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80% scale Spitfire MkI replica - "the ultimate homebuilt"
Bob Cutting and Terry Wilshire, both British expatriates, built and flew this 4/5 scale Spitfire Mk1. First flown by Terry on 27 January 1996, C-GSPI was originally powered by a 250hp Ford V-6 engine, this replica represents the effort of almost 12,000 hours work by Bob and Terry, with design and preparation by Terry with some occasional help from the University of British Columbia. Despite being scaled down to a span of just over 29ft, Spitfire C-GSPI reproduces accurately the flowing lines of the original. Unlike most other scale Spitfires, the engine is fully enclosed in the curvaceous cowlings, the undersized propeller being the only immediate giveaway.
"There's no way you can tell she's not original," said Bob Cutting in an article from Aeroplane magazine. "She looks magnificent, in the ground and in the air. She's a dream to fly, very stable, not sensitive at all, particularly in pitch (unlike the original). Ground handling is also excellent, assisted by a lockable tailwheel."
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"On the third flight we managed to keep track of the numbers," said Coc. Take-off occurred at 65kt IAS and 2,150rpm; initial climb rate (10 degrees flap) was 750ft/min, clean climb 1,500ft/min, cruise 165kt, stall clean 55kt (58kt gear down and 53kt with 10 degrees flap), approach 80kt and touchdown 70kt.
"All in all," said Bob, "Terry and I are chuffed the whole thing came together so nicely in the end." |
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C-GSPI on patrol. The aircraft is of wood construction, fiberglass and aluminum have been used where heat or excessive compounding occurs . Plywood skins have been finished with a 3/4 oz. fiberglass bi-directional cloth laid on with roller applied Endura paint. After wet sanding, slight imperfections are corrected with high grade body filler and then regular automotive primer and acrylic finish coat applied.
Since a forced-landing a couple of years ago, C-GSPI has been re-engined with a Chevy 383 engine. Data below:
Technical Data.
Scale 80%
Airfoil section. NACA 23015 to 23006
Gross weight. 2600 lbs.
Range. 2.5 hrs.(includes reserve).
Cruise speed. 130 Knots
Climb. 1200 ft./min.
Gear. Electric/hydraulic retractable, spring loaded struts.
Power plant specs.
Engine: Chevy 383(stroker).
Max. h.p.: 418 @ 5000 rpm.
Max. Torque: 494 ft.lbs. @ 3500 rpm.(@ input to PSRU)
Compression: 9.5 :1
Fuel injection: Airflow FM300 all mechanical multipoint, low profile.
Prop: Three bladed 102" constant speed, complete with a Camdrive 500 PSRU (2.118:1 reduction ration). |
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Tally-Ho Enterprises
c/o Industrial Laser Cutting Ltd.
#7 -7504 Vantage Way,
Tilbury Industrial Park,
Delta, B.C., Canada. V6V-1Y6.
Tel. (604) 946-4152 Fax. (604) 946-4153.
E-mail: tmw@industriallaser.com (click on the image at left to go to their site) |
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