| 26" x 20" | "Rambler Solo" Robert Bradford Countersigned |
$125.00 (Cdn) |
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The Rambler was designed by Wilfrid T. Reid in 1928 when he founded his company, Reid Aircraft, which shortly became the Curtiss-Reid Aircraft Company when bought by the Curtiss Company. It was the first Canadian design built for the civil market and 42 were delivered to civil owners and the RCAF. A standard Rambler I of the Curtiss-Reid School is depicted here, with K.M. (Ken) Molson on an early solo flight. Ken's passion for aviation continued and led to his selection as the first Curator of Canada's National Aviation Museum. The Rambler had an all-metal structure and was fabric covered, which Reid felt most suited Canadian conditions. It was originally fitted with A.D.C. Cirrus and D.H. Gipsy I and II engines, however, in 1931 an improved version, the Rambler III, was flown with the more powerful Gipsy III engine. The MKIII prototype was flown in the British King's Cup Race that year by John C. Webster. Most were used for flight instruction and one of the most prominent Rambler students was G.F. "Buzz" Beurling who became Canada's top-scoring WWII fighter pilot.
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