Evans VP-1 Volksplane

The Evans VP-1 Volksplane is an American designed

aircraft for amateur construction.[1] The aircraft was
VP-1 Volksplane
designed by former Convair, Ryan Aircraft and General
Dynamics aeronautical engineer William Samuel Evans
of La Jolla, California.[2]

Contents
Design and development
Operational history
Variants
Specifications (VP-1 – 40 hp engine)
Evans VP-1 Volksplane at Pima Air and Space
See also Museum
References Role homebuilt light monoplane
Manufacturer Homebuilt
Design and development Designer William Samuel Evans
First flight September 1968
In 1966, Evans began engineering work on the VP-1,
Produced over 6,000 sets of plans have
choosing an all-wood, strut-braced open-cockpit single-
been sold
seat low-wing design for ease in amateur construction.[3]
Designed to be simple to build and safe to fly, Unit cost US$59 (plans only, 2015)
performance and appearance is of secondary
importance.[4] To make construction simple, marine grade plywood
is used for the slab-sided fuselage structure. The wings are designed
to be detachable to allow the aircraft to transported by road.[5]

The VP-1 was designed specifically to utilize a modified VW Type 1

automotive engine from the VW Beetle.[6] The fuselage is built in a
warren truss arrangement where the exterior plywood takes the
diagonal stress loads, therefore eliminating the diagonal members to
maintain simplicity. The vertical and upright members are staggered
to keep the joints as simple as possible. The wing is of a forward and A Volkswagen engine installed in an
aft blank spar design which uses stack-cut plywood ribs of equal size Evans VP-1 Volksplane at the
in order to keep construction time down. The ailerons are hinged Canada Aviation and Space
directly behind the aft spar. For simplicity no flaps are provided. The Museum.
wings and tail surfaces are fabric covered.[7]

Because the design lacks aerodynamic refinement, the Volksplane requires more power than most aircraft its
weight to fly. Some builders have altered the fuselage design to improve the aerodynamics and
aesthetics.[4][5]

The design was developed into a two-seat version, the Evans VP-2, with an enlarged cockpit although this
variant is no longer being offered.[8]
Operational history
The Volksplane first flew in September 1968.[3] Offered as a set of plans, and marketed as a "fun" aircraft,
the Volksplane was immediately popular with home builders who saw it as an inexpensive and easy-to build
project. A number of examples have been built with variations in the design. In 1973, Mohog, a mahogany-
skinned Volksplane, with further modifications to the basic design incorporating monocoque wings,
strengthened roll bar and a blown bubble canopy, was built by the Wosika family of El Cajon, California, at
a cost of $3,000.[9]

Construction of the Volksplane is relatively straightforward, and, according to some home builders, almost
like building a "giant model aircraft".[10] Flying characteristics are relatively benign, as the intent was to
create a simple, and easy-to-fly aircraft. Although not intended to be an aerobatic design, gentle "aileron
rolls, lazy eights, wingovers, chandelles and steep stalls" have been conducted. A total of approximately
6,000 plans have been sold to date.[11]

Variants
Evans VP-1
Single-seat homebuilt[4][5]
Evans VP-2
Two-seat homebuilt

Specifications (VP-1 – 40 hp engine)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[12]

Evans VP-1 Volksplane

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
Height: 5 ft 1½ in (1.56 m)
Wing area: 100 ft² (9.29 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 4412
Empty weight: 440 lb (200 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 750 lb (340 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air-cooled flat-four, 40 hp (30 kW)

Performance
Never exceed speed: 120 mph (104 knots, 193 km/h)
Cruise speed: 75 mph (65 knots, 121 km/h)
Stall speed: 40 mph (35 knots, 65 km/h)
Rate of climb: 400 ft/min (2.0 m/s)

See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
 Baker Supercat

References

Notes
1. Hook, Thom. "All those planes you can build from plans." Popular Science, June 1970, p. 99.
2. Purdy 1998, p. 152.
3. "Evans VP-1 Volksplane history." (http://www.evansair.com/evans-vp-1-history.html) Evans
Aircraft Company, 2017. Retrieved: August 29, 2017.
4. Bayerl et al. 2011, p. 101.
5. Tacke et al. 2015, p. 107.
6. Lart, Peter. "Westerlies: Volk's Popular." Flying magazine, August 1974, p. 82.
7. "Volksplane VP-1." (https://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/kitspages/volksplanes.php) Aircraft
Spruce and Specialty Co., 2017. Retrieved: August 29, 2017.
8. "Evans Aircraft Company frequently asked questions." (http://www.evansair.com/faqs.html)
Evans Aircraft Company, 2017. Retrieved: August 29, 2017.
9. Stich, Mary. "Aeronews: Gleaming Volksplane." Air Progress, August 1973, pp. 22–23.
10. Mooney, Walt. "Pilot report: Volksplane." Air Progress, March 1970, p. 39.
11. Mooney, Walt. "Pilot report: Volksplane." Air Progress, March 1970, pp. 39, 42.
12. Taylor 1982, p. 542.

Bibliography
Bayerl, Robby, Martin Berkemeier et al. World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12.
Lancaster UK: WDLA UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X (https://www.worldcat.org/search?fq=x0:jrnl
&q=n2:1368-485X).
Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 2. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-
10010-7.
Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter – Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, Fifth Edition. Chatswood, New
South Wales, Australia: BAI Communications, 1998. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1.
Tacke, Willi, Marino Boric et al. World Directory of Light Aviation 2015–16. Ivry sur Seine,
France: Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X (https://www.worldcat.org/searc
h?fq=x0:jrnl&q=n2:1368-485X).
Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982.
ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.

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