Clifford Aeroworks 80% SPAD

sobrien · 2 October 2009, 10:34 PM

At Dayton this year there was an 80% Spad from Clifford Aeroworks. The gentleman there representing them said there were several flying and being built. Anybody out there had experience or seen one first hand?

Sean

RobW · 3 October 2009, 05:19 AM

I know of three. Marv Berk in MO, Gene Hershey in VA, and John Clifford's. The original design is from Dennis Wiley (of Early Bird Jenny fame), but is now owned by John Clifford.

Here are a few pictures of Marv's. Marv has an O-200 powering his. Marv attempted to fly it to Dayton this year, but the weather got in the way.

Gene Hershey's SPAD was blown around by a UH-1 and is getting rebuilt.

Hope this helps,

rob

Joe Perkel · 3 October 2009, 06:21 AM

His web presence seemed to have had disappeared for awhile there. Nice to see him back with a snazzy web design. This airplane always looked to me to be particularly stout, and is a wonderful alternative / compromise to an authentic replica.

sobrien · 3 October 2009, 06:43 AM

Marv Berk's plane looks beautiful, thanks for the pictures.
To my eye it looks more like a SPAD than the 7/8 SE5a looks like an SE5a. The little Nieuports just look too small.
Any thoughts on the Geo Tracker with reduction gear that's recommended?
The 0-200 would probably be the way to go.

Sean

RobW · 3 October 2009, 02:00 PM

If you look at Marv's plane, the only real detractor is that in order to hide the O-200 cylinders, Marv made the fuselage a little more round than it should be... I cannot speak to the Geo engine, I've got no experience with them. But, there are quite a few being used for aircraft applications.

Rob