The Duce was a lot of fun to build - about 4,000 hours over 4 years. I did cheat a bit - I made most of the metal fittings in 1979, when I first got the plans.
I kept it as simple and as near the plans as I could. One change was in the flaps - I couldn't get Jerry Bakeng's hand lever into a comfortable position for me, so I used an old electric car window motor and made it into a flap motor. Seems to work rather well!
The a/c is complete with all modern conveniences - we even have a hand back-up for the MicroAir720 comm. Comes complete with a "bomb" - the lower luggage compartment. Holds 50 lb. Next will be a smoke system and fake machine gun!Encoding transponder has the encoder all wired in, but still waiting for the transponder itself.
Deuces Wild weighs in at 910 empty, 1650 gross. Vne is 140, VSfe just above 40, normal cruise a comfortable 105 - you can bump it up to 125 if you can stand the wind turbulance in the cockpit.
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April 23, 2005: Deuces Wild made it's first flight from F45! Pilot Les Benson reports that it flys like a Super Cub, only more responsive! The modified O-290-D produced initial climb rates of between 1500 and 1800 fpm, Vso at 50 mph IAS, Vfe 40 mph IAS. We were all thrilled at the flight, and the initial performance figures. Now to go log some serious flight test time!!!
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