Hummel Bird Builders Directory

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*NAME*	*START DATE*	Location	*COMMENTS*
Charles Adamson	September 11, 1990	Knoxville, TN	"Four years of building. Latest completion target November 2003. Installing gas tank last major component."
Frank Castronovo	September 01, 1999	Northeastern Ohio	"I fell for this little bird the first time I saw Scott Casler fly Morry's original to the Mid-East Regional Fly-in (MERFI) a few years ago, at Marion, OH. Mine is currently sitting on the gear (conventional) awaiting the completion of the outer wings. Scheduled for the front end is a 40 HP Mosler 1/2 VW, with dual ignition, an alternator, CDI and SCAT heads. My professional life currently leaves me very little time to work on the airplane, but even at the current pace I still expect completion within the next 3 or 4 years. Until then, I fly a 1944 Aeronca Defender over the skies of Northeastern Ohio. "
Rob Champlin	October 23, 1989	Cincinnati, Ohio	"I know...1989 is a while ago but life gets busy you know, but its off the back burner and into the main shop for the winter completion. Fuse is about 75% complete and its time to start on the engine. Any advise would be helpful. I have the first drawings with watson and hummel phased together. Need I say more. This is the greatest bird...thanks Morry...hope you are doing well. Rob Champlin. Cincinnati, Ohio"
Vidson Chan	June 06, 1993	Bakersfield, CA	"It's been over ten long years, and I'm determined to take her up this year (2004). All sheet metal work is completed. I just need to bolt down the all-aluminum fuel tank, windshield, install cowling sections, hinge up ailerons, add gap seal, and I'm good to go! You know, 90% done, 50% to go..."
Maurice Cohen	January 3, 2005	West Palm Beach, FL	"Acquired a completed HB needing engine work, which I hope will be completed soon. In the meantime, I am considering changing to a tri-gear configuration, and would like to hear from anyone who may be wanting to change to a tail-wheel arrangement with shock-absorbing mains and would be willing to trade undercarriage wheels and related (eg engine mount, steering, etc.) items."
Bryan Cotton	October 15, 1999	Monroe, CT	"It's a fun project! Fuse is built, wings in progress."
Bill Crowl	March 1, 2000	Elk Grove, California	"I have been "eyeing" building a Hummelbird since 1996 and finally began in 2000. As of 10-2002 I have the fuselage, tail feathers, wing spars, and landing gear built and I am in the process of building the center section. Progress is a little slow due to the needs of home and hearth but I feel I could complete this project in 3 months of full time effort. Given my limited time to work on the project my actual time of completion is much farther out. (project is located in Elk Grove California)"
Lyle Dickson	November 20, 2000	Swanton, OH	"Completed my project in May 2002. First Flight was June, 2002. I now have 20+ hours of flying time."
Dana Disney	April 13, 2003	Houghton Lake, MI.	"I remember the story in pop.mech. 1970's "grandpa's teeny two" when I heard of the Hummelbird, Morrys plane and the connection I was hooked I purchased the wood for forms as a place to start. My good friend Don Larson was doing the same thing so he took the wood and started building. As Don was building he made the decision to go two place and build a Mustang II. So I have aquired a full Hummelbird Kit. With the fuse and rib items completed. I hope to trailer it to Oshkosh in 04 and fly it there in 05."
David Ferguson	10/06/01	Bloomington, IL	"This has been a long on-going process for me since this is the first time for a project like this. The project is about 70% finished with the wings left to skin. I designed the gear to have gas springs with 3" travel in a tail dragger configuration. A recent grounding (high BP) left me with the choice to keep it and finish it or sell it. After I advertised it with an explanation of my situation and moderate response,......I, of course, received much encouragement from a few of the other builders, so I've decided to keep it and continue on with the build. BP is normal and stable so I'll get my medical back."
Juan Carlos Garibaldi	July 01, 2000	(near) Buenos Aires, Argentina	"At this point I'm skinning the center section of the wing. Fuselage structure is done as well as outer spars, ribs and landing gear. Still have to do the tail, canopy, engine installation, controls and the 1000 things that are left after that's done. I'm still deciding on the engine. My original plan was to use a Rotax 447 but this engine developed some serious problems and I have to decide between fixing it or going for something else. I made several modifications and these together with my lack of experience with sheet metal work made for the long build time. I'm not keeping track of the hours but I would estimate that I have the equivalent of about 9 months of full time work invested so far."
Andrew Hopper	March 10, 1998	New Brunswick, CANADA	"My Hummel Bird has fiberglass spring mains and tail springs, as well as a turbo charged 1/2 vw. Hydraulic heel operated brakes, quad cht/egt westach unit, along with a wind powered charging system. I have since attempted to start my 1/2 vw on the plane, (hand propping is not my thing). I have a Piper Tomahawk as well (obviously with electric start) and I am spoiled now. I have built up a 4 cyl inline 750 engine, with electric start. Now all I have to complete is a motor mount, install the engine and make a new cowling. The Hummel bird has been a very gratifying project. It haz been almost six years now. I will be glad to get it flying."
Tim Hoversten	January 1, 2003	Portage, WI	"I currently fly a Sonerai 2 that I completed in 2001, as soon as I complete my HB, I will sell the Sonerai. Just gettting started on the HB, have bulkheads built and am now starting to skin. I live in Portage WI, just north of Madison - anyone close by?"
