08
The Canadian HM-8 Replica
Project--Page 8
by
- 2004 June 2
Great day! The wings are on the fuselage. We can now see a HM-8 like people saw them 74 years ago!
We spend the day doing minor adjustments of the hardware and we take a photo of our happy group:
(from left to right: Jean-Pierre Gagnon, Paul Fournier, Claude Martin, Andre Letourneau, Paul Pontois )
I brought a bottle of Catalan Champagne (my wife is Catalan) to celebrate the end of the wooden frame construction.
I am leaving for Europe in a few days with a director of HMS to attend a Flying Flea gathering in the South-West of France. We will bring with us some photos of our HM-8 to show Pierre Mignet and all pouducielists.
Bob Cornwell, the Australian HM-8 builder sent me a message of greeting for Pierre Mignet and for Rodolphe Grunberg, which I will be very pleased to deliver personally.
André Létourneau is calling to arms several talented builders, as he is going to organize, on June 12, a workshop to fabric-cover the giant wing. I know that, from now on, everything will move fast.
Gerry de Grosbois told me on the phone that Pierre Gingue completed the propeller.
I will stop writing this diary for the next three weeks. I am curious to know how far my friends are going to be with their construction when I am back!
- 2004 June 28
After a great tour in France with two American friends of HMS.
All a shock when I was back in Beloeil .
My HM-8 friends were waiting for me and could not hide their satisfaction.
Not only the HM-8 wing was fabric covered, but it was painted. So was also the rudder and the fuselage was varnished.
They certainly did not waste their time when I was in Europe .
By the way, during this trip, I spoke with Pierre Mignet who was very happy to see the rebirth of a HM-8. There had never been any HM-8 in North America :
Today, we are spending the afternoon adjusting the landing gear bungees.
Not as difficult that it seemed to be after finding a few tips.
The photo showing Jean-Pierre pulling the bungees explains more than a long text!
Paul Fournier also brought the Étévé Airspeed he built for the HM-8, to Henri Mignet's specs. He would make others at a very reasonable price for Pou builders if requested. Paul Fournier < paul.fourn@videotron.ca >
- 2004 June 30
Back to the Wednesday routine.
I bring with me cake and Champagne to celebrate the painting and varnishing.
Bungees installed, the HM-8 is back on its wheels.
Most of the day is spent installing the struts cables.
Everything is becoming delicate as every adjustment we make is final.
I remove the vertical rudder and bring it back to my place in order to have it painted.
When in France , we saw a beautifully decorated HM-1000 Balerit rudder with the typical Sport de l'air logo, more or less the same logo Mignet had already drawn for the HM-8 book.
I will go to Quebec City some day next week to bring rudder and logo to Jacques Duguay, the painter who painted my Pou-Maquis last year.
I am sure that he will make a beautiful job for a reasonable price.
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