Warbird Information Exchange

Hi,
well I am now at the point I want to build again...
due career, life, etc, I have not built an airplane for the last 8 years, but my last airplanes were 3 Pitts, S1's, a couple monoplanes, and a christen eagle II. I built them all, (rebuilt the Eagle on a trade for an S1S) and loved the process, and the finished aircraft. But I sold all except the last Pitts, which I guess says that I liked to build a bit more than fly em.
Now I have the room, time, and I guess the means, (we shall see)
But I fully appreciate that they are all major time commitments, and I want to make the next one count.
I still have an S1 which I do love, and raced at Reno some years back.
I also love floatplanes, and have a couple, but they are working airplanes.

My passion is the racers of the 30`s, but I realise they are pretty single purpose machines,
So, my questions, and I would like some input as to popularity:

Samson, Curtis Pitts 1 off biplane, recreated by Steve Wolf and then others, I have all the drawings, and a good bit of airframe parts, so its the easiest to commit to.
Ryan STA on floats,
Gee Bee Model Y
Travel Air Mystery Ship
Napier Heston Racer (with an allison)
Sopwith baby on floats

Pretty strange list, but they all meet basic criteria, fairly simple airframes, I have full drawings for each, and in their own way they would all be fun to fly.
I am trying to balance building fun, with flying fun, and the uniqueness of the finished aircraft.

OK, ya, I would love a P51, Spitfire, Sea Fury, F86, etc, but I am not rich, and the airlines just dont pay what they used to!

I get to fly plenty, my daily driver is a 747, but I really miss the building experience.and the Pitts when I get back to Canada, (twice a year at best) I live in Dubai, an area devoid of interesting aircraft.

My problem, is I just cannot decide what to commit to! it was easy before, I wanted a Pitts, and nothing else mattered, but been there, done that, and now I find that I am really pressed to settle on one type.
My gut feeling is go with Samson, but I would hate to get stuck into a project I was not 100% commited to.

I know there are some really dedicated aircraft guys on here, so what do you think?
So, bottom line, what (of my little list) would you most like to open the hangar doors on??
thanks to all who may respond.

No brainer! Napier Heston racer. Make something that doens't exist.

I agree with Brandon. But, I would still love to see somebody do another Hughes H-1 racer. Unfortunately, I never got to see the Wright recreation before it crashed.

No question either in my mind: Napier Heston.

However, you would be well advised to have an engineer/aerodynamicist review the design, as the original only logged like 5 minutes of flying time!

From that list there is no question: Napier Heston Racer. Another Idea that wasn't on the list: Hall Bulldog racer.

I would go for the Ryan while getting all the engineering done to do the Napier. Going with the Allison would require some serious design and analysis work and I would want to have that all done before I cut a single part out. I tend to want to have all the background work done before I start cutting parts so that I don't end up having to scrap too much work...I get too much recreational maintenace at work on our birds, so I want to keep it to a minimum on my own a/c.

Laird SUPER SOLUTION?

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

interesting to see the multiple mention of the Napier Heston, agreed it was a very cool looking airplane, and still remembered so well after a total of 5 minutes in the air!
I wonder what it could have done, the engine weighed over 40 % of the total weight.
I guess the big problem with it is the engine, a Sabre is such a unique engine, being an H or basically a block. What could replace it without as mentioned massive re engineering?
I am sure that power wise an Allison would be just fine, but would it fit and still retain the lines?

I really like the Super Solution, Jim Moss built one, and I saw it often, even sat in it, but its been done.
Hall Bulldog, again neat looking machine, but I believe one is underway.

Another suggestion would be the Curtiss R3C, again that was a great looking airplane.

There has to be a balance between unique, yet also buildable in a reasonable time, and not stratospheric in cost.
I think all of the above meet that criteria, but adding one more, it must be a reasonable aircraft to fly.
Only a few meet that of above, at least in terms of a sport plane.
The Racers are all flyable, no doubt, but are they fun? or a display only type machine?

interesting discussion though

I bet you could use the Allison and keep the lines.

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

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