Loosely based on the Stits Flut-R-Bug, the Thunder Bug incorporated everything we had ever dreamed about modifying on our original ‘Bugs.  Sort of like the guy who daydreams about how fast his 150 would go if it had retractable gear and a cantilevered wing.  This aircraft is actually a flying testbed for new ideas.

The wing uses a Riblett 30a418 airfoil to achieve docile stall characteristics as well as reduced drag in cruise.  The original used band sawed plywood ribs, spruce spars, chromoly X bracing and struts.  Ours is a spruce core carbon fiber spar with fiberglass shear web.  Ribs are still ply but cut from the classy Baltic Birch 1/4”. 

‘Bug ailerons are about 3” chord and full span with the linkage protruding from the fuselage side.  We instead built composite ailerons of 7” chord, enlarged profile to protrude out of boundary layer effects and a blunt trailing edge and a mechanism that is inside the fuselage.  Roll is spectacular for an airplane of this class at about 90 degrees per second.

The original ‘Bug was a rather short coupled affair with spooky low speed handling characteristics.  We decided to lengthen the fuselage 31” and move the wing mount point aft 5”.  This was offset in part by moving the pilot back via increased seat back recline.

Matco wheels mounted to a custom Grove landing gear bow with a single motorcycle style brake handle was used in place of the welded-up, bungee cord, wheelbarrow tires, with mechanical band brakes from the plans.  A significant improvement.

Composite Leading edge skins, wingtips, turtledeck, fairings, and cowling were fabricated. 

The airframe is covered with the HIPEC covering system, eliminating the need to rib stitch.

SPECIFICATIONS

Wingspan...............26 feet

Wing Area.............100 square feet

Length....................19 feet

Empty Weight.........720

Gross Weight.........1250 lbs.

# Seats..................2

Engine...................Continental A-75

Propeller................Sensenich G.A.

Fuel Capacity.........16.25 gallons

PERFORMANCE

Take-off.........450 feet

Climb............500 fpm @ 7600’ D.A.

Cruise...........95 ind. @ 8000’

Stall Power On.........36 ind.

Stall Power Off.........24 ind.

Fuel Burn..................4.75 gph

Range......................290 miles