New Member, Ontario, Canada
 

Greetings
I joined as this looks like an amazing resource for all things metal forming.
I am restoring an original Ryan STA Special, SN 199.
When complete, it will be the only STA ever based and flying in Canada.

I am currently re-skinning the fuselage, and soon to start work fitting the wheel fairings to the gear legs.

Cheers
Pete

Welcome Pete. Does it look like this?
http://www.airbum.com/pireps/STA1.jpg

Is it aluminum fuselage and fabric covered wings and stabilizers? I read a bit about the STA special. sweet. There are a bunch of airplane guys here.

Hi
Its exactly like that.

Mine has an interesting history, the 98th Ryan STA Special produced by the Ryan factory and sold on Halloween (Oct 31, 1937) it was exported directly to La Paz, Bolivia to be evaluated as a light fighter for the Bolivian Air Force. It was fitted with a pair of Browning Machine guns, but proved to be completely unsuitable!
It was the first aircraft to ever overfly the Andes, but was the damaged on landing and sat unloved for over 40 years.
It was brought back to the US by a bible selling DC3 pilot in the 1970s, and subsequently restoration started. A great deal of work was completed, but it required a complete re skinning, and the former owner did not have the space to complete the job so I bought it last year.
I am now restoring it to full flight status. I thought that with the amount of compound fairings required still to be fit, I could really benefit from the members experience here.
Cheers
Pete

lets try a photo
This is the current status of the project

Attachment 39555

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, it looks like a very nice project. I have pictures of the gun pods, that were on your wings.

I own the factory prototype, Ryan ST-3 NX18925 serial #1000 project. My project was the only civilian model of a PT-21/ PT-22. It was used by Ryan as a flight test aircraft for design evluation. I have the compete airplane, minus engine (Kinner), prop and instruments. My plan, once I have my Fairchild 24 going, is to start on the Ryan, I came wait.

Please post pictures of your project.Bill

Cheers

Bill

Welcome to the forum. Pete.

That's quite a machine you're building/rebuilding. Please keep us posted with pics as it progresses.

Hi Pete welcome to the forum
Peter

Thanks very much!
Not much to report on progress the last few weeks, mostly small parts, but I shall post some pics once the fuselage is re skinned.
I am keen to learn from the membership here.
Cheers
Pete

Wow, that's a cool project. I love old piston airplanes!