[NSRCA-discussion] new biplane the TUCAN

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Doug Cronkhite wrote:

> The Ultimate Biplane was developed in several stages actually.

Yes.

> Initially, Gordon Price wanted better wings for his Pitts, so he 
> designed a full set of wings, with 4 'full span' ailerons, symmetrical 
> airfoil, straight cut wingtips (instead of the round Pitts wings). He 
> did this for many years actually, and offered plans for other Pitts 
> owners to build the wings themselves.

> Then, years later, he designed and built the Ultimate 10-200 (200hp) 
> using these wings.

You skipped the 10-100/180: <http://moleski.net/ULTBIPE/ulthist.htm>.

Gordon lost the 10-100 prototype in a bankruptcy proceeding.  The
engine was sold out of it and the remains sat rotting in a field
for many years.  Someone in Ohio has purchased the airframe and
trucked it away for restoration.

> The Ultimate Biplane that everyone is familiar with was the 10-300, 
> which was really an all new design.

> So in reality, the Ultimate Biplane was a clean sheet airplane, 
> developed out of a desire to move beyond the Pitts.

The wings and canopy were developed as replacement parts for the
Pitts; Gordon also supplied custom "Ultimate Pitts fuselages".
After designing those parts for the Pitts, he incorporated them
into the Ultimate 10-100.  See the sales brochure on the page
above. If you look at the in-flight photos of the 10-100, you
can see its Pitts heritage pretty clearly.

					Marty