Aircraft CF-JLW

JohnReid

"Apparently his efforts at streamlining have paid off well,as he reports it cruises at a solid 130mph.The D4D is not a small airplane,with a span of 28 feet and a gross weight of 2,800 pounds,and it has to be clinically clean for 250 hp to move it along at that kind of speed.

Trying to describe an airplane like CF-JLW is an exercise in futility.No number of adjectives can describe the completeness,the attention to detail,and the sheer beauty .Even photographs fail to capture the aura that surrounds this airplane.It's like a magnet and draws people like flies.Even none aviation types have to express their admiration.The airplane approaches perfection,which is a universally recognized quality.

People are going to read this and say Ive left out this,or that,important fact ,but I just couldn't help it.To accurately portray this beautiful machine would take a complete book,and even then it would be just mere words."

JohnReid

"It's the many small details that go into raising a mediocre machine to the level of superplane.In the case of CF-JLW,these details include things such as the fact that there isn't a brazier head rivet in the entire airplane,everything is flush riveted and filled.This is what makes the cowl look like one flowing piece of aluminum.The doors fit so tightly that only a razor-edge gap betrays their presence.The baggage door is shaped to the exact outlines of the fabric turtle deck,making for complete continuity of lines.The 30 coats of dope are rubbed to such a lustre (I know,I rubbed them)it is difficult to photograph it without getting your own reflection.Every single cut-out,whether in fabric or metal,is dressed down,with the corners rounded and smoothed.The entire project speaks of absolute fanatical attention to detail.

The overall effect of the airplane is that it should be in a glass case,with lights playing on it,like a rare jewel(which it is).It's built for flying ,however,and that's what Reid intends to do with it.He'll be a regular at all the fly-ins possible,as well as using it to burn off steam,high over the Quebec countryside.He figures if you can't fly it,whats the use of building it?

JohnReid

Front pit.

JohnReid

"Wendell Reid,his son John,and their mechanic Al Pow have put four long years and countless thousands of hours into CF-JLW,and they obviously have a product they can be proud of.What it cost in terms of dollars makes no difference,since money is a poor measure of beauty.But,I can't help but wonder if this is really the end.Reid already says that he is looking for a good,zero-time 450 hp Pratt & Whitney engine.

As I left,I overheard Captain Reid and his son discussing their complete set of factory drawings for the SE5 and the engine that they have located for it...

(article by Budd Davisson,Air Progress Oct 1969)

The SE5 never did get built nor did the Travel Air get its 450,but dad did go on to have a Pitts Special and a Steens Skybolt built for him.He sponsored a fellow Air Canada pilot with them at the Aerobatic Championships.

JohnReid

Once built ,dad had a kind of "on again off again" relationship with the little red airplane.While it was a great source of pride for him to be able to say that JLW held a C of A with no restrictions, it was also, on one occasion, a source of much embarrassment .

Now living in Toronto he wanted, of course ,to have the airplane there as well.He planned a YUL-YYZ cross country with a stop in YGK.Upon landing in Kingston he noticed a sticky brake(well that was his story anyway)and made a mental note to have it looked at upon arrival in Toronto. Well arriving in YYZ at around dinner time, when of course the airport was at its busiest,he proceeded to land on the active runway.Well it seems that the sticky brake now ceased shut upon roll out when the aircraft was going about 5 mph ,and it rolled over on its back damaging the prop and vertical stabilizer.Of course by this time most of his fellow pilots knew of the little red airplane and who flew it.Not a good day for the old pride, especially considering he had never even bent a wing tip throughout his career, including overseas during the war.

Fortunately ,his ego was bruised more than the aircraft itself and it was soon repaired and back in the air. to be cont.....

JohnReid

Somebody forgot to close the baggage compartment door properly! :

JohnReid

first flight!

JohnReid

Our airplane as a model.

JohnReid

Travel Air!

The name is an instant trip into a past of wires and cabanes,of leather and bravado.The name conjures up images of those long gone pastures,green and rimmed with trees,the early dew on the blue grass ,and a biplane gracefully flaring to touchdown.The plane rolls to an unhurried stop,and the pilot blasts the tail around to taxi back,the wings rocking over the grass in a hint of a swagger.There maybe faster ways to travel,but few airplanes possess the character and class of a Travel Air.

Even though progress threatens to wipe out pasture flying,it will never catch up with such charmers as the Travel Air.The past several years has seen many doomed,and nearly extinct,birds take to the air again but Wendell Reid of Montreal has just completed the machine that may well reign as king of the antiques for some time to come-Naturally it is a Travel Air. to be cont....

(above courtesy of Budd Davisson,,Air Progress.Oct 1969)

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"Once upon a time......." Storyboard dioramas by JohnReid.

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

JohnReid

In Toronto after repairs to the prop and fin.

JohnReid

The quality of the pics are not very good but this is JLW under construction at the old Timmins hangar at Dorval(now Trudeau International)

JohnReid

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