Frank Stutzman wrote:
>
> FlyBaby
>
> On Wed, 1 Dec 1999, Mike Lund wrote:
>
> > Besides, it saves me the trouble of making a VP-1 look like a flybaby--now I
> > can make a flybaby look like a P-26 <grin>
>
> One of the thoughts I had with my FB project (quick status update: I
> bought the plans a year ago ;-). To do it right you kinda have to change
> the landing gear, IMO. I know its been done ala the PT-22 which is close
> enough for me. Has anyone here done it or seen it done (I have the
> pictures that came with the plans, but there really isn't much detail to
> be seen).
Since I've got computer drawings of the Fly Baby, I tend to do a lot of
"doodling" on how it might look with a little cosmetic help.
I did some thinking on the faux P-26 notion a couple of years
back...adding the stringers and standoffs to the fuselage to round it,
with a fake radial cowl around the Continental like they do with the
fake Fokkers. I took one of my computer drawings of the Fly Baby and
fiddled with the standoffs and such. The result didn't look too close
to a P-26, alas...in fact, didn't look too good at ALL.
The PT-22 gear does let you have shock absorbing gear, but the biggest
problem is that the wing has to be modified to take the landing loads.
Typically, that means a box spar in a stub wing. As you might expect,
this engenders some interface difficulties when you do to the "normal"
wing outboard. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine once was
considering buying the rights for the design from Pete. He asked what
could be done to "snazz" it up, so I made one of my quickie drawings
with the shock-aborbing gear. I called it the "Fly Baby 1C," but that's
neither an official designation nor something that went beyond the
sketches.
Feeling REAL weird one night, I decided to try make a 'Baby look
somewhat like a Spitfire. So I assumed a Subaru engine (running it
forward to get the long-nose look), shifted the cockpit back (to balance
the engine and contribute to the long-nose look) and added the Ryan-type
gear. Turned out fairly weird-looking...and not too reminicient of the
Spitfire. Called it a "Foo Fighter" instead.
Anyway, don't know if Listbox supports attachments, but I've added these
old drawings as Jpeg file attachments. Lemme know if it doesn't work,
and I'll stick 'em on a corner of the web page or something. Keep in
mind that these are just doodles, not engineering sketches.
Best Faux Fly Baby idea I've heard was from somebody planning on a GEE
BEE look. Remember, the Granville Brothers didn't just build the R1 and
R2...there were other models with longer, more graceful fuselages that
were a bit reminicient of the 'Baby.
Ron Wanttaja
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