Aircraft N85Y Baby Ace model C
The original Baby Ace was manufactured in kit form in 1931 by Corben Aircraft Company established in 1923, after having first flown in 1929, and designed by O. G. Corben. It resembled a Heath Parasol with "N" wing struts. Six Corben Baby Aces were factory-built starting in 1929, the rest kit built by amateur builders.
In 1953 Paul Poberezny and S. J. Dzik completely redesigned the Corben Baby Ace with intention of offering it in kit form. The landing gear was changed to a simpler design fastened only to the lower fuselage. The wing struts were changed to parallel struts from the "N" strut original version. Wing span was increased, as was fuselage length. The redesigned model C rights were then sold to Cliff Ducharme. A couple hundred were built.
The single place parasol wing aircraft was again redesigned as the model D.
The model D prototype first flew on 15 November 1956. Many authorized refinements of the basic design exist, and it is difficult to enumerate the changes, as Salmson 45 initially, and Continental A65, A85, C65 or C85 engines mainly later were used. Construction was welded steel tube fuselage and tail, fabric covered with braced wooden wing, fabric covered. Taildragger gear was fixed.
The two-seat Junior Ace was redesigned as the Junior Ace model E. Edwin Jacob acquired the company in 1961. He then sold the rights to Thurman Baird in 1965 who operated the Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Baird also had the rights to the Heath Parasol aircraft, among several other experimental aircraft designs.
I have the original Corben Baby Ace dimensions and performance with Salmson 45 and the model D dimensions and performance with Continental A65 and with Continental C65. If yours is the C model N85Y, you could then measure and compare all the changes from original to model C and to the model D with two different engines. I believe the C model is now fairly rare. Let me know.
Thanks for the info Doug. The previous owner said he thought it was a C model. When I got on the web, I found the D model is the only one talked about.
The plane was built 6 yrs ago. It has a Continental 65HP although I don't know the difference between A-65 and C-65. It is a hand start engine. The vertical stab is curved on the leading edge. It is the Cabin variant. The gear are attached only to the fuse. The wing struts are 2 parallel struts similar to or the same as a Cub with braces at about midspan up to the wing. Fuse is welded steel tubing. Wing is wood. Tail wheel is not full castering.
Sorry if I got some of the terminology wrong, I'm a newb.
MTR
Fuller Continental engine differences may be explained in:
http://www.aerofiles.com/motors.html which also has a good link now to Erickson's extensive aero engine model treatise-link found on the Aerofiles reference's first page. The A65 series preceded the C65 Continentals with differing block castings and Hp/rpm ratings. Neither of these engine models had electric starters.
You really get my attention with the "Cabin" variant of your aircraft. Was it built that way originally? Does the "cabin" just fully-enclose the pilot's head as with a bubble canopy? All single seat Baby Aces were open cockpit designs. How about taking a side-view photo (at least) of your plane and uploading it to this site? That would be most helpful. As I stated, there were many builder variations approved. But, I have never seen a cabin model Baby Ace.
The Corben Baby Ace A model (original model) that I have photographed is N73638. I also have photos of two Baby Ace D models- C-FXMP and N1029S. Please take a look at those on this site.