[NSRCA-discussion] new biplane the TUCAN
Martin X. Moleski, SJ
moleski at canisius.edu
Wed Apr 11 04:20:32 AKDT 2007
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
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