“Air Beetle”?

[Ironflight]

Watching Louise fly home from the ranch in eastern Nevada this morning (checking to see when I should start breakfast….) and noticed that ForeFlight calls our RV-6 (AKA “N164MS”, AKA “Mikey”) an “Air Beetle”! That sounds mildly insulting…… I checked the FAA Registry, and it is a “SEEGER MICHAEL V RV-6”, just as it should be…. Any other RV-6 folks being called an Air Beetle by ForeFlight?!

 

[mburch]

Look on the bright side - this screenshot should qualify you to park in the Warbirds section!

 

[Ironflight]

Look on the bright side - this screenshot should qualify you to park in the Warbirds section!

True!! (Now we’re really getting down not the trivia weeds……)

 

[AZSteve053]

Air beetle IS/WAS a Van's RV-6A....

NAF To Resurrect The Air Beetle

The Nigeria Air Force announced it will put its Air Beetle training aircraft into service again, which have been out of use for over a decade. The Air Beetle is a Van RV-6A; the only kit built airc…

nigerianaviation.wordpress.com

 

[Snowflake]

AFAIK the Air beetle was only supplied in a nose wheel version as well...

 

[Karmarepair]

Dornier replaced the rod nose gear with an Oleo, among other things. Best picture I could find.

Aviation Photo #1711713: Van's RV-6A - Nigeria - Air Force

Dornier Aviation Nigeria AIEP (DANA) exhibits at the 2010 NAF Air Show. At left is a local variant of Van's RV-6A called the Air Beetle (NAF099), at center a Do 328 (5N-IEP) and parts of a Do 228. DANA is currently the largest MRO provider and aircraft assembler in West Africa. [Nikon D300]. -...

www.airliners.net

It's not clear if they are still in operation. They are almost 40 years old now, even given the decade (2000 - 2010) they were out of service, you have to wonder.

 

[bjdecker]

Dornier replaced the rod nose gear with an Oleo, among other things. Best picture I could find.

Aviation Photo #1711713: Van's RV-6A - Nigeria - Air Force

Dornier Aviation Nigeria AIEP (DANA) exhibits at the 2010 NAF Air Show. At left is a local variant of Van's RV-6A called the Air Beetle (NAF099), at center a Do 328 (5N-IEP) and parts of a Do 228. DANA is currently the largest MRO provider and aircraft assembler in West Africa. [Nikon D300]. -...

www.airliners.net

It's not clear if they are still in operation. They are almost 40 years old now, even given the decade (2000 - 2010) they were out of service, you have to wonder.

bigger rudder & counterbalance vs the original 3-4-6 which had none.

 

[lr172]

bigger rudder & counterbalance vs the original 3-4-6 which had none.

I think they also had different wingtips to provide more stability for IFR training. I remember a guy here selling a set a few years ago.

 

[scsmith]

Dornier replaced the rod nose gear with an Oleo, among other things.

Looking at the picture, it does beg the question: what is that gear strut attached to? Enquiring engineering minds want to know.

 

[penguin]

If Dornier were involved it is likely they did the engineering properly. Strut looks similar to that used by Grob on G115.

 

[DanH]

Also seems to have a slab main gear leg.

 

[Jerry Fischer]

Looking at the picture, it does beg the question: what is that gear strut attached to? Enquiring engineering minds want to know.

If I had to guess, probably the engine mount.

 

[turbo]

once an Air Beetle always an Air Beetle. oh well. I have heard worst. ms beetle.

 

[Ralph Inkster]

Notice also main gear legs look kind of like 8A legs, wonder what type gear leg mount system they used.
Also the vertical & rudder is neither 6 or 7 shape, hybrid?

 

[gasman]

If I had to guess, probably the engine mount.

That would take the sag out if landed nose first, and make a lot of cowl interference.
The front cowl clearance would also change just by adding the static weight to the mount and removing it during flight.

 

[RNB]

All sorts of stuff online with AIEP air beetle

Play some music while reading:

 

[mburch]

This has always been my favorite feature of the Air Beetle. Some days it would be awfully handy! I do wonder how the upper cowl is attached at the firewall.



It's likewise interesting to see all the things that have been done in the name of cooling airflow:

 

[Ironflight]

This has always been my favorite feature of the Air Beetle. Some days it would be awfully handy! I do wonder how the upper cowl is attached at the firewall.

View attachment 88578

It's likewise interesting to see all the things that have been done in the name of cooling airflow:

View attachment 88579

Looks the same as my old Grumman Yankee with the two latches on each side! The aft edge ha da riveted on strip that made a lip that engaged the flange of the firewall if I recall correctly. The firewall flange was always wearing holes int eh aluminum cowl….

 

[Janekom]

Very interesting. I know that quite a number of these have been purchased by someone here in South Africa

 

[Norman CYYJ]

Very interesting. I know that quite a number of these have been purchased by someone here in South Africa

I hope there isn't someone out there with a beetle swatter.

 

[Scott Hersha]

Anybody what kind of engine lurks under that cowling?

 

[Zero4Zulu]

Anybody what kind of engine lurks under that cowling?

Lycoming O360. I spoke to the man that did all these modifications and helped build the fleet in Nigeria. 50 some planes I think… He was there for 20 years. The big NACA vent was for the oil cooler to get it off of the baffles. They modified the engine’s compression so they could run car gas since they didn’t have high octave avgas in Nigeria. The main gear was modified to flat gear legs. The oleo strut nose gear plane never flew. Just a mockup I think he said. He said the pilots were the worst and beat the planes up badly. He talked about those wing tips too and the modified fuel tanks.

Sure was cool to speak to him about the Nigerian RV6A’s. Hope to see him again.

 

[lr172]

I occasionally watch my sons flights on foreflight. Since paul posted this, i have noticed on several occasions the plane is listed as air beetle. Oddly enough, 30 minutes later in the same flight, it is listed as an rv6. Suspect something is going on with the flightaware database, as I thought that was where FF gets the data when you are using the internet vs adsb sources.