August 2006: I started building my Skybolt in Dec. 1993. As with many of us... the usual stuff got in the way and it was put on hold for many years. I haven't let that stop my passion for building it fade away.

I've been pretty persistant in my quest to build this biplane. It's been years and I still keep coming back to it. Each time determined to finish it. I still haven't given up and I don't plan on it either.

When I started the project I planned on modifying the standard Skybolt fuselage to accept a radial engine. Since that time, Steen Aero Labs, the owners of the Skybolt design, had Curtiss Pitts, of Pitts Special fame, design a fuselage specifically for the Russian Vendenyev M14P radial engine. I bought the updated set of plans in October of 2005. I have plans of welding up the fuselage and empennage in the Summer/Fall of 2007.

Update: February 2010: I have the basic fuselage completed and have started working on the upper wing center section. I estimate that I have 70% finished and another 90% to go.

I have developed a site to track the progress of the build. Click here to view it.