Piper Aviation Museum Receives Rare Hand Built Donation

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Robert W. (Bob) Erdman recently donated his Piper PA-8 Skycycle aircraft to the Piper Aviation Museum. His son, David recently transported the aircraft from his father’s home in Maize, Kansas to the museum. David brought the airplane along with various aircraft and engine parts pertaining to this aircraft and many photos and documentation of the assembly as well:

At the age of 14, Bob first saw this plane suspended from a department store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This day was Saturday, July 28, 1945. (By the way, also on this day a B-25 hit the Empire State Building in NYC; also the same date, July 28, 75 years later, it was unloaded in Lock Haven.) After seeing this plane in person, Dad drew a picture of it and from this day on it was always his dream to build this Skycycle. “My father spent his entire career in the aircraft industry in the Air-Capital of the World, Wichita, KS working at both Cessna Aircraft and Gates LearJet” said David. “He retired from Cessna Aircraft in 1993 and it was then he began researching and building the Skycycle.” There were no building plans for this aircraft so he researched all he could and drew the plans to finally start work to make his dream become a reality.

The elder Erdman is 89 years old and feels “very thankful that the museum is accepting this aircraft into their collection because he wishes for the ‘legend’ of this airplane to live on for many years to come.”

The donation was delivered in a moving truck and is not completely finished. The Piper Aviation Museum Board of Directors has placed this, along with the documentation in an exhibit area of the museum and encourages local aviation enthusiasts and curious history buffs to visit.