Era

Sorrell SNS-6 / SNS-7 Hiperbipe

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Designed in 1975, the fuselage, tail group, engine/landing gear mount, interplane struts and flight control systems are all welded steel tube. Wing construction is all-wood with a stressed skin. Landing gear is the Wittman type. The engine cowling and wheel fairings are fiberglass. Then, the entire air¬frame is fabric covered, including the plywood-covered wings.

The prototype was SNS-6 N66S. The design won the EAA’s Outstanding New Design Award in 1973.

Advanced aerobatic maneuvers are possible in the Hiperbipe, such as vertical eight point rolls, inside/outside vertical eights, etc, but the Hiperbipe doesn’t sacrifice the comforts such as complete carpeting, full electrical system, lights and radio.

Sorrell Hiperbipe – Aerobatic Cabin Cruiser Article

Sorrel SNS-7 Hiperbipe N3717

Basic kit includes fuselage sides, wings built, with wood and steel tubing and sheet steel. Price 1982: $4,950 basic kit, options to $19,000. Units delivered to June 1981: 87.

SNS-7

Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 180 hp
Speed max: 170 mph
Cruise: 160 mph
Range: 502 sm
Stall: 50 mph
ROC: 1500 fpm
Take-off dist: 400 ft
Landing dist: 595 ft
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft
Fuel cap: 39 USG
Weight empty: 1236 lb
Gross: 1911 lb
Height: 5.9 ft
Length: 20.8 ft
Wing span: 22.8 ft
Wing area: 129 sq.ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: tail wheel

SNS-7
Engine: Lycoming O-360, 180 hp
Wingspan: 6.95 m
Length: 6.34 m
Height: 1.78 m
Empty weight: 521 kg
MTOW: 861 kg
Max speed: 330 kph
Cruise: 250 kph
ROC: 457 m/min

Sorrell SNS-1 / SNS-2 Guppy

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Designed by Hobie Sorrell of Tenino, Washington, in 1966, Fred Chandler of Ferguson, Missouri constructed this homebuilt project. Chandler says that the Guppy’s success is the result of a clean design combined with large wing area and light weight. He says that the design is very controllable in spite of its low engine power and small size. It is a rudder aircraft, and low speed makes it easy to handle.

SNS-1

The first two built, N2976G c/n 1 and N2180 c/n 2, were powered by an 18hp OMC Cushman 200 HO2 outboard boat engine. The Sorrell SNS-1 was the first Guppy (N2976G) and, as such, it is usually just referred to as an ‘SNS-2’.

Kit version uses 25-hp Citroen engine. Price 1982: $4,500 (includes engine and prop).

Engine: 18hp OMC Cushman 200
Wingspan: 21’3″
Length: 15’5″
Useful load: 245 lb
Max speed: 80 mph
Cruise: 70 mph
Stall: 38 mph
Seats: 1

Engine: Citroen, 25-hp
Gross weight: 575 lb
Empty weight: 330 lb
Useful load: 245 lb

Engine 36-hp VW
Gross Wt. 640 lb
Empty Wt. 440 lb
Wingspan 21 ‘6”
Length 15’6”
Top speed 85 mph
Cruise 80 mph
Stall 29 mph
Climb rate 200 fpm
Takeoff run 350 ft
Landing roll 400 ft
Ceiling 10,000 ft
Range 200 miles

Engine: Rotax 377, 36 hp
Speed max: 90 mph
Cruise: 70 mph
Stall: 35 mph
ROC: 650 fpm
Take-off dist: 200 ft
Landing dist: 250 ft
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft
Fuel cap: 6.5 USG
Weight empty: 350 lb
Gross: 600 lb
Height: 5.2 ft
Length: 15.4 ft
Wing span: 21.2 ft
Wing area: 150 sq.ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: tail wheel

Sorrell

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Hobart C Sorrell & Sons (John, Mark, Tim),
Rochester WA.
USA

Markets kits to build SNS-7 Hiperbipe as two-seat aerobatic biplane with reverse-stagger wings.

1995: 16525 Tilley Road South, Tenino, WA 98589, USA.

1982: Sorrell Aviation,
Tenino WA.
USA

Sorrell Aircraft Co Ltd.

Sorikin 1909-1914 helicopter

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Most writers state that Sorikin failed to build a working (or complete) machine in St. Petersburg, mainly because of a low power engine. On the eve of WW1 Sorokin completed his (modified) helicopter design in his home place at Novgorod-Seversky (Ukraine) [Новгород–Северски] after a long development during 1911-1914. It is stated that the machine was tested and actually flew. The construction was based on the two rotors and a tractor propeller. There were rudders to steer the machine.

Sorenson 1909 Glider

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A hot-air balloon-launched glider built and flown by U. Sorenson of Berwyn, Nebraska, specially constructed with warping wings for balance. Its first and only flight was less than successful as the left wing broke and the machine came spinning down at 100 rpm. Sorenson was not killed.

After the accident

Sorenson Special

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Sorenson Special Deer Fly N24C

In 1948 Keith Sorenson built two midget racers:

Deer Fly N24C
Piloted by K Sorenson and Mike Argander
Competed successfully under various owners until it crashed at Tampa FL in 1966, killing pilot Bill Stead.

Sorenson Special Little Mike N35C

Little Mike N35C
Modified tail
Modified for 1949 competition as Foss Jinny

Sorenson Special
Engine: Continental C-85, 85hp
Wingspan: 18’6″
Length: 15’6″
Seats: 1

Sopwith Three-Seater / D1

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A three-seat general purpose biplane, the Three-Seater / D1 set a number of British altitude records in June and July 1913, in the hands of the by then Sopwith Chief Test Pilot, “Harry” Hawker. Of these the highest reached was 12,900 feet with one passenger. The Three-Seater could carry a 450 lb payload at 70 mph.

At least seven of these machines were known to have been operated by the naval wing of the RFC.

Type D

Engine: Gnome, 80 hp
Span: 40′
Length: 29’6″
Weight: 1060/1810 lb
Speed range: 40-75 mph

Sopwith Snark

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On 14 May 1918, Sopwith was awarded a contract for three prototypes of a new single-seat fighting triplane, conforming to the RAF Type I specification and named the Snark. Powered by a 320hp A.B.C. Dragonfly I nine cylinder radial and featuring a plywood monocoque fuselage, the Snark was an equi-span staggered triplane and its designed armament was two synchronised 7.7mm guns on the fuselage and four weapons of similar calibre mounted two per side under the bottom wing. The first Snark was passed for flight test in September 1918, but unavailability of a Dragonfly engine and the decision to make various minor modifications delayed manufacturer’s trials until September of the following year, the aircraft arriving at Martlesham Heath for official trials on 12 November 1919. The second prototype reached Martlesham on 17 March 1920, and the third prototype, with a 360hp Dragonfly la engine, late in the year. Apart from engine problems, the Snark triplanes suffered fuselage deterioration and all three were written off in 1921.

Engine: 320hp A.B.C. Dragonfly I
Max take-off weight: 1036 kg / 2284 lb
Wingspan: 8.08 m / 27 ft 6 in
Length: 6.25 m / 21 ft 6 in
Height: 3.30 m / 11 ft 10 in
Wing area: 29.91 sq.m / 321.95 sq ft
Max. speed: 209 km/h / 130 mph