Interesting Picture

[ToddP]

The Local Newspaper "The Spokesman Review" has a picture each day of something interesting from the past. This past Tuesday they ran this picture:

[ToddP]

I did a little looking into the Umbaugh 18. The best I can tell it was a predecessor to the McCulloch J-2. Does anyone know more about the Umbaugh 18?

[twistair]

Todd, it's the early name for Air&Space 18A since Ray Umbaugh was it's designer. I'm sure you've heard about Air&Space.
Attached is a photo made last winter in Paducah. Crew: John T. Potter and Ken J. (hi, Ken :)

[ToddP]

Alex,

You are indeed correct. I just did a little searching and found an article at this link:

http://avia.russian.ee/vertigo/airspace_18-r.html

[twistair]

This is one of Umbaughs resting now in Buckeburg helicopter museum (Germany)

BTW, there are very interesting (and I believe very rare) video file showing Umbaugh-18 and McCulloch J-2 flying, including 18-A jump starts.
This file is at http://www.lafhelicopters.com/english/company/history.htm
- it's the site of tandem-rotor homebuilt helo designers which was mentioned here some ago.
Take a look at the very bottom of this long page.

[barnstorm2]

Just slightly more skill that driving a car :D