Easy to build and easy to fly

snj5 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:22 pm

Vultee P-66.

Can use the BT-13 projects now on the market for big and small pieces such as the monocoque, seats, canopy, etc; build your own tube center section.
1820 engines plentiful, uses same airfoil as a P-66.
Full plans available from Smithsonian. I have a set.

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:23 pm

skydaddy61 wrote:

Nathan wrote:

How about a P-64? Use the T-6 for the basis. I know the P-64 is a lot more then the T-6 but its a start.

Simpler: Put a 30-cal in the cowling of a T-6, paint a kangaroo on the side, and call it a Wirraway. :wink:

IMHO, the T-6/Wirraway/P-64 are all different. I cant see passing a T-6 off as a Wirraway. Seems the Wirraway had a longer fuselage anyway. Fabric covered I think, different engine, three blade prop, cockpit glass, wings, etc.

262 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:24 pm

IMHO most of the ww11 fighters are easy airframes to build.the problem will be new engines to power them.the p-51 is good airframe,wood metal,composit.engines rotax,v-8,t-53 turbine.the L-birds are the best for low time pilots.all fighters where for war not made to fly easy so they can bite you quick :shock:

bill

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:38 am

Quote:

Vultee P-66...1820 engines plentiful

I thought the P-66 used a P&W R-1830.

As for the Val, I'd love to see one fly, but it's actually a pretty complex bird. If it were fairly easy, I would think the POF example would be up and running by now. Interestingly, I just saw some pics on a modeling form of a couple of D3A2 carcasses in Russia. Looked to be a couple of fairly complete wing/fuseulage center sections, and some other associated bits as well.

SN

JDK · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:30 am

Nathan wrote:

skydaddy61 wrote:

Nathan wrote:

How about a P-64? Use the T-6 for the basis. I know the P-64 is a lot more then the T-6 but its a start.

Simpler: Put a 30-cal in the cowling of a T-6, paint a kangaroo on the side, and call it a Wirraway. :wink:

IMHO, the T-6/Wirraway/P-64 are all different. I cant see passing a T-6 off as a Wirraway. Seems the Wirraway had a longer fuselage anyway. Fabric covered I think, different engine, three blade prop, cockpit glass, wings, etc.

Right in principle Nathan. Leaving aside 'looky-likey' repaints, the Wirraway was based on the NA-16; so is an earlier version of the family to the T-6/Snj/Harvard, part fabric fuselage covering, different wing sweep and miles of other detail differences. Oh, geared 3 blader too.

Cheapest warbird is someone else's.

jet1 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:21 pm

skydaddy61 wrote:

Simple to build and cheap to maintain? Grasshopper, hands-down. Tube and fabric structure, four-banger engine.

no one would pay the 2 million or so per plane it would cost you to build one once you factor in the costs of DEFENDING yourself against ambulance chasers....

Holedigger · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:55 pm

Give the L-4 a break! Add 6 bazookas under the wings, a box of mason jars with Primed grenades in them, you have a real heavy duty CAS aircraft! :wink:

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:03 pm

jet1 wrote:

skydaddy61 wrote:

Simple to build and cheap to maintain? Grasshopper, hands-down. Tube and fabric structure, four-banger engine.

no one would pay the 2 million or so per plane it would cost you to build one once you factor in the costs of DEFENDING yourself against ambulance chasers....

I didn't (and don't) think Legend Cubs cost that much... :roll:

Ryan

snj5 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:20 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

Quote:

Vultee P-66...1820 engines plentiful

I thought the P-66 used a P&W R-1830.

Yes - it used an 1830 (downrated). The primary things that would have to be fabricated:
tube center section, side panels
1830 engine mount
1830 cowl
convert BT center section to retract gear
clip wings, remove outer flap.

AvroAvian · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:43 pm

Skydaddy61 wrote:

Quote:

Simpler: Put a 30-cal in the cowling of a T-6, paint a kangaroo on the side, and call it a Wirraway.

You must've gone to the George Baker School of Cobbled Aviation History! :roll:

Nathan wrote:

Quote:

Seems the Wirraway had a longer fuselage anyway.

Shorter!..and therefore nastier....a great propensity to bite its own a$$

Quote:

Fabric covered I think, different engine, three blade prop, cockpit glass, wings, etc.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!
About the only things directly interchangeable with the Wirraway and the T6 is the wheels and brakes, brake master cylinder and a few minor fittings.
I think I should know... :wink:

PinecastleAAF · **Joined:** Fri May 25, 2007 4:50 pm **Posts:** 1028

I suppose it would make more sense to modify a BT-13 into a Val ala Tora Tora Tora. I always liked those things.

shoki · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:41 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

Quote:

Interestingly, I just saw some pics on a modeling form of a couple of D3A2 carcasses in Russia. Looked to be a couple of fairly complete wing/fuseulage center sections, and some other associated bits as well.

SN

Steve can you let us know which forum I'd really like too see those pictures. Thank you.

Chad Veich · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:07 pm

snj5 wrote:

Steve Nelson wrote:

Quote:

Vultee P-66...1820 engines plentiful

I thought the P-66 used a P&W R-1830.

Yes - it used an 1830 (downrated). The primary things that would have to be fabricated:
tube center section, side panels
1830 engine mount
1830 cowl
convert BT center section to retract gear
clip wings, remove outer flap.

I thought I read somewhere, maybe even here, that the BT aiframe was not designed to withstand the same loads as the P-66 and, therefore, BT parts would not be useable in a P-66 replica. At least not one with the same performance envelope as the original. No?

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:15 pm

Quote:

Interestingly, I just saw some pics on a modeling form of a couple of D3A2 carcasses in Russia. Looked to be a couple of fairly complete wing/fuseulage center sections, and some other associated bits as well.

Steve can you let us know which forum I'd really like too see those pictures. Thank you.

Here's a link. The text all shows up as little squares on my computer, so I don't have any info beyond the bare pics. Apparently the wrecks were recovered from the Kurile Islands..looks like there are some Kate parts as well.

http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/Shinpachi2009/iHemiJ#

SN

BHawthorne · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:20 pm

Steve Nelson wrote:

Quote:

Interestingly, I just saw some pics on a modeling form of a couple of D3A2 carcasses in Russia. Looked to be a couple of fairly complete wing/fuseulage center sections, and some other associated bits as well.

Steve can you let us know which forum I'd really like too see those pictures. Thank you.

Here's a link. The text all shows up as little squares on my computer, so I don't have any info beyond the bare pics. Apparently the wrecks were recovered from the Kurile Islands..looks like there are some Kate parts as well.

http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/Shinpachi2009/iHemiJ#

SN

The site is in japanese. Probably can use Google translate on that page to read it.

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