Replica SPAD in Colorado

[Baldeagle]

I just spent a week in Colorado at the Vintage Aero Flying Museum http://www.vafm.org (also on Facebook) , just north of Denver, helping them work on thier replica SPAD XIII, and thought I'd post some photos. We had authentic style wings to mate to a steel tube fuselage, which took a little engineering, but by the end of the week we had it all together.









Engine is a Lycoming GO-480 which actually puts out a bit less lb-ft of torque compared to the original Hispano Suiza, but it will be plenty. The aircraft is being sponsored mostly by the family of James Norman Hall, author of "Mutiny on the Bounty", and WW1 fighter pilot, although as these things often go it's a bit over budget, so donations to the museum to help finish it are always welcome. Here is a photo of Hall with a SPAD probably taken at about the time he scored his 2nd and 3rd victories on March 27, 1918:



The replica will be finished like that one in honor of Hall. The Indian Head is of course the emblem of the Lafayette Escadrille, which became the US 103rd Aero Squadron in February, 1918, and kept the same emblem.



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[old iron]

What is the old airplane in the background. Something original or another replica? Inquiring minds need to know!

[The Inspector]

Are you referring to the SE- 5A replica or the semi rare 1965 CESSNA straight tail 150? That style 150 is sort of a collectors item, they didn't build the square tail with cut down fuselage very long.

[k5083]

I see another what looks like WWI replica peeking out from behind the S.E.5; what is that one?

August

[JohnB]

Are you referring to the SE- 5A replica or the semi rare 1965 CESSNA straight tail 150? That style 150 is sort of a collectors item, they didn't build the square tail with cut down fuselage very long.

You read my mind, I love the 64 150D...the only year of straight tail and the rear window. I really want one.
My Cessna book says 686 were built.
The swept tail 150E came along in 66...

Great SPAD project...with a modern engine and steel tube fuselage, it should be fairly practical.
Good luck with it.

[John Dupre]

I thought the XIII was a two seater?

[JohnB]

I thought the XIII was a two seater?

Nope.
The first model airplane I built was a SPAD XIII (that makes me an expert, right? ) and it had one seat.
Besides, Capt'n Eddie didn't need a co-pilot.

[Canso42]

Nice work Andrew. In the wonderful imaginary world of schedules, when does VAFM think it will be flying? My regards to the gang there

Doug

[The Inspector]

The SPAD VII and XIII were both single seater fighters, the SPAD XI was a two seater and was reviled by it's crews and was in and out of service faster than a 'SMART for 2" in Top Fuel.

[Baldeagle]

That is an SE-5a replica behind the SPAD, which will also get a flat six engine of some kind, and behind that is a replica Sopwith Camel. Both of them are not that far from being ready to cover, but the SPAD is on the front burner right now. The hope is to fly it this year. The VAFM fly-in is May 21, and all three Fokkers should be flying then.



By the way, the Cessna 150 is for sale (along with a nice Taylorcraft), buy it and help support the museum... vafm.org




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[YAF340]

Does any one have a line on a gear reduction Hiso? We are looking for one for our plane at Yankee. We have a straight thru crank Wright that we would be willing to trade. Thanks JOE

[Baldeagle]

Spent another week in Colorado and here are some photos of the SPAD progress

Andy Parks has been doing most of the doping, brushed on like the old days. I helped out when I wasn't welding stuff on the fuselage. WW1 French airplanes in 1918 used a five color camoflage scheme on upper surfaces (dark and light green, beige, brown, and black), with cream colored lower surfaces, and the French mixed aluminum powder into the dope (except the black) in the apparent thought that the increased reflectivity would help the camo effect. We experimented and found that 4 teaspoons of silver paste mixed into a gallon of thinned (1:1) dope produced a peculiar sheen that pretty well matched original fabric samples in the collection of the museum. Two brush coats of each color (three of the black) were used. Andy tried to use standard Randolph dope colors, the topside beige is a little light, and he ended up having to custom mix the light green (8 parts lemon yellow to 1 part black), but the end result looks good. The silver powder wasn't mixed into the paint used on cowlings and access panels, accounting for the different colors on the fuel tank cover in the center of the upper wing.










And the instrument panel beginnings

The fuel valves are fakes and the little door opens up so you can hide a couple of modern instruments behind it.


There are more photos and info on the Vintage Aero Flying Museum Facebook page



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[muddyboots]

LOVE IT! I can't wait to see it in the air!

[Baldeagle]

And assembled for a museum event last Saturday




Fuselage still needs a bunch of little details, mount tabs, etc, and fuel tank, cowlings, and so on. Still hoping it might make it to Oshkosh 2012




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[The Inspector]