Service History
The Bakeng Duce found its niche exclusively in the experimental amateur-built aircraft market, where it served sport pilots and aviation enthusiasts seeking to recreate the aesthetic and flying experience of 1920s and 1930s aircraft. By 1979, just nine years after its debut, over 200 sets of plans had been sold to builders worldwide. Individual constructors completed examples throughout the 1970s and beyond, including notable aircraft built by B. Meyer in 1976 and Preston Fowler's "Duce II" completed in 1974.
The aircraft gained recognition within the Experimental Aircraft Association community, with multiple examples documented in EAA's Sport Aviation magazine from 1971 through 2005. Builders constructed Duces for personal sport flying rather than commercial operation, with examples flying in locations ranging from Alaska to international routes such as Wyndover to Cornwall.
The Manufacturer
Jerry Bakeng, a former Boeing engineer, initially developed and marketed the Duce design independently during the early 1970s. His engineering background at Boeing provided the technical foundation for creating an aircraft that balanced vintage aesthetics with modern homebuilding practicality. Bakeng sold plans directly to builders until 1999, when Austin Cole acquired the design rights and established the Bakeng Deuce Airplane Factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The rights transfer in March 1999 marked a significant transition for the design. Cole's company, located at 9850 52nd Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin, continued offering plans and kit components while publishing a newsletter for builders and operators. The company also changed the aircraft's spelling from "Duce" to "Deuce" for post-1999 examples, creating a clear distinction between the original Bakeng-sold plans and the factory-supported versions.
Engine & Technical Details
The Duce employed a mixed construction approach typical of amateur-built designs seeking to balance authenticity with buildability. The forward fuselage featured welded steel tube construction with metal skinning, while the aft section used fabric covering. The parasol wing design utilized wooden construction with ribs and spars covered in fabric, and the wings were designed to be removable for storage and transport.
Engine installations varied according to builder preference and budget, though most examples used conventional four-cylinder powerplants. Documented variants included a 125-horsepower version known as the Brooks 125 HP Duce noted in 1985, and a Konicek Duce equipped with a Lycoming O-235 engine in 1987. The tandem cockpit arrangement accommodated two occupants in open cockpits, though some builders modified their aircraft with canopies for weather protection.
Pilot Perspective
Pilots appreciated the Duce for its forgiving handling characteristics and authentic vintage flying experience. The aircraft typically cruised comfortably at 75-85 mph, though it could achieve speeds up to 85 mph in favorable conditions. The open cockpit configuration provided an unobstructed flying experience reminiscent of early aviation, though the aircraft was not designed for aerobatic flight.
The parasol wing configuration offered excellent visibility for the occupants while providing stable flight characteristics suitable for recreational flying. Pilots noted the aircraft's ability to operate from shorter airfields due to its modest performance envelope and tailwheel configuration, making it suitable for grass strips and smaller airports.
Production & Legacy
The Duce succeeded as a homebuilt design by offering builders an accessible path to vintage-style aviation without the complexity or cost of restoring original 1920s aircraft. No exact production total exists since construction occurred individually by amateur builders, but plans remained available through 2007 and likely beyond. The design's longevity spanning over three decades demonstrates its appeal to successive generations of homebuilders.
The aircraft earned recognition early in its career, winning the Outstanding New Design Trophy at the 1971 EAA Fly-In at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, along with a Design Improvement award the same year. This recognition helped establish the Duce's reputation within the homebuilt community and contributed to strong plan sales throughout the 1970s.
Several examples remain active today, including C-GPLL built in 1982 and still flying with enlarged windscreen modifications. The Pioneer Air Museum displays Preston Fowler's 1974-built example, preserving the design's heritage for future aviation enthusiasts. Bakeng also developed a biplane variant called the Double Duce, though this version achieved less market success than the original parasol-wing design.
The Duce's legacy lies in democratizing access to Golden Age aviation aesthetics for amateur builders, proving that modern homebuilt aircraft could successfully capture the spirit of earlier eras while incorporating practical construction techniques suitable for non-professional builders.