The Pope Thunderbird is an American homebuilt biplane designed by Leon Pope.

Pope Thunderbird P-2
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Designer Leon Pope

Design and development edit

The Pope Thunderbird P-2 is a single engine, conventional landing gear-equipped, open cockpit biplane.[1][2] The aircraft was designed by Leon Pope of Plymouth, Michigan and made its maiden flight on June 18, 1959.[3]

Specifications edit

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
  • Wingspan: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)
  • Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
  • Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 5.7:1
  • Airfoil: S-1A
  • Empty weight: 800 lb (363 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,080 lb (490 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235-C four-cylinder horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
  • Stall speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)312 h
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

References edit

  1. ^ "Experimental Aircraft Fly-In". Flying. Vol. 67, no. 5. November 1960. pp. 36–37.
  2. ^ Kohn, Leo J (December 1961). "EAA Fly-in". Flying. Vol. 69, no. 6. pp. 34–35.
  3. ^ a b Taylor 1961, p. 309.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.