Howdy-

First, I know nothing about planes- I'm looking for guidance to get my sweetie a gift as a surprise. I've been taking notes so my spelling might be wrong since I didn't want to give away the surprise. He was in a flying club back home in SD, has been an instructor, and has loggedmany thousands of hours. Somewhere around hereis a book he kept. Here's all the info I know:
Hehad a 1/4 scale Phaeton-90 bi-plane. He did a bunch of acrobatics w/ it, had put in an engine that was about the size of a grapefruit so it could make the plane take off straight up if someone held it for him. He's been in a bunch of airshows. He's built a lot of planes judging by the photos. There was some sort of lightweight but very strong covering he put on the wings.

He had to sell everything before moving here about a dozen years ago, but I know he misses flying a lot. I'd like to get him another plane to build. I think it'd cheer him up (just had both hips replaced so he's not doing much lately). While he's had a lot of planes, the Phaeton was the one he talks about the most so I think that's what he'd like to have again. We're in the middle of 7000 acres of rangeland + the open BLMlandso he could fly it to his heart's content.

I don't know what kind of upgraded engine he had to do this, where to get one, or the best place to get a kit to build a plane. I don't know where to get anything, actually. Hopefully folks here can figure out what I'm looking for based on my pitiful descriptions. I have until September to get everything since that's when his birthday is. I'd like to get everything he needs to build it so all he has to do is put it together, put in the fuel and go have a good time.

Thanks for any help you can provide!
Jo [email protected]