Ace Baby Ace
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The Ace ''Baby Ace'', a single-seat, single-engine,
parasol wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
, fixed-gear light airplane, was marketed as a
homebuilt aircraft Homebuilt aircraft, also known as amateur-built aircraft or kit planes, are constructed by persons for whom this is not a professional activity. These aircraft may be constructed from "scratch", from plans, or from assembly kits.Armstrong, Kenn ...
when its plans were first offered for sale in 1929 — one of the first homebuilt aircraft plans available in the United States. Plans are still available and Baby Aces are still being built. Orland Corben designed a series of aircraft for the
Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company The Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company was established in Wichita, Kansas in 1929 by Orland Corben to market the world's first homebuilt aircraft, a machine of his own design called the Baby Ace. The enterprise did not last long before US regul ...
, the Baby Ace, Junior Ace, and Super Ace. Corben's name was associated with the aircraft, and it is commonly known as the ''Corben Baby Ace''. Dwiggins, Don: Chapter 3: "Flying the Corben Baby Ace," ''Low Horsepower Fun Aircraft You Can Build,'' 1979, TAB Books, LOC: 79-22942; ISBN 0-8306-9710-1 / ISBN 0-8306-2267-5, as compiled in ''Modern Aviation Library,'' Vol. 10, Book No. 210, TAB, Blue Ridge Summit, Penn., USA"My Love Affair with a Red Head Named Davis,"
September 1986, ''Vintage Airplane,'' Vol.14., No.9, p.7, retrieved September 26, 2022 (p.


Design


Original

The Baby Ace is a single-seat
parasol wing A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...
monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...
of conventional
taildragger Conventional landing gear, or tailwheel-type landing gear, is an aircraft undercarriage consisting of two main wheels forward of the center of gravity and a small wheel or skid to support the tail.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Term ...
configuration. Individual examples have been configured with tricycle landing gear. The wing uses a
Clark Y Clark Y is the name of a particular airfoil profile, widely used in general purpose aircraft designs, and much studied in aerodynamics over the years. The profile was designed in 1922 by Virginius E. Clark using thickness distribution of the Germa ...
-cross-section
airfoil An airfoil (American English) or aerofoil (British English) is a streamlined body that is capable of generating significantly more Lift (force), lift than Drag (physics), drag. Wings, sails and propeller blades are examples of airfoils. Foil (fl ...
; spars and ribs are spruce. The steel-tube parallel wings struts simplified internal wing structure, and enabled the wings to fold back for over-the-road towing. The
fuselage The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...
is of fabric-covered tubular construction, and wing struts are steel tube. There is a door in the right side. Streamlining and fairing was largely done with
balsa ''Ochroma pyramidale'', commonly known as balsa, is a large, fast-growing tree native to the Americas. It is the sole member of the genus ''Ochroma'', and is classified in the subfamily Bombacoideae of the mallow family Malvaceae. The tree is fa ...
wood. Its
landing gear Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for taxiing, takeoff or landing. For aircraft, it is generally needed for all three of these. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, s ...
is a split-axle type, with
bungee cord file:Bungee Cord PICT6882a.jpg, Bungee cords equipped with metal hooks A bungee cord (sometimes spelled bungie; also known as a shock cord or an ocky strap) is an elastomer, elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usua ...
suspension, similar to gear of the
Piper Cub The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance. The Cub is P ...
. Some are fitted with brakes, using
Aeronca Aeronca, contracted from Aeronautical Corporation of America, located in Middletown, Ohio, is a US manufacturer of engine components and airframe structures for commercial aviation and the defense industry, and a former aircraft manufacturer. ...
-type heel pedals.


