ACEBaby
Starting with this issue, each month we’ll take a stroll back through istory to look at the EAA Sport Aviation of 50 years ago. The September 1961 cover featured a Corben Baby Ace D
built by Ken Dekker of Baraboo, Wisconsin. Ken reported that it “took
me three years to build, test flew Aug. 2 1960. Modified ‘D’ plans. 65
Continental engine, cruises 90, top 105. Flies beautifully— 17 gal. gas tank,
Champ nose cowl, Stinson wheel pants, hand rubbed butyrate finish, 72-50
Flotorp prop.” Fifty years later the airplane is still flying, registered to an
owner in Texas.
The Corben Baby Ace is the aircraft that first brought EAA to national
attention. In 1955, EAA Founder Paul Poberezny wrote a series of
construction articles published in Mechanix Illustrated magazine titled
“Build This Plane for Under $800—Including Engine.” The articles
attracted wide interest and brought a huge increase in membership to the
2-year-old organization.
PG. 4
An EAA Biplane article
included drawings
for various sections
of the aircraft, along
with details about its
design and the first
flight tests.
PG. 15
The economy and ease of
construction of geodetic
aircraft structures was
discussed, including the
tools needed and the
pros and cons of the
construction method.
PG. 27
Air racing still captured
the hearts of EAAers,
with various winners of
air races highlighted.
The new Reno Air Races
would revive air racing a
couple of years later.
View archived issues of EAA Sport Aviation in the
Members Only section at www.Oshkosh365.org.
