Aircraft of the Month

Bellanca Viking – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Bellanca Viking was developed in the late 1960’s and with 1,356 aircraft produced they can still be seen at some airports and there are usually a few at the major air shows. It’s DNA can be trased back to the Cruisair that first flew in the late 1930’s. Production run was 1968 – 1975

I found this great exposed view on the https://aerospaceblog.wordpress.com web site. Much thanks to there information for putting this article together.

While its contemporaries at the time from Piper, Cessna and Beechcraft where all Aluminum, the Viking featured a welded steel tube fuselage, wood wings and fabric covering. Unfortunately wood wings require TLC storage or long term environment to last compared to all Aluminum aircraft that are still flying 6 decades later and are still in production.

Viking’s do come up for sale on the various aviation used aircraft web sites. If you have serious interest in one I highly recommend a prebuy with an A&P with wooden aircraft experience.

Likely because of its lower production numbers & a mid 70’s end of production it seems to have a style that is lost in the see it every day PA-28’s & 172’s.

I found a great historical article on the Viking on the same aerospace blog above beyond the coverage of a wiki page: https://aerospaceblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/bellanca-story-viking-17-30/ Its well worth the visit.

Power options looked to always be 500+ cubic inch variants of Continental and Lycoming’s

Ownership of Bellanca has changed hands a few times and has had its share of up and downs but it looks like it still functions today:

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

https://bellancaaircraft.com/

There are a good amount of YouTube videos on the Viking:

The Popular Microsoft Flight sim has a very detailed Viking from Lionheart Creations:

Dedicated web page for the Lionheart Creations Viking: https://lionheartsimulations.com/super_viking.html

The Lionheart Creations Viking 58 page POH pdf for the MS flight sim can be found on: https://downloads.justflight.com/support/manuals/SV_300_Super_Viking_POH.pdf PDF looks like it could offer good pointers on flying the actual thing as it has a very accurate 3D interior with functioning buttons and controls.

Amazon has a few offerings:

Bellanca Viking Service Maintenance Library 17-30a 17-31a 17-31atc

Bellanca Super Viking (Yellow) Custom HD Airplane Parking Sign

Bellanca Turbo Viking (Red/Blue) Airplane Ceramic Mug – Personalized w/N#

Bellanca Super Viking Airplane Custom Throw Pillow Case Stuffed & Sewn

Bellanca Turbo Viking (Brown/Green) T-Shirt – Personalized w/Your N#

I was quite surprised I was not able to find any RC plans on Outerzone for the Viking

With the 3 views below and some additional research it would be quite feasible to get this into CAD for a Scale RC model

Grab Cad does have a 3 View: https://grabcad.com/library/bellanca-super-viking-1

This scan in of an original Viking drawing thanks to the aerospaceblog site listed above.

#AD / #AM

Aura Aero Integral R – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Integral R is a recent 2 seat acrobatic training aircraft from France. It’s powered by a Lycoming AEIO-390. I think its a fairly sharp looking acrobatic aircraft for a side by side configuration and it reminds me of a CAP 232 also from France. The Integral R is available in a tail draggier and nose wheel config.

Company Web site: https://aura-aero.com/en/integral/integral-r/

AVweb coverage: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/french-aerobatic-market-entry-has-a-rich-pedigree/

Certification Article: https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/aura-aero-achieves-certification-of-integral-r-aircraft.html

The aircraft is currently EASA certificated with FAA cert efforts in progress.

With the Integral R being a recently developed production aircraft there is a good amount of YouTube content available.

I was not able to find any Merch or RC options for the Integral R at this time.

Horizon Hobby would be a prime candidate to offer a Foam and Electric scale RC version of the aircraft likely in a popular 1.5M wing span size.

Wilson Global Explorer – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

This aircraft of the month is the Global Explorer, designed by Dean Wilson for Hubert de Chevigny. Dean was the “grandfather of Idaho bush planes” founding Avid aircraft in the early 1980’s. While Piper Cub configuration aircraft dominate most bush aircraft Avid feature side by side seating with folding wings. The front and back wing spars are aluminum tubes and have wood ribs. They also feature full flying flaperons and highly under cambered airfoils. Avid paved the way for aircraft like the Kitfox, Highlander & Rans. My Dream homebuilt aircraft growing up is the Avid Magnum (9/22 aircraft of the month) a larger o-360 powered version of the flyer series.

