Camel build

It FLIES
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Thanks so much everyone - many here had a direct impact on the little plane and were inspirational. I chose Harvey Cleveland to test fly the plane as he has over 20,000 hours, mostly tailwheel, and has test flown every Airdrome WW1 replica. He knows exactly what he is doing, is absolutely unflappable, and 20 minutes with him would reveal more than hours by me. I know my limitations and the plane's efficient and safe testing is the main priority here.

Now for my buds, the nitty gritty.

The Rotec R-3600 swinging a 90 x 48 Culver propeller, static rpm of 1750 rpm prop and 2650 engine - BIG CAVEAT - tachometer has not been double checked. While well down the 3600 rpm range, this produced a healthy 550 - 570 pounds of thrust. I feel pretty strongly that once broken in, and perhaps other tweaking, it will easily reach 600 pounds of thrust.
With two electronic ignitions, it starts instantly. The throttle body injector is its own entity, and we are learning how to best use it. I STRONGLY feel it is superior to the stock supplied 40mm Bing carb. based on my limited experience so far. One trhing you do notice is that the Rotec 9 cylinder is much quieter than you expect, and very smooth. From the ground, vintage aviation author Eric Preston said it sounded much like a 80 hp LeRhone in the air.

The Sopwith currently has provisions for brakes, but not hooked up. At just over 1100 pounds test AUW, it is no little light airplane and has some serious inertia to be managed on the ground. This test was on grass, but it will absolutely need brakes on any prepared surface. The steering tailwheel was wonderfully positive, and at least for us frequent flyers, a very neccesary compromise.

On take off roll, not pushing the plane at all, the tail comes up smartly and the plane unsticks in about 400 feet. Climb out seems happy at 60 or so mph. We did not push the climb, but a normal climb rate of about 600 or so feet a minute was what it seemed. All of the controls were not neck jerking, but positive. One thing that impressed the test pilot the was the wide speed envelope of the airplane where no trim was needed; you just put it there and it stayed. I personally think this is probably attributable to the original Sopwith designers' mass concentration. For you technical folks, we have 1.5 degree wing AOI with 0 degree horizontal stab AOI, lower wing dihedral of 5 degrees and zero degrees for the top wing. The engine has a down thrust of 2 degrees. The test CG was about 24% MAC. Controls were described a sweetly harmonized and normal stick pressures - seems Sopwith got their control surface areas dead nuts on. Slips wonderfully. Did not do a full stall series this flight.

At reduced power settings, the airplane would fly happily loafing between 80 - 90 mph at 1650 rpm indicated Lower the nose wee bit at same settings and it would easily pick up to 100 mph indicated. Again - these are indicated and not verified against an external source, but it was a new ASI.

Approach was tried at 70 and 80 mph, both worked fine. When the power is pulled, the plane does not slow as fast as you think it might (inertia), bur settles gently down to the runway conventionally. Without brakes or skid, it had a loooong roll out (inertia) of about 1000 feet.

We actually had a camera ship with Eric Preston on board, and here are a couple of photos. I think it's the best looking Camel replica flying, but I'm biased.
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while my new video camera on the ground pooped out, the test pilot took some video with his iPhone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpmIu0rl0Sc
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Pics of the day.
Classic unspoiled stick and rudder wind in the wires aviation my friends.
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We took the airplane apart today for a post flight inspection.

1. Landing gear hinge pins replaced with larger, heavier duty pins,
2. Modify proceedures to ALWAYS turn off the main fuel petcock as the TBI has enough head pressure in a full tank to weep fuel. If any interest I could write an entire post on what we have learned about the tbi
3. Will proceed with brake installation based on test flight. These are heavy duty cable actuated drum brakes from a racing go cart to Aeronca heel pedals.
4. Oil changed - looked ok. replaced with 3 gallons of Royal Purple full synthetic 20 - 50
5. need new handle on sump oil drain
6. Install Tiny-tach back-up tach/Hobbs on electrical sub panel to calibrate main tach. ($39.95!)
7. Need baffling to provide cool ram air to oil cooler
8. Better battery master disconnect switch
9. Better fuel master petcock

Am playing with idea of shaving the propeller down a couple of inches to try to get a couple more rpm into the power band.

We are also outfitting the 20 x 8.5 x 10 foot enclosed trailer with carpeted wing storage racks. Painted in black with a prominent V nose, she looks like the Titanic. She will make her voyage to Texas hopefully all safe.