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The Evans VP-2 is a development of the Evans VP-1 Volksplane, both of which were designed in La Jolla, California by aeronautical engineer William Samuel "Bud" Evans.[1] Evans had formerly worked at Convair, Ryan Aircraft and General Dynamics.[2]

Design and development

Work on the design of the VP-1, was completed between 1966 and 1968, the intention being that the design would be simple to build for a novice working at home. The design was successful, and, following a first flight in September 1968, a large number of aircraft have been constructed by homebuilders. The aircraft are usually powered by converted Volkswagen air-cooled engines.[3]

The VP-1 is a single-seat open-cockpit low-wing monoplane manufactured from spruce and plywood with fabric covered wings. Performance is typically a cruise speed of 75 mph (121 km/h) and a stall speed of 40 mph (64 km/h).[2]

Following the success of the VP-1 a two-seat variant, the VP-2 was designed to meet normal category limits, which are 3.8 positive and 1.9 negative g. The first VP-2 (then known as VP II) flew in 1971.[4]

The VP-2 is externally similar in appearance to the VP-1 but with a 1 ft (30 cm) wider fuselage and enlarged cockpit section to accommodate two side-by-side configuration seats. The aircraft is 1 ft (30 cm) longer and has a 3 ft (0.9 m) addition to wingspan. The VP-2 can use any Volkswagen air-cooled engine model from 1,834 to 2,100 cc. Other similar powerplants can be substituted.[5]

Operational history

Although numerous examples of the VP-2 were constructed from plans provided by the Evans Aircraft Company, the VP-2 is no longer being offered with the company having stopped marketing the VP-2 and responding to technical inquiries. The main concern from the company was that the VP-2 may have liability issues associated with two-seat aircraft. VP-2 plans and modified VP-2 plans remain available on the Internet, although the Evans Aircraft Company neither authorizes nor approves of these plans.[6]

Preserved examples

Specifications (60 hp engine)

Evans VP-2

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 19 ft 3 in (5.87 m)
  • Wingspan: 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m)
  • Wing area: 130 sq ft (12 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 4415
  • Empty weight: 640 lb (290 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,040 lb (472 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 14 US gallons (53 L)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine 1,834 cc flat-four, 60 hp (45 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 km/h, 65 kn)
  • Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
  • Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s) (pilot only)

References

Notes

  1. ^ Purdy 1998, p. 152.
  2. ^ a b "Plane and Pilot" 1977, p. 141.
  3. ^ Mooney, Walt. "Pilot report: Volksplane." Air Progress, March 1970, pp. 39, 42.
  4. ^ Davisson, Budd. "A plane for the common volks." Pilot Reports; Originally published in Air Progress, May 1974. Retrieved: September 4, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Taylor 1982, p. 542.
  6. ^ "Evans Aircraft Company frequently asked questions." Archived August 30, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Evans Aircraft Company, 2017. Retrieved: August 29, 2017.
  7. ^ City of Norwich Aviation Museum (September 2, 2018). "Aircraft". cnam.org.uk. Archived from the original on October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

Bibliography

  • "Plane and Pilot." 1978 Aircraft Directory. Santa Monica California: Werner & Werner Corp.,.1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0.
  • Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition. Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia: BAI Communications, 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1.
  • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.

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