Anonymous asked: What wing profile does the FRED use?

Eric Clutton designed FRED after long experience piloting and repairing gliders including the big, slow Slingsby trainers.  Like them, FRED uses the Gottingen 535 airfoil for high lift at low speed and very docile handling.  That old airfoil also gets very draggy as speed increases, which explains FRED’s “stately” cruising speed.  ;-)  Cheers, Matthew
 

A NEW FRED PROJECT DOWN UNDER!

Rarely have I seen a new builder tackle building FRED with such gusto as that displayed by Brian Floate.  In little over one month since receiving the plans, he has already made a great start on the metal fittings, prepared his cap strip bending jig and set up his workshop pending arrival of the spruce shipment.  He has even found a shoulder harness.  I’ll let Brian tell his own story:

Hello again, Matthew.

I am 79 years old, keen as mustard, and have been flying since 1968 in twins, singles, light sport aircraft and gyrocopters.  I am a retired Detective Senior Sergeant of Police after 32 1/2 years service and helped to start the Victoria Police Air Wing in the 70s in hired 172 Cessnas at $20.00 per hour wet.  I flew in the London-Australia Air Race in 1969 in a V-tailed Bonanza and the London-Canada Air Race in 1972 in a Piper Twin Comanche.

I chose F.R.E.D. because of looks. home storage and trailerability.  It’s a great little aircraft.  I am building the fuselage and wings on the verandah and the tail assembly in the wash house.

I am a widower and I live in Bundaberg, Queensland in the North East of Australia (the average temperature is 28°C).  I teach portraiture and clay sculpting and beginners German at our University of the Third Age, I have just joined the Woodworkers Guild and I belong to the Bundaberg ArtSociety and the Clay Pottery Group.  Currently I have a painting exhibition on at the Court House Gallery in Gin Gin, a tourist town northwest Of Bundaberg.

I haven’t got time to sit in an armchair and grow old!

Regards,

Brian Floate

As they say in Oz, “Good on ya’, Brian!”  I look forward to seeing your project progress.  As far as I can tell from the Australian Civil Aircraft Register, Brian’s may well be the first Australian FRED!

Cheers,

Matthew

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ERIC, 85 YEARS YOUNG TODAY!

To celebrate, here are some never-before-published detail photos from July 2012 when Eric and friend Larry demonstrated folding and unfolding FRED for the camera.

All the best, Eric!

Cheers,

Matthew

A TALE OF FOUR TAILS!

FRED fans will have certainly noticed that there is quite a bit of variation among FREDs when it comes to the rudder and vertical fin.  In fact, there are four “official” variants—angular and curved, with and without a triangular fixed fin.  When it comes to angles and curves, there is no difference in function according to Eric, it’s just a question of personal taste.

The fixed vertical fin was originally a modification of the earlier all-moving design—the balance area forward of the spar was cut off, and the new fin attached to the horizontal stabilizer spar and fixed rudder post.  There is no hinge between the fin and rudder and the fixed fin adds just a minute or two to the break down and set up routine for trailering.  The fin is purely optional—Eric flew FRED for decades without it but added it later because, in his words, “In my old age I wanted FRED to be ‘less lively’ in rough air.”

So, it’s up to the builder…which one do you prefer?

Another recent Barnstormers ad caught my eye, this time advertising a Lycoming O-145-B2.  Eric Clutton’s original FRED once sported a similar small Lycoming.  Seller Ryan Zent responded to my inquiry to say, “Unfortunately, not many details are known about this engine. I acquired it when my grandfather bought a 1939 Taylorcraft, which had the same engine in it, and this was meant for either parts or as a restore. This particular engine was apparently on a different aircraft when a magneto seized during flight, causing the magneto housing to crack open. No other damage is known to be sustained. Unfortunately, there are NO logbooks or maintenance records available for this engine. The only book I have is an owners manual. There is a replacement magneto housing included which will show in the attached photo. I have quite a few pictures of all the parts so let me know if you want more detailed pics or need more info. Thanks, Ryan”  Click on the photo to go to the Barnstormers ad.