Thu, Aug 05, 2004
But His Hangar Didn't Fare So Well
By ANN Contributor Christopher Armstrong
Steve Wittman's
historic hangar, built in 1927, was demolished last spring after it
was determined to be dilapidated beyond repair. Sonex Limited
principles John and Jeremy Monett led an effort to save the hanger
last fall, but its weakened structure made restoration too costly
to attempt.
Fortunately for aviation history, a hanger was built on Pioneer
Field that resembles the FBO where Wittman operated during his
racing days. Inside are racing and cross country airplanes
designed, built and flown by Wittman. Several important airplanes
occupy the hangar, including Steve's first homebuilt, the Hardly
Ableson. This rough airplane was assembled from parts and materials
as they became available. It was powered by a Harley Davidson
V-twin motorcycle engine which only produced 12-14 horsepower. At
age 19, Wittman taught himself to fly in this just barely
flight-worthy aircraft.
The hanger is also home
for his Pheasant H10 biplane which he used for transcontinental
racing flights in the late 1920s. Also in the hanger are Wittman's
Buttercup and the prototype Tailwind. Together they show the
evolution of his designs to higher and higher levels of
performance. They also show features that though now common place
didn't exist until Wittman conceived them. His contributions to
aircraft design included the flat spring and tapered rod landing
gear designs that are now seen on everything from Cessna 172s to
Kolb ultralights and the lifting fuselage as used on the Hiperbipe
and notched wing roots.
In addition to the aircraft are innumerable memorabilia including
pictures, parts and the old tool bench, complete with some of the
tools that Wittman used in creating his legacy. Anyone who loves
the race planes of the 20's and 30's and his high performance
homebuilts will enjoy a visit to this and all the other hangers at
Pioneer Airport.
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