Up Side Down
by Robert Bales
Title
Up Side Down
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
A great performance at the Yuma Air Show!!
The "Showcat" is the first Grumman biplane to be used in airshows since the 1930s when the late Al Williams flew the famed "Gulfhawk". Gene Soucy's new airplane is also the first agricultural aircraft to be used in the airshow environment. Gene has created three new acts with the airplane; a Hollywood style smoke and noise solo routine, a wingwalking act, and a night pyrotechnic show: "Fireflight".
The Ag Cat was first designed in 1958 and over 1800 Cats are in use throughout the world. The aircraft carries on the Grumman tradition of a strong over-built airframe and has the best pilot safety record in the ag business.
Soucys "Showcat" was modified by Jim Swick at his sons "Swick Aircraft" facility in McKinney Texas. The six-month project entailed a complete renovation of the former crop sprayer. The hopper was removed and a two seat front cockpit was added for media rides. The entire top of the fuselage was redesigned with a sleeker look including a new rear cockpit, engine cowling, dorsal fin and turtle deck. The wings were clipped to improve roll rate, new gear fairings, wheel pants, and smaller tires were installed. The aircraft was fitted with a Bendix fuel injector and new inverted fuel and oil systems were constructed. The total aerodynamic cleanup improved cross-country cruising speed from 90 MPH to 110 MPH. Swick also installed an airshow smoke system and wing rider stand, plus a wing-tip smoke and pyrotechnic system. The aircrafts electrical system was removed and completely rewired.
Another interesting feature of the Ag Cat was the removable side panels on the fuselage. No other airshow aircraft provides the ease of accessibility for maintenance, which is so important in this type of flying.
The combination of the Showcat's light wing-loading and high lift airfoil section provide the perfect slow speed performance for the wingwalking airshow Gene is performing. In the airshow configuration, the Showcat is still operating 1,500 pounds below the maximum weight it was flown at in the cropduster configuration with a full load of chemical.
Gene Soucy states that the modified Ag Cat makes the "perfect airshow airplane". It has all metal construction, ease of maintenance, excellent controllability and good cross-country range. It also has the round engine, the "Pratt & Whitney 985", which provides the earth-shaking noise that has been an airshow tradition since the 1930s.
In addition to the airshow potential of the airplane as a wingwalking and pyrotechnic platform, it also offers the capability of skywriting and banner towing. If there ever was an airplane created expressly for the airshow industry, its the "Showcat".
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March 9th, 2015
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Comments (10)
Reynold Jay
My dad was a model airplane hobbyist . Hi Built planes and then flew them at the Jane's airport and we ended up running through corn fields during the days of "Free Flight." We were all happy when radio control came along and most often the plane would land at our feet. We traveled to the Airplane Meets" too. He would have loved this one. I know I do. FAV.
Robert Bales replied:
It sure sounds like you had a great time with your Dad. We have several places people fly the radio controlled planes. Thanks for the FAV!!