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03/31/2008. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg: "The Gold Bug was an original homebuilt aircraft designed and built Mr. Merle Replogle of Osceola Indiana (later Kent, Washington and Tuscon, Arizona) and appeared in three different configurations. Pictured in its original form, the Gold Bug was powered by one 10 hp West Bend single-cylinder two-stroke engine in the nose and two 8 hp West Bend engines with pusher type propellers mounted on the fuselage on either side of the cockpit. It first flew in 1962 and featured an open cockpit. The aircraft was soon modified with tractor type propellers. The wingspan was 30 ft (9.14 m). The aircraft received a new fuselage with a raised upper decking, higher-mounted parasol wing, an enclosed cockpit, a taller vertical tail and 10 hp West Bend engines in the fuselage positions. The aircraft was damaged in an accident. Rebuilt to its final form as a single-engined aircraft, it was fitted with a 36 hp Volkswagen 1200 engine in the nose and wingspan was increased by 1 ft (0.30 m). In this form the aircraft was first flown in 1966. Only one Gold Bug was built. Specifications (final form) Span: 31 ft (9.45 m) Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.89 m) Height: 7 ft (2.13 m) Max. speed: 75 mph (121 kmh) Cruise speed: 60 mph (97 kmh) Initial climb: 300 ft (91 m)/min Ceiling: 9,000 ft (2,743 m) Range: 180 mls (290 km)."