Sopwith Baby Project

[Joe Perkel]

Originally Posted by j ferguson

Hi Joe,


Something else which is probably obvious is to have a really easy effective way of beaching the plane. If it isn't a real breeze and can be done by two people, maybe even just by yourself, you may be tempted to leave the plane in the water when you should be pulling it out.

Best regards, John

John,

I'm lucky enough to have the drawing for this beaching trolley. It has handles for on either side for lifting the aircraft.

A Goose, wow! I always wanted one! Did you ever see Jimmy Buffets plane? Not a Goose, the bigger one,..I think named of course,..Margaritaville!

[j ferguson]

Goose wasn't mine. Flew like a big J3 - maybe everything from that era did. I don't know - not enough experience.

Are you going to be able to control a ramp into the water? I would think you'd be flying off Okeechobee. If it were me, I'd like to have a dedicated dock with a jib boom with which I could lift the plane out of the water, swing it around and put it on a cart to be rolled into a hangar. With something like this, you might be able to go flying by yourself.

John

[Joe Perkel]

Originally Posted by j ferguson

Goose wasn't mine. Flew like a big J3 - maybe everything from that era did. I don't know - not enough experience.

Are you going to be able to control a ramp into the water? I would think you'd be flying off Okeechobee. If it were me, I'd like to have a dedicated dock with a jib boom with which I could lift the plane out of the water, swing it around and put it on a cart to be rolled into a hangar. With something like this, you might be able to go flying by yourself.

John

John,

I once told Graham Lee, that the reason I couldn’t build one of his planes, was prohibitive hangar rates in Dade County. He said something interesting, “If you build a Nieuport 12, I guarantee that someone will want it in their hangar.” Interesting thought,..a take off from the film Field of Dreams when the ghost voice says, “If you build it, they will come.”

Since then we purchased our little farm in Sebring where there are a ton of lakes and several open to float ops. One is 1/4 mile away and a designated private use seaplane base. I attempted to contact the owner but, he kept mum. I found out that he had sprung the airport designation on the neighborhood before anyone was wise to it so I see why the silence, so I will wait it out and see what happens.

I figure this would be unique enough to generate offers for stowage someplace, who knows where? "If I build it, ......"

[drrivah]

Joe:

In case you missed it, Sopwith Baby Prop replicas (Clerget 130) for sale here, listed as 8' 6" (102"), in ash/mahogany laminates. Say they will do one airworthy if you need it:


SpitfireSpares.com - warbird Propellers

Some good photos.

Best,

-pete

[Joe Perkel]

Originally Posted by drrivah

Joe:

In case you missed it, Sopwith Baby Prop replicas (Clerget 130) for sale here, listed as 8' 6" (102"), in ash/mahogany laminates. Say they will do one airworthy if you need it:


SpitfireSpares.com - warbird Propellers

Some good photos.

Best,

-pete

Pete,

I had in fact seen this before but, much thanks since as you note I could have easily missed it.

Imagine that, carved to original specs and materials! When I finally have my house and workshop done, I will price it but,... should probably have rescue on standby!

Thanks again!

[crankcase]

...I could have had an original for the same price! Of course there is the inflation idfference to take into account. The props are beautiful though and getting one made in an authentic way is really like getting an original!
marc

[Joe Perkel]

I have come up with an alternative solution to the engine / power / torque / & original performance mismatch question. Nothing new, it’s been in front of my face all along as many replica designers have done so.

1) Match the design to existing product, i.e. Rotec R3600, Continental O-200.

Looking at it then from a torque produced / gross weight perspective.

2) Original Clerget 546 ft lbs @ take off is 31% of gross weight.

3) Forget two-place downsizing the aircraft to 7/8 using Replica Plans SE5 as template.

4) New target gross weight is then approx 1150 lbs.

5) Rotec R3600 produces 28.5% of new target gross weight.

I have not calculated the numbers for the new Sport Aircraft engine produced by Teledyne, nor the others, (Rotax, etc) but, the obvious now becomes apparent, more choices of purposely designed power plants more closely matching or perhaps exceeding original performance specs.

Comments, advice welcome!

[womenfly2]

Hi Joe,

Have you contacted Rotec with you design and engine requirements. They do seem to be helpful. Worth a try, you may kick off a new design idea with them.

WF2

Great project and fantastic info here!

[Joe Perkel]

Originally Posted by womenfly2

Hi Joe,

Have you contacted Rotec with you design and engine requirements. They do seem to be helpful. Worth a try, you may kick off a new design idea with them.

WF2

Great project and fantastic info here!

WF2,

I communicated with either Paul or Jim sometime last year. He did precisely what a businessman should do, try to sell me a unit.

This performance problem cannot be overlooked, and hoping for the best is probably not a good plan either. How can I in good conscience drag my wife or kid up behind a 50 + y.o. engine either?

I will finish this as original in CAD, and then see if I can scale down to the round radial. Likely not, as the cowl width would become an issue.

Option then becomes scaled down, use a smaller flat four with the pinched cowl and stick the heads out the sides. No longer a WWI replica but a cute facsimile i.e. Replica plans SE5, Boredom Fighter, Graham Lee replicas,...et al,..all being examples of this mindset.

Thanks WF2!

[David Paule]

Would it be practical to bury a flat-six like Chad Wille did with his Sopwith?

A Continental O-470 weighs about 480 pounds and has about 80 hp at 1,300 rpm, if my memory is correct. That gives around 320 ft-lb torque.

Obviously the weight and form factor would need to be dealt with.

Incidentally, the O-470 swings an 82 to 88 inch prop on a Cessna 180.