I came across something recently that mentioned the Stits Playboy as being the progenitor of the RV-3. Wikipedia says they are variants of each other. Whoever created that entry must not know about the RV-1. (I wonder if there was an RV-2?) I think there's only one RV-1. It gets star billing at various airshows and Chapter events around the country. Like a holy relic.
A few years ago I took on the job of selling and delivering a Cavalier and in the process learned quite a bit about how the French government, as the smoke from WWII still clearing, was forming flying clubs around France and holding design competitions. They were doing everything they could to encourage a nation of airplane builders and flyers. I was surprised to read about this happening while most of Europe was still in ruins, but I shouldn't have been surprised. Many if not most of terms we use for aircraft and their parts are French in origin. Jodel, the Druine Turbulent (love that name), the Emeraude, and the forerunner of the Cavalier - the GY-20 Mini Cab. All these and others whose names I can't recall. All these are survivors from a whirlwind of wooden airplane building following WWII. The GY-20 won the competition, 1947 or so, and even went into production (about 100 planes). A Canadian took the design back to Canada with him and developed it into what we know as the Cavalier . . . although there are still some builders of the original Mini Cab so it's not forgotten. I saw a prize-winning version of the Mini Cab get ruined from sitting out in the sun and rain with a For Sale sign on it for three years or so. Owner got too old to fly it or keep up with maintenance or even get it in a hangar to protect it from what hot summers do to airplanes. Nothing lasts. Wooden airplanes do last well though in a dry climate. The Cavalier project I took on was still like new, Ceconite and all. Built in the 70's and hangared it's entire life. I came to learn about GoodYear brakes from that plane . They can lock up on you even without touching the brake pedal. The new owner put Clevelands on, first thing. MikeKSEE
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