The Backstrom EPB-1 Flying Plank is an American mid-wing, single seat, tailless glider that was designed by Al Backstrom, with assistance from Phil Easley and Jack Powell in 1954 and made available as plans for amateur construction.Said, Bob: ''1983 Sailplane Directory, Soaring Magazine'', page 12. Soaring Society of America, November 1983. USPS 499-920

Design and development

The Flying Plank was intended to be an aircraft that could be built at home, that would be of minimum size and yet still provide reasonable soaring performance. The prototype Plank featured tip rudders and was used for drag-reduction tests conducted at

Mississippi State University Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university adjacent to Starkville, Mississippi. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Unive ...

before it was retired. The EPB-1 designation indicates the design team's last names. The EPB-1 is constructed with a wooden structure, with doped

aircraft fabric covering Aircraft fabric covering is a term used for both the material used and the process of covering aircraft open structures. It is also used for reinforcing closed plywood structures. The de Havilland Mosquito is an example of this technique, as ar ...

. The landing gear is a monowheel, with a nose skid. The "A" model was described in the plans sold and retained the twin tip rudders of the EPB-1, although some were built with a single fin and rudder assembly attached to the cockpit rear. At least one two-place side-by-side seating version was built in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, and another as a motor glider. The standard wingspan is , but versions have been built with spans up to .

Operational history

In March 2011 two EPB-1s were still registered in the USA, including the one in the National Soaring Museum.

Variants

;EPB-1 :Initial prototype with dual tip rudders ;EPB-1A :Standard model built from plans, also with dual tip rudders ;EPB-1C :Model modified by Al Cleave, featuring a centrally-mounted fin and rudder.

', The EPB-1C, Sport Aviation, 1965, January, p. 31 ;EPB-1H :Model modified with a different airfoil, was not successful, dismantled. ;Flying Plank II :Motor glider version

Aircraft on display

* National Soaring Museum - EPB-1A and EPB-1C

Specifications (EPB-1A)

References

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External links

Photo of EPB-1C
1950s United States sailplanes Tailless aircraft Homebuilt aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1954