The RP-4 is a plane designed by David Rose to break the air speed record for piston engine, propeller driven aircraft. Unfortunately the real aircraft has yet to fly. News about this historic aircraft first surfaced in October of 2011, when several online journals shared info about the plane.
The plane is powered by two high performance V-8 engines, each driving one of the two contra-rotating propellers. There is no reduction gear box, and the props are designed to function with tip speeds exceeding the speed of sound. While this tends to lower a plane's efficiency, it does provide a small thrust difference that could have potentially propelled the plane into the history books with the air speed record.
Unfortunately, the last bit of news linked to this aircraft was an update on the DIY flight article of Popular Mechanics on November 12, 2011, at which point it was reported that Mark Stull, the test pilot that was to fly the RP-4, had died in a fatal accident involving one of his own home-built light sport aircraft. No further information is known about the status of the RP-4, or if it will ever make the attempt at the air speed record.
About the model:
This replica of the RP-4 will exceed 600 mph in level flight. She's also surprisingly maneuverable, and practically turns on a dime (great for racing).
While she isn't too exciting too look at, neither is her real-life counterpart. None of the pictures of the aircraft have any tail numbers or distinguishing marks. Just bare steel and aluminum. The real plane hadn't even received her nose-cone when the pictures were taken.
I hope you enjoy this modest replica of a plane that may never truly know greatness.
HAPPY FLYING!
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Successors 3 airplane(s)
- Created On Windows
- Wingspan 41.6ft (12.7m)
- Length 42.2ft (12.9m)
- Height 11.8ft (3.6m)
- Empty Weight 2,900lbs (1,315kg)
- Loaded Weight 7,120lbs (3,229kg)
Performance
- Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.561
- Wing Loading 33.2lbs/ft2 (162.0kg/m2)
- Wing Area 214.6ft2 (19.9m2)
- Drag Points 2188
Parts
- Number of Parts 25
- Control Surfaces 5
- Performance Cost 233
@Brields95 What makes you think he used cheap materials?
Well if Rose would stop using cheap materials it would fly.
I have never seen a prop plane that has a max speed of 703 O-O. Good job...
Go to C:/Users/(Your Username)/Appdata/LocalLow/Jundroo/Simpleplanes/AircraftDesigns
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From there you can open your planes' XML files with Notepad, or another similar program. I use Textpad because it's a bit easier to navigate than notepad. You can find a free download for it with a quick google search.
@A5mod3us How do you use the XML file?
@TheOwlAce Glad you like it!
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I edited the rotation of the rear gear in the XML file to get them like that.
@A5mod3us This is a great replica. I Remember seeing it online once, hopefully she will fly. One question, how did you get the rear gear to angle out like that?
@Allstar I've had this model for a while, I just wasn't sure if I should post it. But after looking at it and flying it repeatedly, I'm not sure what else I could add. I decided it was time I shared it.
Lol I was just going to say the same thing @Allstar
I never thought someone would actually build this