All FREDs need such a pretty engine!

It’s been quiet around here at Clutton FRED so I thought I’d share this great pic by Ian Mathias of Ron Webster and his FRED G-BMOO at Wycombe Air Park in 2009. G-BMOO sports Ron’s lovely Webster Whirlwind homebuilt radial engine.

Wouldn’t your FRED look fine with a round engine?

Clutton FRED is going to Oshkosh for Airventure 2012!  No, I don’t expect to see an actual FRED at Oshkosh, though I can hope, and I doubt that Eric is up to the crowds and craziness at his age, though I do plan to visit him in Tennessee this summer.

But yours truly, Matthew Long, editor of cluttonfred.info and the Clutton FRED FB page and co-moderator of this FRED Yahoo! Group, will be at Oshkosh reporting on topics of interest to FRED fans: safe, simple, low-cost, plans-built aircraft and inexpensive engines, props and avionics.  I’d also welcome a chance to talk to any FRED builders, owners or fans while in Oshkosh.

Think of me as your personal correspondent…what would you like to see me cover from Airventure 2012?

Eric Clutton is perhaps better known in the USA not as the designer/builder of the Clutton FRED, but as Dr. Diesel, a master model aircraft builder and advocate and distributor of diesel model aircraft engines for many years.  As you can see from the pic below and a birthday post from a couple of years ago, Eric himself has built lovely models of his favorite subject…FRED!

There are a number of scale model FRED plans and kits out there, so here are two:

FRED is particularly popular in the Peanut and Pistachio rubber-powered, free-flight model classes, which are limited by wingspans and length and not a particular scale.  FRED’s low aspect ratio wing provides generous area within those limits and makes for a great flyer.  Here is a free Peanut FRED plan from the Outerzone plans site, which could be easily scaled up for electric free flight or a light RC setup.

Fully in keeping with FRED’s cheeky looks and Eric’s mischievous humor, if you don’t mind spending the money on a kit, here is a “ToonSCALE” electric park flyer version of FRED.  That cartoon pilot even looks a bit like a young Eric Clutton.  ;-)

If you know of a source for model FRED plans or kits, please post the link here.  If we find enough, I’ll add a new page to the site just about model FREDs.  I am sure Dr. Diesel will be thrilled!

Cheers,

Matthew