The team that brought you the Double Ender flew their latest creation The Ascender to OSH last summer. On their way back to Oregon they stopped at my airport in Minnesota to shoot some video, but some technical issues prevented us from actually doing anything and we ran out of time. I took two shots. Here they are.

I want one of my own to play with but it will need to accommodate floats and wheel skis.

It would be an amazing view on floats, though I imagine a little pitchy with power. Prop is nice and out of the spray.

I was so excited that I got to see it at OSH and talk to Alec. The view out the front is amazing. The ability to carry gear is fantastic. I sure hope to see it again and that more are produced.

twflyer wrote:I was so excited that I got to see it at OSH and talk to Alec. The view out the front is amazing. The ability to carry gear is fantastic. I sure hope to see it again and that more are produced.

It is AMAZING. Did anyone ask him why not a pusher configuration? I imagine for W&B given the class of engine.

He talks a bit about pitching moment in the video and claims the thrust line is quite close to the wing chord line and produces little pitch change with power changes. I think any pusher prop design would have greater separation between thrust and wing chord and it would be more of a problem. But I’ve never designed an airplane so WTHDIK.

Has there been any indication how or if it might be marketed, kit form maybe.

Didn’t sound like kits were in the near future. I got the impression from the interview they’d sell plans and maybe provide some guidance, but it didn’t seem like there was much in the way of a ‘business plan’. If I understood correctly, he estimated a builder would have about $600K into the project by the time it was ready to fly. Hard to believe there’s much of a market at that price point, but who knows? Still, its a unique and cool flying machine.

Hmm, that estimate it's well outside my retirement project "snack bracket" but at least I can admire it as eye candy.

Zzz wrote:

twflyer wrote:I was so excited that I got to see it at OSH and talk to Alec. The view out the front is amazing. The ability to carry gear is fantastic. I sure hope to see it again and that more are produced.

It is AMAZING. Did anyone ask him why not a pusher configuration? I imagine for W&B given the class of engine.

Efficiency does not improve when you put anything in front of the propeller. Clean undisturbed air is where a propeller likes to do its work.