What replica would you build?
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What replica would you build?
Okay, lets put to one side the replica vs copy pedantic argument for the holiday season.
Lets sit back and indulge ourselves in a fantasy build-something-that's-no-longer-in-existence daydream
Now some rules:-
1) Funds are limited so no 12 engined flying boats
2) Permit to fly
3) Modern engines permitted
4) Modern materials permitted - I'm not into bamboo bombers
5) No one-off widow makers - we'll all want a go.
I'll throw a 6 to start.
The Hilson Praga. Hillson Praga, G-AEUT
Over to you - what would you like to see resurrected ?
Sir George Cayley
Lets sit back and indulge ourselves in a fantasy build-something-that's-no-longer-in-existence daydream
Now some rules:-
1) Funds are limited so no 12 engined flying boats
2) Permit to fly
3) Modern engines permitted
4) Modern materials permitted - I'm not into bamboo bombers
5) No one-off widow makers - we'll all want a go.
I'll throw a 6 to start.
The Hilson Praga. Hillson Praga, G-AEUT
Over to you - what would you like to see resurrected ?
Sir George Cayley
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This won't take long:
Since I got in a few licks on this sole remaining P-6E example 45 years ago, it's without question the ship I'd go for.
Maybe scale it down to 88% to use a more practical engine, not the 600 hp Curtiss V-12 of the original.
Since I got in a few licks on this sole remaining P-6E example 45 years ago, it's without question the ship I'd go for.
Maybe scale it down to 88% to use a more practical engine, not the 600 hp Curtiss V-12 of the original.
Westland Whirlwind - loved that 'plane since I made an Airfix model of it when I was about 10; it looks right - pity the engines were not developed further to make the reliable but the war demanded otherwise.
Heinkel 162. With a modern engine, it should be safe option. Eric Brown the Royal Navy test pilot who flew nearly all the captured German types at the end of WW2 reckoned it was the nicest handling aircraft he had ever flown.
SR-71
For me, after many flights of fantasy, it always comes back to the Avro 504. The aircraft that both my grandfathers learned to fly in the RNAS during WWI.
In keeping with the rules, I'll forgo the "common" 504K and build the now extinct 504J. It was in a J that my maternal grandfather had a flight that is recorded in his log book as "forced landing", but his photo album showed a sad-looking aircraft in a ditch by a hedge, labelled "My Crash".
The label was to distinguish it from many other crashed Avros and Maurice Farmans labelled with the pilot's name and all too often "(killed)".
Nearly half his class from RNC Woolwich were killed during training.
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The subject of very slow flight has always interested me, so my replica will be the Handley Page Gugnunc. http://www.liming.org/ch801/slatplane01.jpg
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Gnome de PPRuNe
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Saunders Roe Princess... nah, kidding!
There's something very appealing about the inter-war silver doped RAF biplanes and the continued re-emergence of Hawker aircraft of that era (I think a Fury might be close to airworthy) is a wonder. So something to complement them...
Depending on the availability of a suitable engine (I want a reproduction, not a replica), I'd go for something like a Siskin, Gamecock or Bulldog.
If a really big lottery win comes in, I'll be knocking on Skysport's door!
There's something very appealing about the inter-war silver doped RAF biplanes and the continued re-emergence of Hawker aircraft of that era (I think a Fury might be close to airworthy) is a wonder. So something to complement them...
Depending on the availability of a suitable engine (I want a reproduction, not a replica), I'd go for something like a Siskin, Gamecock or Bulldog.
If a really big lottery win comes in, I'll be knocking on Skysport's door!
Last edited by treadigraph; 30th Dec 2010 at 07:30.
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Great suggestions guys - keep 'em coming. 
Saw the Gugnunc at Wroughton many years ago; wonder if it's still around? The word gugnunc was part of a children's secret password in the inter war years but I can't remember the response.
Some suggestions need pictures - the Spiteful and the Streak for instance.
Sir George Cayley
Saw the Gugnunc at Wroughton many years ago; wonder if it's still around? The word gugnunc was part of a children's secret password in the inter war years but I can't remember the response.
Some suggestions need pictures - the Spiteful and the Streak for instance.
Sir George Cayley
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For Comper Streak comper streak | comper | gipsy major | 1934 | 0377 | Flight Archive
For Spiteful there are many around, e.g. Supermarine Spiteful - fighter
For Spiteful there are many around, e.g. Supermarine Spiteful - fighter
Oh I think the BBMF deserves a Defiant, a Shorts Stirling, a Halifax and Wellington.
Mosquito & Beaufighter - actually would have been my second & third choices.
Not that I'm stuck in WII GB aircraft much.
Mosquito & Beaufighter - actually would have been my second & third choices.
Not that I'm stuck in WII GB aircraft much.
It wasn't useless. It had a good record over Dunkirk but it was found out. The theory of having a gun turret fighter was wrong once it was 'found out'. But it did some work as a night fighter - I think it is on record as having more kills than the P-61 Blackwidow dedicated night fighter (but I have not researched that claim; yet).
Potentially it might have had use in the BoB if it had been employed to await bombers returning from their missons but with little escorting fighter cover left if any.
And it was a death trap for gunners unfortunately if shot down.
Potentially it might have had use in the BoB if it had been employed to await bombers returning from their missons but with little escorting fighter cover left if any.
And it was a death trap for gunners unfortunately if shot down.
Do a Hover - it avoids G
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A Horsa
Then use it as the means of a national spot landing competition (where you stop not where you touch) from 2000ft in the overhead.
Then use it as the means of a national spot landing competition (where you stop not where you touch) from 2000ft in the overhead.