Bugatti Airplane

Perhaps I am wrong, but it really looks like it was concieved by someone (EB) who was not a pilot. I would not want to fly it.

 

I agree. If it doesn't look right it usually won't fly right. The Wrong Brothers proved that.

 

So cool

Where did all the innovation go?

 

In honor of this discovery, many thouands of roads in our country pay homage to those intrepid brothers.
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designer wasn't mr bugatti, but louis de monge, it just used bugatti engines ...consider it was the early 1900's too, it never did get test flown

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Monge

http://bugatti100p.com/index.php?p=1_3_Louis-de-Monge

 

Like an airborn Veyron of it's day, without the limitless development funds and luxury of not being built during a war....

There are a few RC models out there, like this BIG one:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ObbtARxe2A[/ame]

And this little guy swooping around rather nicely:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GUeyPOGMjo[/ame]

As beautiful as the color is, not exactly ideal for visibility against a blue sky!

 

^^ good vids ....the large model shows the nose heavy attitude of the design ...not to surprising, it was an untested and unresolved design afterall

 

While I'll give you Messr. deMonge designed the plane, from what little I know about Bugatti and looking at the screaming Art Deco design elements, I do reckon the good Ettore was a little involved.

The models do look spectacularly pretty in the air (a Bugatti design goal, I'm sure which he well succeeded at doing), but are not directly an indication of how the manned original would have flown.

 

fair to say, only going by what's been put out in print, some comment that EB wasn't to intersted, and just supplied the drivetrains ....but who knows?
it is a pretty craft for sure, i agree since they never went through the R&D stages, the drawings sure can't be considered a full resolved design by any means ...likely if it had flown back then, they would have gone on to make various changes

 

The aircraft was not a flop, it just was never able to be flown due to the war. Bugatti holds a number of patents from the design of this plane. Soon the recreation will prove the design.

 

Bugatti had a ton of stuff on the board. His forward thinking was unreal. I don't think anybody since other then tesla has even been close to his world.

 

Always amazing to see really old threads pop back to life like this! Never saw this "back in the day" but made for a nice Sunday Coffee Read

Jedi

 

Some people snipe about how Bugatti didn't design / build the plane but he had oversight and if I understand correctly that is similar to the auto operations as he wasn't a engineer.

The 100 P was way ahead of it's time, it had covered radiators like the P51 did 3-4 years later. That split tail like a Bonanza control fins, and counter rotating prop.

I learned of this project a few years back as my dads best friend Jack Kennelly was building a prototype experimental plane, he eventually sold that plane to the builder of the 100P Scott Wilson. When Jack mentioned the Bugatti plane I was amazed that Bugatti had ever built a plane and then after seeing the pictures you could tell how special this project was.

Can't wait for the first flight.

 

Not sure the model represented the true W&B of the real thing. Model engine (singular) was likely in front.

 

In the news again....

Quote: to fly soon...

http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/8/9118119/bugatti-100p-reve-blue-kickstarter-first-flight

 

Small snippets of taxi tests
Strangely Beautiful Reproduction Of Never-Flown Bugatti Airplane Almost Ready To Fly | Popular Science

 

ummmm, it ****ing flew today

magnifique!
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Fantastic! A real jewel in the sky.

 

Apparently it also did a nose over upon landing, damaging both props and the spinner. Report said they lost one brake, which caused it to veer off the runway and the wheels sunk into the wet ground, causing the plane to tip over.

Sounded like they plan to have it fixed quickly. Can't wait to see it back in the air!

 

from their Facebook post:

"Bugatti 100P First Flight
In keeping with our Full-Disclosure policy, here is my summation of our first flight experience:
We intended this flight to be limited to a short hop down the runway to check power required/power available and to check control responsiveness in all three axes. Preflight preparation and before-takeoff checks were normal. Takeoff was normal and at a predetermined reduced power (80%) setting; takeoff roll was 3000 feet and I became airborne at 90 knots. I climbed to 100 AGL to check power and control responsiveness. The plane responded as expected to all power changes and control inputs. Maximum airspeed was 110 knots.
I reduced power for landing but the airplane floated much more than we anticipated. I landed further down the runway than planned but with sufficient distance to stop the plane. Unfortunately, I lost the right brake and the airplane departed the left side of the runway at slow speed. Due to heavy rains the night before, the ground was soft and the airplane tipped upward on its nose, damaging the spinner and both props.
Such is the nature of flight testing a new design. The relevant news is we successfully flew the Bugatti 100P for the first time. The plane flew beautifully.
We’ll share more photos, video, and data with you in the coming days."

 

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hey any landing the pilot can walk away from is a good one
Hopefully will be an easy repair.

Flight video up on their FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheBugatti100pProject?fref=nf

 

Beautiful plane, I'm glad to see it finally get in to the air.

 

they got her fixed and made a more successful second flight!

Details are rather sparse but there's a short video from a chase plane on their FB page and the following description:
"Second Flight - Traffic Pattern
On 17 October 2015 we made a complete circuit of the traffic pattern at the Clinton-Sherman Airport.

17 October 2015 - Photo taken on the downwind leg of Runway 17R at Clinton-Sherman Airport. A crowd of nearly forty people witnessed this historic event (they can be seen on the lower right of this photo).

The flight was flawless and the airplane performed perfectly."

Awesome!
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+1