DH2 under construction

Edward · 11 January 2023, 06:21 AM

Went to my hangar a couple of days ago and took these pictures. This started out as a 70% Airdrome Aircraft kit number 0001. I don't think they ever sold a kit 0002 as it was deem a unsuccessful design. I spent a couple of years redrawing it to full size. Made many changes, added 2 feet to each wing, went from 143 sq feet to 185 sq feet, changed the airfoil, added 60 turnbuckles, length it, changed engine. It has a Rotex 583, 65 hp. I would have liked to put a 5 cy Verner radial on her, but a little to pricey for me. I designed the Lewis gun, it will go BANG BANG, runs on acetylene and oxygen.

Jeff Brooks · 11 January 2023, 06:29 AM

playing designer can be fun.
Where do you estimate the CG to be?

sator · 12 January 2023, 02:06 AM

Nice work.

DVII Bldr · 12 January 2023, 05:36 AM

But does the plane go WRRRRrrrrr

Edward · 12 January 2023, 06:20 AM

Good morning The cord of the wing is 47", so I'm aiming for 13" to 14" from the leading edge. I did a preliminary CG layout on paper ( a lot of educational guessing) and I was at 13 3/4". I purchased three people scales and weight her. CG came in at 13 1/2". However there are still major components to be put on. Prop, upper gas tank, water in radiator, ect. I have attached a picture of the early autocad drawing that I did. As you can see I designed it so the engine can be moved back if needed to place the CG were it needs to be. Also you may notice on top of the bottom wing I have designed flaperons. They work very will on the full size Ed

RAF56_Ball · 19 January 2023, 08:00 AM

Edward, Sharon Starks and her husband Dick built and flew the DH-2 from Robert, showed it at AirVenture that first year. They then traded it IIRC for a reduced scale Morane Parasol. The parasol flew in the movie "Amelia".

Edward · 19 January 2023, 12:28 PM

That is true Dick & Sharon had the prototype. Here is part of a e-mail that Sharon sent me "We had some major issues with the plane. The prototype was a full 100 lbs lighter ( no instruments, seat, 1 quart in the fuel tank, ect) and it really showed when we tried to fly this one. Anyway after Harvey Cleveland flew it....barely..... he said it needed 3 more feet of wing on each side, a different airfoil and a LOT BIGGER ENGINE." I believe the prototype is now hanging in the Kansas City Air museum. When I received this e-mail, one would have through that I would be distressed, just the opposite, I was completely delighted, It now meet that I now could put my hand to re-engineering it. I had to let the kit sit for several years, as I need to finish my Volmer JV22. I started the kit in December of 2020. I have spent hundreds of hours on the drawing board re-working many things. With the exception of the engine, I have try to keep it looking as much as a original as possible. Ed