Fiddlers Green

Cessna 210 Centurion?

Interesting - I can't think of anything comparable to a 210 - it really seems to be unique in its niche. There's an operator out of Hayward that buys 210s (unpressurized) for no more than $60K apiece, strips out their interiors & hauls bank checks with them overnight, apparently all over the country. They're six out of Hayward. More cost effective than using Caravans, which is what FedEx uses for short hauls.

Well, if it isn't the 210 it sure does meet all the criteria - even the "military" name.

You got it Mark! it was indeed the 210 Centurion. NEXT!

Fiddlers Green features all SIX of the aircraft that trace these airplanes' common design lineage from first to last.

The 1st had a starring role in a movie with Sarah Miles, Terry Thomas and Robert Morley, among others.

The last has had a number of different manufacturers across its last years of production, including Bellanca.

5 & 6 in the sequence are visually indistinguishable from each other except to the sharp eyed observer.

3 & 4 are also essentially identical apart from a modification made for a military purpose. They are also often mistaken for another, more well known airplane which looks very similar.

1 & 2 look very different from each other; the 2nd was inspired by the 1st but not copied outright.

ALL SIX share a common type of "backbone" more often found in some types of helicopters than in airplanes.

While I haven't checked, I'm quite positive this board's most prolific builder has built all 6, in every available size, color and price range.

I'm going with the Piper/ TaylorCraft Cub?

Cubs are what 3 & 4 get mistaken for.

So is this more of a general aircraft type? Something like the "Grasshopper" line of L-birds for the U.S. Army?

It's a type geneology: the progenitor and its descendents.

Well, I think the Bellanca would maybe be a Citabria, but I'm not sure if that was produced by other companies aor for that many years. Hmmmm.

All are highwing tail draggers with reasonably small engines and tandem seating.

Citabria is #5. Now it should be easy to get the 4 ahead of it in time, and the 6th that came after it. FG models all.

Here's a shot in he dark
1. Aeronca C-3
2. Piper Cub
3. Aeronca Champ
4. Aeronca Grasshopper (military Spec Champ)
5. Citabria
6. Decathlon/ Super Decathlon

Throw out the Cub at #2, put the Bathtub in its place, and put a film star at #1 (well, OK, supporting role in that flick with Sarah Miles, Robert Morley, et. al.).

All the rest are correct. That common "backbone" shared by all is a triangular warren truss fuselage frame instead of the more conventional rectangular warren truss. All but #1's frame were welded steel tube; #1's frame was wooden.

#1's designer was a pioneer in more than one way to get off the ground, and at least two other designs of his are also FG models (although not in this particular geneology).

Total guess on #1- Sikorsky VS-300? It has the triangular frame, and was made by aviation pioneer Sir Igor.

I believe the "film star", based on the actor/actress listed, comes from
the movie " Those magnificent men and their flying machines".

_________________
Ray

Don't Squat with yer spurs on.....its gonna hurt

You may be on to something Ray. I don't have a clue about the old movie, nor have I had time to look it up.

Antoinette
Demoiselle
Desperdussin-B
Vickers-22
Blackburn-12
Dixon-Nipper
I'm not sure in what order.
Most of these have appeared in Sarah Miles movie.

_________________
http://s237.photobucket.com/albums/ff53 ... f%20Mirth/