Dempsey TD-3 Beta Lightning

Last updated
TD-3 Beta Lightning
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
DesignerThomas S. Dempsey
First flight14 September 1969
Number built1

The Dempsey TD-3 Beta Lightning is the second original homebuilt aeroplane design by Thomas Dempsey.

Contents

Design and development

The TD-3 was built with the design goals of being strong, comfortable and fast. The twin boom, twin engine design was loosely based on the Lockheed P-38 Lightning planform. [1]

The TD-3 Beta Lightning is a twin boom, twin engine, tricycle gear monoplane with side-by-side configuration seating. The wooden spar wings are fabric covered. The fuselage pod is all fiberglass. The landing gear mechanism is sourced from a Piper Aztec, with the retraction mechanism retracting rearward rather than forward as on the Aztec. Four wing fuel tanks are mounted internally. The fuselage and tail booms have a supported welded steel tube frame with aluminum stringers. [1]

Specifications (TD-3 Beta Lightning)

Data from Sport Aviation

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

Curtiss-Wright AT-9

The Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep was a twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft used by the United States during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engined trainers and twin-engined combat aircraft. The AT-9 had a low-wing cantilever monoplane configuration, retractable landing gear and was powered by two Lycoming R-680-9 radial engines.

Isaacs Spitfire

The Isaacs Spitfire is a single seat homebuilt sporting aircraft design created by John O. Isaacs, a former Supermarine employee and retired schoolmaster and designer of the Isaacs Fury, as a 6/10th scale replica of a Supermarine Spitfire. Its first flight was on 5 May 1975.

PZL M-17

The PZL M-17 "Duduś Kudłacz" was a Polish twin-boom pusher general aviation and trainer aircraft of 1977, which remained a prototype.

The Bagalini Bagaliante is an Italian high-wing, strut-braced, single-seat, pusher configuration, conventional landing gear motor glider that was designed by Marino Bagalini and made available as plans for amateur construction.

The Danieli Piuma is a family of Italian high-wing, strut-braced, pusher configuration single-seat motor gliders that was designed by Tiziano Danieli of Schio and supplied as plans for amateur construction.

The Staib LB-4 a.k.a. Staib Airyplane is a homebuilt aircraft design of Wilbur Staib.

The Aristocraft II was a six-place homebuilt aircraft designed by Terrence O'Neill.

The O'Neill Model J Magnum, also called the Magnum Jake and the Magnum Pickup, is a homebuilt aircraft design for bush flying operations similar to the de Havilland Beaver.

Szaraz SDS-1A Daphne

The Szaraz SD-1A Daphne is a homebuilt aircraft that was designed for efficiency competitions.

The Anglin J6 Karatoo is an Australian ultralight and light-sport aircraft that was designed by Jessie Anglin and introduced in 1982. Over the years the J6 Karatoo has been produced by several different manufacturers, including Amax Engineering of Donvale, Victoria, Skyway Aircraft and is currently built by Serenity Aviation of Australia. The aircraft is supplied as plans or as a kit for amateur construction.

St-Just Cyclone

The St-Just Cyclone, also called the St-Just Cyclone 180, is a Canadian homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by St-Just Aviation of Mirabel, Quebec. The company has since moved to Boucherville, Quebec. While it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit and in the form of plans for amateur construction.

Williams W-17 Stinger

The Williams W-17 Stinger is an American homebuilt racing aircraft that was designed for Formula One Air Racing by Art Williams and produced by his company, Williams Aircraft Design of Northridge, California, introduced in 1971. The aircraft was at one time available in the form of plans for amateur construction, but only one was ever constructed.

The Bagalini Bagalini is an Italian homebuilt ultralight aircraft that was designed by Marino Bagalini. The aircraft is supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction.

The Laron Wizard is an American homebuilt aircraft produced by Laron Aviation Tech of Borger, Texas. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

Let-Mont Piper UL

The Let-Mont Piper UL is a Czech microlight aircraft that was designed and produced by Let-Mont sro of Vikýřovice. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft or a kit for amateur construction.

Reflex Lightning Bug

The Reflex Lightning Bug, also called the Jones Lightning Bug, is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Nick Jones and produced by Reflex Fiberglass Works of Walterboro, South Carolina, introduced in the mid-1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

Tri-R KIS TR-1

The Tri-R KIS TR-1 is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed by Rich Trickel and produced by Tri-R Technologies of Oxnard, California, introduced in the 1990s. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction.

The Coelho AC-11 is a Brazilian homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Altair Coelho of Eldorado do Sul and introduced in 1994. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction, but only one was completed.

The Garland Vampire is an Australian amateur-built aircraft that is derived from the Sadler Vampire and was produced by Garland Aerospace of Camden, New South Wales. When it was available the aircraft was supplied as a kit for amateur construction or as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dempsey Beta Lightning". Sport Aviation. August 1970.