#nx4499y

[cluttonfred]

Mike Young, a British transplant living in Florida, is the current owner of Eric Clutton’s original prototype FRED NX4499Y (formerly G-ASZY.)  He reports, “I traveled from Florida to Alaska for some summer work and passed through Tullahoma.  Stopped to see Eric and we had dinner together. Presented him with FRED's old instrument panel.”  Mike also said to expect some pics of his progress in restoring and updating his FRED soon.  Cheers, Mike!

[cluttonfred]

A few weeks ago, Eric Clutton sent me several e-mails with some photos taken around his home airport in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA.  I’ve combined his messages here so he can explain in his own words with a few comments from me in brackets.

These photos were taken about eight years ago [2008], when I was in my prime!  At that time I kept FRED and the Luscombe in an open hangar just behind the Staggerwing Museum on the airfield for $100 a month.  That was before I did a serious renovation on both of them and the museum was extended, forcing me to move to new hangars on the other side of the field where it cost me close to $350 a month!  The photos were taken by a local professional photographer [Jerry Overcast] and he has sent me odd ones in the past.  When he sent this latest bunch, I figured that maybe he was doing some cleaning out so I had better save them somehow!  You may notice the black paint on the nose.  I did away with that when I made a new cowling during FRED's 25-year overhaul.  He also had the prop I used on the 50hp Franklin -- great take off and climb with the 65hp Continental but another 4" pitch put the cruise up 10 mph without affecting the climb too much.  I really miss flying FRED but I know deep down it would be too much of a struggle getting in and out these days, even with the side door!  I tell myself I did my flying at the best time when things were less controlled and you were free to hurt yourself.  ERIC.

Photos courtesy of Eric Clutton and Jerry Overcast taken in Tullahoma, Tennessee circa 2008.

[cluttonfred]

Tailplanes, levers and trim, oh my!

Following our happy birthday exchange earlier this week, I received a note and a photo from Eric with some interesting points about FRED’s tailplane settings and how to sort out elevator trim for hands-off flying.

Hi, Matt!  I was sorting through some papers last week and came across a letter from F.I.V. Walker.  [Editor:  F.I.V. (John) Walker was vice-chairman in charge of engineering of the Popular Flying Association (today’s Light Aviation Association) back in the 1960s and a key figure in that era of aircraft homebuilding in the UK.]  It must have got lost in my move over here because he says he hopes to catch me.  Anyway, it is about FRED. He says there is some doubt about his stability because I show on the drawings that the tailplane is attached at a greater geometric angle than the wing . This was no mistake because FRED is fairly short coupled and the tailplane operates in the powerful downwash off that cambered wing, so it is actually parallel to the airflow. I didn't believe the calculations myself at first, so made provision for changing the angle, but it was not necessary.

If you release the stick on FRED he drops his nose, so you need to maintain back pressure, rather like a Flying Flea, but it is easy to fit a spring in the elevator system under the seat to take this load away. I made mine adjustable with a Tiger Moth throttle unit screwed to the side of the fuselage just in front and below the throttle.  The Tiger throttle is a simple lever with  a friction disc and FRED trim could use that (like I did  or make a simple “cheese cutter” device [example here] which were very popular in the 1930s.  should be set up to take the static weight of the elevators at mid range [cruising speed] but is easy to override and with that spring trim FRED can be flown hands off all day. That tailplane angle is where FRED gets his non-stall characteristics, of course.  Maybe you can see from the above that I admired Henri Mignet and FRED is a more up to date version of his philosophy with the Flying Flea!

--ERIC

Photos:  The relative angles of wing and tailplane is evident in this pic of the prototype Clutton FRED G-ASZY in its original red and white colors back in in 1971 at Sywell, courtesy of R.A. Scholefield.  Detail photo shows the throttle and trim levers on G-ASZY (now N4499Y) in Tullahoma, exact date unknown, courtesy of Eric Clutton.

[cluttonfred]

Before I created this site, there was a Clutton FRED fan site run by Pastor Mike Townsley.  Bits and pieces of that site are still available here, but many of the images are only thumbnails.  Pastor Mike did send me the originals of some of the images he collected, so here is a little montage of pics not included elsewhere on this site or in the Clutton FRED Flickr albums.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any credits or details for these pics.  Enjoy!  Cheers, Matthew

[cluttonfred]

A new home for the first FRED!

After over 50 years flying together, Eric Clutton has said goodbye to the prototype FRED.  At 86, Eric is simply not able to get in and out of FRED or his Luscombe and has decided to hang up his flying spurs.  FRED's new owner is Mike Young of Florida and, like Eric, he is a Briton retired to the USA.  

Eric writes, "I think FRED has gone to a good home. Mike knows him well and is an IA as well as a FRED lover.  FRED originally flew in Florida after being shipped over here as I resurrected him at Punta Gorda and flew him there.  Sorry to see him go after over 50 years together but he is in good hands and I am now unable to fly him.  Airplanes do not like being neglected so my Luscombe is next,,,,  I can still fly but I simply have way too much difficulty getting in and out of them."

Mike writes, "I first met Eric at the PFA rally at Sywell in 1977 where I purchased FRED plans #113.  I retired from flying as a B747 FE and thought again about building a FRED, my original plans were lost so I contacted Eric and purchased plans #362.  After some study I called Eric with a question or two and found out that he was thinking of selling FRED #1.  I had just completed overhauling a O-200, the proceeds gave me the money to buy FRED.  I drove the 750 miles to Tullahoma and after some negotiation with Eric loaded him up and drove back to Florida.  I am going to give him a good inspection (I'm an A&P/IA) and fly him as soon as possible."

Here's wishing all the best to both Eric and Mike.  I hope to see the first FRED, grounded since 2012, back in the air before too long.

Photos courtesy of Mike Young and no, mini-FRED was not included in the sale!

[cluttonfred]

Happy birthday, Eric!

FRED creator Eric Clutton is 86 years young today.  In honor of the special day here is little video clip of Eric discussing FRED's ground handling after a brief demonstration hop.

Cheers,

Matthew

[cluttonfred]

The original FRED is for sale!  After a rough year of injuries, Eric Clutton has reluctantly decided to put the original prototype FRED up for sale.  The timing is right as on November 3rd, 2013, N4499Y (originally G-ASZY) will celebrate 50 years since its very first flight.  That's a milestone for any aircraft, especially a homebuilt one.  FRED would make a great addition to a museum or private collection and Eric would very much like to see it go back home to the UK.  He's asking $10,000, a fair price for such a well-maintained little plane with a great history and a purring Continental A-65.  As you can see from this summer 2012 video, FRED is a sweet little ship.  If interested, please reach out to Eric in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA at [phone] or [email protected].  Cheers, Matthew

[cluttonfred]

Happy birthday, FRED!  Eric took FRED for his first flight on November 3rd, 1963, that's 49 years ago today.  Fingers crossed for a fantastic 50th year for both FRED and Eric!

Photo:  Eric taxis FRED at his home field in Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA in July 2012.  Photo by Matthew Long.