• The Biplane Forum is a large global active community of biplane builders, owners and pilots. From Pitts to Skybolts, to older barnstormers, all types are welcome. In addition to our active community, our content boasts exhaustive technical information which is often sought after for projects and maintenance. This information has accumulated over the 12+ years the forum has been in existence.

    The Biplane Forum is a private community. Subscriptions are only $49.99/year or $6.99/month to gain access to this great community and unmatched source of information not found anywhere else on the web. We are also a great resource for non biplane users, since many GA aircraft are built the same way (fabric and tube construction). Annual membership also comes with two BiplaneForum.com decals.



Skybolt Newsletter listing

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Beej

Creator of this place
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
6,652
Reaction score
1,886
Location
Austin, TX
The Mac McKensie newsletter from the 70's has some interesting reading and some great tips can be found with references to basic procedures. But don't assume this is the 'Skybolt Bible'. If you apply every mod suggested by Mac, your plane will be too heavy and you will more or less end up with a Firebolt - I have seen a Firebolt weigh 1570, empty! While Mac had some good ideas, they weren't always required.....like my dad used to say 'if it aint broke don't fix it'.

The Rights to the Newsletter are nowadays owned by Steen Aero Lab. They have graciously allowed us to publish them here on Biplaneforum.com

Series 1 Dec-76.pdf
Aileron/Elevator balance. Torque tube. Tailpost issue. Fuselage tube sequence.

Jan-77.pdf
Sheet steel fittings fabrication. Wing rigging. Torque tube. Tailgroup. Weight & balance.

Feb-77.pdf
Wings. Tailgroup. Stringer standoffs. Wing rigging.

Mar-77.pdf
Vernier trim tab control. Flying/landing wire fittings. Landing gear. Pitot in I-strut. Bungee truss. Aileron bellcranks. Sharp painted trim lines. Pitot-static port location.

Apr-77.pdf
Aileron bellcranks. Slave struts. Cabanes. Wing leading edges. Turtledeck.

May-77.pdf
Bungee cords. Cord tool. Main fuel tank. Smoke system. I-struts.
Series 2

Jun-77.pdf
Antenna install. Slave struts. Alum' cowling. Engine mount.

Jul-77.pdf
2 pc wing. Wing antennas. Hardware list. Upper fuel tank. Aileron hinges. Brakes. Engine mount.

AugSeptPt1-77.pdf
Marquart gear. T-88. Fuel system. Round bushing/welding.

AugSeptPt2-77.pdf
Flooring install. Seat back & bottoms. Flooring tabs. Alum' sidewall & belly skins. Battery. Idler Arm. Wiring schematic.

Oct-77.pdf
Electrical System (cont). Landing gear pads. Clipped wing traits. C.G. Wing covering.

Nov-77.pdf
Gas tank venting. Wing covering. Seat belt/harness. Wheel pants install.

Series 3
Dec-77.pdf
Rudder trim. Drag/anti drag wire tension. Wing root fairings. Baffling.

Jan-78.pdf
Rudder stops. Baffling. Tubing list. Wing construction. Spar jigs. Tramelling.

Feb-78.pdf
Marquart landing gear. Firewall & Exhaust Deflector. Wing construction. Landing light install. Throttle Quadrant install.

Mar-78.pdf
Rib stitching. Upper wing splice. lower wing construction. Aileron balancing.

Apr-78.pdf
Landing gear safety cable. Fuel pressure numbers, injector and pressure carb. Aux fuel pumps. Accurate angles without protractors. Upper wing construction.

May-78.pdf
Fuselage fixture. Fuselage construction pt1. Single canopy construction pt1.

V4num1.pdf
Landing/Flying wires. Tension numbers. Single canopy pt2. Fuselage construction pt2.

V4num2.pdf
Fuselage construction pt3.

V4num3.pdf

V4num4.pdf

V4num5.pdf

V4num6.pdf

V5num1.pdf

V5num2.pdf

V5num3.pdf

V5num4.pdf
 
Last edited:















 
Last edited by a moderator:

Latest posts

Back
Top