looking for pictures

[blacksheep]

I'm looking for any pictures to download of an old sport biplane called the"Sorceress" all aluminum staggerwing with inverted gullwing on the bottom


Blacksheep

[Bill Larkins]

Re: looking for pictures

I remember it but I don't know if I have a photo of it. I'll look...
Bill L
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Originally posted by blacksheep
I'm looking for any pictures to download of an old sport biplane called the"Sorceress" all aluminum staggerwing with inverted gullwing on the bottom


Blacksheep

[Gil]

I know I have various pics of it ,I will just have to find them and scan them and I will try and post a few for you

[Unregistered]

Re: looking for pictures

This was my Uncle Don Beck's plane. I have a few 8x10s at home. Call me @ 925 363 5111 I will copy them and send them to you

Blair Beck

[Unregistered]

Re: looking for pictures

I remember watching it race years ago. Does anyone know whatever happened to the plane?

[blacksheep]

Re: looking for pictures

if my memory is correct it (or Sundancer) is in storage at the Smithsonian Air Musuem.

[blacksheep]

Re: looking for pictures

Blair Beck , The nephew of Don Beck the owner of Sorceress was kind enough to send me a framed copy of an areial shot of Scorceress shot over Lake Tahoe along with an extra copy so I can scan it in for the rest of you to enjoy which I will do the first chance I get

[Unregistered]

Re: looking for pictures

I remember watching it race years ago. Does anyone know whatever happened to the plane?

It is in the Smithsonian

[Pylon1_Mark]

Re: looking for pictures

Well, it's probably not as nice as your pic - but here's one from the old pylon1.com website.

A special thanks to photographer, Chuck Aro

Photo info: Taken at Reno 1972, Sorceress Race #89 took 1st place in the Biplane Class - flown by pilot/owner Don Beck - set a new race record speed that year of 189.72MPH.
(note metal stress shown in upper left wing)

[Shawn Aro]

Re: looking for pictures

Hey what a cool photo yeah man

[blacksheep]

Re: looking for pictures

Thanks Mark,
I still think She is the most beautiful biplane ever built

[Race5]

Re: looking for pictures

Didn't that ship begin life as a Midget Mustang?

[Apteryx]

Re: looking for pictures

(note metal stress shown in upper left wing)

The wings were fully cantilevered, the struts were added on only
to comply with class rules, pop-riveted at first if memory serves me.

[Apteryx]

Re: looking for pictures

Thanks Mark,
I still think She is the most beautiful biplane ever built

There were quite a few beautiful & interesting designs, in that class, during that period. I've got another thread on this forum looking for some photos of the other designs. Dave Forbes Cobra, Sundancer, (Sorceress), Rutan-Quickie, were all pretty, Hot canary, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Miss-Q, some of the Mong, Knightister and Smith mods, all made it an entertaining class, for a while.
I contratulate Tom Aberle for stiring things up this year....
Love to see the bi-plane guys put up an official web site and start paying tribute to the history & creativity, the class has shown.
.................................................. .................Paul

[blacksheep]

Re: looking for pictures

When Don Beck's Scorcess and Dr. Sid White's Sundancer were in their prime sport class Biplanes were a race for 3rd place .

If my memory serves me Scorcess was orignally designed as a cross country ship and didn't fit the sport biplane rule until it had a landing accident and damaged a lower wing tip. So the lower wings were shortened to make it qualify and having cantiverered wings it did not require the wing struts required by the rules so they were added to the wing tips

Sundancer was based on the "miget mustang " with the bottom inverted gull wing added