Originally designed by Jennings W. “Jack” Rose in 1929, the Rose Parrakeet is a single place small biplane, it has an unmistakable profile and design.  It uses a classic wood truss rib, spruce spar wing construction with a fabric covered steel tube fuselage and tail surfaces.  It was certified for commercial production by the CAA (predecessor current FAA) under Type Certificate 2-514 in 1935.  The Model A-1 was originally certified with a 37hp Continental A-40-3 engine. Subsequent models were tested with Scott 40 hp, Menasco 50 hp and Franklin 50 & 60 hp engines. Model A-4 was powered by Continental A-65 & A-85 fuel injected engines.  In 1965, Doug Rhinehart obtained a license from Jack Rose to produce five model A-4C aircraft under TC 2-514 and STC SA1040SW(rev) for a Continental O-200 (100 hp) engine.  Today, these aircraft qualify under the new FAA Sport Light Aircraft Rules.

Several of the 8 original commercially produced CAA/FAA certified Rose Aeroplane & Motor Company aircraft from 1933 thru 1938 and Rhinehart Rose Mfg. from 1969 thru 1978 are still flying.  One aircraft manufactured under license to Jack Rose in 1947 by Blackhawk Aircraft Co. was registed, but did not complete the certification process.  It was sold to Foster Hannaford along with four incomplete airframes in March 1948. Foster Hannaford had a license from Jack Rose to manufacture and sell five Hannaford Rose A-4 Parrakeets per year.   In 1950 Hannaford Aircraft, Co completed and sold it’s first Hannaford A-4 as an experimental. Sometime between 1948 and the early 50’s Rose felt that Hannaford had violated their agreement and filed an injunction against Hannaford Aircraft, which was settled out of court.  By 1955 plans marketed as Hannaford Bee Model D-1, but in fact copies of the Rose Parrakeet Plans were sold for $85 by Hanniford Aircraft Co.   Although Jack Rose and Doug Rhinehart always maintained that Parrakeet Plans were never sold for experimental certification, enthusiastic home builders have been building Parrakeet replicas from Foster Hannaford Model D-1 and Ed Sweat Pajarito plans ever since. 

Because of the short wing span and agile handling characteristics of the Rose Parrakeet, it was often used as an aerobatic show plane by well known air show performers such as Bill Fischer (NX29111), Dick Owens & Bob Nance (NC14842), Bob Fabian (N34253), Doug Rhinehart (NC1367G, NC14843, NC18252 & NC14881) and Dick Borg (N80RG).

 This particular aircraft is one of the original 8 factory Rose Parrakeets. It is kept at Ala Doble Flying Ranch where it is regularly flown as part of the Ala Doble Flying Collection.

(Sources: American Airplanes, Earth Spirit Texas)