Phantom

[Jan]

Hi friends,

diggin' thru our Biplane-pics from 2008, I found this:







Is it pretty ? Is it ugly ? Anyway - itīs FAST !
Nearly 252 mph is an impessive number for a biplane.

Congrat Tom Aberle ! Even if the design of Phantom might be more a
result of aerodynamics than of personal taste, you are always looking
good in it !





And itīs interesting, how this racer is transported on the ground:
Taken apart on a custom flatbed trailer.

[First time Juke]

Re: Phantom

Awesome Jan,


That biplane rocks.

Does the tail wheel turn ?


Juke

[Red]

Re: Phantom

An awesome example of form following function! Pretty.....well....no, but ugly? You can't argue with success! Thats the thing I like about bipes and F-1's. People can get creative with the aero stuff without breaking the bank. I like to see that innovation.

[MUSNTCHIT]

Re: Phantom

Beautiful Airplane... Glad to see the open trailer once, displaying their planning and organizational skills... As the Man said..."Never seen an ugly Lady or Airplane, just some are prettier than others"... rb

[AirDOGGe]

Re: Phantom

We may need to bring the "racing biplane" class back. I use to enjoy all the wild designs people came up with in the 80's.

Those propeller blades are noteworthy. I've never seen blade tips like that before.

[Inverted]

Re: Phantom

I would LOOOOOOVE to see the racing biplane class. That plane is awesome looking!

[Leo]

Re: Phantom

Had to be Marilyn Dash.
She is a great cheerleader (not to be sexist) for the sport and quite the character.
The problem with the racing bipes is it was such a small class. Get 4-5 out there and it would definately be something to see!

[AirDOGGe]

Re: Phantom

I've always like the biplanes also. Last year, I took my wife and daughters to that hanger.

Please note that by "racing biplanes", I was referring to a special biplane class that existed in the 80's.

Back then, there were several wild designs for biplanes being entered (examples: Beck-Mahoney's "Sorceress" and Rutan's "Amsoil Racer"). Their performance was well above that of the standard PITTS-style bipes.

EXAMPLES:

Link to SORCERESS photo: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/...e7939a.jpg?v=0

Link to AMSOIL (RUTAN) RACER: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/...fc9102.jpg?v=0


And so, 2 classes were created, SPORT BIPLANE for the standard layout, and a new RACING BIPLANE class for the newer non-standard aircraft designs. It ran for several years and then vanished, I assume because there were no longer enough unique 4-winged aircraft to fill the class.

[Leo]

Re: Phantom

I think there were only ever 4, Sorcerrss, Amsoil, Cobra and Sundancer. Did any others go fast enough to be in the class?

[ebutner]

Re: Phantom

This has to be the sexest biplane ever. Sorry Dasher.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/...e7939a.jpg?v=0

[ebutner]

Re: Phantom

rats.... link didn't work. one more try ... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/...e7939a.jpg?v=0

[WASP-kid]

Re: Phantom

That's like Super Sport for Biplanes! Way bitchin! Wish I'd been around to see them.

[Jason S.]

Re: Phantom

Here’s a video I threw together of Phantom during her qualifying session. http://www.vimeo.com/3360538 The plane halls some b*lls and sound cool with that Paul Lipps prop.

[First time Juke]

Re: Phantom

rats.... link didn't work. one more try ... http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/...e7939a.jpg?v=0

There is a whole thread for it; http://www.aafo.com/hangartalk/showthread.php?t=6872

[J.SMITH]

Re: Phantom

Per the 1982 program there were 5 in the "Racing Division". the 5th was Two Bits.