Sauser P6E explained

The Sauser P6E is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and built by Donald Sauser of Tustin, California. The aircraft is an 82% scale reproduction of the 1920s Curtiss P-6 Hawk. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction by the Sauser Aircraft Company.[1] [2]

Design and development

Like the aircraft it is patterned after, the Sauser P6E features a strut-braced biplane layout, a single-seat open cockpit with a windshield, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing and wood, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 25.831NaN1 span wing has a wing area of 170square feet. The acceptable power range is 180to and the standard engine used is a 2120NaN0 Chevrolet small-block V-8 automotive conversion powerplant.

The Sauser P6E has a typical empty weight of 1425lb and a gross weight of 2040lb, giving a useful load of 615lb. With full fuel of the payload for the pilot and baggage is 453lb.

Operational history

Sauser P6Es have been registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration under a variety of type designations, making them hard to catalog. Types registered include Sauser QC, Johnson F11C-2PJ (built as a F11C-2 replica), Wooldridge Saco P6-E Hawk and Roof Curtis Hawk P6E.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Aircraft on display

Notes and References

  1. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition, page 250. BAI Communications, 15 July 1998.
  2. Web site: P-6 Hawk, Curtis (replica). 3 March 2014. March Field Air Museum. n.d.. dead. https://archive.today/20140303211529/http://www.marchfield.org/exhibits-aircraft/aircraft/p-6-hawk-curtis-replica/. 3 March 2014.
  3. Web site: N-Number Inquiry Results N90DS. 29 March 2014. Federal Aviation Administration. 29 March 2014.
  4. Web site: N-Number Inquiry Results N442PJ. 29 March 2014. Federal Aviation Administration. 29 March 2014.
  5. Web site: N-Number Inquiry Results N383SB. 29 March 2014. Federal Aviation Administration. 29 March 2014.
  6. Web site: N-Number Inquiry Results N386PE. 29 March 2014. Federal Aviation Administration. 29 March 2014.