User:TSRL/sandbox/GSAL Eindecker

The GSAL Eindecker is a 3/4 scale replica of the World War I Fokker Eindecker fighter aircraft, designed in the US but built in the UK. At least eight flew, mostly kit-built.

Design and development
This three-quarter scale replica of the World War One Fokker E.III was designed in the US by Airdrome Aeroplanes. Construction of the first UK example began in 2009 but was overtaken into the air on 31 January 2010 by David Stephan's aircraft.

Apart from its powerplant and size, this replica externally closely follows the original. It has a mid-mounted wing of rectangular plan out to raked tips, which is wire-braced both above from a cabane and below from the central undercarriage struts. The original relied on wing-warping for lateral control but according to Jane's, these were replaced by conventional ailerons. However, at least one was controlled by wing-warping which contributed to its fatal crash in 2013. The wing has an aluminium tube structure, in contrast to the wooden original and is fabric-covered.

The rectangular section fuselage also has an aluminium tube structure instead of the original steel tubes, and is fabric covered. Behind the roughly cylindrical engine cowling and over the wing there is an open cockpit. Aft, the fuselage tapers to the tail, where both horizontal and vertical surfaces are all-moving. The rudder is comma-shaped and the elevators are mounted at mid-fuselage height.

Its landing gear is fixed. A pair of V-struts, one behind the other are joined longitudinally at their vertices and the spoked mainwheels are on half-axles hinged at the forward vertex. Their outer ends are linked to the the rear vertex by near-horizontal radius arms. The original aircraft used elastic cord shock absorbers at the top of the main legs but the replica offers a choice of helical springs. The tall tailskid is held below the fuselage on an extension of the rudder post.

Several engines in the power range 30-40 kW can be fitted, including the Solo Flight Solo 40, Rotax 447 and Hirth F23. Other engines fitted to aircraft on the UK register include the Warner Scarab 145 and the Continental C85-12.

Operational history
The GSL Eindecker was marketed in kit form. Seven examples have been on the UK civil register. One was lost in 2013 but the others remain in 2019. Another was sold in France.