Eric Clutton's F.R.E.D.

[TaildraggersInc]

Eric Clutton's F.R.E.D

I met Eric Clutton at a R/C model aircraft swap meet in Tennessee sometime back in 2005. At that time, I didn't realize that the humorous and emphatically polite older gent from "across the pond" was the same Eric Clutton who designed and built F.R.E.D., a simple, single-seat homebuilt that I had seen advertized in the magazines for as long as I could remember.

Known as "Doctor Diesel" in the R/C community, Eric has been supplying modelers in the US with small diesel engines for their aircraft, and all the specialty fuels needed to keep them running. When I caught up with him again at another R/C event, this time in Eric's new hometown of Tullahoma, TN, I bought a PAW diesel engine from him, and used the opportunity to ask about F.R.E.D. I also picked up a copy of his book, "An Aeroplane Called FRED".

F.R.E.D. is an acronym for Flying Runabout Experimental Design, and was first flown in 1963. It is a economical "fun-machine" intended for recreational flying, and features a novel folding wing design so that the airplane may be towed home and avoid the added costs of a hangar.

F.R.E.D. enthusiast Matthew Long has developed a new website dedicated to the airplane for the purposes of spreading the word about the design. He has compiled photos of F.R.E.Ds throughout the years, and even has a video of an interview with Eric Clutton. If you'd like to learn more about F.R.E.D., visit Matthew's website.

F.R.E.D. plans are still available from Eric Clutton for the reasonable sum of $50. Eric is still flying the original F.R.E.D. prototype from his hangar in Tullahoma, TN. The design has been accepted by Britain's Light Aircraft Association (LAA). If you're looking for an affordable, LSA-compliant homebuilt, why not consider a F.R.E.D.?

Fly on over to F.R.E.D.'s new home on the internet.