Interesting stuff. I grew up at airports as dad an granddad were air force pilots and dad graduated from Sparta as an A&P (or A&E which ever). Grandad was a B 24 test pilot in his day and was involved in the development of that little "blinker" oxygen indicator the 17's, 24's, and 29's used. (and possibly even others) I've flown in Ercoups with them since I was four years old. Both the originals and the rudder pedal converts. They were well designed for their purpose and have a good record with the mods designed for them and their operations.
I'm well familiar with grand dad talking about Whitman as he was always taking dad to the Cleveland Air Races when he was a kid. (before my time) It was ashame the way Whittman and his wife passed away too with that fabric wing comeing unraveled.
Whitman had a chase plane called a "Butter Cup" that always fascinated me.
It was a 1930's design chase plane that could haul a load to the Cleveland air races. It would likely rival the German Storch STOL. STOL has always been a fascination with my family as here in the dairy land one could operate from the farm and stand flat footed and jump into the air. If I was really serious I'd look at a Maule. (STOL)
Dad wasn't with my enthusiasm for home built aircraft though. He thought the only real aircraft that was safe and sane was built in an aircraft factory where every process was controlled and inspected by certified techs putting it together. Then he was working as a safety agent FI in those days. So when I was in highschool drooling over Rand's KR 2 he kept extoling the virtues of Ercoups. (claiming in the long run it would be less headaches)
The biggest thing he did was make me promise him that if I wasn't going to fly at least once or twice a week year around I'd stay on the ground. No need getting a license to kill yourself, he told me. So, now I'm kinda in limbo. A few years ago I talked to a guy in Charlotte NC who was in the Ercoup club who and traveled in his in his line of work. But now with MS Net Meeting and
such internet options I don't know if I'd even need to travel except to firm up raports with clients.
Some photos:
Whitman's ButterCup had leading edge extendable/retractable (I'm not sure slats is right.....possibly more like overgrown spoilers) that would change the characteristics of the airfoil.
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An image of me as a teen fixin to get yelled at for sittin on the door. (mom wanted to take my picture and thought it was a good idea at the time)
Dad got all bent. But he used to fly this Merlin for a banker he knew.
Now if ya just wanna stick the keys in it and go....get yurself a Maule !
The photo is of B D Maule jumpin it into the air from the hanger floor.
As for me........I'd like to have my own little private grass runway with my hanger next to my house. Perhaps a track of five or so acres inline so I could do everything from home. That was my dream at least when gas was like a buck a gallon. I reasoned that with my road kit ( my laptop, digital
camera, camcorder, scanner etc) and an overnight bag I could travel and produce eCommerce web sites, desktop publishing, and advertisments etc for clients. Who knows, join toastmasters and travel to give speeches too.
But I live on the river here in the Ohio Valley and this year I haven't seen two dozen motor boats on the water where before there were hundreds of them.
I'm betting there's gonna be alot of planes go out of their license/inspection and lose their grandfathers. So, I'm keeping my eyes open.
