Ettore Bugatti, cars and engines aficionado, became famous for his ability to conceive and build nice fast cars and powerful advanced in design engines.
Indeed his cars won a myriad of trophy in two years time, and apparently nobody, yet, has succeeded in gaining so many victories in the same time frame.
Ettore Bugatti intrusion in aeronautical matters resulted, in cooperation with Count Pierre Louis de Monge, a Belgian engineer, to the construction of an ultra fine designed plane the Bugatti - De Monge 100 P. The plane was built with the aim to win the 1938 Deutsch de la Meurthe coupe, but never flew as the World War 2 arrived.
This unique plane has survived till today after several up and down, being move from Europe to USA. The plane is now exposed at the EAA Air venture Museum. As many of Bugatti creations, this plane is not far from being an Art Deco Masterpiece, knowing Ettore Bugatti passion for perfection.
An American team is now building a replica of this plane with the participation of Ladislas De Monge, Louis de Monge grandson. The task is not easy as few average quality drawings are available, and nothing was found about the wing profile. Nevertheless test fly should occur during 2011.
You may discover how the project started and his actual status at: http://www.eaa.org/news/2009/2009-10-23_bugatti.asp.
The plane was exhibited exhibited at the Oshkosh 2011 Air venture, and got the expected success !(http://www.airventure.org/news/2011/110623_bugatti.html.)
Several researchers have tried to rebuild the history of this plane, but quite often, some contradictory information can be found here and there. This is quite understandable as the project for this plane was started, about 2 years before the WW2 and Bugatti father and sons were not anymore alive just few years after the end of the Second World War.
To know more about this plane you may visit the following sites:
Bugatti – De Monge 100 P replica project : http://bugatti100p.com/
The Bugatti Revue N°3: http://www.bugattirevue.com/revue3/rev3-2.htm
The Bugatti Revue N°4 : http://www.bugattirevue.com/revue4/plane.htm
Bugatti – De Monge 100 P aficionado: http://morlock68.pagesperso-orange.fr/bugatti.htm
