The Diary of a Turb Re-Build
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: have I forgotten or am I lost?
wouldn't be the first restoration I've helped with them :-)
my pleasure mate.
if I get to england next year I'll have a poke around the turbulent scene If I get a chance.
I would love for the plans to cause a hundred new turbulents to be built.
they are a great little aeroplane that deserves to be built. (with a stretched cockpit)
for anyone contemplating building them hunt out a turbulent and beg a sit in one.
there are quite a few tweaks possible in the structure to make the cockpit larger.
power is quite adequate with just an 1850cc VW. Grimstead told me that with cowls on the engine his would reach Vne in straight and level flight.
on a single seat aeroplane you can use single spark plug ignition. so an almost unmodified VW engine can be used. Great Planes in the USA still do VW conversions as do Aero Vee in the USA.
we should really discuss the finer points of gluing a wooden aeroplane.
once understood it is an enjoyable technology along the lines of pottering about in boats in 'wind in the willows' style.
W8
my pleasure mate.
if I get to england next year I'll have a poke around the turbulent scene If I get a chance.
I would love for the plans to cause a hundred new turbulents to be built.
they are a great little aeroplane that deserves to be built. (with a stretched cockpit)
for anyone contemplating building them hunt out a turbulent and beg a sit in one.
there are quite a few tweaks possible in the structure to make the cockpit larger.
power is quite adequate with just an 1850cc VW. Grimstead told me that with cowls on the engine his would reach Vne in straight and level flight.
on a single seat aeroplane you can use single spark plug ignition. so an almost unmodified VW engine can be used. Great Planes in the USA still do VW conversions as do Aero Vee in the USA.
we should really discuss the finer points of gluing a wooden aeroplane.
once understood it is an enjoyable technology along the lines of pottering about in boats in 'wind in the willows' style.
W8
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Kernow
Perhaps someone can confirm - but didn't G-APNZ return an average speed over its VNE in the Kings Cup Air Race sometime in the sixties?
People need to discover how good these aeroplanes are/were.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the 9 turbulent formation that featured at SBAC Farnborough one year.
People need to discover how good these aeroplanes are/were.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the 9 turbulent formation that featured at SBAC Farnborough one year.
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: have I forgotten or am I lost?
I'm going to start a thread on here. "Building a Turbulent" as a holder for a technology transfer. hopefully it will make for interesting reading.
don't expect it to be a nice sequential exposition.
btw if anyone comes across a copy of plan 20 of the french turbulent plans set I would very much like to get a copy.
a photo take with a 12 megapixel camera is sufficient if I can read all the details.
W8 ...who might just build himself another turbulent with a longer cockpit.
don't expect it to be a nice sequential exposition.
btw if anyone comes across a copy of plan 20 of the french turbulent plans set I would very much like to get a copy.
a photo take with a 12 megapixel camera is sufficient if I can read all the details.
W8 ...who might just build himself another turbulent with a longer cockpit.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Worcester
Any more progress Monocock? I have been following this thread with great interest as this sort of project, given the time, facilities and money, is something i would love to do. I go away for a few days and have to search for the thread as it's dropped back to about page 3!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Earth
Yep, good progress has been made, and here's the latest:
Wheels all sorted with new (Vespa!) tubes and ready to go on.
Panel completed, and installed.
Tail plane mounted temporarily to get the incidence angle sorted out properly (ie so she doesn't climb/descend with the stick central).
Windshield trim seal installed.
New prop made by Hercules, and designed for the airframe/engine combo:
Trial wing fit today, and undercarriage going on wing next week ready for transporting to airfield for final assembly!!!
Wheels all sorted with new (Vespa!) tubes and ready to go on.
Panel completed, and installed.
Tail plane mounted temporarily to get the incidence angle sorted out properly (ie so she doesn't climb/descend with the stick central).
Windshield trim seal installed.
New prop made by Hercules, and designed for the airframe/engine combo:
Trial wing fit today, and undercarriage going on wing next week ready for transporting to airfield for final assembly!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Earth
My guess is about 8-10 weeks. It'll be physically flyable within 4 weeks (hopefully) but there will be some test release paperwork to wait for from the CAA I think.
Sam and I both have our own aircraft so when sunny days come along we tend to go off and enjoy them! That's probably why progress has been so good this winter... ie there haven't been many flyable days.
Sam and I both have our own aircraft so when sunny days come along we tend to go off and enjoy them! That's probably why progress has been so good this winter... ie there haven't been many flyable days.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Merriott, Somerset, UK
I'm impressed with your project, well done!!
Two observations:-
I like the rubber blocks incorporated in the tailplane attachments bolts, as I remember that in my youth at the Tiger Club, Redhill Aerodrome, that these bolts would come loose in the summer time, allowing the tailplane to move slightly.
If you were to pinch them up a little at this time, then in the winter they would crush the structure as the wood expanded.
Secondly............the tyres you have selected are not very suitable for an aircraft, you will likely find that the tread patern will cause the wheels to 'windmill' in the airflow, causing vibration.
Rollasons fitted nice aerodynamic ribbed tread pattern jobs, as fitted to high speed wheel barrows!!
