| FRED | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Being prepared for flight at Andrewsfield Airport, Essex, 1989 | |
| Role | Homebuilt monoplane |
| Manufacturer | Clutton-Tabenor |
| Designer | Eric Clutton |
| First flight | 1963 |
| Number built | about 30-40 |
The Clutton-Tabenor FRED is a British homebuilt aircraft design introduced in 1963.[1][2][3]
Design and development
The prototype FRED (Flying Runabout Experimental Design) was designed and built by E.C. Clutton and E.W. Sherry between 1957 and 1963. The aircraft, registered G-ASZY, first flew at Meir aerodrome, Stoke-on-Trent on 3 November 1963. It was a single-seat wood and fabric parasol monoplane powered originally by a Triumph 5T motorcycle engine. By 1968 it was flying with a converted Volkswagen engine. The Continental A-65 65 hp (48 kW) four stroke powerplant has also been used. The plans were made available to allow the aircraft to be homebuilt and thirty to forty examples have been built around the world.[1][2][3]
Variants
- FRED Series 1
- Prototype, one built.
- FRED Series 2
- Homebuilt version sold in the form of plans.
- FRED Series 3
- Improved homebuilt version.
Specifications (FRED Series 2)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
- Wingspan: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
- Empty weight: 533 lb (242 kg)
- Gross weight: 773 lb (351 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × converted Volkswagen engine 4-cyl air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine, 66 hp (49 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 55 kn (63 mph, 101 km/h)
References
- ^ a b Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- ^ a b Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 98. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
- ^ a b Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 104. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X