Air-Britain Archive 1998-01 / Extracts

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N18268

Steve Wittman's two-seat Buttercup was a one-off design developed into the larger four-seat Big X and later into the Tailwind. The sole example was N18268, here showing the simplicity of the rugged design, with Wittman's steel spring undercarriage legs and a curved-blade propeller fitted to the 85 hp Continental.
Flying, January 1951: * p. 31 - Two lesser-known designs by racing pilot Steve Wittman are described. Both are high-wing monoplanes, the 4-seat Big X and the 2-seat Buttercup, of typically box-like appearance not unlike the Wittman Tailwind design. The Buttercup appears to be registered N18268 but the other seems unmarked. Were these produced in any numbers?
Flying. January 1951: Steve Wittman's two-seat Buttercup was built in 1937 and was a high-wing strut-braced monoplane with welded steel tube fuselage and wooden wing both fabric-covered. Wing span was 28 ft 6in, length 21 ft and height 5 ft. Power was supplied by an 85 hp Continental C-85 which produced a cruise speed of 130 mph, max 147 mph, though the landing speed, with flaps, was only 33 mph. Originally fitted with a 50 hp Lycoming O-145, this was replaced by Continental C-85 and later C200. Mechanically-operated flaps were fitted and later leading edge slats were added. The tailwheel undercarriage featured the patented Wittman steel spring mainwheel legs later adopted by Cessna. At one time Fairchild showed interest in putting a 3-seat version into production but nothing came of the idea. Wittman was still flying Buttercup until at least 1989.
The Model WD Big X (for Big Experimental) was a larger four-seat development first flown on 6.1.45. It had a 29 ft span, length 24 ft 10 in, height 6 ft 6 in and was powered first by a 130 hp Franklin and then by a 150 hp Franklin 6A4-150-B3 with a McCauley propeller producing a cruise of 147 mph and max 165 mph. This design formed the basis for the later Tailwind but the only Big X built NX/N31637 was written off in a fatal crash on 19.7.86. No production of either type took place.