an O-290G to D conversion. How
good or bad are their taildragger habits, what to expect from a
maintence standpoint (any problems to be aware of), problems with the
O-290, etc.
I just got my taildragger endorsement (in a Cub and Cessna140), so I'm
leery about getting something too hot to handle, part of the point is
to build up taildragger experience for the future (when I buy my
Nieuport or Fokker replica!)

Thanks for any opinions.
Ryan

[Orval Fairbairn]

In article m>,
wrote:

> Greetings,
> I've been looking for an open cockpit biplane to have fun with (already
> own and fly a 172) and was curious what opinions are about owning and
> flying a Starduster One. Especially with an O-290G to D conversion. How
> good or bad are their taildragger habits, what to expect from a
> maintence standpoint (any problems to be aware of), problems with the
> O-290, etc.
> I just got my taildragger endorsement (in a Cub and Cessna140), so I'm
> leery about getting something too hot to handle, part of the point is
> to build up taildragger experience for the future (when I buy my
> Nieuport or Fokker replica!)
>
> Thanks for any opinions.
> Ryan

The O-290s use the same top end as the O-435 straight valve engines. As
such, nobody makes replacement cylinders; valves, pistons, rods and
bearings are still available.

As a first-generation (wartime manufacture) engine, the heads tend to
crack more than contemporary engines, so you can look forward to
replacing some cylinders.

[flybynightkarmarepair]

wrote:
> Greetings,
> I've been looking for an open cockpit biplane to have fun with (already
> own and fly a 172) and was curious what opinions are about owning and
> flying a Starduster One. Especially with an O-290G to D conversion. How
> good or bad are their taildragger habits, what to expect from a
> maintence standpoint (any problems to be aware of), problems with the
> O-290, etc.
> I just got my taildragger endorsement (in a Cub and Cessna140), so I'm
> leery about getting something too hot to handle, part of the point is
> to build up taildragger experience for the future (when I buy my
> Nieuport or Fokker replica!)
>
> Thanks for any opinions.
> Ryan

The Starduster series are beautiful airplanes, but rather tedious to
build. It's not uncommmon to see 10-15 years of work in the
completions in KITPLANES and Sport Aviation. Based on what I've seen
and read, you would be finished and flying a Graham Lee Nieuport
replica by the time you finished the first wing of a Starduster if
you're a first time builder.

The O-290-G conversion was good in it's day, but that day is past.
There is not a vast supply of cheap core engines left, and if you found
one, it's been sitting now for over 40 years. Think Corvair for planes
of this size if you're trying to cheap it out. Any of the biplanes
that flew with an A-65 would fly nicely behind a Corvair.

Another planes for you to think about: Easy Eagle
http://www.greatplainsas.com/eespecs1.html

[Errol Groff]

On 29 Oct 2006 08:49:34 -0800, wrote:

>Greetings,
>I've been looking for an open cockpit biplane to have fun with (already
>own and fly a 172) and was curious what opinions are about owning and
>flying a Starduster One. Especially with an O-290G to D conversion. How
>good or bad are their taildragger habits, what to expect from a
>maintence standpoint (any problems to be aware of), problems with the
>O-290, etc.
>I just got my taildragger endorsement (in a Cub and Cessna140), so I'm
>leery about getting something too hot to handle, part of the point is
>to build up taildragger experience for the future (when I buy my
>Nieuport or Fokker replica!)
>
>Thanks for any opinions.
>Ryan

Ryan:

Here are a few pics of a Graham Lee Nieoport under construction in
Newport RI.

http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363.htm

The builder is Frank Nowak.


Errol Groff

EAA 60159

Instructor, Manufacturing Technology
H.H. Ellis Technical High School
613 Upper Maple Street
Danielson, CT 06239

New England Model Engineering Society
www.neme-s.org

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Errol Groff" > wrote

> Here are a few pics of a Graham Lee Nieoport under construction in
> Newport RI.
>
> http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363.htm
>
> The builder is Frank Nowak.

Nice pictures, but I HATE backgrounds like that. Almost impossible for my
middle aged eyes to read.

