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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: ohiorider on January 16, 2022, 11:37:44 AM

Title: NGC - Gee Bee designer sees replica fly 60 years later
Post by: ohiorider on January 16, 2022, 11:37:44 AM

The reaction to Pete Miller seeing his design fly once again 60 years after the original flew in the Cleveland Air Races (Thompson Trophy Race) is priceless.  It is hard to believe another thirty years have passed since Delmar Benjamin first flew his replica.

There's a lot of video about the replica Gee Bee on YouTube, and some old footage from the early '30s Cleveland Air Races.

If I recall correctly, Pratt & Whitney donated an engine from their collection to power the replica.

Bob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8c88gFeEek

Title: Re: NGC - Gee Bee designer sees replica fly 60 years later
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on January 17, 2022, 05:57:28 AM

I've sat in it, but that's as far as it goes.  :smiley: I've seen Delmar fly it many times.. certainly a thrill. Thanks for the video.

Title: Re: NGC - Gee Bee designer sees replica fly 60 years later
Post by: larrys on January 17, 2022, 09:07:26 AM

Cool video. Here's the first replica that the New England Air Museum built. I read that a descendent of the Granville Brothers gave a set of plans for the plane to the museum on the condition that the replica never fly. They built it using mild steel tubing so it could never be certified airworthy. Has a P+W Wasp engine just as the original. Didn't know that someone built a flying replica.
Larry

(https://i.ibb.co/2ywyB6M/GeeBee.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2ywyB6M)

Title: Re: NGC - Gee Bee designer sees replica fly 60 years later
Post by: DesertPilot on January 17, 2022, 04:22:54 PM

I've seen the replica fly at an airshow at Castle AFB.  I also have Delmar Benjamin and Steve Wolf's excellent book.  Definitely a piece of history!  Thanks for the link!