All:

I thought I would offer what little info I have on the two planes. Attached are two photos of the planes. the photos were taken when the planes were hanging on the ceiling of an Austin TX. hobbyshop. the planes were in a shop woned by Rick Schafer. Rick may be familiar to some of you as a former Bob Violett rep. I met Rick when he and I flew a lot of ducted fans in the late 1980's and thru the 1990's. Anyway, Rick had the planes for sale in his shop. When he closed the shop he sold the planes (to whom I do not know). Last year Chip Hyde came to a local pattern contest in the San Antonio TX area hosted by Archie Stafford. I showed the pictures to Chip and he told me, if memory serves me correctly) that the planes were his at one time. He did identyify the plane with the inverted engine as being e Hipo Tipo. According to Chip, the plane was made for him by Ron Gilman. I drew from the conversation that both were his but I am not positive and I certainly am not trying to contradict what others have said in this thread. i am simply relating the covnersation as I recall it.

Geroge (GP G-rod): Although I did not grow up in Calif., I was stationed at Edwards Air Force base from 1970 to 1980 and then again in the mid 1980's. I started flying pattern in Santa Maria CA. in 1985 and I can remember going to Mile Square, or Lancaster and being one of many pilots entered in an event. The largest field I remember is about 88 pilots at an event at Lancaster, San Bernadino or Mile Square in 1985 or 86. I was flying novice with a reworked Kaos with a K&B 60. I was mentored in thos days by central CA pilots Tony Plebanek, Mac Patterson and Dennis Galloway. Sorry to say that all of their help didn't really help my flying but I had fun. I got back into pattern in the early 90's while living in Denver CO. and then out after few years I reentered in 2007 and am having fun with the current pattern community.

Speaking of Tipos, I bought the one in the attached photo a few years ago and refinished it. Maiden flight yeaterday reminded me of the one I flew in events in 1987.
Anyway, This thread really brings back fond memories.

Ed Valls