Warbird Information Exchange

Very nice!

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

Quick update on the Sopwith Hamble Baby Landplane: Have just finished all the paperwork and N8184 is now registered and waiting on inspection. Have added the decking and replica Lewis gun. Here are photos of her at the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous:





If you missed it elsewhere, here is a photo of my friend Chip Burt's newly finished and flying Airdrome Sopwith Pup. It is finished out in RNAS livery and powered by the Rotec 7 cylinder 110 hp radial.

Terrific. Looks great!

Dave

We've decided to go with an aileron wheel as the original tabloid/baby series. With my big legs, the wheel allows full aileron throw better than sticks, especially when two side by side. We will use a left sided pilot and right seated observer/instructor.

The concerns voiced have focused around aileron effort; Well, this is the original mechanics so the experience should be the same, which is the goal.

Similarly, the left sde also has a rudder bar to complete the experience, replacing the pedal assembly shown in the below photo of the work in progress cockpit...

Slow progress.

After many fits and starts, the Sopwith Hamble Baby Convert passed muster and received the airworthiness certificate today. Many detail changes since the project was first hatched.

Historically, the last 70 Parnall-built Sopwith Babies were built as landplanes, and known as Hamble Baby Converts. Although a few were deployed forward, most were used as trainers. This Airdrome replica takes advantage of the base Tabloid aircraft wide fuselage to give an a WW1 scout that is very comfortable plane for larger (and older) modern pilots

N8184 is marked as a 1917 operational Naval aircraft. The engine is a 110 Rotec with a Culver climb prop. Interestingly, the plane replicates the original wheel aileron control and has several original and reproduction cockpit. Still have a bit of detailing to do, but you get the idea. An experienced pilot who was trying out the cockpit smiled and said the controls felt like an old Stinson Gullwing or Cabin WACO. The system is however, pretty much 1913 Sopwith in basic layout as the original Baby.



The Lewis gun is a reproduction, but accurate installation and placement.
Cockpit - note wheel, original altimeter and compass, replica Tampier quadrant and ASI.



The Sopwith Tabloid/Schneider/Baby is now a kit from Airdrome Aeroplanes but not yet on the website.



The Airdrome Sopwith Tabloid, Schneider and Baby are basically the same airframe, differing in small details and engine. The length is 22'10" with a wingspan of about 25'8".
Airdrome Baby N8184 weighed in at 890 pounds, and will carry a crew weight of 400 pounds with a MAC at 32% - easy peasy.. The weight of the Rotec before the wings allows a much higher payload after. N8184 is a bit heavier due to an extra layer of paint (we changed colors) at about 30 lbs and lots of detais such as a cast metal Lewis gun replica.

The series can be set up as a side-by side or one very comfortable big guy (yea me!). The original Baby config was a single seat with a wheel and rudder bar, which is what we used. It is a bit of a Pup for big guys. I stil have yet to do the ash landing skids, and a few other details, but she has a CoA and I am very happy.

Robert Baslee, who always likes flashy artwork planes better than my drab kites, remarked: "That's sure a generic looking plane". Well, that's exactly what I was going for...

More soon!

Thanks to so many folks that made this possible!

Beautiful work!

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The nose art/aviation artist and general lunatic from Houston, Texas http://www.jasonbarnettartist.com

This replica is a prototype for a Airdrome Aeroplanes series of kits for full size replicas of the Sopwith Tabloid/Schneider or Baby. There are several suitable engines depending on version, and the aircraft can be built to a two place side by side if desired. The level of detailing is left up to the builder. This aircraft, N8184, will probably have very Cub/Champ like flight performance with the control character of the 1915 original airplane with the unbalanced ailerons and rudder bar. The use of modern materials in construction makes it a good deal safer than the original.
Attached is a photo of the Sopwith Tabloid version, this one a two place with dual controls, which received its Certificate of Airworthiness a couple of weeks prior with a Valley VW redrive engine and Culver propeller..