| flybill7 |
01-26-2015 07:24 PM |
1917 Fokker Dr-1 Triplane
I finished the RV-7 in 2009 and started building a 1917 Fokker DR-1 Triplane from Ron Sands plans in 2012. Instead of aluminum, riveting and fiberglass, I'm working with wood, steel tubing and fabric. The metal cutting blade on the bandsaw is swapped out for a wood cutting blade. Three years into the project -- if the weather is good, I have to fly the RV-7 -- all the ribs are done, I've learned to gas weld (sort of) and I'm nearing completion of the wing spars. I'm hoping to finish up the three box spars in a month or so, then I'll switch to the metal work: welding the fuse together and fashioning brackets.
This picture shows myself (right) and my expert crew making "the big cut" on the spar ladders, trimming 1/8" off each side with the table saw. Similar sort of event to cutting the RV canopy. Two spar ladders = one box spar, three box spars = one triplane. You can see the 60+ ribs hanging behind my head. 13 foot long table specifically for building the spars to the left.
This one is a fun project; no urgency to get it done like I had with the RV.
Someday maybe I'll be flying something like this (but I'll never part with my RV!):

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