Piston

Dusenbury Wright Flyer III

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On October 3, 2007, at Huffman Prairie, Ohio, USA, Mark Dusenberry flew his Wright Flyer III reproduction for 2min 10sec around the oval course where Wilbur Wright proved the practicality of powered flight in 1905.

Dusenberry’s flight was the longest achieved by a Wright III reproduction. It came during rehearsals for a series of educational events on October 5 to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of Wilbur’s flight, during which the pioneer flew 29 laps of the course, covering 24 miles in 39min.

Construction took Dusenberry 10,000hr over a 10yr period, using the same materials seen on the original, spruce and ash. He also built a reproduction 1905 engine, and carved the spruce propellers. The only departure from original construction was the polyester cloth covering.

The October 5 events were organised by the US National Parks Service, and 2,500 people assembled at the prairie to watch Dusenberry’s flight; it lasted only 40sec, ending when the starboard wingtip clipped the ground in a turn. Mark was unhurt in the impact, and said. “All I broke was a bunch of sticks, and put a few holes in the fabric. I will repair it, and should have it flying in about a year”

Durand Mark V

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The Durand biplane features a negative stagger configuration so that it does not produce a full stall, only a very short period of “nibbling” with little loss of altitude. The structure is rated + 3.8 and —1.5 G’s. Roll is produced by a combination of effects when a spoiler is activated, instead of by use of ailerons. According to its designer, a spoiler for roll control actually helps an airplane turn in the direction of the bank, while ailerons do not. The trailing edges of the wings are taken up by full-span flaps. With a standard 150-hp Lycoming, the Durand can carry two people with 128 pounds of baggage at 135 mph over a range of 520 miles. Cockpit controls are basic, with dual sticks in lieu of standard control wheels. The cabin features exceptional visibility by using a forward sliding canopy instead of side doors normally associated with high-wing and biplane cabin aircraft.

Engine 150-hp Lycomlng
HP range: 125-180.
Gross Wt. 1840 lb
Empty Wt. 1210 lb
Fuel capacity 24.5 USG
Wingspan 24 ft 6 in
Length 20 ft 3 in
Top speed 170 mph
Cruise 135 mph
Climb rate 1200 fpm
Ceiling 15,000 ft
Normal range 400 miles
Range with auxiliary tanks 520 mile
Takeoff run 550 ft
Landing roll 450 ft

Durand XD-85

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This was a 2-seat pusher designed and built by Mr. William H. Durand and the aircraft first flew during the Summer of 1948. The all-metal XD-85 was powered by an 85hp Continental C85-12J engine. The aircraft reportedly sustained wing damage in a hangar incident and was not rebuilt. Further development was halted, a fate not uncommon to many other (light) aircraft projects of the immediate post-war years.

Duruble Edelweiss RD 03

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This aircraft is a 4 seat aircraft with the prototype (F-PYIT) powered by a Lycoming O320 (160Hp) for the first flight in March 1982. Made available in plans form for home construction and developed from the earlier RD-02 two-seater.
Able to take up to 180hp, the propeller was a variable speed Hoffmann, and autoopilot (badin Crouzet), classified IFR in 1984.
With 23in and 2300rpm it can cruise about 140kt and use 32l per hour (100LL).

Windspan: 8.820m
Length: 6.875m
Wing area: 11.388sq.m
Airfoil: Naca 23019
socket Profil : Naca 23012
Marginal Profil : 6°30′
Dihedral: -3°
Twisted: +3°
Number of seats: 4
Power: 160 HP
Class: Utility
Max speed: 275 km/h
Cruise speed: 253 km/h
Stall speed clean: 105 km/h
Stall speed gear and flaps: 92 km/h
ROC: 5.9 m/s
Max ceiling: 5000 m
Empty weight: 485 kg
Fuel: 108 kg
Passager front weight: 172 kg
Passager rear weight: 154 kg
Luggage: 20 kg
max payload: 443 kg
MAUW: 928 kg
Wing loading: 81.49 kg/sq.m
Power loading: 6.19 kg/hp

Duruble Roland Duruble 2 / RD 02r Edelweisse

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Conceived primitively in 1945 of wood, and the construction beginning in 1946, there were disappointments with the Caurite glue. The Office Véritas informed the builders that the plane could not be accepted.
With thoughts of a metallic prototype, the goal was to show that one with 65 cvs. Several years of study and the first drawings done, the framework began at Bessonneau until 1956. The plane was transported at Legrand, where the prototype was finished towards the end of 1961.
The assembly and completion were achieved at the Boos airfield.
July 7, 1962, Edelweiss first flew. Testing by the CNRA was completed June 24. CNRA n° 270952 was delivered August 19, 1963, partner to the file n° 341 of August 23, 1963.
A two-seater, all metal plane, with a Walter-Mikron 4-III motor of 65 hp at 2600 rpm, with retractable tricycle undercarriage.
The Edelweisse was presented to the gathering of the amateur constructors at Rouen-Boos the 16, 17 and 18 August 1963 and made a sensation.
On February 21, 1981, a motor breakdown led Roland Duruble to fit a Revmaster 2100D n°s 2496 of 75 hp, and a twin-bladed metallic constant speed Maloof propeller.
The prop was replaced with a twin-bladed in wood and Revmaster reduced performance to 65 hp at 3200 rpm, although TBO became 1000 hrs instead of 800. Climb rate was noted at + 1,5 m/ses to 11500 ft. The
By October 8, 1984 with 947 hs 25 min TT. the craft wass sold to M. Jacques Plumet. The reported flight time on October 23, 1993 was 1097 hs 39min.