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OWNER/BUILDER: Mike Cunningham
REGISTRATION:
16 November 1998
Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know Hatz # 710 construction has officially
begun in Garland TX.
Wingtip etc. jigs were built while waiting for the Spruce kit which will arrive today.
Ply arrived last Fri, nose ribs and about half the gussets were cut this weekend!
Oh Boy- it's a reality!!! (Now how the hell am I gonna learn to weld?:-) )
The forum is a great idea! I have been on the Pietenpol forum since the early days
of thinking of building one. It has been very educational and I am sure the Hatz forum
will be a great success too!
Thanks for the continuing work on the website.
20 November 1998
Wow, my own builders website! That will be great. I will start taking more pictures as I
go along. I hope those Piet guys don't read that post, although I went pretty easy on
them since that is a public forum. (I was gonna mention how the whole front seat issue
is pointless anyway since the thing won't lift me and a can of pop on a summer day :-) )
Spruce arrives today, I'm off until the monday after the holiday. Major hatz construction
will take place in the next 10 days!!!
25 January 1999
Thought I would drop a short note to update the progress report on # 710 here in Texas.
I have completed 21 ribs at this point and I expect to complete the remaining 19
within 4-5 weeks. As a means of self motivation I'll make a wild guess and say "wings
ready to cover by the Fourth of July!!" We shall see!
23 June, 1999
Wow!!! What A great time I had in Bartlesville!! I sure enjoyed meeting all the Hatz
Nutz and learned so much in so little time. My ride in Billy's Hatz was the biggest
thrill of the trip.
Progress on # 710 continues with ribs completed and spar fittings nearly done. Bought a
gas welding set up this past weekend and got in a little practice.... very encouraging!
I can see that learning to weld may not be as difficult as I expected, not big magic,
just practice, practice (I am sure I will be welding everything in sight over the next
few weeks).
Also built the plywood scarfing set up for my table saw as described in one of
Tony B's books. This works very well and was well worth the effort. Ready to scarf away!
The Red and Silver Waco you put in gallery 6 is an "RNF". This was my favorite at
Bartlesville. Seeing this bird really changed my ideas on what my Hatz will look like.
Next update when the first wing is built... till then... Hatz on!
9 November, 1999
Progress on #710 continues at a slow but steady pace here in North Texas.
I was very lucky to find a 1937 South Bend 9 by xx(?) lathe along with quite a bit
of tooling for a very reasonable price. It has been a great addition to my arsenal.
I just finished making up the drag/anti drag wires and am now working on the rod end
fittings (in place of the AN665's). I was also able to use the lathe as a very quick
and accurate tubing cutter for the compression tubes! At this point I need to improve
my welding enough (almost there) to do the compression tubes, or have someone weld
them for me. I will then be about ready to start assembling the wings.
Best to all and "Hatz on!!!",
6 January, 2002
Hello Thayer,
Thanks for taking over the job on the website!
I would like to put my lathe to more use by offering Hatz builders a "complete set of
lugs and bushings for wing assembly".
Work on 710 proceeds at a slow but steady pace here in TX with top wings built and the
bottom-left under construction. All else yet to be done. A Lyc. O-290 is resting in the
shop awaiting it's day to fly. I have a couple of jpg's of my wings.
Looking forward to Biplane Expo this year!
Mike Cunningham
Garland, TX.
Best to all and "Hatz on!!!"
Click on thumbnail pictures to see full size
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