Evolutions

Under the Corben Sport Plane and Supply Co. (
Peru, Indiana Peru is a city in, and the county seat of, Miami County, Indiana, Miami County, Indiana, United States. It is north of Indianapolis. The population was 11,073 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous community in Miami County. Peru is loc ...
), two versions were offered, using the same wings, tails, controls and landing gear: a single-seat. open-cockpit, parasol-wing model (the Baby Ace) and an enclosed, two-seat, high-wing version ( Junior Ace). In 1955
Paul Poberezny Paul Howard Poberezny (September 14, 1921 – August 22, 2013) was an American aviator, entrepreneur, and aircraft designer. He founded the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in 1953, and spent the greater part of his life promoting hom ...
, founder of the
Experimental Aircraft Association The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception, it has grown internationally with over 300,000 members and nearly 1,000 chapters worldwide. ...
, redesigned the plane with Stan J. Dzik (former
Waco Aircraft The Waco Aircraft Company (WACO) was an aircraft manufacturer located in Troy, Ohio, United States. Between 1920 and 1947, the company produced a wide range of civilian biplanes. The company initially started under the name Weaver Aircraft Co ...
engineer), calling its version the Model C. EAA sold the rights to the planes to Cliff DuCharme (
West Bend, Wisconsin West Bend is a city in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,752. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. History Early history and settlement Northeastern Washi ...
), and the plane was redesigned for production, becoming the Model D (first flight: November 15, 1956). The similarly redesigned two-seat Junior Ace, became the Junior Ace Model E.


Powerplants

The first example flew with a
Heath-Henderson B-4 The Heath-Henderson B-4 engine was a motorcycle piston engine modified for use in aircraft. "The Heath Airplane Company's Model B-4 was an in-line, four-cylinder, air-cooled Henderson motorcycle engine converted for use in aircraft by modifying ...
modified motorcycle engine. However, a detachable motor mount accommodated an easy change of engines. Later models utilized various engines -- facilitated by the removeable motor mount -- including the 45-hp Szekely SR-3, 40-hp Salmson AD9, 35-hp
Continental A-40 The Continental A40 engine is a carbureted four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engine that was developed especially for use in light aircraft by Continental Motors. It was produced between 1931 and 1941. Design and develop ...
, or 30-hp Heath B4. A variety of aircraft powerplants may be used, typically in the 65-100 hp (50-75 kW) range. Most versions flying today use the
Continental A65 The Continental O-170 engine is the collective military designation for a family of small aircraft engines, known under the company designation of A50, A65, A75 and A80. The line was designed and built by Teledyne Continental Motors, Continental ...
aircraft engine. Examples have been built using 70 hp Corvair engines.


