Clutton-Tabenor FRED

FRED
Being prepared for flight at Andrewsfield Airport, Essex, 1989
General information
TypeHomebuilt monoplane
ManufacturerClutton-Tabenor
Designer
Number builtabout 30-40
History
First flight1963

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 with 65 hp (48 kW) Continental A65 engine. First flight December 1982.[4]

Specifications (FRED Series 2)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)
  • Wingspan: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
  • Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
  • Wing area: 110 sq ft (10 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 4.4:1
  • Airfoil: Göttingen 535
  • Empty weight: 533 lb (242 kg)
  • Gross weight: 773 lb (351 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 7.5 imp gal (9.0 US gal; 34 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × converted 1500 cc Volkswagen engine 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine, 66 hp (49 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 63 mph (101 km/h, 55 kn)
  • Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn) (approx)
  • Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)

References

  1. ^ a b Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ Taylor 1983, p. 550.
  5. ^ Taylor 1971, p. 187.
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