ElEsido Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 Hi all I am a glider pilot in Europe and am currently working on the modification of a 1971 "Elfe" glider. My mind roams around the next project and I think that a Solitaire would fit the bill. I have read all the flight reports available online and I am aware of the Solitaire's modest thermalling performance (with the canard stalling before the main wing generates CLmax), but I still think that it would be a fun and rewarding bird to build and fly. And it's "a Rutan" and probably as rare as the Defiant (or even more so). I've got the plans from the TERF CD, but I don't have any templates. Does anybody have a set that he/she would either scan (we can talk about the costs) or pass on to me? I know that the Solitaire was sold as a kit, but there is at least one example that was built from plans by two Danish gentlemen, see Canard Pusher 50, page 7: "Ole and Kjeld wanted a total building experience so they started from scratch with a lofting drawing of the fuselage translated into a plug, then molds, and finally a fuselage. They made spar molds and spars. Their work is outstanding." So it can be done. There are two videos of this bird on youtube, here and here. Best ElEsido 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Matcho Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 On 9/9/2020 at 12:03 PM, ElEsido said: There are two videos of this bird on youtube, here and here. Looks like a Solitaire to me! I would very much like to see a plans-built option for the Solitaire, but there are not many examples at all to verify references. I suspect Ole and Kjeld had access to an actual Solitaire? Quote Jon Matcho Builder & Canard Zone Admin Now: Rebuilding Quickie Tri-Q200 N479E Next: Resume building a Cozy Mark IV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countach74 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Wow!!! What a cool mechanism for engine deployment and retraction! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElEsido Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, Countach74 said: Wow!!! What a cool mechanism for engine deployment and retraction! I agree! According to the Canard Pusher #65 page the mechanism was designed by Herb Abrams (an Ohio Solitaire builder, he passed away in 2013, may he rest in peace). Kjeld Pedersen and Ole Ploug (the builders of the Solitare in the videos) might have contributed to it (the CP article is not entirely clear about this). The mechanism allowed the use of a larger prop compared to the simpler fold-out mechanism designed by Rutan which increased the efficiency of the motorised flight mode. If anybody has any technical information on the mechanism (plans, descriptions, photos...), please post it here or send me a PM. Apparently Mr Abrams was a glider instructor; if anybody happens to know a former student or anybody who knew him, or even his family, it would be great it you could ask whether anything about the whereabouts of the plans is known. Clutching at straws here, but you never know, sometimes the world is a surprisingly small place... Edited September 14, 2020 by ElEsido Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent Ashton Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 5 hours ago, ElEsido said: Clutching at straws here, but you never know, sometimes the world is a surprisingly small place... This is a long shot but his email address is in the first post http://forum.canardaviation.com/showthread.php?t=2467 Quote -KentCozy IV N13AM-750 hrs, Long-EZ-85 hrs and sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElEsido Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Kent Ashton said: This is a long shot but his email address is in the first post http://forum.canardaviation.com/showthread.php?t=2467 Thanks. The e-mail bounced back, the address is no longer valid. Too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElEsido Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Kent, you nudged me into the right direction, thanks! The gentleman who started this thread could help me with some of the material that he has. It is rumoured that AeroComposites LLC might have the Solitaire moulds. Look what they have in their hangar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Aarts Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Hi, just came across the Solitaire topic. For those who may be intressted, I have a the moulds, the plug and 3 completed glassfibre fuselages, the completed wing spars with installed metall fittings and all the metal parts for one Solitaire. The parts are locaties in The Netherlands and are available for free to an interested builder. Please contact me for pictures and more info. The Solitaire parts need to be collected by the interested builder. I will do no shipping or transportation and need to be collected before the end of September 2021. You may contact me by e-mail : harry.aarts51@gmail.com 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent Ashton Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Yeah, old thread but to add to this: there are 10 Solitaire owners in the FAA Registry. Someone might contact them if they are looking to build one. They are probably pretty lonely 🙂 Quote -KentCozy IV N13AM-750 hrs, Long-EZ-85 hrs and sold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Matcho Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Harry Aarts said: For those who may be intressted, I have a the moulds, the plug and 3 completed glassfibre fuselages, the completed wing spars with installed metall fittings and all the metal parts for one Solitaire. The parts are [located] in The Netherlands and are available for free to an interested builder. Please contact me for pictures and more info. The Solitaire parts need to be collected by the interested builder. I will do no shipping or transportation and need to be collected before the end of September 2021. That would be an adventure getting those to the U.S. Here someone would take you up on your generous offer in a heartbeat. Quote Jon Matcho Builder & Canard Zone Admin Now: Rebuilding Quickie Tri-Q200 N479E Next: Resume building a Cozy Mark IV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElEsido Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 (edited) Hi Harry This is a truly generous offer. I am seriously tempted, let me think about it. I am based in central Europe, so getting the material here should be possible. Are these the moulds from the Danish builders (Ole and Kjeld)? Best ElEsido Edited August 6, 2021 by ElEsido typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilsonBarrot Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Firstly you need to search and find a lot of schemes, details... on how to start it’s manufacturing from scratches. Secondly i think you’ll not get the same experience as one you read on flight reports that are available online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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