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engineers expressed an interest in the design and even entered into negotiations for possible production of the aircraft. With the onset of World War II, production plans were shelved, but
Fairchild contacted Wittman and proposed that a four-seat version would be marketable. Wittman designed the
148:, to demonstrate the lightweight and strong spring steel landing gear of the Big X. Cessna bought the plane and its production rights in order to use the gear on its new
168:. It was steel tube fuselage with fabric covering and all-wood wings. The original Big X featured a 130 hp Franklin engine, later upgraded to a 150 hp.
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Big X was used as a companion plane and baggage hauler during
Wittman's years as an air racer. The original aircraft was rebuilt by Forrest Lovley in 1980.
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taildragger. Wittman later produced an updated version in a two-place configuration called the
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When
Fairchild did not follow up on production offers, Wittman was contacted by Cessna in
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1 × Franklin 6A4-150-B3 , 150 hp (110 kW)
306:Jack Cox (July 1980). "Wittman Big X Restored".
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164:The Big X was built in the same manner as
156:that became a popular homebuilt aircraft.
252:130 kn (150 mph, 240 km/h)
120:in the post World War II aviation boom.
108:is a four seat high wing variant of the
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258:48 kn (55 mph, 89 km/h)
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207:24 ft 10 in (7.57 m)
141:four-place "Big X" soon afterward.
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128:On a cross-country fuel stop at
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264:900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
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132:, with Wittman's design, the
473:United States sport aircraft
463:Aircraft first flown in 1945
180:Specifications Wittman Big X
225:2,200 lb (998 kg)
219:1,150 lb (522 kg)
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40:United States of America
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213:29 ft (8.8 m)
192:General characteristics
130:Hagerstown, Maryland
322:"Wittman Buttercup"
172:Operational history
478:High-wing aircraft
453:Homebuilt aircraft
283:"SJ Steve Wittman"
114:Fairchild Aircraft
27:Homebuilt Aircraft
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110:Wittman Buttercup
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97:Wittman Buttercup
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458:Wittman aircraft
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154:Wittman Tailwind
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68:January 6, 1945
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29:Type of aircraft
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146:Wichita, Kansas
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118:Cessna Aircraft
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36:National origin
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262:Rate of climb:
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187:Sport Aviation
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19:Wittman Big X
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250:Cruise speed:
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73:Introduction
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65:First flight
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59:Steve Wittman
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45:Manufacturer
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422:Little Bonzo
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286:. Retrieved
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256:Stall speed:
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82:Number built
243:Performance
235:Powerplant:
124:Development
447:Categories
340:References
327:12 October
288:12 October
150:Cessna 195
397:Buttercup
211:Wingspan:
199:Capacity:
185:Data from
166:Buttercup
138:Fairchild
134:Buttercup
55:Designer
427:Tailwind
377:aircraft
375:Wittman
205:Length:
432:V-Witt
160:Design
116:, and
392:Bonzo
387:Big X
269:Notes
76:1945
24:Role
407:D-12
329:2010
290:2010
104:The
412:DFA
449::
298:^
231:36
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86:1
367:e
360:t
353:v
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201:4
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