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Dracula is here! (Read 339 times)
Dec 10th, 2012 at 5:02am

wahubna   Offline
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Kyle Franklin's new mount is finally done and unveiled, meet Dracula:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-yRGj-HvhI

http://www.franklinairshow.com/Dracula.html

Yes, it is a scaled WACO UPF-7 with MORE hp than a full size WACO. In other words, this machine will be extremely potent. Press release:

"DRACULA” PREMIERES AT ICAS IN LAS VEGAS

December 10, 2012, Las Vegas, NV: The tapering fuselage, speed ring cowling, and sloped windshield hearken back to the racing airplanes of the 1930’s. The airbrushed blood in the paint comes straight from the opening scene of a horror movie. The modern prop, nearly full span ailerons, and attention to detail on the weight are 21st century technology. The Franklin Demon 1 biplane, known as “Dracula”, bursts onto the air show scene at the ICAS convention in Las Vegas this week. Air show legend Kyle Franklin has completed and tested this radical one of a kind biplane, which generated unprecedented interest among air show fans, promoters, and sponsors six months before anyone had even seen a picture of it. Originally conceived by Kyle’s late father Jimmy, Dracula combines the crowd pleasing lines of the iconic Waco Mystery Ship with modern aerodynamics and systems, resulting in a smaller, lighter, significantly more maneuverable and powerful airplane.

Commenting on his new airplane, Franklin said: “I’m extremely pleased with the features in Drac’s design. The nearly full span ailerons give Drac a roll rate over 300 degrees per second and the two-color smoke system was custom made for the vampire theme of this act. The MT prop gives me maximum performance and a nearly 100 pound weight savings. Drac was designed from the beginning to be trailered to every air show – the trailering feature gives me maximum reliability, I don’t have to worry about weather when I’m traveling to an air show. I’ve also renewed my commitment to air show safety in this airplane with the Amanda Switch. In a severe impact, it automatically shuts off the supply of fuel and smoke oil to the engine.” Dracula was also built with an emphasis on weight. The fuel system holds just 26 gallons, enough for a blood chilling performance and a safe reserve..."
 

‎"At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation."- Igor Sikorsky
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Reply #1 - Dec 11th, 2012 at 7:59pm

beaky   Offline
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Cool
It's very cool to see Kyle Franklin continue the tradition of being faithful to the good old WACO while taking it to freakish extremes.  Grin
I'll never forget the first time I saw-and heard- Jimmy flying a UPF-7 with a J-85 strapped between the gear legs. I mean, Dracula is awesome, and I've flown a very stock WACO and enjoyed it immensely without any gimmicks, but that was just a wonderful idea for an airshow act.
 

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