Allen Rice's Skybolt

on 11/02/2008

Work Continues on the Skybolt
9/29/08
I'm still working away on my Skybolt at least 5 hours a day. I figure I better get this thing done before I get too old to fly it. This week I finished up my fuel valve assembly, seat brackets and accessory trays. The next project is the smoke and fuel tanks. This is a picture of the accessory trays behind the pilot seat. Click here to go to Skybolt construction for details.

Christmas Bash at Bipe, Inc. a Hit
12/21/07 Lantana, FL
Food, friends, and airplane rides were the order of the day at Bipe, Inc. just before Christmas and it doesn't get much better than that. Owners Jerry Stadtmiller and Lisa Turner were our hosts for the catered affair at the Bipe shop. I volunteer at Bipe two days per week where we restore Stearman PT17's, Cubs, and most anything else with fabric wings. On top of the great food, Jerry even arranged biplane flights on a Waco and a Stearman for everyone who wanted to experience open cockpit flying in a biplane. My whole family including Bobbi, Paige, Tucker, and Raul were thrilled with the flights.

(Pictured at left: Me, Tucker, Bobbi, Paige, Raul) For more pictures, click on the above picture.
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Allan Howard (Sharyn & Bobby's Son) Gets Married
12/8/07, Gainesville, FL- Carrie Ann Mena and Allan Howard were married in a beautiful ceremony on the University of Florida campus. Click here for more pictures of the wedding and reception.

L-R: Jerry & Lisa Finnegan (Allan's sister), Carrie Ann & Allan Howard, Sharyn & Bobby Howard.

Daytona Turkey Run is a Hit
11/24/07- As usual the hot rods and vendors' booths at Daytona Beach were overwhelming again this year. Bobbi, I, and friends Marsha and Dick ambled around the speedway track infield all day long looking at the cars, tools, supplies, t-shirts and toys. Click here for some of my favorite custom car pictures of cars at the show.

That's our friend Dick with Daisy Duke and the General Lee. She couldn't keep her hands off of him as you can tell from from her pose.

Happy Thanksgiving!!
11/22/07- Our family hopes that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their families. Most of our clan met at sister Lorie's house for a feast that was prepared by Lorie's daughters Callie and Tiffany. It was delicious and everyone ate way too much.

Top row: Lorie, Will, Callie, Sam, Jim.
2nd row: Caroline, Don, Tiffany, Randy, Cheryl, Jennifer, Bobbi, Allen.
3rd row: Nate, Matt Jr., Alexis, Matt, Emily

For more Thanksgiving pictures, click here.

Good Day at the RC Field
10/28/07- Weather was sunny so we did some RC flying today. This is my favorite model, a P-40 Flying Tiger. Thanks to our super Palm Beach RC club photographer for the great shot. Click here for more flying pictures on my RC page.

Photo by Arty Mundel

Oshkosh Was a Blast
8/4/07- Bobbi, Tucker and I just returned from a 2 week camping trip to Airventure 2007 at Oshkosh, WI. Lots of airplanes, excitement, tragedy, and nature. Click on the picture to link to the picture page on Tucker's site. Sadly, there was a crash of two P-51 Mustangs. Click here for pictures and story of the collision.

Flying the Yellowbird
This year's Sun N Fun event at Lakeland was fantastic as usual. For me it was especially fun because I finally got to fly a Skybolt. The performance was breath-taking and confirmed that I made the right decision to build this plane. Thanks go out to David Stone and Barrett Brummett from Steen Aerolab for a terrific experience.

Climbing into the Skybolt before my flight at Sun N Fun 2007.

As we made our passes over the field, the big 350hp Lycoming would pull us up at a 45 deg climb at 4500fpm. Incredible performance!

More Hangar Pix, January 2007
1/4/07- I can't wait to move my Skybolt project into the hangar and actually have some real space to spread out.
1/4/07- That rock is our house marker and is symbolic of the solid layer of rock that is just 6" below the dirt through the entire property.
1/4/07- Looking south from the hangar apron, that's where the house will go.
Stuart Airshow, November 2006
That's an A-10 Thunderbolt aka 'Warthog' behind Bobbi. Check out the 30mm gatling gun on the front.
This Travel Air 'Mystery Ship' is a one-of-a-kind air racer from 1928. It was the fastest plane in the world back then.
The business end of the Travel Air. That's a Lycoming radial.
The Travel Air belongs to the family of Bobby Younkin who, along with Jimmy Franklin, was killed earlier this year in airshow accident.
I know it's an airshow but couldn't resist a picture of this German WWII BMW motorcycle that was captured by US troops.