In response to some questions from me, Evan Belworthy of New Zealand has this to share after 30 years of experience with the VW installation in his FRED ZK-FRD:

“Fred has a 1835 cc VW running a Johnson Outboard carburetor and single battery ignition.  The original had a magneto also, driven off the crankshaft, but the single ignition is fine.  The carb heat box is a light switch box and the heat is off an exhaust muff, we run a mix of warm air all of the time and hot air for the carb heat.  The engine still has the original mechanical fuel pump.

“Idle 750 rpm, full power static gives 2800, takeoff and climb 2900 and straight and level 3100 full throttle.  In cruise at 2800 gives us 65 knots indicated using between 15 and 18 litres [4-4.45 U.S. gallons] per hour.

“These figures are what I used on Tuesday, as I had to pull Fred out and go for a fly….

“Fred has a Hegy 60 X 30 propeller, I have tried 62 and 60 x 32, the prop dates back to 1977 ex a VP1.  Also under the engine is a standard VW oil cooler that we have mounted externally, with 1600 no oil cooler was required but it is required on the 1835.”

Photo:  ZK-FRD shows off its simple but effective VW conversion.  Courtesy of Evan Belworthy.

Eric Clutton’s own FRED (originally G-ASZY and today N4499Y) has had many different engines over the years.  Today it wears a Continental A-65 but at the time Eric began to make plans available it wore a converted Volkswagen Beetle engine.  In fact, Eric and his friend the late Albert Tabenor were pioneers in using VW aero engines in Britain, following in the footsteps of Frenchmen Edouard Joly and Jean Délémontez, creators of the Jodel D.9 Bébé, among others.  The vast majority of FREDs past and present have been and are powered by converted VW engines of one kind or another.

In the United States, Steve and Linda Bennett’s Great Plains Aircraft Supply Company is one of the oldest companies specializing in air-cooled Volkwagen engines for aviation use.  Steve himself has over 3,000 hours of experience flying in VW-powered aircraft.  I recently contacted Steve to ask his advice on what VW engine set-up he would recommend for FRED.  Here are his suggestions:

• VW Type 1 1600-1915 cc engine;
• Front drive (pulley end), direct drive (no redrive);
• Wooden prop (as with all direct-drive VWs);
• Low-profile, Sonerai-style intake system with Model 1617 or 1821 carburetor as appropriate for engine size;
• No alternator or generator;
• Single ignition:  either one Slick 4316R magneto
 OR one stock VW 009 distributor running off a motorcycle battery and charged by a wind-driven generator;
• No starter (hand start).

As you can see, Steve’s recommendations emphasize light weight and simplicity, key elements to keep in mind when building FRED or any other homebuilt aircraft.

Photo:  Detail of FRED G-BJAD’s British-style VW aero conversion (note dual, bottom-mounted magnetos) at the Newark Air Museum.  Courtesy of Mike Smith.

R.S. “Bob” Hoover (no, not the famous air show pilot, rather the VW-powered homebuilt aircraft guru) is himself a fan of Eric Clutton’s FRED.

In a post on the Yahoo Group Fly5k back in 2005, he said simply, “Eric Clutton’s F.R.E.D. is far more practical for the low-budget homebuilder than most folks realize.”  Hoover lauded the inexpensive mild steel fittings, easy towing and suitability for building and storing in a very small space.  Hoover expanded on his thoughts on FRED on his own blog in 2009, concluding, “With just one seat F.R.E.D. isn’t for everybody.  Indeed, it is just for you.  Take F.R.E.D. out a couple of times a month and you’ll be a better pilot for it.”

Read the complete posts on Yahoo! Group Fly5k (requires free registration) and Bob Hoover’s Blog.

[Note:  R.S. “Bob” Hoover passed away on August 13, 2010 after a long battle with cancer.  He will be greatly missed by the homebuilt aircraft community.]

Photo:  G-ASZY shows off the practicality that Bob Hoover lauds while towed on its own gear, wings folded and tailplane on the roof rack.  Note the license plate and its message.  Courtesy of Eric Clutton.