Photograph:
Clutton Fred ZK-RSJ (c/n PFA 029 10753) at Ashburton, NZ in February 2013 (NZCIVAIR)
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Description:
Single-seat light sport aircraft
Power Plant:
One 49 kw (66 hp) converted Volkswagen 1500 cc four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.9 m (22 ft 6 in)
- Length: 5.2 m (17 ft)
- Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
- Wing area: 10.2 m² (110 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
- Cruising speed at 75% power: 101 km/h (63 mph)
- Stalling speed: 64 km/h (40 mph)
- Range: 322 km (200 miles)
- Take-off distance: 91 m (300 ft)
- Landing distance: 122 m (400 ft)
- Fuel: 41 litres (9 Imp gals)
- Max rate of climb: 213 m/min (700 ft/min)
- Empty weight: 242 kg (533 lb)
- Useful load: 121 kg (267 lb)
- Loaded weight: 350.6 kg (773 lb)
History:
The Fred was designed by Eric Clutton in the United Kingdom as a single-seat light parasol-wing aircraft for amateur construction. The name “Fred” stood for “flying runabout, experimental design”.
The prototype of the series, following construction, was flown for the first time on 3 November 1963 powered by a 20 kw (27 hp) [500 cc] converted Triumph [5T] motorcycle engine. This engine was replaced by a Scott A2S engine, and later, in 1966, by a converted American-built Lawrance APU radial engine. The original bungee-in-tension undercarriage was modified by substituting steel-spring shock absorbers for better field operation. In 1968 a 49 kw (66 hp) Volkswagen four-cylinder conversion was installed, modified with a 2:1 ratio reduction belt to drive the propeller at half engine speed. Later again a 37 kw (50 hp) Franklin 4AC-150 engine with a fixed-pitch propeller was fitted.
In 1974 the aircraft was re-designed and became known as the Clutton-Tabenor Fred Series 2, then powered by either a 48 kw (65 hp) Continental A-65 engine, or a modified [1600 cc] Volkswagen engine. Subsequently plans were sold to amateur constructors, and examples have been built around the world, including the USA, the UK, and New Zealand.
In New Zealand one has been appropriately registered ZK-FRD (c/n AACA/279). This aircraft was built by Alan and Evan Belworthy in the 1970s, was registered in October 1979, and has survived.
Another Fred was ZK-ELJ (c/n AACA/361) built by Alex Armstrong of Dunedin and registered on 9 September 1980 at Taieri. Later, in June 1988, the registration was changed to ZK-LXA and when last noted it was dismantled and stored at Taieri.
A third aircraft was ZK-RSJ (c/n PFA 029-10753). This aircraft was built in the United Kingdom and operated there as G-BSSJ until imported to New Zealand where it was registered on 24 November 2000 to RF Jopling of Barnard Castle. In later years it was based at Ashburton.
One was completed in Australia in 1998 and registered under Recreation Aviation Australia (RAA) Regulations. In 2013 construction of a further example was begun following the receipt of a British kit by Brian Floate of Bundaberg, QLD.
The wings were wire-braced of spruce and plywood structure with a torsion-box leading-edge, auxiliary rear spar and drag spar, and fabric covering. Non-differential ailerons were fitted but there were no flaps or trim tabs. The fuselage was of spruce longerons plywood covered to the rear of the cockpit, except for an aluminium top deck, and the rear fuselage was fabric covered with plywood top decking, with the front portion being removable for access to the baggage compartment.