While on the subject of vintage European biplanes we must mention the Belgian Stampe. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, this two-place, all wood-trainer won the hearts of the entire continent and even today the center of a dedicated aerobatic competition, the Coupe D'Anjou, a contest in France for Stampes only. Soft, docile, and easy to fly, the Stampe is an excellent choice for an entry level acrobatic airplane. If you want to see some Stampe flying, rent a copy of the film High Road to China, in which two Stamps masquerading as WWI Fighters, flit all over the Hindu Kush. They were flown in the film by Eric Miller and David Perrin (who lost his life during filming in a liaison helicopter accident).
The Stampe was designed in 1933 by Belgian WW I pilot Jean Stampe. He was a Moth dealer in the 1920´s. The aircraft was meant as a rival to the De Havilland D.H. 60 Moth and the D.H.82 Tiger Moth. The aircraft was so popular that production was started and license right were sold to Farmann in France. Only 10 were delivered to the military before WW II stopped the production in France. In 1947 the production was resumed by Stampe and Renard and 65 modernized SV 4B´s were delivered to the Belgian Air force. In France and Algeria approx 850 Stampe SV 4A and SV 4C were built mostly powered by a 140 h.p. Renault 4 Pei engine. The museum's SV 4B with the registration OY-DBC was completed in 1955 and was in service in the Belgian Air force until 1976 as V62. The aircraft came to Denmark in 1977 and flew again in 1987 after a complete restoration.