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 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!
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 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!
