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Being a cargo pilot I spend a lot of time in company layover apartments.  All there is to do is sleep and read (no cable TV).  One day I was looking through a flying magazine and saw an ad with a little kid sitting in a P-51 pedal Mustang.    I immediately thought "The Boy" needs one of those!  Well I carried the ad around in my wallet for about 6 months, and finally ordered the plans from Aviation Products, Inc. in June, 2002.  The plans were delivered soon after. With Christmas only 4 months away I am finally getting started.  

this is the ad, I think it was in Flying magazine.

My brother Fred is building one for his son Ethan at the same time.

The Aviation Products pedal planes are not sold as "kits".  The plans they sell come with instructions and information for constructing all parts, both metal and wood.  With the plans also comes order sheets for hardware and parts "kits ".  These kits (4 of them) include the metal parts that must be fabricated, or modified.  A great help for those of us who do not have access to a welder or other metal working tools. One of the kits is a decal set. I mailed off for all of the kits on Aug 23 ("please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery").

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I have started building<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

August 27 - The first step, according to the instruction packet, is to cut the plans into pieces to use as cutting patterns.  I decided to trace the pieces onto butcher paper, then cut those out to use for patterns.

September 3 - Well the order forms stated 6-8 weeks for delivery.  Three kits arrived today, the 2 hardware and the decal set.  The only one I have yet to receive is the sheet metal kit.

September 6 - My brother bought the plywood today.  The plan was to start layout and cutting tonight, but I got home from work late.

September 25 - Fred and I were able to get the layout done on the 7th, and I took my parts home and was able to get everything cut out on the 7th and 8th. The job schedule did not allow much weeknight progress, so on the 14/15th I was able to get the fuselage sides bent and the doublers glued on.  On the 16th I got home from the job early, and was able to get the rudder and elevator glued together, and the nose plate glued together and fit.  On the 21st I was managed to get the fuselage/rudder elevator assembly/nose plate/backrest/and some of the forward fuselage formers dry fit and ready to glue.  Then today I got it all glued together.

The left side bent and doublers installed.

Dry fit the tail section to the fuselage.   

                              The Boy is happy to sit in wet glue.

Last modified: January 10, 2003