Weight: 240#
Wing Span: 32′
Length: 19′
Wing Area @ Chord: 176 sq. ft.
Wing Area @ Camber: 192 sq. ft.
Wing Construction: Tube and Sewn Dacron
Santos Dumont was a prolific aeronautical designer and builder from 1898 to 1910. He made his first balloon ascension in Paris on July 4th 1898. His second balloon, “America” flew shortly thereafter. On November 12th, 1906 Santos Dumont’s airplane, the 14-BIS, flew a distance of 715 ft. at the height of 20ft. at about 22 mph. Thanks to this flight, which made him the first person to fly in Europe the “Archdeacon prize” was awarded to Santos Dumont.
He developed and built the first production aircraft; produced by Clement Bayard it was one of the first conventional looking airplanes and at 242 lb. it was probably the first ultralight.
To keep track of his flight time a wrist watch was developed in conjunction with his friend Cartier.
On January 4, 1910 Santos Dumont broke a flying wire and crashed to the ground. He never flew again.
By some accounts he was flying the 19 or the 19 BIS. By others he was in the 20, a modified 20, a 21 or even a 22. In any case, not one historical record puts him in the 23. Quite simply, he never built a 23rd aircraft.
If.. the flying wire hadn’t broken…
If.. he would have flown again…
If.. he would have built another plane…
We feel that with some of todays materials and techniques he would have built something that looks like the 23BIS. A Skonkwerks, purpose built aircraft, Specifically constructed to fly at Airventure 2015.
Bob Hoover signing the wing. 
Over 2500 signatures. 
John Moody signing the wing. 
Flight at Oshkosh AirVenture. 
John Moody’s Easy Riser and the 23 bis. 
The Skonkwerks crew summer of 2014.
SKONKWERKS.ORG 