Gendenke Wrote:
"Not be argumentitive, but "new build" Erickson birds are actually
"conversions". Erickson takes an old A or B model airframe, and
completely rebuilds them, modifing various components, and "converts"
them to either an E or and F model, respectively. Some research will
show that the serial numbers on the Erickson birds were late 1960's
manufacture dates. Just my two cents, 'nuf said.
p.s. My employer (Erickson) actually has three of these such conversions in the hangar right now."
I could
have sworn hat the three A/C produced for the Italian Forest
service by Erickson were in fact the first "Ground up "
Ships built by them - or were they just the first
with the new all Glass cockpits etc? You guys had to drag me outa
that thing at Heli-Expo this year - Now there's a chopper I want to fly
someday!!! (Tragically that exact Aircraft crashed on it's test flight
upon being Delivered in Italy, Killing one of Ericksons pilots I
believe - my condolences to all who new him..) Was an Official report
ever completed for that?
On a
lighter note, my vote for most underappreciated goes to the
venerable, still in service, super fun to fly helicopter that trained
millions (including me) to fly, Hughes 269 (reborn as the Schweizer
300C, CB CBi) Do not be fooled. this is THE ideal piston trainer often
overshadowed by a company that shall remain un-named. Talk about under
appreciated! - and whens somebody gonna make a 1/32nd kit of this
thing! great topic. - J
Model builder formerly posting as jbatesc6