Wayne Mikel's Monocoupe Project

Our Model 70 was built in Moline, Ill in 1928. An application for identification number was sent to the Department of Commerce on July 13th and approved July 20th. Don Luscombe was President of Monocouoe then, but so was W.L. Velie, according to the application. It was moved to California that summer and has been here since. It last flew in November 1941 and had to be rendered unflyable after Pearl Harbor.

It was sold to Larry Fotchman of Novato for $50 in 1968 and he started restoring it. We bought it in 1990 and got well into working on it after we moved to Swansboro in Oct 1993. I didn't get it done during the 20th Century but have high hopes for this one!

Wayne Mikel's Focke Wulf 44J Stieglitz

Stieglitz means Goldfinch in German. The Model 44 was designed in Munich, probably by Kurt Tank, in 1932. The export models were designated 44J. Ours was constructed in Linkoping, a suburb of Stockholm and first flew in 1938. The factory was owned by ASJA, a predecessor to SAAB and they are still building Swedish Air Force airplanes there. ASJA stands for Aktiebolaget Svenska Jarnvagsverkstadernas Aeroplanavd. I wonder how long SAAB would be if it was spelled out?

It was serial number 638 and assigned to squadron 5 (training) which is why it has 5-38 markings. It was surplussed in 1954 and sold to Norrkopings Automobil-Flygkubb and used to tow sailplanes until November 1961 when Sven Ahlgren of San Diego bought it. He stored it outdoors at Ramona until it was purchased by Hill Country Air Museum of Morgan Hill in 1970.

In 1973 four of us bought it and began replacing all the rotten wood. It began flying in 1978 and we took it to Oshkosh in 1979. The other three owners have departed over the years, so now it's all ours.

Rudder, elevator and aileron forces are light but responsive and the Siemens radial engine runs very smoothly. Electrically, it is just like a lawn mower except it has one more magneto. It has a cruise prop and doesn't get the rated 140 horsepower except in a dive, but it easily keeps up with a Stearman.