Lockspeier LDA-1

David Lockspeier had the idea to reduce the reduce the number of spare parts by using the same wing components for both wings. The fuselage was a box structure with air freight in mind. The idea was to transport detachable container-looking pods.

It came to live with four wheels. So it could roll over a detachable pod. But that landing gear arrangement was later changed to a more classic three wheels arrangement. 

The bee-story: Too good to leave out. See picture above. During a airshow a nest of bees nested on the canopy of the airplane. Firemen tried to clear the bees from the canopy in time for the time slot of the Lockspeier LDA-1, but they did not succeed to get it done in time. The demo flight was not done. Very lucky indeed, because during a taxi-run one of the four wheel leg cracked due to a welding mistake. Had it happened during take off or landing this would have been a real danger to airplane and pilot.

First flight: 24 august 1971

it started with a 85 HP Continental C85 engine, but later got a Lycoming O-320 engine.

Sadly it was destroyed in a fire in 1987.

Crew: 1
Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m)
Wingspan: 13 ft 0 in (3.96 m) foreplane
Rearplane span: * 13 ft (4.0 m)
Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Wing area: 108.8 sq ft (10.11 m2)
Aspect ratio: Rear wing:7; Forward wing:4.5
Airfoil: NACA 23012
Empty weight: 1,237 lb (561 kg)
Gross weight: 1,616 lb (733 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,700 lb (771 kg)

Fuel capacity: 138 L (36 US gal; 30 imp gal) in two fuel tanks fore and aft of the cargo bay
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-320-D1A 4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 160 hp (120 kW)
Propellers: Hoffmann HO-V72
Propellers: 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m) diameter constant-speed metal pusher propeller

Cruise speed: 92 kn (110 mph, 170 km/h)
Stall speed: 42 kn (48 mph, 78 km/h)
Range: 140 nmi (160 mi, 260 km)