Solar Stratos – Aircraft of the Month

January 19, 2025 / Spencer Gould

The Solar Stratos is record breaking test aircraft that uses solar power aimed to reach up to 82,000′ with a Propeller. This is U2 / SR-71 Altitude territory. The first flight was in 2017 and the is from Switzerland.

Yanko Design has a detailed article on the aircraft: https://www.yankodesign.com/2018/07/07/stratospheric-flight-without-a-drop-of-fuel/

The website for the aircraft is: https://www.solarstratos.com/en/

This aircraft could lead to new developments and a “tech refresh” in Solar powered UAV’s that could serve as an alternate to satellites.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarstratos/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolarStratos

I could find no RC, Books or Merch for the aircraft however the rctestflight channel has a 16 video series on solar powered RC aircraft.

Cessna Skymaster – Aircraft of the Month

December 21, 2024 / Spencer Gould

In keeping with the aircraft of the month being of unique aircraft that are not totally common this entry is from one of the most common GA manufactures out there Cessna. The Skymaster series is a unique puller / pusher configuration I’m sure got some inspiration from Dornier and later gave inspiration to the Adam 309.

Production ran from 1963 – 1982 with almost 3,000 built. It benefited with some parts commonality across other Cessna products helping its production duration and quantity. It even served in Vietnam as a forward air control aircraft.

With the aircraft coming from such a large GA manufacture and with such a long production run there is a good amount of items on Amazon for the Skymaster.

ICM 48290 – Plastic Military Plane Cessna O-2A Skymaster, Airplane Model American Reconnaissance Aircraft – Scale 1:48

Cessna O-2A Skymaster Window Bumper Sticker Decal 5″

Cessna 336-337 SKYMASTER Parking Only 8″x12″ Sign Plate

Cessna Skymaster: 336 – 337 – 02 Paperback

O-2A Skymaster Short Sleeve T-Shirt

Outerzone has a few RC plans:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=8180

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=5354

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=4566

Lewis Ascender – Aircraft of the Month

November 30, 2024November 30, 2024 / Spencer Gould

The Lewis Ascender can trace its roots back to the Piper PA-18 Super Cub. & The Wild Double Ender. This aircraft features helicopter like visibility with out the aircraft or operational cost of a helicopter. There is interest in offering the aircraft as a kit but its currently a one off.

Several articles on the aircraft and the people behind it:

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/ascender-aircraft-26682

http://www.bushplanedesign.com/news–updates.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Ascender

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_DoubleEnder

I can find no models, RC models or any related merch at this time.

Dornier Seastar – Aircraft of the month

October 25, 2024 / Spencer Gould

The Seastar comes from a very long linage of flying boat from Germany dating back to 1914.

The aircraft first flew in 1984 and has seating for 12. The controlling int rest in the design has gone through several hands and is currently held by Dornier Seawings.

The tractor / pusher arrangement is a staple of Dornier designs, this one uses PT6 turbo props.

They have a youtube channel for the aircraft at https://www.youtube.com/@dornierseawings4292

Cap 232 – Aircraft of the Month

September 15, 2024September 15, 2024 / Spencer Gould

The Cap 232 was made common to the American air show circuit by acrobatic pilot Mike Goulian.

This aircraft is also very popular with the RC acrobatic aircraft and is featured as one of the aircraft in Real Flight RC flight Sim.

The aircraft was developed from the Cap 21 (all made in France) and is also used by the French Air Force.

Like the Ultimate 300 there is likely way more RC aircraft of the Cap 232 then the real deal, bunch of videos on YT

The Great Planes Cap 232 (now a defunct company) plans are up on Outerzone if you want to build one

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=10827

Acapella 100 – Aircraft of the Month

August 1, 2024August 1, 2024 / Spencer Gould

My Amazon Cloud Photos had photos from this day 8/1 from the Oshkosh 2003 airshow I attended. In the photos was a few detail shots of the Acapella 100 home built aircraft.

Its based of a BD-5 Fuselage but sports a twin boom design and a large O-360 motor

Info is limited on this aircraft however there are a few sites & mentions:

https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/VanTilborg/10103.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bede_BD-5

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1033836

I could find no YouTube videos on the Aircraft.

Last info I can find is its still at the Whitman airport in Wisconsin

A close up of the nicely contoured cowling over the O-360 Motor. Should note the original BD-5 only had a 70 hp engine on average, less than half the power of this one.

OMA SUD Skycar – Aircraft of the Month

July 6, 2024 / Spencer Gould

The OMA SUD Skycar was a unique twin engine pusher with a twin boom & hatchback feature made in Italy in the mid 2000’s

Info is limited on this unique aircraft, some reports noted that it was under powered and from what I can tell only the one prototype exist (reg I-SKY)

Some websites with more coverage

OMA SUD Skycar

https://janes.migavia.com/ita/oma-sud/skycar.html

https://philip.greenspun.com/flying/oma-sud-skycar

I was not able to find any RC options, books or models of the skycar.

Europa – Aircraft of the Month

June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 / Spencer Gould

This aircraft of the month is the Europa a low wing all composite EA-B aircraft that has been around for a few decades now and is offered in a few different versions.

Likely the most interesting is the mono-wheel version that flys reportedly like a normal tail dragger aircraft.

Main company web site: https://www.europa-aircraft.co.uk/

EAA listing: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/kits-and-plans/d—g/europa

There was even a certified version called the Liberty XL-2 built in Florida but operations ended

The discovery channel aired a series of a Europa being built in the UK by Mark Evans in 2002

The likely re-recorded 22 year old video quality is not quite the best but it’s interesting to watch.

If your really interested a DVD is available on Amazon that may offer higher video quality.

Beyond this there is plenty of newer YouTube videos of the Europa flying.

For those looking for a RC version, outerzone has you covered with a 50″ span version from 1997.

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=7830

Aeroprakt A-20 Vista – Aircraft of the Month

May 4, 2024 / Spencer Gould

The Aeroprakt A-20 Vista was designed in Ukraine in 1991 with around 70 produced. Power options range from Rotax 500’s – 900’s. The aircraft was first introduced to the US market at Airventure 1999.

Configuration is very similar to one of my favorite High wing pusher aircraft the J-1B Don Quixote

The A-20 was also developed into the A-26 Vulcan a twin engine version similar to an Air Cam. Additional content on the A-26 is limited.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroprakt_A-20_Vista

https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/kits-and-plans/00—c/a-26-vulcan-and-a-20-vista

Not sure on the active state of the company considering the war but it looks like the A-20 & A-26 have been discontinued with newer models in their lineup. Web Site is http://aeroprakt.kiev.ua/

The A-20 has a good amount of YouTube videos, here are a few:

I was not able to find any RC options for this aircraft but with modern Cad software and a 3D printer it looks like it could be a fairly easy job to make a scale version.