# Planespotting **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195 "2012-09-09T14:34:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/1 "2012-09-09T14:34:37Z")
There’s an [Anderson Greenwood AG-14](http://www.aplocator.com/AG14) for sale on eBay. (Link is to a Barry Schiff article.) [Here’s a very short clip of one landing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-JEroWMO0M). [Google pics](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Anderson+Greenwood+AG-14%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=RE4&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=np&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=pqRMUMf5HuXIigK62IGwAg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1645&bih=1092). Only five (plus a prototype) were built. I like the looks of this aircraft. Give it a pointier nose and squared-off flying surfaces and some wheel pants, and it would look like a modern design. Unfortunately the post-war General Aviation boom failed to materialise, and the Korean War limited available resources. It’s too bad. I can imagine further development to bring its flying characteristics more in line with conventional aircraft, and a Lycoming O-320 would have given it more pep than its Continental C-90. In reading Schiff’s article, its flying characteristics remind me a bit of what I’ve read about the Ercoupe. Lots of those are still flying, and I think the AG-14 would have appealed to the same kind of pilot that likes the Ercoupe. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/2 "2012-09-10T15:29:04Z")
Very cool. I think it’s a great starting point for a new LSA! I’d de-couple the nose wheel, make the ailerons and rudder larger for more control, and of course a larger engine. If we don’t limit ourselves to LSA regs, let’s go big! 4 seater with retractable gear! I don’t know if a pointy nose will change the c/d that much, but I think it would impede forward/downward view. I love this as a small observation platform. I know we’re getting into Skymaster territory if we go too big, but I like the bubble/egg fuselage. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/3 "2012-09-10T18:40:49Z")
Yeah, I was going to say that if you give it four seats and make it retractable, may as well add another engine and call it a Skymaster. 😛 But if you like the bubble/egg fuselage, how about the [Edgley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgley_Optica) [Optica](http://www.google.com/search?q=edgley+optica&hl=en&tbo=d&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=4zNOUPHsIIXTqwHIhIDYDg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAA&biw=1200&bih=626)? ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/4 "2012-09-10T19:13:46Z")
That is so funny. My screensaver is simply a random rotation of pictures in a particular folder. Whenever I see something cool, interesting, strange, or funny, I save it into that folder. Since I’m a plane guy, strange planes make it in there all the time, and one I’ve had for years is an Optica, although I never new the name. I started to post it as a cool example of a observation plane, but Windows Explorer won’t display half the thumbnails in the folder, so I couldn’t find it! I want one! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/5 "2012-09-10T23:37:30Z")
Wasn’t there a Vietnam era military observation plane that looked a lot like it? ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/6 "2012-09-10T23:41:53Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Wasn’t there a Vietnam era military observation plane that looked a lot like it? [OV-10 Bronco?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Rockwell_OV-10_Bronco) If you want twin-tailed ugly go for the [Airtruk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transavia_PL-12_Airtruk) ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_Full\_of\_Neutrality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7ab992/32.png) [@Heart\_Full\_of\_Neutrality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_Full_of_Neutrality)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/7 "2012-09-11T03:09:58Z")
[OV-10 Bronco?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Rockwell_OV-10_Bronco) Or perhaps the [O-2 Skymaster?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_O-2_Skymaster) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planespotting/634195/8 "2013-01-27T21:10:31Z")
[Derelict 1946 Navion](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Navion-1946-North-American-Single-Engine-Airplane-Plane-/261161042047?pt=Motors_Aircraft&hash=item3cce69407f#ht_1481wt_743). (eBay listing, so it will expire. [I also found it on flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/23269353@N00/839311724/). It’s sad to see an aircraft in this condition, especially when they are antiques. Still, it appears to be smiling about something.