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R-80 Tiger Moth Page |
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Contents
Last Updated 05/26/07 |
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New Pictures May 2007!!!
June 2005 Picts |
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Introduction
Wing Construction
Fuselage
Engine
Photos
Videos (NEW)
Other Builders & Flyers
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INTRODUCTION |
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This is my Fisher Flying Products RS-80 Tiger Moth. I decided to build my own in June of 2000 after taking a flight in the factory demonstrator. The trip to Edgeley, North Dakota, was a lot of fun and Gene Hansen and the rest of the folks at FFP were great. After Gene gave my wife Laura and I rides, we ordered the wing kit on the spot (you can buy the entire aircraft at once, or build it in stages by purchasing the wings, fuselage, and finally the hardware kits separately; depending on how fast you want your money to separate from your wallet!). I'd recommend FFP to anyone interested in a great wood plane kit: www.fisherflying.com.
As soon as I started to workon my kit I decided to join an Experimental Aircraft Association (www.eaa.org) chapter. I found a great bunch of folks in Chapter 338. Most of them are builsing RV's, but I've learned to overlook that! Several of the members, notably Ace Campbell (all around welth of nowlege and great machinist), Don Ferrand and Gary LeGare (technical advisor with the experience of building nine planes!) have been extremely helpful when I've gone to them with questions. Ourchapter takes pride in the fact that most membes in the group are actively building or have completed their projects.
The R-80 is an 80% scaled replica of the de Haviland DH 82 Tiger Moth. The replica has a 23' wing span and is 19' from spinner to tail. My Moth weighs in at 712 lbs. and has a gross weight of 1150 lbs. The kit comes with two fuel tanks, on inside the upper wing center section and a lager header tank behind the firewall. I decided to use only the header tank which holds about 13 gallons of gas. This gives me about one and a half hours of flight time with a reserve. Powering my R-80 is the mighty Continental C-90-14. |
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FLYING THE MOTH |
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After five year of building, my Tiger Moth toook to the air from Half Moon Bay Airport. This airport is along the Pacific Coast, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge. Robin Reid graciously offered to take it up for the first flight. After Robin returned safely, and with a bit of his prodding, I took N8CX up. It was fantastic flying something built with my own hands. I found that flying in a high drag biplanewas quite different than flying the Champ I had learned in. But the tailwheel training I had received from Jim Grant at Amelia Reid Aviation proved invaluable. Thanks Jim!! |
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Robin Reid about to take to the air. |
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I cruise along at 74 mph, climb out at 65 mph, and arrive at whatever speed I feel like! No, really - you can come in full throttle on final, power back over the numbers and she'll just plop on down pretty as can be! I do this once in a while...usually I just throttle back to 1500 rp, and let her setle when she's ready.
In late summer of 2006, with my test hours finally flown off, I moved from Half Moon Bay to Frazier Lake Airpark near Hollister, Ca. Frazier Lake Airpark has a wonderful grass runway tat makes even MY landings look good...most of the time!
I'm looking forward to my years of fun "low and slow" flying in my little Moth. |
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Please feel free to contact me any time! |
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Dave Flohr |
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[email protected] |
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Introduction | Wing Construction | Fuselage | Engine | Latest Photos | Other Builders and Flyers |
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