Don't turn into the over enthusiastic hair trigger posters on this thread. 24 hour rule and same for clues.

Rob

Sorry Rob, I forgot all about that. I have deleted my post.

Rob,
Thank you for your message which clarifies a lot.
I understand you have been triggered by the 21 minute response of Fauteuil.
That was indeed quite fast.

Officially the 24 hour rule was lifted by the Mods some months ago.
I understand it is again in force.
I agree with your intention that this should be an international thread in which pprunes from all time zones should be enabled to contribute.

In the last month I personally have PMed one or two Quick contributors to warn them not to spoil the search for others. In these threads one does not get points for the quickest answer.
Each should obtain ones satisfaction by solving the mystery themselves.
If the challenge is so easy that one can answer it quickly, the satisfaction must also be less?
I leave those challenges for others to ponder over as they apparently have not fully understood the clues.

If you feel the urge to post a lot of challenges yourself, you do not have to answer quickly because there are lots of opportunities to post at Open House.

Quick answering and then declare Open House certainly does not help anyone.

Long time contributors will see that I learned some things myself and I apologize for having sinned.

Rob, via PMs I know Fauteuil has understood this.
I think your post above would have been enough warning.
Blocking without warning or clarification will not reach your goal.
I hope you are willing to end the blocking soon?

24 hours have passed so I'll have another (same) go. It looks like it might be a Curtiss model D?

To repeat the discussions from earlier this year; the 24 hour rule applies to a new challenge, not to posts answering an existing challenge. The three threads were becoming a spotters game dominated by some UK based members who would turn over sometimes 3 or 4 challenges in a day, off-putting for other PPRuNers around the world.

Thanks

Not Curtiss D, but there is a connection.

"Each should obtain ones satisfaction by solving the mystery themselves. If the challenge is so easy that one can answer it quickly, the satisfaction must also be less?
I leave those challenges for others to ponder over as they apparently have not fully understood the clues."

beautifully put Bear - its the chase that is the thing on these challenges

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....07e166d9b.jpeg

Does this help anyone a bit further?

Baldwin, Bell, McCurdy, Curtiss, Selfridge ,`June Bug`....1911

OH if correct...

and I have flown something similar from the same era...much respect to those pioneers....

Yes, the June bug.
Flown by Curtiss as being member of the Aerial Experiment Association.
The prints are from the patent application.
On this Graham Alexander Bell was the first
OH called


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3748edbe9.jpeg

While we await the next challenge, could you share your experience?

SLB, I used to fly /display aircraft of the Shuttleworth Collection between 1974-2000 and flew a lot of aircraft of the Collection,but not all,but I did fly the Bristol Boxkite and the Avro Triplane..It would take me from now to Christmas to `write it up`,as I am only competent at 1-finger typing,however ,there is/was a book written`From Bleriot to Spitfire`,which describes the aircraft characteristics in great detail by Neil Williams...It may be still on sale direct from the SC,or by the `riverside`place...Xmas present...? or maybe someone on here could copy+paste it here...To give a flavour,imagine you really are in a `Fauteil Volant` flying over the countryside at between 20 -45 knots........wind whistling up your trousers,flies in the teeth,deafened by having to run the engine,behind you at max RPM,holding on to a broomstick control column with 2 hands,with minimum lateral and longitudinal stability,marginal directional stability,knowing ,if the engine quits,if you look down between your knees,that will be where you are going to end up.......what a great way to enjoy a calm Summers evening...Great fun...!!!

If you watch a video of a modern `canard equipped` fighter on an approach,or manoeuvring ,you`ll notice the `canard` is working overtime,all by FBW and computers,probably 3,...we did that in the Boxkite.....!!just `by wires,and no computer.....

taken me 45 mins.to write that.....

Let's try this one

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8a2bd4ac92.jpg

Countryside look European but blue & white often means Argentina....... lets ask if it's European?

Looks very much like a jUNGMANN with a makeover; Walter/Avia M -37 motor/prop,Cessna gear,revised struts,and tail off another Czech aircraft(Avia ?)......?