To tell the truth, I usually just skip trying. Not worth it.
--
Jim in NC

[Errol Groff]

On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:54:52 -0500, "Morgans"
> wrote:

>
>"Errol Groff" > wrote
>
>> Here are a few pics of a Graham Lee Nieoport under construction in
>> Newport RI.
>>
>> http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363.htm
>>
>> The builder is Frank Nowak.
>
>Nice pictures, but I HATE backgrounds like that. Almost impossible for my
>middle aged eyes to read.
>
>To tell the truth, I usually just skip trying. Not worth it.

No argument from here but the pictures were taken as the opportunity
presented itself. Can't always have nice monochrome backgrounds darn
it.

I thought I had more pictures of the project taken at Frank's workshop
but don't know where they are a t the moment. If I come across them I
will add them to the page and post a notice.

Errol Groff
EAA 60159

[Ron Wanttaja]

On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 23:20:00 GMT, Errol Groff > wrote:

> On Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:54:52 -0500, "Morgans"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >"Errol Groff" > wrote
> >
> >> Here are a few pics of a Graham Lee Nieoport under construction in
> >> Newport RI.
> >>
> >> http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363.htm
> >>
> >> The builder is Frank Nowak.
> >
> >Nice pictures, but I HATE backgrounds like that. Almost impossible for my
> >middle aged eyes to read.
> >
> >To tell the truth, I usually just skip trying. Not worth it.
>
> No argument from here but the pictures were taken as the opportunity
> presented itself. Can't always have nice monochrome backgrounds darn
> it.

Don't think he was referring to the photo background, but to the *web-page*
background. The crackled gray wallpaper. Makes it really hard to read the
text.

Go into the source code and delete the line that says,

<body background="../images/gray_textured_paper_bg_2.gif">

....or go into whatever you used to create the page and delete the background
image.

Ron Wanttaja

[Errol Groff]

On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:32:02 -0800, Ron Wanttaja
> wrote:


>
>Don't think he was referring to the photo background, but to the *web-page*
>background. The crackled gray wallpaper. Makes it really hard to read the
>text.
>
>Go into the source code and delete the line that says,
>
><body background="../images/gray_textured_paper_bg_2.gif">
>
>...or go into whatever you used to create the page and delete the background
>image.
>
>Ron Wanttaja

AHH! The light come on! Alright, I will certainly keep that in mind
for the future. When I see a background that I like I save it for use
in the NEMES web pages. Of course just because I like it doesn't make
it the cats a** to everyone.

Thanks for pointing out my misunderstanding of Jim in NC's comment.

I enjoy doing the web for NEMES and greatly appreciate constructive
comments. I have updated the page with a different background, hope
this one is easier on Jim's eyes.

Errol Groff
EAA 60159

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Errol Groff" > wrote

> AHH! The light come on!
> I enjoy doing the web for NEMES and greatly appreciate constructive
> comments. I have updated the page with a different background, hope
> this one is easier on Jim's eyes.

Much better, but what is wrong with a plain old color, like white? <g>
--
Jim in NC

[Errol Groff]

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:55:47 -0500, "Morgans"
> wrote:

>
>"Errol Groff" > wrote
>
>> AHH! The light come on!
>> I enjoy doing the web for NEMES and greatly appreciate constructive
>> comments. I have updated the page with a different background, hope
>> this one is easier on Jim's eyes.
>
>Much better, but what is wrong with a plain old color, like white? <g>


http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363_plain.htm

Special for you Jim!

Errol Groff

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Errol Groff" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:55:47 -0500, "Morgans"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>>"Errol Groff" > wrote
>>
>>> AHH! The light come on!
>>> I enjoy doing the web for NEMES and greatly appreciate constructive
>>> comments. I have updated the page with a different background, hope
>>> this one is easier on Jim's eyes.
>>
>>Much better, but what is wrong with a plain old color, like white? <g>
>
>
> http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363_plain.htm
>
> Special for you Jim!

Bless you, my son!

Ya' know, it may not be fancy, but it is SO much more readable.

I say, save the "fancy" for the pictures, or the clickable links, or layout!

Really, thanks for your effort. It goes above and beyond.
--
Jim in NC

[[email protected]]

Errol Groff wrote:
> On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:55:47 -0500, "Morgans"
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >"Errol Groff" > wrote

<snip>

> http://neme-s.org/EAA_1363/visit_to_eaa_1363_plain.htm
>
> Special for you Jim!
>
> Errol Groff

Thanks Errol. Reads much nicer now, for me too.

Bob