Disassembling the Bowman wings

Stearman wings are constructed with wooden spars, wooden ribs, steel fittings, aluminum brackets, push rod tubes, bell cranks and drag/anti-drag wires for bracing.

These wings were all badly damaged and not able to be reused as is.  Since they took up a lot of space in the garage, I decided to strip them down, remove the hardware and discard the fabric and wood components.

There are a lot of damaged pieces, but I should have what I need to build up new wings using the undamaged parts and the spare parts I have in my inventory.

Process for rebuilding the wings and center section:

• Sort hardware and build up kits for each wing and center section
• Bead blast all hardware
• Prime aluminum components
• Cad plate and prime steel components
• Purchase spars and rib kits for the wings and center section
• Rebuild the damaged ailerons
• Build up wings
• Varnish assembled wooden spars and ribs
• Cover with fabric
• Paint
• Add roundels and other decorations.
• etc.

Four wings ready for disassembly

Broken Rib - Aileron bell crank and push rods

Snapped aileron push rod

Reusable hardware

Broken spar and damaged aileron

Another broken spar and snapped bracket

Fabric removed

Handle construction details

Most hardware removed

More damage

Lots of mouse nests...