2001 AEAC European Aerobatic Champion Zoltan Veres will be flying a big barnstorming American biplane around Europe during his 2003 season, which already includes stops in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Veres saw a Culp’s Special several years ago, made a trip to the United States soon after to fly one, and decided the flashy, maneuverable aircraft was made just for him; in fact, the one he will be flying will indeed be made just for him.

Culp’s Special designer/builder Steve Culp of Shreveport (LA) has moved lock, stock and workshop to George Coy’s Gesoco Industries in Swanton (VT) to assist Veres in constructing the 2-place open-cockpit Special. Culp, Veres, and a number of assistants have been working on the plane at Gesoco for the past four weeks, and anticipate first flight in about three more.

Once the first flight is behind them and any kinks are worked out, Culp and Veres will disassemble the plane, put it in a container, and ship it to Czech Republic where it will be painted and reassembled. Then, it will be made ready for a special "Jubilee" flight to honor Hungarian aviators Antal Banhidi and Tibor Bisits. (70 years ago the two flew a Gerle 13 biplane around the Mediterranean Sea to prove the proficiency of Hungarian pilots and to encourage the Hungarian government to support aviation.) Veres and his Special will follow in the footsteps of Banhidi and Bisits. Hungarian television and other European media outlets will be following his historic trek.

About the Special:

Veres’ aircraft will be the fourth flying Special, but a number more are in various stages of the building process, with  approximately 220 sets of plans sold to date. Culp’s friend and willing mentor, legendary plane builder Curtis Pitts, was the inspiration behind the Special and counseled Steve on its design specifications. Most of the Specials sport a 360-hp engine, but Veres’ aircraft will be powered by a 400-hp Russian M-14P radial. The Special is rated to +9 and -7Gs. The planes are big, flashy and have proven to be showstoppers.

About Zoltan Veres:

40-year-old Zoltan Veres flies a 737 for MALEV Hungarian Airlines, but when not at work, has logged 4200 hours flying 90 different single and multi-engine GA aircraft. Veres is an ATP, an aircraft engineer, and aviation legal expert; he holds the test pilot rating, as well as a U.S. airshow ground waiver. He has won the Czechoslovak Masters title, was a silver medalist in the British Nationals; won a bronze medal in the World Championship in 1994. He was invited to participate in the famous Breitling World Cup series, and in 2001, was the AEAC European Aerobatic Champion. (He did not compete last year because of a broken rib.) In addition, he and his SU-26 have flown in formation with two MIG-29 fighters and a Boeing 737!

About Steve Culp:

Special designer Steve Culp began his life as a race car fabricator, but in 1992, made the switch to airplanes. After his first project --- a once-dingy 1956 Piper Tri-pacer --- was named Oshkosh Classic Custom Champion, he never looked back. Steve designed the Special to look as much as possible like an early 1930s barnstormer, but with modern structure, avionics and inverted fuel and oil systems. Culp is also an airshow pilot, but he's never been able to hang onto one of his Specials long enough to complete a season in it! Culp is also currently working to finish two Sopwith Pup airplanes, full-size replicas of the WWI original, only with modern structure, inverted systems, and an M14-P 360-hp radial engine; and he's building a Monocoupe of his own design.

FMI: www.culpsspecialties.com