Airdrome Taube

The Airdrome Taube (English: Dove) is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed and produced by Airdrome Aeroplanes, of Holden, Missouri. The aircraft is supplied as a kit for amateur construction.^[1]

The aircraft is a 3/4 scale replica of the First World War German Etrich Taube scout/observation/bomber, built from modern materials and powered by modern engines.^[1]

The Airdrome Taube features a mid-wing cable-braced monoplane layout with an inverted "V" kingpost, a two-seat open cockpit, fixed conventional landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1]

The aircraft is made from bolted-together aluminum tubing, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. The Airdrome Taube has a wingspan of 27 ft (8.2 m) and a wing area of 170 sq ft (16 m²). The standard engine is a 105 hp (78 kW) Volkswagen air-cooled engine four stroke engine. Building time from the factory-supplied kit is estimated at 500 hours by the manufacturer.^[1][2]

One example had been completed by December 2011.^[1]

Data from Kitplanes^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 17 ft (5.2 m)
• Wingspan: 30 ft (9.1 m)
• Wing area: 170 sq ft (16 m²)
• Empty weight: 720 lb (327 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,145 lb (519 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 10 U.S. gallons (38 L; 8.3 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled engine four cylinder, air-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion, 105 hp (78 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed wooden

Performance

• Cruise speed: 65 mph (105 km/h, 56 kn)
• Stall speed: 35 mph (56 km/h, 30 kn)
• Range: 200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)
• Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
• Wing loading: 6.7 lb/sq ft (33 kg/m²)