Not from Europe I'm afraid. Or Argentina.
The engine is indeed a Walter.

The interplane struts are very Pitts-like. Any connection?

How about the rest of `the Americas,Canada,USA,or S America.....?

I keep thinking I've seen this before - a little voice in my head (the one that talks sense) says its American - but what and when ????

It's from the USA. Though there somewhat of a link to a politician from Europe.

Looks like a rather neat picture - so I'd guess post-1960?

First flight was in 1973, and still flying until at least 2016.

Did they build very many???

Just the one, actually.

Ah - looking through names of US small aircraft I came across the "Merkle" - Wiki has it as the " The Merkel Mark II is an American homebuilt aerobatic biplane that was designed by Edwin Merkel and produced by the Merkel Airplane Company of Wichita, Kansas in the form of plans for amateur construction.[size=8333px] [/size]Designer Merkel died on 12 March 2012 and plans are apparently no longer available. The Mark II features a two-seats-in-tandem open cockpit with an optional bubble canopy, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The Mark II was intended as a two-seat trainer version as a companion to a planned single-seat competition version.[size=8333px] [/size]The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing with the airframe covered in sheet aluminum. Its 25.5 ft (7.8 m) span wings employ a NACA 23012 airfoil and each has a single torsional spar. The standard engine recommended was a 220 hp (164 kW) Franklin Engine Company powerplant.[size=8333px] [/size]The aircraft has an empty weight of 1,200 lb (540 kg) and a gross weight of 1,540 lb (700 kg), giving a useful load of 340 lb (150 kg). With full fuel of 18 U.S. gallons (68 L; 15 imp gal) the payload is 232 lb (105 kg)

Don't see no bubble canopy and you say it has a Walter/Avia but I suspect that this is it? I can't see any other of that era named after a European statesman or woman (tho the idea of the Texas "THATCHER" is an interesting flight of fancy.........

You found it Asturias. You have control.
It had the Walter engine fitted in the early 2000's apparently.

That was not easy! The problem is of course that with kit builds people change the design a bit - which makes identification that much more challenging - but it does take us on roads we wouldn't normally travel

Have to be OH I'm afraid

Aviation journalist Roger Bacon interviewing an Atlantic Baron; "Tell me Captain, why do you only fly in four-engined airplanes?"

Captain Speaking: "Because there are no five-engined airplanes, laddie!"

RB: "Well, actually there are!"


This should be easier than the last challenge. :)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7103eec6c7.jpg

Actually the choice is large than I expected!

I'd hazard a guess at the Zeppelin Staaken R XIV.. OH if correct.

CoodaShooda has it - the Zeppelin-Staaken R.XIVa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin-Staaken_R.XIV

138' wingspan! Adjusting the wing incidence must have been fun.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b20d8b130d.jpg


Open House has been declared.

How do you get about, adjusting a double wing with numerous struts?

100 fitters and BIG megaphone?

Level the fuselarge, get your clinometer out and start with the port lower..:) Must say, that is BIG. Not done one larger than a DH87 Rapide.

I know I'm getting a little older with the occasional lapse in short-term memory but I could swear there was a post in this thread about the Bréguet 763 Deux-Ponts. Now I can't find it even using the search function. What happened to it ?

After looking at some cockpit pix, I was going to ask about the crew make up.

Standard Air France full face of slap, I think.

I'm sorry, it's been a hard year. And I have the same recollection about the Deux Ponts (perhaps without a hyphen), but can't locate it.

I do not recall the Deux Ponts challenge but We have had contributors who deleted their own challenge after it was solved. But then the replies should still be visible...
Anyway you have at least a possible subject for a future challenge.

As it is open house:
This made my somewhat dormant shipbuilding heart beat faster:

Beautiful craftsmanship in teak and mahogany.
If that would be built today Greenpeace would be screaming out loud.
(and rightfully so).


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2f2038bde.jpeg

Italian...?

No not Italian.

You can see all the wood strips pointing towards the same point. That makes it almost a developable surface like a cone. Took me back to my schooldays in bachelor engineering Shipbuilding.

Time for a next clue:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d22700c10.jpeg