Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/101874
H o m e b uil d e r 's C or n e r Lucky 13 Airplane anniversaries in 2013 By Chad Jensen As does every year, 2013 has some notable airplane anniversaries to celebrate. I keep track of the yearly anniversaries on a spreadsheet that was started before I arrived on staff at EAA, and while it's not comprehensive, it does show the more popular designs that we've all come to know and love. Here are 13 designs to celebrate throughout this year; we will be making special mention of several of these at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this summer. The youngest on this list is Van's RV-9/9A. Fifteen years ago, Van's Aircraft introduced one of its most versatile designs ever, and it continues to be one of its most popular. The nonaerobatic crosscountry cruiser is an all-metal kit and is well suited to today's builder. Designed for economy cruising, engines up to 160 hp are approved, and the RV flying qualities are oh-so present. At 20 years old this year, the Seawind is one of the most unusual homebuilt kits out there. Purpose-built for water flying, but with speed in its back pocket (there is one Seawind that races in the AirVenture Cup race every year), the Seawind is quite a machine with great looks to boot! Most are powered with 300-hp-plus engines, and that means getting off the water and to your destination quickly. These airplanes are all fiberglass in construction with retractable landing gear and large, four-place cabins. The Lancair 320/360 series airplanes came on the scene 25 years ago with one goal: Be the fastest in the 160/180-hp class. Fast glass is the name of the game here, with smooth, swoopy lines and all-fiberglass construction. A bubble canopy surrounds the pilot, providing great visibility, and a reclined seating position offers comfortable cross-country cruising. Looking back to their 1973 roots, we have the Sonerai II and the Hiperbipe celebrating 40th anniversaries. The Sonerai II is a fast VW-powered tandem two-seater, while the Hiperbipe is a fast, fully aerobatic, side-by-side, two-seat cabin biplane. The year 1968 saw the arrival of three designs that will celebrate 45 years in 2013: the BD-4, the Volksplane VP-1, and the Hatz CB-1. These three airplanes couldn't be further apart as far as construction is concerned. The BD-4 is an all-metal design, the VP-1 is all wood, and the Hatz biplane features tube-and-fabric construction. Looking further back, the Thorp T-18 will celebrate its golden anniversary this year. The all-metal, low-wing, tailwheel airplane can use powerplants from 125 hp to 180 hp. The design is fast and offers economical cruising and very economical construction. An anniversary that coincides with EAA's 60th anniversary is that of the Wittman Tailwind. This high-wing speedster is of tube-and-fabric construction with wood wings. The two-place, side-by-side airplane can be powered by engines ranging from 90 hp to 180 hp, and all of them fulfill the need for speed, just like Steve Wittman wanted. At the age of 80, the Pietenpol Sky Scout and Knight Twister share all-wood construction. But the Knight Twister is a biplane, and the Sky Scout has a parasol wing. The differences don't end there; the Sky Scout was designed around using a Ford Model T engine, and it is still being built today with that engine. But both airplanes are single-seaters. The oldest airplane on this noncomprehensive list of anniversaries is the granddaddy of homebuilts—the Pietenpol Air Camper at 85 years old. First flown in 1928 with a Ford Model A engine, to this day it continues to be one of the most popular plans-built airplanes available. The Brodhead Pietenpol Association even holds its own fly-in at Brodhead, Wisconsin, the week before AirVenture every year. So while this is a list of anniversaries, the variety of airplanes available today to build is the bigger picture. From wood plans-built parasols with converted automotive engines to kit airplanes that are so advanced that new certificated airplanes look ratty by comparison, find something to build and enjoy every minute of it! On the cover: Andy Werbeck fies his AirVenture 2012 grand champion kit-built Lancair Legacy. (Photo by Chris Luvara) 2 Vol.2 N o.1 / January 2013