Bugatti Model 100
| Bugatti Model 100 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bugatti Model 100 on display | |
| Role | Unlimited Racer |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Bugatti |
| Designer | Louis de Monge |
| Status | On Display |
| Produced | 1939 |
| Number built | 1 |
The Bugatti Model 100 was a purpose built air racer designed to compete in the 1939 Deutsch de la Meurthe Cup Race. The aircraft was not completed by the September 1939 deadline and was put in storage prior to the German invasion of France.
Development
Ettore Bugatti started work in 1938 to design a racer to compete in the Deutsch de la Meurthe Cup Race, using engines sold in his automotive line for co-marketing. His chief engineer was Louis de Monge, with whom Bugatti had worked before. Bugatti was also approached by the French Government to use the technology of the racing aircraft to develop a fighter variant for mass production. The aircraft was the source of five modern patents including the inline engines, V tail mixer controls, and the automatic flap system.[1]
Design
The Model 100 had an unusual inboard mounted twin engine arrangement driving forward mounted contra-rotating propellers through driveshafts. The aircraft also featured a 120 degree V-tail arrangement and retractable landing gear. The construction was mostly of wood, with sandwiched layers of balsa and hardwoods, including tulipwood stringers covered with doped fabric.
Operational history
The aircraft remained in storage throughout World War II. The aircraft was sold several times, and its twin Bugatti 50P engines were removed for automotive restorations. In 1971 a restoration effort was started. The aircraft was stored by the National Museum of the United States Air Force, then transferred to the EAA Airventure Museum collection where restoration was completed, and the aircraft remains on static display.[2]
Blue Dream reproduction aircraft
A full scale flying reproduction has been constructed by a team of enthusiasts, most notably Scotty Wilson and John Lawson.[3][4][5] The partially completed aircraft was displayed at the 2011 EAA Airventure airshow.[6]
On July 4, 2015 the reproduction aircraft, named Blue Dream taxied under the power of two Suzuki Hayabusa engines at Tulsa, Oklahoma.[7][8]
On August 19th, 2015 the team announced that they had completed their first successful test flight of the replica aircraft. It's handling characteristics were "as expected" by the team, and it achieved a max altitude of 100'AGL at a max speed of 110 knots. On landing through the plane "floated much more than anticipated" and landed significantly further down the runway than intended. Because of this the wheel brakes needed to be applied to keep from overrunning the end of the runway. Subsequently the right brake failed, sending the aircraft into the muddy soil adjacent to the runway, tipping it up in it's nose and generating a prop and spinner strike.[9]
Notable appearances in media
Variants
The Bugatti Model 110P was a proposed militarized pursuit version of the model 100 racer. It never materialised.
Specifications (Bugatti Model 100)
Data from EAA
General characteristics
- Capacity: 1
- Length: 7.75 m (25 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 8.2 m (27 ft)
- Height: 2.24 m (7 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 20.6 m2 (222 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Bugatti Type 50P Straight 8 4.9l, 340 kW (450 hp) each
- Propellers: 2-bladed Ratier
Performance
- Wing loading: 68 kg/m2 (13.9 lb/sq ft)
References
- ^ "Resurrecting the Bugatti Racer". Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Bugatti Model 100". Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ "Update: Bugatti 100p Team". Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/bugatti_100P_project_first_flight_207376-1.html
- ^ Interview
- ^ "Bugatti 100P Project". Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ "Bugatti 'Blue Dream' makes first powered run". FlyPast. Key Publishing Ltd. September 2015. ISSN 0262-6950.
- ^ http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Bugatti-Project-Starts-Taxi-Tests-224686-1.html
- ^ "Bugatti Flies, But Damaged On Landing". Retrieved 20 August 2015.
External links
