Buhl-Verville Flying Bull Pup

The only established airplane manufacturer of significance to succeed with a single-seater designed specifically to meet the depression was the Buhl Aircraft Co. of Detroit, Michigan. It marketed the 45-hp Flying Bull Pup in 1931 and sold over 100.

Note the windows in the wing root to give the pilot some downward visibility. While more than 100 were sold, they weren’t enough to keep the firm in business.

Buhl-Verville Airster / Verville Airster

In 1925-1927 Alfred V. Verville produced the Buhl-Verville Airster two-seat biplane.

On March 29, 1927, the Aeronautics Branch issued Aircraft Type Certificate No. 1 to the Buhl Airster C-A3, a three-place open biplane. The plane had an empty weight of 1,686 pounds and its engine had a horsepower rating of 200. By the end of fiscal year 1927, the total of aircraft type certificates issued had reached nine.

Buethe Barracuda

During the early 1970s, RAF pilot Jeffery Siers designed and personally built the first Barracuda. When completed, he took it to Oshkosh 1976 where it won Best New Design.
While building it, Siers would finish a set of plans and material list, and send them to Bill and Marilyn Buethe would would then build the component and send back suggestions for improvement.
In January 1981, Bill Buethe and his Barracuda flew.
Bill and Marilyn bought the airplane rights from the designer, Jeff Siers and under the name Buethe Enterprises, they sell plans, information kits, canopies, cowlings, and engine mounts. Plans were selling for US$200.
A 200 mph two-seater, the Barracuda, made entirely of spruce and plywood, is a fast, high performance, side by side two place with retractable, tricycle gear. Rated for limited acrobatics, it has a 200 MPH cruise speed and 2,100 FPM rate of climb with a Lycoming O540 Engine. Power may vary from 200 to 300 horsepower. A stall speed of 62 makes landing easy. The comfortable 40 inch wide cockpit, with the sound deadening properties of wood, makes it a wonderful cross-country tourer. The structure is elegant and simple, like a model airplane, with no complex jigging.

Engine: Lycoming IO-540, 250 hp
Wing span: 24 ft 9 in
Wing area: 120 sq.ft
Length; 21 ft 6 in
Max ramp weight; 2300 lb
MTOW: 2300 lb
Max landing weight: 2300 lb
Empty weight: 1500 lb
Useful load; 800 lb
Wing loading: 19.17 lb/sq.ft
Power loading: 9.2 lb/hp
Fuel capacity; 44 USG
Cruise, max pwr 7000ft: 200 mph
Stall clean: 64 mph
Stall flaps down: 62 mph
ROC: 2000 fpm
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft
Takeoff roll: 800 ft
Landing roll; 1000 ft
Landing gear; tri retractable
Seats: 2
Wheels/tires: 5.00×5 or 6.00×6

Budig Canard

The glider was first tested unmanned

Among the machines entered in the Rhön competition in Germany in 1921 was a canard-type glider, designed and built by Friedrich W. Budig. It is a sesquiplan: in fact, the lower wing is of smaller span and chord than the main wing. The canard stabilizer in the front, in two parts: the main part serving for automatic longitudinal stabilization, and behind the latter, a conventional flap for controlling the attitude, actuated by the pilot. On both versions, there is also a horizontal plane at the rear, of very small surface, which seems to be fixed.

The machine featured an original automatic device for controlling the pitch stability.

Budig shows the flexible device described in the patent.

At the beginning of 1923, Flight International published an article which re-spoke of the machine of F. Budig, in a new version, with a fuselage deeply modified in its rear part, in order to install a motor there. It was a BMW flat-twin motorcycle engine developing 4 hp. The propeller being mounted in direct engagement with the motor.

It seems that the power developed by the engine was not sufficient to allow a take-off of the machine without assistance of a catapult. Once in the air the machine had to be able to fly horizontally, or at best to climb with a low rate of climb. The motorization was only allowed to prolong the flight somewhat.

The motorized version at Wasserkuppe 1923

In May 1924 there was the second Rossiten-free flying contest near Koenigsberg (West Prussia). This contest was a landmark in the history of gliding, as it saw the world record of duration extended to 8 hours 42 minutes 9 seconds by Ferdinand Schultz with his FS-3 Besenstiel (May 11, 1924). Hentzen and Budig participated in the contest and both announced that they intended to purchase a Blackburne engine to equip their respective gliders.