Keep up the good work!
Tony
Two observations:-
I like the rubber blocks incorporated in the tailplane attachments bolts, as I remember that in my youth at the Tiger Club, Redhill Aerodrome, that these bolts would come loose in the summer time, allowing the tailplane to move slightly.
If you were to pinch them up a little at this time, then in the winter they would crush the structure as the wood expanded.
Secondly............the tyres you have selected are not very suitable for an aircraft, you will likely find that the tread patern will cause the wheels to 'windmill' in the airflow, causing vibration.
Rollasons fitted nice aerodynamic ribbed tread pattern jobs, as fitted to high speed wheel barrows!!
Keep up the good work!
Tony
Last edited by Tony Mabelis; 28th March 2014 at 21:29.
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Gloucestershire, UK
Tyres
Tony Mabelis: my Turb (G-ARLZ) also had wheelbarrow tyres and these worked well on grass and equally well on tarmac and concrete as far south as Casablanca. However that was 30 years ago and the tyres were older than that - I'm not so sure about the rubber they use to produce wheelbarrow tyres nowadays.
My tailwheel was not so successful - Monocock's is better.
This thread is bringing back memories - all good! I do hope it will continue.
My tailwheel was not so successful - Monocock's is better.
This thread is bringing back memories - all good! I do hope it will continue.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Earth
We moved the wing to the hangar (15 miles) yesterday. It was a case of finding a suitable trailer to put it in, and the glider trailer that a friend loaned me was perfect, if rather long...... 
The wing fitted perfectly, and to make sure that it didn't move around en route, Sam "took a trailer ride" with it on the way there. We only passed a couple of Police vans....
We then set to work putting the undercarriage on which took an hour or two.
Before.....
After.....
We need to be able to fit the fuselage to the wing next week, so decided that to suspend the wing on trestles was the answer. The fuse' will be lowered onto the wing, bolted, and then the main wheels/brakes attached. Then, with some Herculean feat of strength, we need to lift it all, remove the trestles, and lower it to the ground....
Any ex-Britain's strongest men out there?
The wing fitted perfectly, and to make sure that it didn't move around en route, Sam "took a trailer ride" with it on the way there. We only passed a couple of Police vans....
We then set to work putting the undercarriage on which took an hour or two.
Before.....
After.....
We need to be able to fit the fuselage to the wing next week, so decided that to suspend the wing on trestles was the answer. The fuse' will be lowered onto the wing, bolted, and then the main wheels/brakes attached. Then, with some Herculean feat of strength, we need to lift it all, remove the trestles, and lower it to the ground....
Any ex-Britain's strongest men out there?
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Gloucestershire, UK
An incentive
OK, thanks for the invitation.
Here's G-ARLZ (and me) overhead Lagos, in the Algarve. The picture was taken by a certain Gerry Breen and appeared with an article I wrote for Pilot magazine about my trip to Casablanca. It won't be long before you are whizzing around in G-ARIM. You will find that she is fingertip-light and gives you a wholly different experience than your Cub. I think the open cockpit and the low wing have something to do with it, especially when playing with clouds. I used to feel that I was flying, not that I was flying in an aircraft, if you see what I mean. I think others have described this feeling as strapping the aeroplane on rather than strapping yourself into it. It also makes a difference that you have to teach yourself to fly it, and you have to fly solo from the very beginning, and you never fly with anyone else. Single seaters are a bit special like that. Of course in the long run it can get lonely, but with a Cub to fall back on you have the best of both worlds. I'm jealous to quite jealous.
https://flic.kr/p/mLzWHG
And you can get a heck of a lot more in that locker than a couple of bottles of wine! (well, you do have to sit on some of it).
https://flic.kr/p/mLzXrL
EDIT: I don't understand why my pictures aren't showing. I've used this forum software elsewhere with no problems. Hopefully the links will work if anyone is interested.
Here's G-ARLZ (and me) overhead Lagos, in the Algarve. The picture was taken by a certain Gerry Breen and appeared with an article I wrote for Pilot magazine about my trip to Casablanca. It won't be long before you are whizzing around in G-ARIM. You will find that she is fingertip-light and gives you a wholly different experience than your Cub. I think the open cockpit and the low wing have something to do with it, especially when playing with clouds. I used to feel that I was flying, not that I was flying in an aircraft, if you see what I mean. I think others have described this feeling as strapping the aeroplane on rather than strapping yourself into it. It also makes a difference that you have to teach yourself to fly it, and you have to fly solo from the very beginning, and you never fly with anyone else. Single seaters are a bit special like that. Of course in the long run it can get lonely, but with a Cub to fall back on you have the best of both worlds. I'm jealous to quite jealous.
https://flic.kr/p/mLzWHG
And you can get a heck of a lot more in that locker than a couple of bottles of wine! (well, you do have to sit on some of it).
EDIT: I don't understand why my pictures aren't showing. I've used this forum software elsewhere with no problems. Hopefully the links will work if anyone is interested.
Last edited by Turb; 5th April 2014 at 08:17. Reason: Pictures not showing