This aircraft of the month is the Edgley Optica a Observation aircraft designed to be a low cost alternative to Helicopters. It was developed and manufactured in England in the 70’s. 22 Aircraft where built

The 8 Hour endurance at Loiter speed is impressive. The center mounted Ducted fan is something usually only seen on models.

A dedicated web site for the aircraft can be found at: http://www.optica.co.uk/index2.html

Sketchfab has a online 3D model where you can see many of the details of the aircraft at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/edgley-optica-b9a0cc7a21344aee94d147362edbcda5

And for some YouTube Videos:

MS Flight Sim X has a freeware sim aircraft you can download at:

https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/15773/fsx-edgley-optica/

Outerzone does not currently have any options for the Optica but there is a UK web site where you can buy plans for a 2M wing span version with .60 glow power:

Edgley Optica – Plan

This Aircraft of the Month is brought you by Audible, now is the perfect time to check out all the different books available.

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The Schweizer 2-33 is a very popular training glider, I got to do some glider training on one at the main Glider training base in Boulder Municipal Airport in Colorado in the 90’s. Glider training still goes on at this airport, check out  https://www.milehighgliding.com/ to learn more.

The aircraft was easy to fly and had simple & conventional construction.  Like the contemporary 172’s & PA-28’s peak production was in the 60’s – 70’s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweizer_SGS_2-33

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Schweizer2-33.html

The market’s voting dollars however chose sleek composite sail planes in the early 80’s ending production on the 2-33.

The 2-33 is still a good gliding trainer. Like Acrobatic training ability to grow performance skills, glider training gets conventional pilots more skills in the case of an engine out.

The 2-33 also has the same NACA 63-618 Airfoil as the SP-500 offering Aerodynamic & Structural efficiency

Not too many RC options, none on outerzone yet. If your gun-ho for a RC model Aviation Concepts has a 1/3 scale version with a mammoth 17′ wing span

https://www.aviationconceptsrc.com/1-3-scale-2-33

& a 1/8 scale version

https://www.aerosente.com/a078-schweizer-sgs-233a-18-scale.html

This months aircraft is the ERCO Ercoupe.

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

On my commute to work I listen to a lot of audio books on Audible, the current book I’m on is Sam Walton made in America (the auto biography of the man who started Walmart)

I was surprised to  how much of a role general aviation played in his success in building one of the largest and most profitable companies on the planet. He got his pilots license and the first aircraft he bought for business travel  was a Ercoupe N2278H

He not  only used general aviation as a faster and more efficient commuting method to check in on his stores he also used it as aerial scouting for new sites for stores decades before internet sites like google earth / maps and real estate sites.

Another connection to the Ercoupe is Fred Weick, who deigned this aircraft for ERCO in 1936. Fred later went on to Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach where he went on to be the lead designer in the Cherokee series. I worked at the same plant from 2005 – 2008 on many of his designs.

Ercoupe’s are still a viable & low cost option today for general aviation. Airworthy examples can be found below $20K

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?make=ERCOUPE&s-type=aircraft

https://www.barnstormers.com/listing.php?catid=20352

For the RC community Outerzone has a bunch of options:

https://outerzone.co.uk/search/results.asp?keyword=ercoupe

Many of these are from the 40’s-60′ and original designed for free flight but with today’s modern electric motors and micro servos they could easily become RC aircraft.

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This months aircraft is the Quickie, Q2 & Q200.

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

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

One of my EAA chapter 203 friends & former co-worker Kevin Sheely built one and has been flying it for years. The craftsmanship is immaculate and many of the design features are very unique. You can read more about his aircraft on the chapter 203 web site, formatting of this page you have to scroll about half way down before it starts.

http://eaa203.com/quickie_q200.htm

I’ve also seen a single seat version built and flown buy a very thin man under the age of 20.

Surprisingly the EAA web site does not have a page dedicated to the Quickie?

The original Quickie was designed by Burt Rutan in the 70’s. Gene Sheehan & Tom Jewett created a 2 seat-er based on Rutan’s work. The original company is gone however quick heads has taken up the support for the aircraft.

The aircraft is very compact (like Pitts Special compact) while being very fast and fuel efficient.

http://www.quickheads.com/

You can still buy plans for both the single seat & 2 seat versions on the site at low cost. The kit version had a pre-molded fuselage, with plans its built from templates.  Quickheads also offers CNC cut foam cores and hardware packages.

Now for some videos:

There are some RC options as well for the Quickie.

1982 RCM plan for the single seat-er from outerzone with a 55″ W.S.

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=8746

https://www.airagestore.com/plans/rc-planes/1-4-scale-quickie.html