Strange Aircraft / Silverstone
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Strange Aircraft / Silverstone
I have just returned from an enjoyable weekend at Silverstone with Mrs MF, we watched the usual hordes of helicopters, but on Sat PM and shorthly after today's F1 Grand Prix there was a large twin engined bi-plane relatively low and more peculiarly it had no visible wing markings.
Anyone shed any light?
It looked like something Howard Hughes could have come up with!
Anyone shed any light?
It looked like something Howard Hughes could have come up with!
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
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The Vickers Vimy? Or a Dragon Rapide?
Join Date: Feb 2001
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It was the Vimy...(Google Vimy Steve Fossett for details) Made an approach at Silverstone before landing at Turweston. Nearly fell of my chair when I saw it, although that could be alcohol related.
Was going to pop in to Turweston on the way home, but as I sat in the campsite exit queue, it departed.
Was going to pop in to Turweston on the way home, but as I sat in the campsite exit queue, it departed.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Yep US registered and no US requirement to carry an underwing - stops people claiming "it was so low I got me the varmit's number"!
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Believe it or not they have just flown that clean across the Atlantic (it did not come in a crate). Took a good look at it yesterday and it appears to be powered by two large Chevy like engines. Fantasic.
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Got a look at th eVimy when it stopped in here for 800litres of Avgas
Powered by 2 600hp engines. But Steve was saying they limit them to about 350 - 360hp and the rest of the grunt is there if they want. Fuel burn is 30odd litres per hour between the two engines.
75 - 80mph cruise
Powered by 2 600hp engines. But Steve was saying they limit them to about 350 - 360hp and the rest of the grunt is there if they want. Fuel burn is 30odd litres per hour between the two engines.
75 - 80mph cruise
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QDMQDMQDM
The formula I was taught to calculate fuel burn for an aircraft engine was: 3/4 pint per HP/HR ( using US gallons ). Depending upon how much power was used ( % of max rated power ) in any flight regime, you could approximate the fuel consumed in an hour. The T-6, for example, had a 600hp engine and in cruise we burned around 25-30 USG per hour depending on the cruise power setting used. Perhaps with a modified car engine; however, this formula would not be accurate.
The formula I was taught to calculate fuel burn for an aircraft engine was: 3/4 pint per HP/HR ( using US gallons ). Depending upon how much power was used ( % of max rated power ) in any flight regime, you could approximate the fuel consumed in an hour. The T-6, for example, had a 600hp engine and in cruise we burned around 25-30 USG per hour depending on the cruise power setting used. Perhaps with a modified car engine; however, this formula would not be accurate.
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Had a look at the Vimy whilst preparing to land out in a K21 glider at Winchombe near Cheltenham at 18.00 on the Saturday evening.
P2 refused to believe that it had flown across the Pond.
Shame it did'nt make it to Fairford for the show, would have kept me ammused for hour refuelling that with avgas.
P2 refused to believe that it had flown across the Pond.
Shame it did'nt make it to Fairford for the show, would have kept me ammused for hour refuelling that with avgas.
