Buying A Stampe SV-4

[rjtjrt]

Any ideas as what to watch out for if buying a Stampe SV-4.
I understand there is an issue re Tie rods.
Anything that will help me avoid unforseen pitfalls. I am getting an engineer familiar with Chipmunks and Tiger Moth to look at it, but he hasn't dealt with Stampe before. The knowledge base amoungst engineers is limited.
Any information from the knowledgeable folk who have bought/owned would be appreciated.
John

[sycamore]

Try `www.tigerclub.co.uk`,as they`ve operated them for hundreds of years.tel(0)1622 891 017. Seem to recall oil soaked fuselage and fin-post probs. Their engineers should be able to give you a rundown of SBs and ADs.
Another one is the LAA as they look after Permit a/c.
Nice a/c to fly,better than a Tiger for aeros,but keep them `gentlemanly`.

[Tail-take-off]

Having owned an SV4C many years ago I would avoid the Renault engined ones. I know some.people operate the Renault with very few problems but they are certainly more.troublesome than the gypsies.

Tie rods were lifed at 500 hours so not changed all that frequently.

The best person to advise you is Andy McLuskie at Little Gransden. He has done a.number of rebuilds over the years.

PilotWeb (http://www.pilotweb.aero/content/pilotlist/view_pilot.aspx?id=630)

[rjtjrt]

TTO
There are 2 available that I am looking at.
One is Renault powered. The other is a Lycoming conversion.
I was initially tempted by the lycoming but the Renault aircraft looks nicer.
How bad is the Renault to operate?
John

[Tail-take-off]

The Renault is not a common engine in the uk. Spares & expertise are hard to find & they're not getting any younger!

read this http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/72599-bucker-jungman-vs-stampe.html

[PPRuNe Pop]

I have some 450 hours in the Tiger (usually ACDC) and about 150 in the Stampe,(Hi!) including EF, and the man with the name knows what he is talking about. However, I believe the Renault engined Stampe was a Belgian variant. We had one at Biggin Hill for a time and I liked it. However, 'Stampe' the Tiger was a bitch to some guys but that was always usually because it had to FLOWN. The Stampe is a lot more forgiving. I was a check pilot at the TC for about 8 years and the transition from the Tiger to the Stampe was by and large a very simple one - but not the other way round.

Aeros in the Stampe were a delight. In the Tiger they were hard work but both had good spin qualities but when rolling - the Tiger was not so good.

As for maintenance I recall one of the Stampe's had an oil soaked main spar that was quite worrying but I have no idea what was done, and I can't remember whether it was TKC or WEF. But they did get very oily. As for engines the Gypsy was the best for me and when I was displaying I used OBX, which had a 10c. That changed everything.

[Flying Lawyer]

PPP
I believe the Renault engined Stampe was a Belgian variant
Spoken like a true patriotic Brit. :ok:;)

The (Belgian) manufacturer used a Renault engine in the first model, the SV.4A.
They changed to the Gipsy Major I for the SV.4B. (Post-war, they used the Gipsy Major X for the trainers they supplied to the Belgian Air Force.)
The SV.4C was licence-built in France and Algeria and had a Renault engine. The two companies produced about 1000 aircraft.

Agree with you about the Tiger - relatively easy to fly, but difficult to fly well. I never got to that stage. After being checked out in ACDC I moved to the Stampe fairly quickly and hardly ever flew the Tiger again. Your mention of AWEF brings back happy memories - a joy to fly. :)

Tudor

[Genghis the Engineer]

I think that you might get more and more-informed answers on the Private Flying forum.

G

[rjtjrt]

Thanks for all the info so far. I contacted Andy McCluskie as well as some locals.
Hoping more info still to come.
I will try Private Flying are as well - will post on the old thread to possibly reactivate it.
John
PS I just saw old thread on Private Flying is closed so will start a new one.

[PPRuNe Pop]

rjtjrt,

No need for another thread. We generally do not allow two threads on the same subject running. But I will copy this to Priavte Flying.

PPP