Max and the OX5
May I indulge in an OX5 story? I met Ken Hyde through Max Kreuger, for whom I built Curtiss Fledgeling wings, repaired his Waco 10, and covered much of his Travelair. On two occasions I flew to VA to work for Ken, covering his Jenny wings. On the third trip, I flew with Max on an American Airlines flight on which Ken was actually the pilot! It was the occasion of the National Geographic special to be filmed at Ken's place. Upon arriving at Dulles, we rode with Ken to Warrenton, and Ken was describing the trouble he was having with the Jenny's OX5. He had flown the airplane, and things went well, but he was still not satisfied with the performance of the engine. They discussed it along the way; I was in the back seat, of course. When we got to the house, Ken parked and the two of them made a beeline for the hangar, with me trotting behind them like a puppy dog.
They fired up the motor, and Max moved toward the OX5, putting his hands on the rumbling motor and his ear next to the cowling. He stayed there with his eyes closed for several minutes, apparently communicating with the beast in a language they both understood. Then he turned from his stance and told Ken to shut it down. For the next minute or so he told Ken very specifically to adjust this part 1/8 inch, that part 1/16 inch, I don't remember the details, but it was amazingly precise. Ken made the adjustments and the motor purred perfectly afterwards. Boy, when we lose that generation, the world is so much the poorer. I miss Max.