Sopwith Triplane

Has anyone seen a flight review or a pilot report on the full scale Sopwith Triplane from Canada? *It uses tube fuse. like the DR-I instead of the original wood. *(Easy fix or you could mask the tubing that is visible with wood moulding) *The problem always with Triplanes, Camels, Pups, DR-I's, HD-1's etc is of engines... *Have heard rumors of LeRhone replicas but never does it materialize... *A rotary engine of 110 to 130 HP, for experimental use in the $10,000 range would sell like hotcakes! *With new production techniques, metals, technology and petroleum we could get a much better TBO than did the originals. *Speaking of engines, a 180HP Mercedes/185HP BMW would be pretty darn easy to make, its even a 4 stroke! *It would be a great boom for the German Replicas. *Lets face it, we need ALB D-III's, -V's, FOK D-VII's and Pfalz D-III/IIa's up there! *This would be a great project for an A & P or a Machinist! *You could cover your costs just in sales to Museums.
Ok, I am done shouting! *ha ha

[wolfenbill]

My mentor, Roger Freeman of Old Kingsbury Aerodrome, told me he flew the Sopwith Triplane replica that used to be owned by Frank Ryder. It was made of steel tube, but not 4130. It was made of electrical conduit tubing. He called it something else, but I forget what that was. He said it flew well and that it was not easy to tell the difference externally. I believe it had some sort of modern engine in it but Roger said that whoever did the design and installation did a very good job.

My own tripe will be made more or less to original specs.

does anyone know what engine would be the best for the tripe and the best price for one. my father is gettin the plans of the tripe from replicraft for father's day and i know this is his favorite plane. he would love to have this plane, but i need rite now os a estimate for prices and best engine. too bad i cant use a chainsaw engine like u can do for a ultralight lol

Voss

The consensus is the Russian Radial without the gear reduction will put you in the ball park for swinging a big prop on a full scale Sopwith Triplane. There is a set of plans from St. Croix Aircraft, (SEE KITPLANE'S Directory of Plans built aircraft) that uses this engine. THe fuse. is tubing not wood as in the origional aircraft. You could use wood moulding (90 degree) for hide the medal tubing and have 100% correct appearance from the cockpit...

Best of luck and keep us all posted!

Sincerely,

MAJ J.L. Haack, AKA BlueMax

Greetings
I couldn't agree with you more on the subject of engines .I would love to see someone reproduce a rotary engine..my preference is a Bentley 150 it solved most of the overheating problems and is the most conventional by todays standards. That is if a rotary could be ever considered conventional.I have only heard rumors of the Russian engine being used . Does any one out there know of anyone who is flying behind one with out the reduction gear ?
I have a Dr1 repo I'm working on and no engine as of yet... Regards: Mark

[fltmech]

You might find this flight report interesting : http://www.flightonline.mcmail.com/fokker.htm

This is a long shot but might be helpful..... There are 1/3 scale drawings available for the Bentley Rotary. They are for a working model engine at 1/3 scale and it is a work of art! It looks like an exact copy of the original, including oil and fuel tanks. The plans are available from England. The company was called Nexus Publications who produce RC Scale Modeller, Aeromodeller and model engineer magazines. Their plans service ships world wide. Bob Holman is the US distributor and he is very reliable. I don't own the plans but could give you the order reference number if you'd like (email me) from an old catalogue.

I am sure the plans could be scaled up appropriately and used to build a prototype.

In this months Todays Pilot [www.todayspilot.co.uk] is an article on RADIAL engines. How does a MODERN radial sound? How about a 5cylinder 75hp radial ? or a 7cylinder of 125hp??.Would that suit?[does that suit you sir?]. Try www.hciaviation.com. Hope this helps.

[Brad]

Those are made from custom castings and common (mostly VW) automotive parts. LOTS of machine work. I talked (via email) to them... you need a full-size bridgeport mill to build that motor from castings... but under $2k for the castings, but then you have to add the automotive pars and a LOT of labor. The next level of kit could be done on a small hobbyist type (not the tiny ones for models and stuff though) mill... costs quite a bit more PLUS the automotive parts still. Very nice, but still pricey... and they don't look very scale. BTW that info is for the 5-cylinder... the 7 cylinder costs more of course.

Brad

[Brad]

p.s. that is not intended to discourage ANYONE from doing this. If I had access to a full-size bridgeport mill (and someone to teach me what I need to know to use it) I would build one of these puppies in about a heartbeat.

Brad