My SPAD 7 project

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:01 PM

Hello all,

Several years ago, just prior to getting married, I bought a Wright Martin E-4 Hisso engine project. After being advised not to, I started work on a SPAD 7 to fly with the engine. As both are projects, and I have two young children, this will be a very long term operation.

I am going to begin posting pictures of my long term SPAD 7 project, not at anyone's urging, but for two reasons. One is to gauge interest in the airframe. The other is to begin to show the work of a friend, Bill Retzlaff, who is probably the formost expert on the airframe and its construction. Many of my parts were made by Bill and I will make that clear when his parts are shown. Parts I have made were frequently done with Bill on the other end of a phone call. I am hoping he will soon come on-line and take over the thread.

Anyone building a SPAD has to acknowlege the lifetime of work done by Ellic Somer. He is a retired draftsman for North American, and a bagpipe player. He is not a pilot. But out of love for the SPAD, he has traveled the earth measuring every part and producing engineering drawings. No complete set of -7 drawings were known to exist and Ellic produced them. And two years ago, he found an original set of plans in Italy. They validated his work.

So here goes. The initial collection of pictures may be spotty as I am not sure about the picture posting angle.

Pete Hays

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:06 PM

The lower longerons were made by Bill Retzlaff. They are probably the most difficult single part on the airframe. It is about sixteen feet long and from the fourth bay aft, tapers at a rate of 1mm per bay. The forward part has a compound curve, tapers in two directions. It was steam bent and then slotted for a spline, glued and calamped in a form.

The upper longeron is obviously simpler, but it too has the compound curve at the front.

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:15 PM

My wing spars were built by Bill again. The are I beam type construction but the I shape is done with a shaper and custom made cutters. It is 33mm thick and will be covered with 1.5mm ply on each side.
Note the butt end. It has ash blocks attached with a blind scarf. The ash reinforcements allow for a carry through cable to pull the left and right spars together, much like the WACO 10.

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:17 PM

Yeoman · 12 June 2006, 01:18 PM

So far ,so good Butch

Its great to see another project developing especially an allied one!
I can only offer my encouragement as help to your work. Please post lots of pictures, we like pictures here!

Thanks and best of luck with your endevours.

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:18 PM

Can anyone tell me why my pictures are oversized?
Pete

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:48 PM

Several of these are duplicates but have been promised for use to Baldeagle and Bill Retzlaff. Missing instruments are a French oil pressure and an air pressure gauge (help?). The original aircraft did not have an airspeed indicator and I would be fine doing without one, but do not think I could be sure the FAA examiner would overlook that omission.
Pete

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:49 PM

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:50 PM

Pete

Butch · 12 June 2006, 01:51 PM