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FLIGHT International, 25 September 1969
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Left, amateur engineer Jean Paul Heauneault made himself a first-class aerobatic machine when he installed a 210 h.p. Continental IO-360 in an ex-RCAF Chipmunk. The conversion could well interest many operators wishing to prolong the life of the ubiquitous DH trainer. Right, draughty flying for up to three is offered by the Breezy Bird. This one was built by Dennis Phares, who clipped the span to give fully aerobatic capability
on Aresti-style presentation there was still a most exciting fun-of-the-fair atmosphere, and the spontaneous acclamation as the pilots literally flicked and tumbled their Pitts biplanes around the sky showed that there is still plenty of spectacle in aerobatics well put over. Two American contenders for high honours in the coming competitions must be Hal Krier and Art Scholl. They have two things in common: Ranger-engined and much-modified Chipmunks, and superlative skill. Hal Krier is surely one of the leading exponents of dedicated technical exactitude in precision flying, while Scholl in his presentations put a suspicion of mischief before both the crowd and the experts which brought many a heart into many a mouth. Krier's double-ribbon inverted pick-up, in which he snatched the lower tape of two stretched between poles held over the runway, was certainly one of the most highly professional acts ever. Over 40 flying acts in a week, all given free to the EAA, showed the dedication of this spectacular branch of the sport
movement and made it difficult to award points. At the risk of disagreeing with the Flight Paris Show report, Bob Hoover in the Shrike Commander has one more supporter. An eight-point upward roll following a low loop with both feathered and then a dead stick landing, coasting to a stop at a precise spot in front of the crowd, brought Rockford to its feet in well-deserved acclamation of as smooth a piece of pilot ability as ever seen. Aerobatic curiosity in the USA and Canada is now such that the Chipmunk is arousing new interest. In addition to the Ranger versions with large rudders, a contender for a newlook Chipmunk was presented by Jean Heauneault, whose Canadian-registered "Cheekee Chipmunk" version of the basic design has something (see also page 276 in the August 21 issue of Flight). The installation of a Continental IO-360 within a superb glass fibre cowling has given this trusty design a sparkle which could endear it to many a pilot. A chance to fly this aircraft showed it to have real performance, and the smoothness of the engine installation was a revelation.
BIG DEAL from BEDE
A NEW LOOK IN DO-ITYOURSELF ASSEMBLY
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The latest and most promising idea yet to emanate from the fertile mind of Jim Bede is the bolt-together principle of assembly used in the BD-4 two-plus-two tourer for amateur construction. He claims orders for many kits. Above, the prototype BD-4 at Rockford. Below, Jim Bede
JLWAYS GUARANTEED to be a star turn, the ubiquitous Jim i \ Bede popped up at this year's fly-in, handing out high" * speed and well informed sales patter on his latest design, the high-wing, no-dihedral BD-4. Originality has always been a feature of Bede (pronounced Be-de) output, and the BD-4 is no exception. Knowing of Britten-Norman's Nymph and its "with it" philosophies [writes Harold Best-Devereux] I welcomed an opportunity at Rockford to investigate the American package based on some similar thinking. It was an exciting interlude, ending up with a chance to get airborne and sample the formula. Jim Bede has looked at the conventional methods of con-
