Simpkin's flying plans soar
By Steve Wilkowske
Staff Writer
at would you think of when asked
ualize a vehicle that could travel at
iph and still get 23 miles-per-gallon?
spBamlined Jaguar with a super modi-
nodel airplane engine? Or maybe a
charged nitro-methane burning Honda
while some of the drug-oriented cul-
would envision a bicycle, a Colorado
shaft and a bottle of nitrous oxide to
jdelany chance of fear or pain at the
¡rrfflf the aforementioned mine shaft,
ive [Simpkins, of the Adult Learning
rt^nt, decided that his answer to such
astion would be a home built airplane,
he just happens to have a little jewel
will soon have these capabilities.
he plane is a metal and fiberglass Thorpe
I, which has been entirely built by hand
the invaluable aid of a two foot high
< of plans. Power is provided by a sur-
four cylinder "pancake" design engine
started life running somebody's elec-
il generator.
¡impkins rescued the old engine and re-
¡rnated it into a higher form of life.
Xlthpugh the plane uses many parts from
Corvairs, Simpkins apparently feels that
plane will be safe at any speed, as he
ily believes that "there are old fliers,
i there are bold fliers, but there are very
Dave Simpkins, Clackamas Community College GED instructor, shows off his
' old, bold fliers."
home-built airplane which he began construction on in 1966. Simpkins plans
"I just don't go for that macho stuff any
to fly to various parts of the United States when the plane is finished.
re,lsaid Simpkins.
Although the little craft has a wingspan of
aerlwenty feet and a net weight of 1200
it will still carry two people side-by-side
,th a semblance of comfort in its three
last week to traffic violators. They were
Failure to yield the right-of-way caused
pt vyide cockpit; just right for getting to
mainly for parking in the handicapped area
a two-car smash-up near Orchard Center on
ow a girl on that first date (although it
Monday, said Stan Johnson, head of Cam [and in the visitors section of the Community
ight be inadvisable to try the running out
Center parking lot.
pus Security."A woman driving a Gremlin
gas routine).
"There's not a parking space problem,"
out of the Orchard parking lot failed to see
Bydoing all the work himself, Simpkins
said Stan Johnson, "there's a distribution
a woman in a Volkswagon driving down
is held costs to a minimum. The total
problem. Everyone wants to park in the
Douglas Way, pulled out, and hit the Volks
vestment will be about three thousand
Community Center lot."
wagon in the right side."
jllars with $150 original cost on the en-
There were two reports of womens' wal
There were no physical injuries. However,
ne,’nd $700 for the radio. Almost all of
lets being stolen from their purses last week.
the Volkswagon's whole right side was
iis money has been spent on the parts of smashed. The right front fender and head
The money was taken and then the wallets
le plane that are in front of the pilot. If light of the Gremlin were damaged.
were abandoned or turned into the lost and
crash is unavoidable, it would perhaps be
There were 23 tickets given out in the
found.
ivisable to hit tail first.
Having neither women or alcohol for
ces, Simpkins feels that building an air-
ane is, for him, a justifiable hobby.
After all these years of work, all that is
ft is to finish work on the flaps and the
gine cowl. As soon as the weather gets
irm enough to make the fiberglass cowl,
e plane wi’l be completed.
Simpkins hopes to fly his plane by the
ppf this summer, but if he doesn't have
finished he really won't be upset. "It's
< plane so I can take as long as I want
ifinish it." said Simpkins.
When the plane is completed he plans to
on a vacation that will take him to a
They’re called Levi's for
'■in' in Wisconsin where he intends to
Men. But they’re for
tv six times to the control tower, and
anyone with muscles.
nd three days kicking airplane tires,
Ora bigger frame. Great
m there he will go to the Bahamas, via
styles, in great fabrics.
Bermuda Triangle.
But now more comfort
Accident, tickets reported
Levi’s for big guys.
able. Sizes 34 to 42.
L-------------------------------------------------------
i
FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
HAIRCUT
YOU GET TWO
J
WITH THIS COUPON AT THE
j
PLUSH BRUSH
I
[
17840 S.E. McLoughlin Blvd.
Milwaukie 97222
prices effected Nov. 1 |
________________________________ J
amas Community College
| I
| I
I
I
LLOYD CENTER
<o
Q
5
F-
£
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