Clutton Tabenor FRED

Design and development

The prototype FRED (Flying Runabout Experimental Design) was designed and built by E.C. Clutton and E.W. Sherry between 1957 and 1963. The aircraft, registered G-ASZY, first flew at Meir aerodrome, Stoke-on-Trent on 3 November 1963. It was a single-seat wood and fabric parasol monoplane powered originally by a Triumph 5T motorcycle engine. By 1968 it was flying with a converted Volkswagen engine. The Continental A-65 65 hp (48 kW) four stroke powerplant has also been used. The plans were made available to allow the aircraft to be homebuilt and thirty to forty examples have been built around the world.

Variants

FRED Series 1

Prototype, one built.

FRED Series 2

Homebuilt version sold as a plan.

FRED Series 3

Improved homebuilt version.

Specifications (FRED Series 2)

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m)

Wingspan: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)

Empty weight: 533 lb (242 kg)

Gross weight: 773 lb (351 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × converted Volkswagen engine 4-cyl air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine, 66 hp (49 kW)

Performance

Cruise speed: 55 kn; 101 km/h (63 mph)