Fullerton CA.
USA
c.1980:
Norco CA.
USA
Designer of the Smith Miniplane.
Era
Smith 1911 Monoplane
The Franklin P Smith 1911 Monoplane photographed for Aero 3/16/12. Apparently it flew only once.
Smidley Rapid Robert
Based on the Lazor-Rautenstrach Belle of Bethany and built by Robert R Smidley in 1959, the Smidley Rapid Robert was a single-place cabin, low wing monoplane.
Engine: 85hp Continental C-85
Wingspan: 17’10”
Length: 15’8″
Useful load: 220 lb
Seats: 1
Smidley, Robert R
Tulsa OK.
USA
Built the Rapid Robert in 1959.
Smidley 1910 monoplane
Smidley began construction of his monoplane in 1909. It was described in the August 1909 NY Times as having large wings on either side of the central rectangular box. A smaller plane was above and in front, and a fixed semicircular plane was at the tail. Control was a semicircular device at the front with the halves of the semicircle moving together as elevator or separately. It was mounted on four small wheels that ran on rails. This was the 223 pound bamboo version with 18 hp engine. At some point the machine was changed to larger wheels for take-off from the ground and probably rebuilt in other ways. Smidley is credited with three aircraft and a completely rebuilt version of his first machine was reported to be ready for testing in a March 1910 Aeronautics. There is a small picture in November 1910 Aeronautics that shows a machine with the larger wheels, powered by an 18 hp 2-cylinder Stevens Duryea air-cooled engine, and the structure doesn’t look like bamboo. These machines were not powered by an electric motor, but a machine identified as Smidley’s third machine was displayed at a Harrisburg auto show in early 1910, where an electric motor was used to run the propeller in the exhibition. The picture is either the second version incomplete or the third, with the Duryea.
Engine: Duryea auto
Wingspan: 32’0″
Seats: 1
Smidley, Henry
College Park MD.
USA
Built and flew a monoplane in 1910.
SME Aviation SDN. BHD.
Malaysia
Founded 1993 and manufactures the MD3-160 AeroTiga two-seat pleasure and training lightplane (designed and developed in Switzerland by MDB Flugtechnik AG and first flown 1983, with first Malaysian-built example in 1995).
SMAN Petrel
A side by side two seat amphibious pusher biplane. A full detachable canopy that can be converted into an open cockpit with its own separate windshield.
The wings, boom and tail section detach for reduced storage and easy transportation.
Production of the Petrel was taken over by SMAN, who returned it to the market circa 1998.
Engine Rotax 618
Propeller Airplast 166DAS6275/3
Undercarriage retractable
Engine: Rotax 912, 80 hp
Wing span: 8.50 m
Wing area: 17 sq.m
MAUW: 450 kg
Fuel capacity: 53 lt
Max speed: 150 kph
Cruise speed: 130 kph
Minimum speed: 65 kph
Climb rate: 3.5 m/s
Seats: 2
Fuel consumption: 13 lt/hr
Price (1998): 245 000 F
Kit price (1998): 121 000 F sm
SMAN Billie Marine
1998:
7 rue de Parc en Escop.
F-5640 Auray
France
LSA builder
Sloane 1912 Biplane
Australian tractor biplane designed and constructed by Douglas Sloane. The engine was also of his own design and one of the things that held him up in his attempt to fly. Despite the stage of progress seen in this photo, the plane was eventually covered. It was towed behind a car to give it extra power but the engine just didn’t have the muscle. However the plane did manage a short hop at “Dick’s Plain” swamp in late April 1912.
