Down-Under D.VIII

[baldeagle]

Looks great Langdon, I guess I should post some photos of my N.28 project...

AK

[CodyPaul]

I absolutely love seeing the progress of these projects and would like to see your Nieuport 28 as well.   A long time ago I read of Mr. Appleby (can't remember his first name) building a 28.  He changed the way the fabric was stiched to the top wing somehow to prevent it being shed in flight.  Anyone know anything about this?

Looks great Langdon, I guess I should post some photos of my N.28 project...

                                                                 AK

[Langdon]

Thanks Baldeagle & Codypaul,

Yes please do post images of your aircraft.

Langdon

[aeropeasant]

Dear Cody and Langdon-

First off, greetings Aerodrome Forum pilots: after six years of visiting "The Aerodrome," this is my first post to any of its forums.

Jim and Zona Appleby ran Antique Aero out of Flabob airport in California. There is an article from a '70s issue of "Sport Aviation" that details the Nieuport build, and I'll try to get the date on that. I wrote a piece on Appleby's mockups that he built for the "94th Aero Squadron" theme restaurants that ended up in graduate creative writing thesis (some "wacky" escapades) and I have a piece submitted to the Great War Aeroplanes Association newsletter that details a bit on the construction of his "fake" Nieuports. As you probably know, Cody, the Applebys and Roger Freeman are responsible for many of the excellent WWI aero reproductions in the collections of museums and enthusiasts. I have one of Appleby's constructions for a Fokker Dr.1 rudder in storage in California.

Langdon, glad to see more D-VIIIs coming along -- I've wanted one for eighteen years, but have settled on my vintage sailplane for now. Looking forward to seeing its progress.

More posts later.

Greetings, all, from some wacky California kid now teaching English in Virginia.

-George

[AchimEngels]

Hi Langdon!

Glad to see your postings here! And I am happy to help out with some more server space, if  required  

I am eager to see more of your work!

Achim

[aeropeasant]

Dear Langdon-

While working on your drawings for the Fokker D-VIII, might you offer them in the future for prospective D-VIII builders -- or do we have to wait for Achim & Crew?! *(They'll get around to EVERYTHING that Germany flew in WWI if you give them a few months...&#33 *My first exposure to a D-VIII replica was the Swearingen one, and this was about 18 years ago. *Please keep updating.

Oh ... where did you find the motor? *Next time I'm in Holland I wouldn't mind picking one up...!

best wishes,

-George

[jumpinjan]

Langdon/George,
I have an article that was authored by Mr. E. O. Swearingen of his D-VIII, that was published in Sport Flying, 1970. The author/builder describes his first test flight in the D8 that he built himself, and what troubles that he faced trying to get information on the D8 design (this was during the early '60s). He received a good lead from the curator of the Munich Museum that Reinhold Platz was available to perhaps provide some critical wing design information. So apparently, Swearingen did some corresponding with Herr Platz over a 6-year period, receiving design information from the chief designer, until the passing of Herr Platz (sometime around 1966). Anyway, the article should be of some interest to you (& other people?). The author mentions that the only critical question that was not answered by Herr Platz was how he hung the ailerons *(that was your question, correct?). Apparently, Platz felt that the original system was dangerous in light of later knowledge gained and Platz suggested instead, using the piano hinge type that was a post war development for Fokker. *If you prefer, I could scan the article in a few days. By the way, where could I post the article? Here at theaerodrome.com perhaps?

[aeropeasant]

Dear Jan-

Thanks for your reply. I read a different article on the Swearingen D-VIII, tho' much of what you detailed I recall now. That's an interesting note about the ailerons. I might have access to a copy of that Sport Aviation issue year, but a scanned copy is always cool.

Three cool shots of the D-VIII replica at The Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/614217.../61422955QFtFhj

http://community.webshots.com/photo/614217.../61423129TVDeQo

http://community.webshots.com/photo/614217.../61423558IkuHQM

The Roger Freeman reproduction in Texas is looking quite cool. Have you seen it?

Jan, are you building a replica? I stopped flying power planes a few years ago and have been flying sailplanes exclusively, but I will return to motors eventually.

Thanks for the update!

best regards,

-George

[Langdon]

Hello Jan & George,

Sorry it has taken so long to reply, I will get some more photos through from Achim soon and I can update my progress. The wing rib templates have been cut using CNC machines and work will commence shortly on those, they are being built by Koloman Mayrhofer in Austria from my research and he will be producing at least four other wings for different projects including one of his own. If anyone is interested you may never find a better opportunity as building on this scale does help in bringing the cost down.

George, I do intend making my drawings available once they are presentable, I have drawing about 90% of the plane so far and this has taken years of constant effort but I will finish the plans as I work on my aircraft now. It is very refreshing to be doing practical work finally rather than research. What are your intentions, model building, full scale or data collecting?

I have seen the photos of Freeman's D.VIII and it looks wonderful, I hope my workmanship can match his standard, his replica is well researched but I believe I have gone into it more thoroughly.

Concerning the engine, I was lucky enough to hear it was for sale and after a huge search of the Internet and many emails to different museums I managed to track down the seller. If anymore ever come on the market I will be surprised, there are only about 9 examples left in the world and possibly only 1 that is complete, mine is missing its carburetor and some oil pump internals.

George I have contacted you on the Canvasfalcon site in reply to your offer with the article but if you can post it here as well that would be great.

Thanks,
Langdon

[aeropeasant]

Dear Langdon-

----"George, I do intend making my drawings available once they are presentable, I have drawing about 90% of the plane so far and this has taken years of constant effort but I will finish the plans as I work on my aircraft now. It is very refreshing to be doing practical work finally rather than research. What are your intentions, model building, full scale or data collecting?"----

Yes, I'd like the plans for:

1. A replica

and

2. Research

The drag is that I have so many things going on, I need to have someone working along with me to keep me motivated. I've owned my cool sailplane for two years now (one of only 5 of this kind in the U.S.) and I've only flown it three times at all -- in August and September this year. What would I do with a replica project under these circumstances?!

I'm bummed to hear about motors -- I could sell my glider and use the cash to get a rotary motor -- sort of. I hope there will at least be an 80 hp rotary somewhere when I start a project...

----"George I have contacted you on the Canvasfalcon site in reply to your offer with the article but if you can post it here as well that would be great."----

Langdon, I'm sorry it's been a long day and I'm fuzzy-headed and drawing a blank on the Canvas Flacons (can only think of the Stephen Longstreet book right now). Can you remind me what this is? I had an article from another airplane magazine early '80s in storage in California (I live in Virginia now) but I do have access to issues of “Sport Aviation.” I’ll get you what I can soon.

Yeah – maybe the ribs cut for others would be a good call. Have you seen the link to the D-VIII at Fort Rucker museum i put in my post? I can’t tell if I’d like a D-VIII with that lozenge and color cowl (cool!) or the black/white cowl often seen (also cool!). Do you have real LMGs for yours?

More later.

Best regards,

-George