Oscar Zuniga's Aviation Homepage

and the Official

M-19 "Flying Squirrel" Info Site


Documenting the construction of my homebuilt aircraft... and providing the aviation world with information on the amazing Barnard M-19 homebuilt aircraft.


PLANS/MANUAL AVAILABILITY UPDATE: Thanks to the encouragement and support received from builder John Bouyea, who is making amazing progress on his Squirrel both during the time of the COVID-19 and after, it looks like I may be able to begin publishing and selling Flying Squirrel manuals and plans this year. John is a fountain of constructive ideas and is helping me put together supplemental materials to go with the plans, including hints, plan corrections, and photos that might assist builders in visualizing various stages in the construction. Thanks, John! So stay tuned and I'll try to post updates. I do have an "Updates" page for additions and updates (And other stuff I haven't had a chance to put on the correct page yet). As of Valentine's Day 2023, the latest update is the change of registration number on my M-19 to that of the prototype, N7238B. I know... it sounds strange, but read the update for an explanation.


Marvin Barnard, piloting the prototype M-19, the original N7238B.

Here's another inflight photo of Marvin's plane

Image 12/20/04, received from Justin Drake. Justin is Marvin's buddy who was carrying on the distribution of plans/manual since Marvin's death. He also had the prototype Flying Squirrel and repainted it as you see it in this photo, with WWII "invasion stripes". The prototype was returned to the Barnard family in 2012, was stored, and did not fly or move from storage for 18 years. However, it has now (October 2021; image below) been recovered from storage and moved to my hangar in Oregon where it is undergoing a condition evaluation with the intent of using it as a static display and full-size template for my and John Bouyea's builds. Here’s the airplane as it looked when Bou and I were able to temporarily reassemble its main parts and get some photos.

The image below is from September 2021, Bou with the prototype Flying Squirrel on a purpose-modified transport trailer at a rest stop along the Columbia River. Over 5000 road miles were traveled by this road warrior to get out to Norman, Indiana and back to Oregon with the airplane.


Here's how my Squirrel looked after arrival at my new hangar in Medford, Oregon. It is still in the shrink-wrapping from the 2100 mile trailer ride from Texas. My Pietenpol had a more comfortable ride, in the back of a 26 foot Penske van. You can see more about the 2002 move of my Squirrel down to Texas here...


This was my Squirrel's home for a time, the EAA 35 hangar at San Geronimo Airpark near San Antonio, Texas. It was a nice workspace with plenty of tools and accessories, plus there were other builders to help with an extra hand and to offer support and encouragement.

Here's my instrument panel (unpainted and still showing a bit of etch from the waterjet cutting in this photo), with instruments temporarily mounted to see how things will fit. Starting to look like a machine of some sort, eh? Space in the center of the panel is for the Icom handheld COMM and Garmin GPSMap 196. My entire electrical system consists of the ignition toggle switch for the single magneto (left) and a fuse for the magneto-driven tachometer (right).


Here's my construction philosophy. I originally intended to construct a modified KR-2S, but it would have required at least 2000 hrs. of construction time and considerable shop space to do it right. I then decided to construct a simpler project in order to learn and develop the skills needed for the KR project (wood gluing, foam/fiberglass construction, systems installation, fittings and control surfaces, etc.)... this critter is a Barnard M-19 "Flying Squirrel", and is expected to be the first plans-built M-19 if I ever get it done! Not only has this gotten me started learning the needed skills, but it has whetted my appetite for building. In order to maintain my flying skills while I build, I purchased a complete and flying Pietenpol Air Camper from a fine Louisiana gentleman and I enjoy the open cockpit simplicity of the Piet. For the Flying Squirrel I will be using an 1835cc Volkswagen as converted and developed by Great Plains Aircraft Supply; read on to get more information on the KR, the Corvair engine conversion, or the M-19!

There are mailing lists and facebook groups available on the KR, the Corvair, and the Pietenpol for anyone wanting to get instant assistance on-line. These lists work! You can get more information on the KRNet or the Squirrel Net (on io.groups) by clicking on the links below, or e-mail me directly for more information. Interactive dialog with builders and pilots will help you with tips, answers to questions, information on building or flying your homebuilt, tools and methods, nifty links to other aviation-related sites, or just good old hangar flying. Go for it!

Want more info? Read all about The Barnard M-19 "Flying Squirrel" here!!


Here's the link to go to the io.Groups home page and get info on subscribing to Squirrel Net.

Of great use to builders will be these photos of Marvin Barnard's prototype M-19 . Also included in this link and photo collection is a blog on the refurbishment of the 1835 VW engine on the plane.

A link to John Bouyea's M-19 build site.

Here's a few shots of the start of Emili's stretched/widened M-19 for his special needs.

There's more info and pictures of the JN-1 here... a lightplane/ultralight designed by Jim Peris that provided Marvin with some of the inspiration for the M-19.

Check out Steve Scarbrough's "Moasi" , a metal-skinned derivative of the M-19 and a scrounger's delight.

Want more speed? Go to the KRNet home page and find all you ever wanted to know about the KR series of aircraft, to join KRNet, or find other great links!!

For the very best of the KR sites, you'll want to visit Mark Langford's KR-2S Site

Materials list from Wicks Aircraft Supply

A whole new concept for a homebuilt 100HP powerplant... the Corvair engine!

Paint scheme for N7238B, my M-19, Ser. No. 007.


Follow my construction progress on each part of the construction here:

1835 VW Engine (Updated 12/01)

Cowling construction (Updated 9/09)

Cabin construction I

Cabin construction II (Reorganized 1/13/08)

Cabin construction III (Reorganized 1/13/08)

Belly construction (Reorganized 1/13/08)

Tail/empennage construction (Updated 2000)

Joined fuselage construction (Updated 2001)

Landing gear (Reorganized 1/13/08)

Instrument panel and interior (Updated 10/20/00)

Wing construction (Updated 11/22/00)

Controls (Reorganized 1/13/08)

Plans and schemes for Floats and skis for the M-19

And (eventually) my Taxi test, flight test, and in-flight photo page!!!


In loving memory of my brother...

Bernard "Zed" Zuniga

July 28, 1961 ~ January 29, 2001

...in memory of whom I will make the first flight in N7238B wearing a Hawai'ian shirt!


(This page was updated February 14, 2023; added information on change of registration from N2069Z to N7238B.)

"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." -Proverbs 8:12

copyright 2023 taildrags@hotmail.com