Thomas Bombardier sent in this 40 year old photo of Paul Bombardier’s J-3, taken sometime in the early 1960s at the original Manassas Airport. “This picture was taken after it got new fabric and paint job,” Thomas notes.
General Aviation News
Because flying is cool
This aircraft was purchased in 1962 by myself and several friends, all A & P’s, from Dudley Watts and Charlie Kulp, (The Flying Farmer). It was previously used for aerial advertising. It was in Restricted category with a PA system and battery mounted in the rear set, and Boom speakers hanging from the wing strut brackets. I don’t know if they ever towed banners. ( 65 HP Engine). We took it down to bare metal and rebuilt it, and covered it in Irish Linen. It was returned to Standard category. The result is as shown. Later we installed a metal propeller and wheel fairings. (Photo available). It was sweet to fly and could be soloed from the front seat which I liked. Oddly enough, it could not spin. Just fell off from a stall. I loved it and put in about 300 hours of fun.
Thanks for posting my pic and I invite my father Paul Bombardier to add a few more comments on the history of this aircraft.