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