The Airdrome Taube (English: Dove) is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.[1]

Airdrome Taube
Role Amateur-built aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Airdrome Aeroplanes
Status In production (2011)
Number built 1 (2011)
Developed from Etrich Taube

The aircraft is a 3/4 scale replica of the First World War German Etrich Taube scout/observation/bomber, built from modern materials and powered by modern engines.[1]

Design and development edit

The Airdrome Taube features a mid-wing cable-braced monoplane layout with an inverted "V" kingpost, a two-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. The Airdrome Taube has a wingspan of 27 ft (8.2 m) and a wing area of 170 sq ft (16 m2). The standard engine is a 105 hp (78 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine four stroke engine. Building time from the factory-supplied kit is estimated at 500 hours by the manufacturer.[1][2]

Operational history edit

One example had been completed by December 2011.[1]

Specifications (Taube) edit

Data from Kitplanes[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Length: 17 ft (5.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
  • Wing area: 170 sq ft (16 m2)
  • Empty weight: 720 lb (327 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,145 lb (519 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion, 105 hp (78 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
  • Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
  • Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
  • Wing loading: 6.7 lb/sq ft (33 kg/m2)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 41. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  2. ^ Airdrome Aeroplanes (n.d.). "1914 Taube". Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2012.