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This 1994 Steen Skybolt’s Biplane Proportions Make It an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

A popular homebuilt, the Skybolt became a regular sight at airshows.

The aerobatic homebuilt Skybolt began as a high school shop project. [Courtesy: Kent Cook]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The article features a 1994 Steen Skybolt as "Today's Top Pick" from Aircraft For Sale, highlighting its unique history and aerobatic capabilities.
  • Originally designed in the late 1960s by high school teacher Lamar Steen to inspire students, the Skybolt is a homebuilt sport biplane stressed for aerobatics, with over 400 units built from sold plans.
  • The specific 1994 Steen Skybolt for sale has 605 hours on both the airframe and engine since overhaul, includes a modern avionics panel, and is available for $59,000.
  • It is recommended for pilots seeking a handsome sport biplane capable of performing full aerobatic routines.
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Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1994 Steen Skybolt.

In the late 1960s, Lamar Steen was a high school industrial arts teacher who was looking for a way to inspire his students. He designed a sport biplane and figured he could teach the kids some serious math and mechanical skills while boosting their confidence. He coached them while they did the building. They finished the project in 1970 and watched as Steen test-flew it. How has no one made a movie about this feel-good story?

Steen performed aerobatics at numerous airshows during the 1970s and sold hundreds of plans for the homebuilt airplane. The airframe is stressed for aerobatics and consists of a steel tube fuselage and wooden wings. The original aircraft used a Lycoming HO-360 engine, but subsequent models used a variety of engines including 300 hp Lycoming 540s. A total of more than 400 were built.   

This Steen Skybolt has 605 hours on the airframe and 605 hours on the engine since factory overhaul. The panel includes a King KT97A comm radio, King KT76A transponder, AV30 PFD, intercom, ADS-B out, and EDM 800 engine monitor.

Pilots looking for a handsome sport biplane that is capable of performing full aerobatic routines should consider this 1994 Steen Skybolt, which is available for $59,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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