In the late 1950s Jim Robertson designed the Skyshark featuring many STOL features. The best of these features was then applied to the Cessna 182 airframe to produce the Wren 460.
Engines – Power
Roberts Zero
A May 1987 article “Tora, Tora, Tora over Indiana” describes another one of Mr. Don Roberts’ class projects, a 5/8 scale Zero. It was mostly of wood construction, using the wing from the Cavalier and a fuselage made from a wood box covered with foam and fiberglass, similar to the WAR replicas. It was powered by an O-290-D2 from a Tri-Pacer. (Overhauled to “zero time,” it says.)
Roberts Douglas Dauntless
A 2/3 scale Douglas Dauntless dive bomber was built by a group of high school students in Project Schoolflight.
The project was lead by a Mr. Don Roberts of Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana. Construction began in the fall of 1972 and was completed in May of 1977 at a cost of $15,000.
They supposedly used the plans from a Guillow’s Balsa Wood kit and scaled. The aircraft was powered by a Lycoming O-435. The wing was aluminum; the fuselage was steel tube with aluminum formers and skins.
It first flew on 25 May 1977.
The aircraft was supposedly sold after it was completed.
The Dauntless went to the San Diego Air Museum.
Jan 19, 2021
I was a student of Don Roberts 76-79 and remember this aircraft well! I remember the smell of the polyester resin through half of the school building from the cowl construction. Mains were from a Ryan Navion if I remember correctly. The “bomb” was donated by the Navy recruiter and we all got copies of Naval Aviation News which had an article of the plane.
Robart Le Papillon
The 1909 Robart Le Papillon was similar to the Wright biplane designs, but with curved wings and triangular vertical surfaces. Built in France.
Robart 1907 Monoplane
This machine was the brainchild of a Frenchman, Henri Robart. Completed and tested at Amiens in December 1907, it apparently even supported itself in the air on December 21.
This machine has an upward curving main lower wing, an upper wing and 50hp Antoinette engine on the fuselage which drove two tractor props via chain transmission.
It was never heard of again.
RMT Aviation Bateleur
The configuration of the Bateleur brings numerous advantages compared to the conventional high or low winged aircraft. Its flight and handling characteristics remaining standard allows any pilot instant conversion.
The tandem seating for 2 people gives both pilot and passenger full view to both sides. The concept has proven to be stable in severe turbulence, comparable only to aircraft many times its weight making it very suitable as an aerial photographic or observation platform. The endurance and range in excess of 7 hours / 1000 km can be extended with auxiliary tanks by another 50%. As an Ultralight, the MTOW is 450 kg.
Bateleur 115 T
Stall: 35 kt / 40 mph / 65 kmh
Cruise: 149 kt / 171 mph / 276 kmh
VNE: 173 kt / 199 mph / 320 kmh
Empty Weight: 259 kg / 570 lbs
MTOW Weight: 599 kg / 1320 lbs
Climb Ratio: 1700 ft/min / 9 m/s
Glide Ratio: 18
Take-off distance (50ft obstacle): 500 ft / 152 m
Landing distance (50ft obstacle): 400 ft / 122 m
2009 Price: 92800 EURO
Bateleur 912 S
Stall: 35 kt / 40 mph / 65 kmh
Cruise: 140 kt / 162 mph / 260 kmh
VNE: 173 kt / 199 mph / 320 kmh
Empty Weight: 250 kg / 551 lbs
MTOW Weight: 600 kg / 1323 lbs
Climb Ratio: 1400 ft/min / 7.1 m/s
Glide Ratio: 18
Take-off distance (50ft obstacle): 720 ft / 220 m
Landing distance (50ft obstacle): 490 ft / 150 m
2009 Price: 78800 EURO
RMI RMI-9 M/G
From 1943 the Air Force was gradually getting the Bf-109 advanced jet fighters (F and G versions), but it was not easy to get used to the tight and narrow track undercarriage. The Aero Technical Institute created the RMI-9 M/G specifically for the Messerschmitt pilots in training. The machine was designed with slats, so as to better mimic the Bf-109 flight characteristics.
Designed by Varga László, the RMI-9 M/G [or Me/G] Bf-109 pilot trainer was built but destroyed by US bombing in 1944 in the Ferihegy experimental hangar.
Engine: Argus As-411, 480 hp
Wing span: 9.5m
Length: 7.2m
Height: 2.3m
Empty weight: 1,100 kg
T/O weight: 1,480 kg
Maximum speed: 350 km/h
Range: 700 km
Ceiling 9,200 m
RMI RMI-8 X/V / Marton X/V
The RMI-8 X/V twin-boom, twin DB605 fighter was designed by Vilmos and Dezso Marton (assisted by László Varga), was also called the Marton X/V after the designers.
The two wings joined to the tail section, which is designed to incorporate the connection points of the high-powered MK-108 (30mm) deck gun.
The prototype (X/V-01) was said to have been destroyed by bombing while the airframe was still incomplete in April 1944.
Engines: 2 x DB-605, 1475 hp
Wing span: 11.8m
Length: 10.2m
Height: 3.5m
Empty weight: 2,850 kg
T/O weight: 3,800 kg
Maximum speed: 800 km/h
Range: 1,000 km
Ceiling: 11,500 m
Armaments: 2 x 8 mm machine guns, 2 x 30mm MK-108 machine guns.
RMI RMI-7 V/G
The RMI-7 V/G was a side-by-side trainer powered by an Argus As.410, and equipped with retractable undercarriage. The mixed wood-built machine with torsion wings and hydraulic main landing gear had the same structure as the RMI Z / G.
The V / G was designed from the start serial production. Designed by Varga László and Rácz Elemér, a prototype was built in 1944. In 1944 the prototype was shipped to the Budaörs airport in order to fly but possibly never flew.
Engine: Argus As.410
Wing span: 9.54m
Length: 7.81m
Height: 2.5m
Empty weight: 1,200 kg
T/O weight: 1,680 kg
Maximum speed: 360 km/h
Range: 1,000 km
Ceiling: 8,000m
RLU RLU-1 Breezy / Breezy Aircraft RLU-1 Breezy
Designed and constructed by Charles Roloff, Carl Unger, and Bob Liposky, the Breezy was first introduced in 1965, and hailed as one of the most distinctive and unusual homebuilt designs to ever attend an EAA Fly-in.
The original Breezy was designed and built to accept a set of PA-12 wings. For that reason, there are no wing drawings with the plans. It is possible to substitute Champ, Taylorcraft, PA-14, PA-18, or J-3,4, or 5 wings. It’s also possible to order wing kits that replicate a J-3 wing. Breezy’s fuselage is an open framework steel tube truss. It is a three-place airplane with two seated abreast on the second seat, but it could easily be adapted as a single-seater or tandem two-seater.
Power for the prototype, which now hangs in the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, WI, is a Continental C-90. The original design utilizes a Piper Super Cruiser wing.
Plans could be purchased through:
Carl Unger, 8751 S. Kilbourn, Oak Lawn, IL 60456, USA.
Engine 85-125hp
Span 33ft
Wing area 165 sq.ft
Length 22ft 5in
Max wt: 1200 lb
Empty wt: 700 lb
Fuel capacity 18 USG
Top speed 105 mph
Cruise 56kt
Stall 25 mph
ROC 500 fpm
Takeoff run 450 ft
Landing roll 450 ft
Range 250 mile
Seat: 2-3