Don Jacobson	February 1, 2002	North Branford, CT	"I started building around 02/02. As of 11/02 I have the fuselage almost complete and have started making the main spar. So far the construction is going well, with only one minor error on one of the bulkheads. The nice part about a homebuilt versus a kit is that you can make any new part from raw materials! I found the Bill Spring video very helpful in helping to visualize they way things need to look when finished. The plans are easy to follow if you spend enough time looking them over, it all makes sense as you proceed. Good luck to all those that have completed their HB's and to those in the process."
Christopher Knechtel	November 4, 2002	Port Allegany, PA	"I purchased two sets of plans so I can build two Hummel Birds side by side. I'm building the HB on my farm in PA now."
James Kuhlman	N/A	Salt Lake City, UT	"Just getting the tools together, eager to get going."
Patrick Lehner	December 21, 2002	Switzerland	"I think I will finish the airplane during the next two years. I think I will have some problems to certify the aircraft in Switzerland."
Errol Mcneil	Sometime in 1982		"I have been involved with the finishing of this aircraft since 2000 as the builder has passed on. In his memory, I will fly her as I a fond relationship with her. I am ready to fly now but our flying Club instructors want me to do a taildragger rating before I fly, as I have only flown tricycles before. My strip is 640m of grass and I have had her up to 25 kts so far. Will keep you posted."
Mark Nagel	July 11, 2004	Pensacola, FL	"Progressing slowly due to work and other projects."
Pablo Odone	August 23, 2001	Berabevu, Santa Fe, Argentina	"Now I´m in the final of the project, at this moment I have all comand ready, canopy, wings, all instruments, fuel tank and 40 HP Mosler installed. My version is tail dragger. I hope fly soon."
Berny Ramirez	September 21, 2003	Daleville, Alabama (stationed at Ft. Rucker)	"After 20 yrs in the military, I'm finally in a position to build. I decided on the HB years ago, but have moved quite alot and never really had a good place to start a project. I'm an Army pilot and am involved in aviation maintenance so the build processes are familiar to me and this should be a fun little project to carry out. So far, I've completed the aft bulkheads and found it quite relaxing and straight forward."
Alex Robatto	June 15, 1999	Lawrenceville, NJ	"I'm bulding the tri-gear version with a re-built Global engine using Scat Heads and a Scat crankshaft (Scott Casler was used to do fine balancing of the crankshaft). Airframe completions: Fuselage with instruments and canopy, fuel tank, empennage, all weldments, landing gear, most firewall forward, center wing almost complete, outer wing ribs and spar. The project has been moved to a "real hanger" (not my cramped one-car garage) so that I may do construction of the wing panels. Little by little, this project is moving along nicely."
Dave Robinson	10/06/03	Spokane, WA	"Basic fuselage done. 1/2VW 37HP about half done, magneto ignition. Currently forming wing ribs and aluminum fuel tank. Working slow but fairly steady. Work as an A&P mechanic 5 days a week, try to work on HB 2-3 weekends a month. Using mostly solid rivets and a few cherry max. Acid etch, alodine and priming all aluminum parts. Cad plating steel parts. Built enlarged fuselage. 2" wider at center line, and 2" taller at side rails. Hope to fly in a couple of years. Tired of renting. Will have to get tail wheel training."
Tom Stallings	September 9, 1997		"Finished and flying for about one and a half years. As Morry said its a joy to fly."
Luc Thibault	November 1, 1999	Montreal, Quebec	"I live just ouside Montreal, Quebec. I was looking for a very economical plane with a good cruise speed that can be built in a small shop. In 1991 I saw the HB in a magazine. I just love it! Now the fuselage is done, also the centre wing, main gear, wheel and brake assy, tail wheel, control stick, rudder bar and push-pull rods, stabilisator and elevator. This month (march 03), I am starting the outer wing panels. I still have to decide « with or without wing tip ». This is my first airplane and I enjoy very much this big endeavor. I might be able to fly it by 2004, « Si Dieu le veux »."
Lawrence Ward	December 1, 2001	Alberta, Canada	"It has been a very enjoyable and educational project. This is my first so there is often a lot more head-scratching before drilling or cutting. I am now skinning the center section wings and making progress slowly but surely. I got a good deal on a 1/2 VW engine that another builder had done. It still needs a carb, mag, and mounting points done before it can be test run. I figured that even if it doesn't work it will be a good reference for building my own." Lawrence Ward - Alberta, Canada.
Dan Wilkes	September 30, 2005	Vicksburg, Ms	"I ordered my plans today!!!!! Its a start. Ever since I saw Mickey Whittenburg's "Baby Airacobra" tri-gear bird, I knew that I would build a Hummel. I thank the staff for the support that I have already recieved, and I will post my progress as I go."
Jerry Williams	June 2001	Oak Harbor, WA	"As of now, mid July 2002, I am getting ready to rivet the a-c skins. I am in the Navy and went on a 7 1/2 month deployment since I started, so I work on it when I can. The plans are very straight forward (most parts are drawn full-size) and there is an excellent support group on Yahoo groups. The fuselage starts taking shape really fast which is very motivating! It is an excellent design for the first time builder being both efficient, easy to build, and low cost. You can even manage to afford and build one before retirement - I am 29 mortgage, wife, and 2 kids. I have about $2500 in it right now and have all items to build the airframe including an engine, although not ready to power an aircraft. If you have a dream, realize it and set your priorities. You only live once! Happy building!"
Skeet Wyman	October 30, 1999		I took a complete year off to build a workshop and a month to build an 8' brake and 3 months to work on a T-18 I bought and ... well you get the point. I do feel that if one could stay steady on the bird for a devoted hobby you could easily build one in a year. The most important thing to remember though is this "The amount of time to build a Hummel Bird is DIRECTLY proportional to how stock you build it."

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