Pope Thunderbird P-2

The Pope Thunderbird is an American homebuilt biplane designed by Leon Pope.

Pope Thunderbird P-2
Role	Homebuilt aircraft
National origin	United States
Designer	Leon Pope

Design and development

The Pope Thunderbird P-2 is a single engine, conventional landing gear-equipped, open cockpit biplane.^[1][2] The aircraft was designed by Leon Pope of Plymouth, Michigan and made its maiden flight on June 18, 1959.^[3]

Specifications

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
• Wingspan: 18 ft 3 in (5.56 m)
• Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
• Wing area: 120 sq ft (11 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 5.7:1
• Airfoil: S-1A
• Empty weight: 800 lb (363 kg)
• Gross weight: 1,080 lb (490 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-235-C four-cylinder horizontally opposed piston aircraft engine, 100 hp (75 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)
• Cruise speed: 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
• Stall speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)31⁄2 h
• Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

References

1. "Experimental Aircraft Fly-In". Flying. Vol. 67, no. 5. November 1960. pp. 36–37.
2. Kohn, Leo J (December 1961). "EAA Fly-in". Flying. Vol. 69, no. 6. pp. 34–35.
3. Taylor 1961, p. 309.

• Taylor, John W. R. (1961). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1961–62. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.