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Don't know why I'm posting this....I just found it interesting.

This company based out of the US makes full scale and 3/4 scale kits of WW1 aircraft. These are kit for aircraft that fly etc.

http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/index.html

The prices are surprisingly affordable.

Here's their 1/1 DR1 before the engine and canvas have been fitted.

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The finished aircraft looks quite good.

17.jpg

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Don't know why I'm posting this....I just found it interesting.

This company based out of the US makes full scale and 3/4 scale kits of WW1 aircraft. These are kit for aircraft that fly etc.

http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/index.html

The prices are surprisingly affordable.

Sigh...

I really wish you hadn't posted that. I was far happier thinking the cost of such a thing was absurd. My left brain knows that having a kit and building a certifiable aircraft are widely separated concepts; my right brain really really wants to build one of these.

This would be truly cool for the upcoming Great War GB... :whistle:

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And this doesn't help, either

The Airdrome Airplanes 3/4 scale FOKKER D-VIII can be constructed using normal hand tools consisting of hacksaw, hand drill, file, pop rivet gun, wrenches, and hand nico press tool. Area required for construction should be approximate the size of a single car garage.

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Yup...the DR1 is under $10,000 for the complete kit. 300 to 400 hours to assemble it. A new 7 cylinder radial engine roughly the same size as the original and producing about the same horsepawer is $13,000. If you are less picky about appearance.....air cooled VW motors are another option.....and those are very cheap.

So realistically you could be flying a very authentic looking DR1 for a little over $20,000.

Oh....did I mention the wings come off and can be installed in 20 to 30 minutes....meaning you could store it at home and not pay hanger storage fees.

So I did some further reading.

It seems the DR1 is very sensitive to crosswinds when landing....a 3 to 5mph crosswind is a serious issue during landing. During WW1....most areodromes were big squares.......so pilots checked the windsocks for wind direction and landed into the wind. The rudder on the DR1 gives no control on the ground......so once you do touch down....the first 50 feet are pure terror. Perhaps having separate brakes in each weel and controlling the stering with wheel brakes is an option?

Yikes....so then I thought about buying some farmland to set up an aerodrome so I could land into the wind. It seems there is an aerodrome in England for sale....an intact WW1 aerodrome.....76 acres in size. So I guess 76 acres of flat farm land is needed for an aerodrome. Suddenly things begin to get complicated and expensive...maybe.

Quite honestly a red DR1 would be the best choice for sheer "look at me" appeal. But a bi-plane would be much more pratical for landing on grass runways. I'm a little shy of the reported trickyness of the DR1 when you try to land it. And it is a very twitchy plane requiring constant attention from the pilot when flying.

I'm still not put off by this idea.

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Steve,

If this fascinates you, try looking up the Replica Fighters Association. They have a big display every year at Oshkosh.

Yes....I'm starting to think I should make my first trip to Oshkosh. :woot.gif:

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Well if you considering a project like this and are ever in the neighbourhood of Brampton (Ontario Canada) - you'd want to drop in on these guys for some pointers about building WWI aircraft

The Great War Flying Museum

Just as an example...

rjc.jpg

fjk.jpg

You can dream (or you can build a model of it or... you could go all in... smile.gif

Cheers,

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David

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Yes....I'm starting to think I should make my first trip to Oshkosh. :woot.gif:/>

It's well worth the trip, IMO. The static displays aren't just your usual military jets and some warbirds (though those are there). Pretty much all the players in GA and BA are there, and even Boeing and Airbus have shown up with booths from time to time.

The EAA has a pretty decent museum, as well.

Oh, and the Ford Trimotor rides...

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Well if you considering a project like this and are ever in the neighbourhood of Brampton (Ontario Canada) - you'd want to drop in on these guys for some pointers about building WWI aircraft

The Great War Flying Museum

Cheers,

David

Wow....thanks David.....this is definately one museum I need to visit when I get the chance.

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