Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/08/22

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: From the Cigar Box- Al Williams' Gulf Hawk as Seenin 1972
From: jhnichols at bellsouth.net (Jim Nichols)
Date: Wed Aug 22 19:44:33 2007
References: <004901c7e4e3$13c2c870$6101a8c0@jimnichols> <46CCE4CD.5040904@san.rr.com>

Jerry,

>From what searches I have done today, I believe that Hawk N982V had at 
>least 
3 different engine installations. The original was an American-built English 
Bristol Jupiter 9-cylinder radial of 550hp.  After a crash, Al Williams had 
it rebuilt with a Wright Cyclone 700hp. It went through a number of hands, 
including Paul Mantz, before finally being turned over to the Smithsonian.

Apparently somewhere along the way, parts were removed for other purposes. 
When it was finally rebuilt, the engine and prop came from an AT-6, the 
600hp P&W with the Ham-Std prop.

I now find that I encountered it on loan to a museum in Mullen, S.C.  I 
found another photo of the plane in the same configuration at the Western 
Aerospace Museum in Oakland, Calif. in 1996.  It is now somewhere in the 
Smithsonian system.

Thanks for the sharp eye.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Lehrer" <glehrer@san.rr.com>
To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] IMG: From the Cigar Box- Al Williams' Gulf Hawk as 
Seenin 1972


> Jim,
>
> I can almost guarantee that the Hamilton-Standard prop shown on the plane 
> is not the original style.
>
> BTW, that venturi must have provided quite a suction in the relief "horn"!
>
> Jerry
>
>
> Jim Nichols wrote:
>> On a 1972 summer vacation trip with the kids, probably in Daytona, I came 
>> across a collection that included Al Williams' original 1929 Curtiss 
>> Wright Gulf Hawk, Serial No. 1, powered by a 650hp Pratt & Whitney 
>> radial.  It was complete with all conveniences, which included a relief 
>> tube venturi beneath the cockpit.
>>
>> In searching to find more info on this airplane, I can no longer locate 
>> the place that I visited, and it is probably gone.  I believe that the 
>> airplane is now in a collection at Dulles.
>>
>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Cigar+Box/Gulf+Hawk+1972.jpg.html
>>
>> Comments and critiques welcomed.
>>
>> Jim Nichols
>> Tullahoma, TN USA
>>
>> __
>
>
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> Leica Users Group.
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> 



In reply to: Message from jhnichols at bellsouth.net (Jim Nichols) ([Leica] IMG: From the Cigar Box- Al Williams' Gulf Hawk as Seen in 1972)
Message from glehrer at san.rr.com (Jerry Lehrer) ([Leica] IMG: From the Cigar Box- Al Williams' Gulf Hawk as Seen in 1972)