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Working on the assembly of the Beech AT-10 fuselage at AirCorps Aviation - progress has moved forwards significantly since our last report in late 2018! (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
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We have periodically presented reports by Chuck Cravens detailing the restoration on an ultra-rare Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita WWII advanced, multi-engine trainer, but it has been more than a year since our last update. As mentioned in the previous articles, the project belongs to the Cadet Air Corps Museum and comprises the remains of several airframes, but will be based upon Wichita 41-27322. The restoration is taking place at the world-renowned AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji, Minnesota, and we now have another update on the progress as it stands so far….
Erik and Aaron look over the fuselage frame structure. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Update
It has been quite a while since we’ve updated the AT-10 restoration. Past updates have emphasized the historical aspects of the AT-10, so it is a pleasure to highlight progress on the main wooden fuselage this time.
Restoration on a rare airplane like the AT-10 involves a great deal of parts fabrication, which has been ongoing, and parts-making doesn’t always make for interesting photos. But recently, some visually significant progress has taken place, so it’s a good time to produce an update on the restoration.
Most of what the AirCorps Aviation team has done until now involved the restoration of the metal-framed cockpit area along with the aforementioned parts accumulation and fabrication. Now, for the first time, we can show some new progress on the primary wooden airframe.
Cockpit area of Beech AT-10 41-27322. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Fixture
The first step in building a straight airframe is creating a fixture to hold components in alignment as work progresses.
AirCorps Aviation modified a couple of welding tables to create the basis for the fuselage fixture. (image via AirCorps Aviation)
Aaron locates and installs angles that will position frame stations. (image via AirCorps Aviation)
This is a view from the forward end of the fixture. (image via AirCorps Aviation)
A thick aluminum bulkhead will form the forward end of the fixture. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Here is the forward fixture frame positioner in place. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The fixture is solidly braced to ensure continued alignment as components are added. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
This detail of the fixture structure shows the robust nature of the structure. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
An aluminum gusset plate, allen bolts, and the diagonal brace all go together to make up this fixture joint. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Wooden upright fixture extensions are where the actual frames will attach. Cutouts in the uprights are sized to allow for the taper of the fuselage. This view is from the aft end of the fuselage. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The last three stations on the fixture are encompassed in this heavy aluminum frame because they are positioned high above the fixture table and include mounting points for the horizontal stabilizer, three frames, and the tail wheel. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The rise in the fuselage underside is apparent in the way the attachment points sweep upward. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The two crossmembers hanging under the top frame hold the horizontal stabilizer attach points on each end. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Here the stabilizer attach
points extend out to the side of the rear fixture structure. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Materials
Brian Barkholtz, a skilled wood craftsman, has been hired to help our restoration specialists with the wooden airframe work. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
These wooden AT-10 bulkheads were milled on the AirCorps CNC routers. They are good examples of the parts that have been fabricated since our last update. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Precision milled parts are necessary to build a precise airframe. (image via AirCorps Aviation)
Rear fuselage bulkheads await their stage of assembly. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Many components on an airplane like the AT-10 were longer or wider than available wood material. In those cases, tapered joints called scarf joints were used to increase the gluing area of the joint and create a nearly seamless appearing joint that had far more strength than a simple butt joint would have had.
Many joints will be necessary in the wooden components of the AT-10 restoration. Tapered joints like this scarf joint are used because of their strength, and must be precisely tapered to make a strong joint when they are assembled with resorcinol glue. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Here a scarf joint is glued, assembled, and clamping pressure is applied while it cures. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The upper center longeron scarf joint has been finished, and the longeron is in place for checking fit and alignment of the fuselage frames. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Reinforcing plates strengthen the lower part of a frame. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Aaron and Brian work on gluing and clamping scarf joints to create a complete frame. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Clamps are being applied to a joint. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Brian works on a longeron scarf joint. (image via AirCorps Aviation)
Fuselage Frame Structure
With a solid, straight fixture, and the parts fabricated to build an AT-10 fuselage, assembly of the structural frame has begun.
Some joints are glued in the fixture. Aluminum plates are used during clamping to maintain alignment. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Here is a rear view of the same frame. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Many clamps are necessary to provide even gluing pressure. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Here is one of the first frames to be mounted to the fixture. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Brian and Aaron prepare more frames. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Four frames are in position near the aft end of the fuselage. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
It is starting to look like a fuselage is going to be created here!. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Five days later, many more frames are in position as the fuselage begins to take shape. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The P-47 project’s wings are in the background in this angle looking down on the AT-10. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
This angle is from the rear, looking forward through the fuselage structure. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
A view from above shows the fixture and structure. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The shorter piece in the center is the bottom part of the frame that will connect to the rear spar. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
Here is the rear spar carry through frame from the rear. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
The wing attachment brackets that eventually mount on the rear spar carry through are visible in this CAD rendering. Plates will be added on both sides of the carry through to strengthen it. (image via AirCorps Aviation)
The frames at the rear of the fixture will eventually carry the horizontal stabilizer and tail wheel. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
This is a view of the same frames from the rear. (photo via AirCorps Aviation)
AT-10 painting by Eric Sloane, painted in 1942 and presented to Elmer Graham upon his retirement as crew chief on the AT-10 assembly line, courtesy Bill Graham collection.
And that’s all for this edition of the AT-10 Restoration Report. Many thanks to Chuck Cravens and AirCorps Aviation for this article. Should anyone wish to contribute to the Cadet Air Corps Museum’s efforts, please contact board members Brooks Hurst at 816 244 6927, email at [email protected] or Todd Graves, [email protected]. Contributions are tax deductible.
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
At the old dead Handover Airport, in Handover N.J. in a drainage ditch on the left side of the runway are three wooden wing spars for a twin engine aircraft…either a twin Cessna. Or a Beech At 10. The wooden parts last seen ten years ago are junk. But the metal fittings and fire walls…if not usable may give the Restoration Team patterns to replace or remake needed part for gear, motor mount, firewall, etc. Figured you should know.
At the old dead Handover Airport, in Handover N.J. in a drainage ditch on the left side of the runway are three wooden wing spars for a twin engine aircraft…either a twin Cessna. Or a Beech At 10. The wooden parts last seen ten years ago are junk. But the metal fittings and fire walls…if not usable may give the Restoration Team patterns to replace or remake needed part for gear, motor mount, firewall, etc. Figured you should know.