Budig replaced the initial BMW with a Salmson A.D. 3. This engine, manufactured by the Salmson Motors Company, Billancourt, France, of a little less than 1000 cc displacement, developed 12 CV (18 kW) at 1800 rpm and weighs 34 kilograms.

This engine proved its worth in the 1920s by winning the Grand Prix de la Moto-Aviette and the Prix Solex (in 1925).

Extract from the patent, a drawing in side view of a machine proposed by F. Budig.

F.W. BUDIG
Flying machine
Application filed June 16, 1921

1,419,447 Patented June 13, 1922

To all who it may concern:
Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM BUDIG, citizen of the state of Prussia, residing at Falkenberg-Grunau, near Berlin, in the state of Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Machines (for which I have filed applications in France, Aug. 1, 1914, and in Germany Jan. 29, 1920 and Nov. 20, 1920), of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to a steadying device. It consists in the combination of the supporting planes with an adjustable steadying plane. This later plane is rotatably supported on an axle supported in its turn by the flying machine, and its forms, together with an immovable surface with which it is connected, preferably by bellows,
a hollow space within a depression may be produced in known manner by the mediation of a surface feeler. The steadying plane is adjusted to various inclinations by which depression, contrary to the action of a spring. Besides these arrangements, the present invention also relates to means for correctly adjusting the steadying plane, as is particularly necessary for soaring flying apparatus.

Reffering to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a motorized flying machine with a novel device in question being shown in the position it occupies at too slow flight; Figure 2 is a side-view of the machine, only some upper parts (2, 5, 14) in section, and the position of the automatic steadying being that it occupies at normal speed; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the succession of the swing motions of the machine; and Figure 4 is a side view of a soaring flying machine having a small auxiliary motor.
The upper body 2 of the steadying plane is hinged to a horizontal axle 1 firmly supported by the frame of the flying machine. Affixed to said body 2 is a counterpoise 3, the arrangement being that the total center of gravity of the poise and the body 2 is located above the common axis of rotation the law of inertia initiates a favorable swinging or turn of the upper body 2.
Parallel with the body 2, and having the same breath as this body, is an immovable flat 4, to the rear of which is hinged the horizontal rudder 5 for altitude steering.
The body 2 and the plate 4 are connected with each other by bellows 6 forming or enclosing a chamber 7 which communicates by a channel or passage 8 with the hollow feeler plane 9 which has the shape of an inverted supporting and is provided with a slot 10 extending over the whole of its breadth. 11 is a spring which tends to turn the body upwards about the axle 1, that is to say, to expand the bellows. The position of the parts 2 and 6, if no partial vacuum within the bellows counteracts the spring, is that shown in Figure 1.
The bellows communicates with the atmosphere not only through the channel 8, but also through an aperture 12 which is at the front of the machine and constantly open.
The sectional area of the aperture 12 is smaller than that of the slot 10. The supply of the air through the aperture 12 does not materially affect the degree of rarefaction in the bellows as long as the air entering through that aperture flows off through said slot, as in the case during flying with normal speed. But if the speed decreases, the body 2 can rise, under the pressure of the spring 11, far more quickly than would be the case if no supply of air through the aperture 12 would take place, because, as is known by experience, air, even at reduced speed, can enter only with great difficulty through the slot 10 into the bellows.

In order to accelerate the swinging movement of the body 2 in the direction to the plate 4 at an increase of the speed of flight, the space 7 is connected by one or more air-channels 13 provided in rigid parts of the structure preferably tubes, and forming a kind of girder with the spaces of hollow bodies 14 united with the main supporting planes.
The tubes 13, or their equivalents, carry the above described combination and arrangement of parts and serve also for fastening the means provides for the landing.
The hollow body 14 forms a rigid piece for and of the supporting plane and its front portion the blowing-at edge of said plane. The supporting wall of that body 14 differs from an ordinary hollow supporting plane chiefly by a slot 15 which is provided in the lower surface of the projecting front part of the body 14, similarly to the slot 10, and the length of which is about one fourth of the length of the slot 10, provided, that the machine has an aperture such as 12.
By measurements it is known that at that place of the supporting frame profile where the slot 15 is located a strong depression is produced at quick flight.
This observation confirms that at slow flight the slot 15 assists the action of the aperture 12, and at quick flight assists the action of the slot 10.

