last updated 05/30/08

SHERPA AIRCRAFT

When the first Sherpa prototype, 1415B, landed at the EAA Fly-In at Oshkosh, WI the reception that followed turned out to be a truly emotional experience. Dozens of aviation enthusiasts surrounded the new Sherpa the minute it pulled onto the taxiway. It was as though the aircraft became the pied piper as it lead the followers all the way to the location where it was to be displayed. When the show was over the foot traffic from the thousands of viewers turned the original lush grassy surface to dust. The year was 1994. Although the EAA show officials found it difficult to judge this new Sherpa relative to restoration, plans built, or new design etc …, they did present a special award for outstanding quality construction. It is that quality construction that has become the trademark of the Sherpa products.

In 1995 the EAA Sport Aviation monthly publication featured a special test flight article about the new Sherpa. The author of the article, Budd Davisson, spent several days’ flight testing the big jumbo tired tail dragger prototype with the aircraft’s principal designer, Byron Root, in the rugged canyons of the Oregon Idaho border. In the article Budd Davisson nicknamed the Sherpa “ A Super Cub on Steroids ”. The nickname remains in effect to this date.

During the 2000 EAA Fly-In event, the owners of the Sherpa Company were presented an offer to have principal components of the aircraft produced with an Eastern European country. At first glance the offer seemed impractical and unworkable. After reviewing the pros and cons of the idea it was determined that there would be significant financial advantages in accepting the offer because the offer included the funding of a significant drawing package, the FAA Part 23 certification and the development of a complete kit program. The issues regarding quality construction and lower labor costs were goals that never came to fruition. After six years the deal was abandoned. During the six years experience the Sherpa website constantly featured updates and photographs of the construction of various Sherpa components. As can be seen, all of those photographs have been removed from the web site and none of the components that were shown were ever used or remain in inventory.

** Please note ** All future construction photos on Sherpa’s new website feature locally manufactured products from the Sherpa facility in Scappoose Oregon or sub-contractors nearby in the United States