Bugatti airplane first flight

[DXB]

Well, this is a cool first flight, assuming that flying a whimsical piece of 1930's art deco design suits your fancy:

 

http://www.popsci.com/watch-only-airplane-ettore-bugatti-ever-designed-fly

 

Just overlook the runway excursion, nose-over, prop strike at the end.  Apparently an unexpectedly long float and a brake failure contributed.

 

Design is jaw dropping gorgeous but entirely untested - better to look good than feel safe...right?

[KSMooniac]

I've been following this project for the last year+ and am happy it finally flew!  The original never did.  The builders sure took a risk duplicating a design that never flew IMO!  I hope it gets back in the air quickly and proves to be a great flyer, and fast.

[1964-M20E]

cool other than the landing wish the video was better.

 

I like it it has neat lines.

[aviatoreb]

I always loved that plane - prettiest plane every built.

[carusoam]

The site doesn't seem to have the video up at this time. They show this message instead... 'First Flight Video Problems'

Best regards,

-a-

Update on FaceBook.... https://www.facebook.com/TheBugatti100pProject

[Jeev]

Man I wish my Mooney sounded like that on startup

[mpg]

Where is the damn engine??

And how is it driving the counter rotating props??

[carusoam]

See where the exhaust pipes protrude behind the pilot?

Concentric Drive shafts come under the seat and run between the legs.

Two engines. The start procedure shows one prop turning, while the other engine is starting...

Funky mechanical parts that are not common in light weight applications.

Best regards,

-a-

[mpg]

See where the exhaust pipes protrude behind the pilot?

Concentric Drive shafts come under the seat and run between the legs.

Two engines. The start procedure shows one prop turning, while the other engine is starting...

Funky mechanical parts that are not common in light weight applications.

Best regards,

-a-

Thanks,,,    All makes sense,,  but a very tricky drive train with many U/joints and shafts to 

link 2 engines to 2 props, going under the pilots Butt!

 

All in all a beautiful plane!

[testwest]

Actually the drive shafts run on either side of the cockpit and come together in a gearbox arrangement in the nose. So they are armrests. The Bugatti 100P website has many technical papers on the design and the replica's implementation. They are a good read.

 

2 Hayabusa engines in the mid fuselage. It is a screamer, literally.

[MyNameIsNobody]

Wonderful to see such a beautiful and at the time (trying to beat the ME109 for speed record) advanced airframe fly. Too bad they didn't have a longer runway to give them extra measure of safety on the maiden flight. Glad it was a minor incident. That is part of testing something new. Hope it flies again soon!

[carusoam]

High powered, long, lightweight, drive shafts, in close proximity to the pilot's body...

They had a problem with a simple brake line?

That and it's clear canopy have got to make the pilot feel slightly uncomfortable.

The really cool aspect of the plane's design (compared to other twins) is the actual mass of it's engines and pilot are at the actual center of gravity of the plane.

Expect some high roll rates and other aerobatic type attributes...

Do they intend to fly this plane at all, or is it a design exercise? Actual flights will be a graduation exercise.

Best regards,

-a-

[testwest]

So, they were at Clinton-Sherman airport in Burns Flat, OK. 13,500 of runway. Length was not the issue...they ran off the side of the runway, fairly slowly.

 

Pretty neat to closely examine the takeoff footage. The airplane looks remarkably stable and controllable.

[DXB]

Tragic end to this story last weekend:

http://kfor.com/2016/08/06/historic-replica-airplane-the-bugatti-100p-crashes-near-burns-flat-pilot-and-designer-scotty-wilson-dies/

 

 

[peevee]

unfortunate city to crash and burn near.

[Hector]

Very sad!! Beautiful airplane.

[MyNameIsNobody]

Super saddened when I heard of this.  I had been following the project for a couple of years.  I did not know that this was to be the final test flight with the plane going on a permanent display in a museum following the flight.  RIP Scotty.  That video was difficult to watch.

[aviatoreb]

Oh no.  How horrible.