Thus, if the angle of incidence at which the flight takes place is reduced, then, by the addition of the slot length 15 with the slot length10, a certain definite amount of air to be sucked out of the bellows space 7 is exhausted more quickly and the body 2 moves correspondingly quicker in the direction of the plate4 ; that could not be the case without the slot 15.The manner in which the body 2 is turned in the one or the other direction will become clear from a description dealing with flying in soaring manner, as follows :
Supposing the machine be soaring motionless in a constant head-wind under a large angle of incidence. In this case the lifting power R acts at the main supporting plane, and the lifting power X acts at the steadying surface. The lifting power of the horizontal rudder 5 which latter is controlled by the hand of the pilot, and the buoyancy
of the stationary plate 4 may be neglected in these considerations because said two influences approximately compensate the downwardly directed power of the receptacle 9.
 Besides the lifting power X, also the power of the spring 11 acts upon the body 2, in the same direction as said power X, and, furthermore, also the suction power Z which is produced in the space 7 by the depression and acts in the opposite direction. These three powers balance each other at normal flight and determine the profile of the steadying surface, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Now, if the wind relatively to the flying machine, suddenly grows stronger owing to a squall or gust, then also the powers X and R increase at the same time.
 Although also the suction power at the slot 10 becomes greater at the same time, still, the power Z does not immediately vary because the amount of air to be led away  is increased by the supply of air taking place through the aperture 12 and 15.
Besides, the increased suction power at the slot 12 which tends to increase the power Z is opposed by three other powers. Firstly, the increased lifting power X tends to turn the body 2 upwards which is made possible only by air entering through the apertures 12 and 15. Secondly, the flying machine is, at the commencement of the squall
or gust, at first shoved backward by reason of the additional resistance, in consequence of which the high-lying center of gravity of the body 2 and the poise 3 swing forward by reason of their inertia ; thirdly, this latter cause makes the air present within the channel 13 move in the direction to the space 7.
A sudden increase of the lifting power X by an outer wind power causes, thus, the body 2 to swing upwards, whereby the additional buoyancy at the front of the machine is made ineffective.

Matters are different with the rigid main supporting surface at which the power R has been increased. The diagram of forces (Figure 3) shows that the front of the machine has remained at the point C, owing to the annihilation of the addition to the power X, whereas the main supporting plane ascends from A to B.
The swinging motion in forward direction occurring at the rear part of the machine being lifted entails forward drive, whereby the speed of the machine is increased and, also a variation in the play of forces at the steadying devicer is brought about.
As the angle of incidence at the main supporting plane has become smaller by reason of the additional upward motion, suction takes place at the slot 15, and as also the opposing forces that acted upon the body 2 do no more exist, this latter is turned in the direction of the plate 4 whereby the buoyancy at the front of the machine is increased and this latter rises from the position C to the position D.

From both successively occurring motions of the flying machine results that this latter is rising for the height H without a loss of speed.In the practical application of the arrangement in question a greater measure than the length C-A which is chosen only by way of example will be given the radius of oscillation; that may be easily attained by only partially annihilating, by the means stated, the power increased by the squall or gust.
Owing to its dimension, the rear rim of the movable body 2 forms for the pilot a readily visible indicator of the conditions of motions of the flying machine.
The pilot may at his discretion either promote the indications of the rear rim or edge of the body 2 by appropriately operating the horizontal rudder or oppose them, also by appropriately actuating said rudder, for instance at landing.
The flying machines with but slight load per unit of surface are easily overturned by wind after the landing. The soaring flying machines shown in Figure 4 is so constructedthat the wind cannot lift its front part off the ground because an aperture is provided which is kept closed during the flight by a flap 16, but permits of a large supply of air through the channel 17 if it is open, so that the steadying plane is ensured against being drawn against the plate 4.
In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.
FRIEDRICH WHILHELM BUDIG
Witnesses: FRANGE SURNAM and EMIL VORWERK.

Buckeye Falcon

Manufactured in the US, the Dream Machine first flew in 1991. Options included the Rotax 503, instruments and instrument pod. The parachute is 1.1 oz ripstop nylon. The 1998 kit included the engine and propeller for US$11,424.

Engine: Rotax 582, 66 hp.
Speed max: 26 mph.
Cruise: 26 mph.
ROC: 1100 fpm.
Take-off dist: 100 ft.
Landing dist: 100 ft.
Service ceiling: 10,500 ft.
Fuel cap: 5 USG.
Weight empty: 245 lbs.
Gross: 595 lbs.
Height: 6.5 ft.
Length: 8.92 ft.
Wing span: 36.08 ft.
Wing area: 450 sq.ft.
Seats: 1.
Landing gear: nose wheel.