Option Air Reno Acapella

I meant to make this post after Oshkosh but apparently got sidetracked. I stopped by the old Blue barn to visit the Acapella’s wing and found it was missing! I asked around a bit fearing the worst and was told the wing is up in the loft area of the Blue barn and there is no plan for it at this moment. They recommended I contact the museum about possibly obtaining it. We’ll see about that.

Does the museum still do artifact sales? I know there was major backlash years ago when they did a few during Airventure. I wondered if they had stopped entirely or if they simply made it less obvious.

It’s probably obvious from page content the last few years but Acapella has been in storage with next to zero work being done to her. I have been focusing on other projects and unfortunately she hasn’t been very high on the list. I have been keeping an eye out for a good deal on a BD5 kit in my area but nothing promising has come up.

I hope to get back on this project soon but for now I hesitate to make any promises. Sorry to those hoping to follow the build. I wish I had better news!

Wow, time flies.. A year has passed since the last update and not much has changed with Acapella. Unfortunately it will have to remain a back burner project for a while longer. We did make the pilgrimage to Oshkosh once again and spent some time with the disembodied wing within the blue barn. Also found some potential goodies to be incorporated. Hopefully it won’t be another year before I update again but time will tell.

It’s a good news / bad news kind of day... all about paperwork!

I finally got a reply from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Essentially they are unable to provide me with with originals or copies of their records and paperwork on the plane due to liability and have stated that there are no plans, drawings, or even parts of the plane in their collection. 🤨However they did say the plane entered the collection in 1989 and was deaccessioned in 2011. (Fun new word!)

The good news is I also got records from the FAA! From that package I was able to glean the following:

#001 N360CB
OAR/Capella
Registration application: 12-28-78
Deregistered: 10-16-1982
Totally destroyed/scrapped
Lycoming IO-360-A1B

#0002 N455CB
Acapella 100 L
Registration application: 4-18-1982
EAA registration application: 12-15-1988
Donated: 1989
Deaccessioned: 2011
Deregistered: 4-30-15
Lycoming O-235-L2C

Nothing too earth shattering. It does completely confirm two airframes, although I wouldn’t be surprised by some recycling of the first airframe. Note the first aircraft was registered the OAR “Capella”. Never seen that before but it’s definitely on the paperwork multiple times. Finally confirmed the 100-L engine was an O-235 not an O-200. Also Note that EAA deaccessioned it 4 YEARS before it was deregistered 🤔 ...interesting.

Honestly I’m not surprised and I totally understand not being able to help due to liability. That’s just the litigious society we live in. So, I’m pretty disappointed but the hunt will continue. On to the next lead!

I’m always looking for more photos and information on this aircraft. It was on display at Oshkosh for many years so I know there are hundreds of photos out there! I’m especially interested in seeing detail shots of the interior and engine arrangements.