Bugatti 100 Racing Plane @ Oshkosh (2234509290) (2)

This is the real, one and only, Bugatti 100 air-racer. Two V8 engines behind the cockpit, each one drives its own 2 bladed prop, and they're geared to go in opposite directions. I don't believe it flew competitively in whatever racing it was built for- the Second World War got in the way and when that was over, engine and aerodynamic technology had left this beautiful, unique, airplane, behind. As the blue color indicates, although "Bugatti" is an obviously Italianate name, M. Bugatti lived and worked in France. I expect this beautiful plane was not quite as nice looking when it first arrived at the Experimental Aircraft Association facility at Oshkosh, or maybe it was fixed up between wherever it had been languishing and the home it finally found. The photo hardly does it justice, its stunning to look at in person, and it hangs in space, gear up, canopy closed, just like it was born to do.

I have a nose-to-tail composite of two frames at: www.flickr.com/photos/wbaiv/6947592134/