Operational history

The original Baby Ace was built in 1929, in
Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...
. Designer O.G. ("Ace") Corben later established the Corben Sportplane Company (
Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...
), where six Baby Aces were built, with kits also sold. John W. Underwood ( Peter M. Bowers, Consultant): "Corben Baby Ace" (p.13) and "Corben Junior Ace" (p.14), ''Vintage Veteran Aircraft Guide,'' 1974, LOC: 68-28978, Colllinwood Press, Glendale, California, USA The Corben Sport Plane and Supply Co. (
Peru, Indiana Peru is a city in, and the county seat of, Miami County, Indiana, Miami County, Indiana, United States. It is north of Indianapolis. The population was 11,073 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous community in Miami County. Peru is loc ...
), began producing the Baby Ace both in kit form and as a complete, flying aircraft. Kits included pre-welded assemblies for the fuselage, controls, tail and landing gear. Two models were offered, using the same wings, tails, controls and landing gear: a single-seat. open-cockpit, parasol-wing model, and an enclosed, two-seat, high-wing version. In America, state and federal laws banned homebuilding and flight in the uncertified designs by 1938. In 1948, Experimental aircraft were allowed to be built again in America. In 1952, EAA founder Paul Poberezny bought the rights to the Ace designs for $200, and produced a sub-$800 Baby Ace that was featured in ''
Mechanix Illustrated ''Mechanix Illustrated'' is an American printed magazine that was originally published by Fawcett Publications. Its title was founded in 1928 to compete against the older ''Popular Science Popular science (also called pop-science or pops ...
'' (;Bryan, Hal
"Baby Ace Comes Back,"
July 20, 2019,
Experimental Aircraft Association The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception, it has grown internationally with over 300,000 members and nearly 1,000 chapters worldwide. ...
, retrieved september 26, 2022
some say ''
Popular Mechanics ''Popular Mechanics'' (often abbreviated as ''PM'' or ''PopMech'') is a magazine of popular science and technology, featuring automotive, home, outdoor, electronics, science, do it yourself, and technology topics. Military topics, aviation an ...
''). The series of articles were in conjunction with a CAA effort to revitalize American aviation by promoting amateur built aircraft. The articles drew intense national interest, resulting in hundreds of the planes being built, with various engines—and elevating then-obscure EAA to national prominence. To avoid compromising its non-profit status, EAA sold the rights to the planes to Cliff DuCharme (
West Bend, Wisconsin West Bend is a city in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,752. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. History Early history and settlement Northeastern Washi ...
), who resumed kit production, with a revised Model D (first flight: November 15, 1956). and a revised Junior Ace Model E. Subsequently, plans, parts, and kits for both the Baby Ace and Junior Ace became available from Thurman Baird's
Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company The Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company was established in Wichita, Kansas in 1929 by Orland Corben to market the world's first homebuilt aircraft, a machine of his own design called the Baby Ace. The enterprise did not last long before US regul ...
(
Asheville, North Carolina Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad River, French Broad and Swannanoa River, Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populou ...
). "Progressive" kits (buy sections as you build) also became available. and remain so,"Directory of Plans You Can Build," Winter 1971, ''Air Trails'' as of 2015."2015 Homebuilt Aircraft Directory," p.29, December 2014, ''Kitplanes" magazine. In 1974, aviation historians John Underwood and Peter Bowers reported 200 Baby Aces were flying, with only one prewar example still active. They noted that only a very few of the Junior Aces had been built before the 1930s CAA crackdown on amateur-built aircraft, with just two of the 1930s two-seaters still flying. However, in 1979, aviation journalist Don Dwiggins estimated the number of flying Baby Aces in the United States and Canada had dwindled to around 70. A 1958 Baby Ace is currently the oldest Canadian homebuilt aircraft flying.


Variants

;Baby Ace :Single-seat ; Super Ace :Single-seat powered by a Ford Model A automotive engine. Plans updated by EAA founder
Paul Poberezny Paul Howard Poberezny (September 14, 1921 – August 22, 2013) was an American aviator, entrepreneur, and aircraft designer. He founded the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in 1953, and spent the greater part of his life promoting hom ...
. ; Jr. Ace :Two-seat tandem variant. ; Pober Jr Ace :Updated plans of the Jr. Ace model


Specifications (Baby Ace D)


See also


References

* ''Our Wisconsin'' magazine ("Ace High" C Boelk) June/July 2015


External links


Web site of Ace Aircraft
provides info on the kit for building the ''Corben Baby Ace Model D''.
The History of Ace Aircraft
* article, June–October 1935, ''Popular Aviation'' (forerunner of
Flying Magazine ''Flying'', sometimes styled ''FLYING'', is an aviation magazine published since 1927 and called ''Popular Aviation'' prior to 1942, as well as ''Aeronautics'' for a brief period. It is read by pilots, aircraft owners, aviation enthusiasts and ...
) * article, June 1985, ''The Vintage Airplane'' * "Flight Testing of Corben Baby Ace" January 1, 1978, ''Vintage Airplane'' {{Ace aircraft Homebuilt aircraft 1920s United States sport aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft
Baby Ace The Ace ''Baby Ace'', a single-seat, single-engine, parasol wing, fixed-gear light airplane, was marketed as a homebuilt aircraft when its plans were first offered for sale in 1929 — one of the first homebuilt aircraft plans available in t ...
Parasol-wing aircraft Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft