AEHS Newsletter 2019 #4
Compiled by Tom Fey and Tony Ward
Published 8 Dec 2019

AEHS Ford 2020

It's been over a year since our 15th and final annual AEHS Convention, so time to try something new. I am going to spend two days in Dearborn, Michigan visiting the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and the Automotive Hall of Fame. Tentative dates for these visits are Tuesday October 6 and Wednesday October 7, 2020. I am in the process of looking into reasonably priced hotels and decent restaurants in the area.

Unlike previous AEHS Conventions, there will be no agenda, (likely) no presentations, no museum group entry passes, no formal schedule, and no requirement for engine-based venues. It will be one or more AEHS members, or anyone else for that matter, making their own way to Detroit, making their own lodging arrangement, paying their own dining costs and museum entry fees. My hope is that others will join me, see the sights, trade stories, rejuvenate friendships, and have some fun entirely of our own making.

There is a private Mini-Gigs Forum on the AEHS web site where AEHS members can connect with other members who may have an interest in attending what we'll call the AEHS Ford 2020. Communication will be via this secure Mini-Gigs Forum to avoid disclosure of privileged information to non-members. I will post information and updates as I acquire it regarding hotels and other information, and I encourage people to join the discussion, maybe save the dates.

Tom Fey

AEHS member, Convention speaker, and maiden pilot Kip Lankenau (Kip Aero, Kip Motors) with AEHS member, Convention presenter, and engine re-creationist Tony Wytenburg (Classic Aero Machining Service, Ltd.), have successfully built and flown their full scale Sopwith 1½ Strutter, powered by a newly-build Gnome rotary engine.

Flight 1

Flight 2

An amazing piece of 1945 color film showing the Republic XP-47H with the V-16 Chrysler XI-2220 engine is now on You Tube. AEHS member Paul Wise brought this film to light, and it was published with the permission of Carl Breer II, the grandson of the photographer and Director of Chrysler Engineering Research at the time, Carl Breer (1883-1970).

AEHS member Clen Tomlinson is a remarkable machinist who showed his handiwork at AEHS Convention #2 in 2005. For those that haven’t seen his Napier Deltic and initial work on the Napier Sabre, it is worth revisiting.

For those that may not follow Canadian vintage jet engine rebuilder AgentJayZ, here is a video on the operation and rebuilding of a GE J79 afterburner ignition system. It is way more interesting than you might expect.

Jay Leno has an amazing collection of cars and motorcycles, and some of the cars have large displacement aero engines tucked under their hoods and bonnets.

I’ve been married for 38 years. This video makes a lot of sense to me.