Czech Republic

One and 1/2 Strutter
(First of its kind)
Petr Svoboda
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Petr Svoboda's 1 and 1/2 Strutter Project (85%Scale):

Original 1 and 1/2 strutter .Petr and Rotec have been in correspondence since late 2003 at which time he was looking for a suitable project to include with the R2800. After looking at several aircraft including the Fokker- EIII he settled in 2005 on, to Rotec's delight and excitement, the Sopwith One and a Half Stutter.

This Sopwith is a Two-Seater (R.F.C. Designation), or Sopwith Type 9400 (R.N.A.S. Designation), it made its appearance in December 1915. It was a trim biplane with single bays, and equal span wings. The center section struts consisted of steel tubes which were half the size of the outboard struts. Because of the shortness of the inboard struts, they had to be attached to the upper longerons of the fuselage rather than to the lower wing. This gave rise to the nickname '1 ½ Strutter'.

The 1 ½ Strutter was the first British airplane to go into action with a synchronized Vickers gun for the pilot.

PetrOne is not to be fooled by Petr's youth as it belies the vast experience gathered in the construction of award winning aircraft.

Petr's first airplane built was a replica of a Piper L 4-H the second was a replica of British Fighter SE-5a (originally commissioned in 1917).

Petr's interest in these beautiful aircraft extends beyond construction to flying them at various air shows in simulated battle sequences.

The construction of Petr's 1and ½ Strutter is well underway and he is due to receive the R2800 shortly.

The excitement this project has generated is quite astonishing and we will be following progress closely.

Shown on the left is an award for his construction of a replica of the British Fighter SE-5a.

Click on the thumbnail to view full size pictures...

Plans and project room:
Plans and blueprints . Project Room

Ailerons, stabilizer and ribs:
Ailerons . ailerons. Horizantal Stabilisers. ribs - wings in background

Fuselage showing oil tank, fuel tank and Petr:
fuselage oil and fuel tank .Trial "sit"... ,Fuselage .Fuselage .Fuselage .Fuselage .

Undercarriage:
Undercarriage . Undercarriage

Click on the thumbnails to view a full size picture...

Petr next to completed fuslage framework. Rotec Strutter Prop
Petr, workshop and Strutter . Rotec 78" Diameter Prop for Strutter

Trial Engine Mount ... all fits:
Engine mount frame works out. R2800 mount superbly done. .R2800 on the Strutter from the front.

Boys will be boys ... Petr the Gunner and Jan the pilot!
All the reasons we build these superb old aircraft! .Its all happening!

Back to the serious stuff: 4G Stress Test
+4G Loading . The weights .+4 G Test .checking the loading .Checking the load at the mount points .4G Test passed

Good progress (September 2007)
Stutter shows off R2800 . Progress on fuselage. . Pilot and Gunner area . Cockpit

Details
Short Mounting Frame. .Wing stubb with I beam .Up close

Gauges Layout
Brass gauge set .close up on gauges

Fuel & Oil Tanks
Oil Tank .Fuel tank .shows location of fuel tank

Wings
Begin Wing Framework .Wings - join.Top Wing Joint.Aileron and detail

Wing framework completed .Gtting a feel .Imagination working overtime. .Satisfaction in a job well done

Great Work - Looking for updates soon!

(Petr please send me an alternate email address as the one you sent me does not function correctly when I try to send to you)