Definitely from the golden era of plans-built homebuilts, Todd Loes’ Cygnet SF-2A embodies all the down-on-the-farm ingenuity and patina of that era. While it hardly comes close to the detailing we take for granted from today’s kit planes, it highlights the found-object artistry earlier generations accepted as givens when getting everyman aloft.
Originally built by Henry Olsen in 1980 the Cygnet was always un-hangared and thus hammered by “the wind and snow until it rotted away.” Loes, of Waterloo, Iowa, bought the forlorn 2-seater in 1996, giving it a major rebuild while preserving its original essence. The overhaul was so comprehensive it’s far easier to list the remaining original parts than note the extensive work Loes performed. The wing, for example, boasts its original spar, but that’s all. There’s not much more original in the fuselage, either. The wing struts, firewall, tail struts and seat cushions—“an homage to grandma’s couch”—along with the complete landing gear are all that remain.
Loes was careful to retain the original N-number and called his restoration a repair to continue Olsen’s presence in the airplane.
Performance is modest, with a friend of Loes saying, “It does what a buck and half (Cessna 150) will do but using a VW engine.” Loes reports a 90 mph cruising speed, 102 mph at full chat and a solo rate of climb in the 500 to 600 fpm range. He keeps a Cessna 172 in his hangar for flying Young Eagles and other crew-intensive flying, saving the purely fun stuff for the Cygnet.
A wonderful read. Presenting the past is a challenge and makes this more rewarding.
Well-written Tom. Thank you for connecting my “project” back to the older era where aesthetics were back-seat to functionality.
I saw this plane at Oshkosh. I love it! Always wanted one of these. Such a sensible plane.