Aircraft

VULA Skypup / Wood Sky Pup

TerryLeave a comment

First flown in 1980 and introduced in 1982, the Sky Pup is a single seater designed as an FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles compliant aircraft with an empty weight within that category’s 254 lb (115 kg) empty weight limit. The aircraft was intended to require the minimum financial investment and the designer intended that the airframe would be able to be completed for US$1000 using locally available materials. In 2001 that Sky Pups had been completed for US$2000, including the engine. A single-seat, high wing, cantilever, single engine, conventional landing gear ultralight aircraft that was designed by Steven K. Wood of Whitewater, Colorado for amateur construction.

The aircraft fuselage and wings are constructed from epoxy-glued Douglas fir, with foam wing ribs all covered in doped fabric or Dacron. The wing is a three-piece design, allowing quick disassembly for transport or storage. The landing gear suspension is made from maple wood. The Sky Pup can be built with an open cockpit or fully enclosed, allowing flying in cooler weather. The Sky Pup is available as plans only (for US$70). The power range specified is 18 to 28 hp (13 to 21 kW), with the largest engine specified the 28 hp (21 kW) Rotax 277. The 20 hp (15 kW) 2si 215, 28 hp (21 kW) Hirth F-33 and 22 hp (16 kW) Zenoah G-25 have also been used. Approxamately 350 were built.

The design was professionally engineered and incorporates a very clean cantilever wing that results in a 12:1 glide ratio. The control system is two-axis, using only elevator and rudder controls, roll being introduced by rudder via a generous dihedral angle. The elevator is stick-controlled, while the rudder is controlled via conventional aircraft pedals. The aircraft is stall and spin proof. Reported construction times are 450-600 hours.

Plans were initially sold direct by the designer and, in the early 2000s, by the Vintage Ultra and Lightplane Association. Later the designer’s son marketed the plans and this is the current source.

Sky Pup
Engine: 1 × Zenoah G-25 , 22 hp (16 kW)
Propeller: 2-bladed wooden
Length: 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.45 m)
Height: 4 ft 4 in (1.32 m)
Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 sq.m)
Empty weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Gross weight: 400 lb (181 kg)
Fuel capacity: 5 US gallons (19 litres)
Maximum speed: 69 mph / 111 km/h / 60 kt
Cruise speed: 55 mph / 48 kt / 89 km/h
Stall speed: 26 mph / 23 kt / 42 km/h
Range: 150 mi / 130 nmi / 241 km
Rate of climb: 450 ft/min / 2.3 m/s
Takeoff dist: 200 ft
Landing dist: 100 ft
Service ceiling: 5000 ft
Lift-to-drag: 12:1
Seats: one
Landing gear: tailwheel

VULA Mr Easy

TerryLeave a comment

Designed to meet the FAR Part 103 requirements.

Engine: Rotax 447, 40 hp
HP range: 35-40
Top speed: 63 mph
Cruise: 50 mph
Stall: 28 mph
Range: 120 nm
Rate of climb: 800 fpm
Takeoff dist: 175 ft
Landing dist: 175 ft
Service ceiling: 8000 ft
Fuel capacity: 5 USG
Empty weight: 250 lb
Gross weight: 485 lb
Length: 16 ft
Wing span: 24 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Seats: 1
Undercarriage: tailwheel

Vintage Aircraft & Flying Assoc. Vimy [2]

TerryLeave a comment

In 1992 Peter H.McMillan and Lang Kirby considered reproducing the Vickers Vimy. A set of almost complete drawings were found in 1993 and Bill Whitney, an Australian aeronautical engineer and designer was hired to do a stress analysis. Whitney also reproduced the great number of missing drawings and designed the numerous new parts that would be required.

The job of building the project was given to a Hollywood set builder, John LaNoue (who had never built an aircraft before). The wingspan was more than 70 ft. There were 112 flying wires, 150 sheets of aircraft plywood, 500 yards of Grade A cotton fabric, over a mile of hand frayed finishing tape, two 11 foot four blade wood propellers, 300 gallons of dope, 10,000 rib stiches, more than 700 feet of control cable, more than 1000 feet of 4130 aircraft tubing and 240 feet of 5/8 in bungee cord. There were 300 nose ribs to be fabricated, 330 feet of box spars to be built, 126 main wing ribs and hundreds of metal fittings.

The finished weight would exceed 12,000 lb. And all this had to be done by the 75th anniversary of the great air race of 1919 – 18 months later. LaNoue put together a team of dedicated experts who were committed to seeing the project through. The project was broken down to the smallest denominator, and a schedule developed.
The team started working 12 hour days five days a week but soon were working 12 hr seven days a week. The parts were built in two locations: Australia, and at the closed Hamilton AFB north of San Francisco.

Due to no Rolls Royce Eagles being available it was decided to go with automotive 454 Chevys. The GM motors would fit inside the cowling with their 4:1 reduction gears. The 454s flew the aircraft to Australia with only one mishap, but when BMW became a sponsor, the engines were changed to 5.4 litre BMW V-12 M-73s with 5:1 planetary reduction gears.

The project was completed in 15 months and 22,000 hours of labour, and flight testing was carried out at Hamilton on the old, closed runways.

The adverse yaw was so great due to the massive size, nothing happened quickly. The original Vimy had only one set of controls on the right side and no brakes or tailwheel. The reproduction is fitted with dual controls along with all the other modern conveniences, but it is still tough to fly.

After the obligatory 25 hours of flight testing, the aircraft was disassembled, loaded into a C-5 Galaxy and delivered to Farnborough for the 1994 airshow.

Vintage Aircraft & Flying Assoc. Vimy [1]

TerryLeave a comment

In May 1967 the Vintage Aircraft and Flying Association decided to build a Vimy replica to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Alcock and Brown’s trans-Atlantic flight.
When told of the project Rolls-Royce began a world wide search for engines. Eventually they were successful and recovered three Eagle engines from Dutch canal barges two of which they stripped down and rebuilt; putting the first on bench test in August 1968.
The aircraft was completed on Friday 30 May 1969. The following days were filled with final inspections and checks and on Tuesday 3 June at 6.40pm the aircraft took off on its first flight.

The aircraft was completed on Friday 30 May 1969 at Weybridge with the original Rolls-Royce Eagle VIIIs. The following days were filled with final inspections and checks and on Tuesday 3 June at 6.40pm the aircraft took off on its first flight. It first flew at Wisley, un-marked, registered G-AWAU c/n VAFA.02 and pained as H651.

The aircraft went through an intensive flight test programme before receiving a Special Category Certificate of Airworthiness on 5 June. The next day the aircraft crossed the Channel to appear at the Paris Air Show. On 9 June it returned to the United Kingdom and two days later, after being repainted in service markings, flew to Ringway Airport, Manchester to become the centre of an Alcock and Brown exhibition.

It was badly damaged by fire at Ringway on 18 July 1969 while on display. It was repaired and donated to the RAF Museum where it went on display at Hendon as F8614.