While I remember reading about the Global Explorer when it came out and was flying to remote destinations in the 1990’s High quality photos & info in 2025 is a hard find. I would like to give credit to much of this info to Natural Serenity’s Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122220216806071365&id=61552140967525&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=RTugGMqzoH01zmai and Aircraft Adventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aircraftadventures/p/CPLfz5cBxPv/?img_index=1.

As post in Facebook and Instagram can get lost quickly or even deleted thought I would pay tribute to Dean Wilson with this article.

Here is a copy of the text from the Facebook article above:

“Wouldn’t it be great to have a flying RV? Meet the Wilson Global Explorer. Possibly the largest homebuilt aircraft ever built, this monstrous machine was developed in the early 90s by Dean Wilson, prolific designer of the Avid Flyer line of homebuilts. The aircraft was built to order for french explorer Hubert de Chevigny, and designed as a “flying lab”, allowing the frenchman to explore remote regions days at a time. (like Jacques Cousteau)⁣

⁣With a gross weight of 8,000 lb, it was powered by 2 Lycomings (250hp and later upgraded to 300hp). Considering its huge wing area, it was more akin to a powered glider than aircraft, with a cruise speed of 95 kts. Perfect for exploring down low and slow. The cavernous fuselage could comfortably accommodate a small family, and even had enough room to fit an Avid Flyer or Robinson R-22 inside. A glass window built in the rear of the fuselage floor allowed you to watch the fishies..just like a glass-bottom boat!

Surprisingly, given its mission, there are not many pictures to be found, in fact some of the cabin interior shots are screenshots from a video. ⁣

⁣Explorer 1 crashed in France, as the pilot attempted to takeoff unaware the spoilers were deployed. “Explorer 2” was promptly built, where it resumed exploration flights in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego and Bolivia. It was then sold, and also crashed during a ferry flight. Last known location is somewhere in SW France – not sure if there’s plans to resurrect the Explorer. ⁣”

As you can see the global explorer is one huge homebuilt aircraft, the sea plane configuration and twin engines allow this aircraft true global reach.

The interior space of the aircraft is comparable to an RV, fuselage like its Avid predecessors is all small diameter welded 4130N chromoly tubing.

I’m surprised Jimmy Buffet or Kermit Weeks did not have one commissioned for their own use.

Was only able to find 2 videos on YouTube of the aircraft:

Additional Articles about the Global Explorer:

https://www.theautopian.com/this-giant-plane-was-a-ridiculous-flying-motorhome-that-carried-a-helicopter-and-had-a-fireplace/

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

Dean Wilson Articles:

Dean Wilson, Founder of Eagle DW-1, Selected for National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame

https://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/threads/dean-wilson-aircraft-designer.16225/

Additional info on the Global Explorer is very limited, there are some wood models on ebay (proceed with caution). With a good 3 view an RC scale model would not be too difficult to do.

Giles G-200 & G202 – Aircraft of the Month

/ Spencer Gould

The Giles 200 series aircraft was a popular Acrobatic aircraft developed in the early 90’s in Scappoose Oregon by AkroTech Aviation Inc. Like the Ultimate Biplane its likely more famous as an RC aircraft than the original. Only 12 single seat G-200’s & 26 tandem seat G-202’s where produced so seeing one at a show may be a rare sight.

I remember seeing all kinds of scales of Giles G-202’s quite often at the Jefco Aeromod lers RC filed in at Chat field resistor south of Denver.

Compared to its contemporaries like the Extra 300 or the Cap 232, the Giles series featured a swept back leading edge and a straight trailing edge. A plan form that is quite common on RC pattern Aircraft.

For EAA Members there are quite a few sport aviation articles you can look up in the archives online

Here is the EAA listing for the aircraft: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/aircraft-building/kits-and-plans/d—g/giles-g-200-and-g-202

Here are some YouTube videos of the Giles in action:

And a bunch of RC Giles videos;

Surprisingly I was not able to find any plans on outerzone for it but there are some kits available online:

https://www.aircraftinternational.com/Products/Aircraft/43GilesG202.aspx

(#206) Giles G-202 (87”) Plan Set

https://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38054&page=3

Solar Stratos – Aircraft of the Month

/ 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

/ 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

/ 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

/ 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

/ 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

/ 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.