Sauser P6E

The Sauser P6E is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and built by Donald Sauser of Tustin, California. The aircraft is an 82% scale reproduction of the 1920s Curtiss P-6 Hawk. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction by the Sauser Aircraft Company.

Design and development
Like the aircraft it is patterned after, the Sauser P6E features a strut-braced biplane layout, a single-seat open cockpit with a windshield, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing and wood, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 25.83 ft span wing has a wing area of 170.0 sqft. The acceptable power range is 180 to 260 hp and the standard engine used is a 212 hp Chevrolet small-block V-8 automotive conversion powerplant.

The Sauser P6E has a typical empty weight of 1425 lb and a gross weight of 2040 lb, giving a useful load of 615 lb. With full fuel of 27 u.s.gal the payload for the pilot and baggage is 453 lb.

Operational history
Sauser P6Es have been registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration under a variety of type designations, making them hard to catalog. Types registered include Sauser QC, Johnson F11C-2PJ (built as a F11C-2 replica), Wooldridge Saco P6-E Hawk and Roof Curtis Hawk P6E.

Aircraft on display

 * March Field Air Museum - donated by the designer's widow in 2002.