Neha Patil (Editor)

Shirlen Big Cootie

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The Shirlen Big Cootie is an American homebuilt biplane that was designed by Roy Shirlen.

Contents

Design and development

The Big Cootie is a modernized version of the Powell PH Racer biplane for homebuilt construction. The aircraft is a single seat biplane with conventional landing gear, designed for mild aerobatics. The fuselage is welded steel tube construction with aircraft fabric covering. The cowling is fiberglass. The ailerons are controlled with push-pull tubes. The wings use wooden spars with plywood leading edges.

Operational history

The prototype survived an in-flight impact with powerlines during its initial testing. It was rebuilt at the Piedmont Aerospace Institute at Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A Continental A-80 80 hp (60 kW) engine replaced the Lycoming O-145 65 hp (48 kW) engine installed in the prototype.

Specifications (Shirlen Big Cootie)

Data from Plane & Pilot

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
  • Wingspan: 15 ft (4.6 m)
  • Airfoil: RAF 15
  • Empty weight: 467 lb (212 kg)
  • Gross weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 12 U.S. gallons (45 L; 10.0 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-145 horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

    • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 122 kn; 225 km/h (140 mph)
  • Cruise speed: 104 kn; 193 km/h (120 mph)
  • Stall speed: 55 kn; 101 km/h (63 mph)
  • Range: 261 nmi; 483 km (300 mi)
  • g limits: -4g

    • References

    Shirlen Big Cootie Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA