One Off Design Has The Heart And Soul Of An Old School Homebuilt

When you see Joe Spencer's SS-1 you can't help but notice the linage of all great aircraft that came before that you can see in it's lines. With it's aggressive high angle of attack gear, short wing span and wrap-around windshield, one can't but help think of a Clip Wing Monocoupe. That influence continues with elaborate fairings around all the strut intersections points as well.

The Wingtips harken to the Citabria, and one look at the empennage and you see it is Steve Wittman's Tailwind almost to a T. The UV barrier Silver paint, as Joe noted, is an homage to Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of Saint Louis. With it's place right near the famous Archway at EAA AirVenture, one can't help but wonder if it doesn't win the coveted “dead grass award” before Spencer heads back to Mississippi Wednesday. This aircraft is that cool ... it has to be seen to be appreciated for the old school scratch-built one-off design that makes it kind of an aerial rat rod, and if it doesn't ... consider checking your pulse.

This was not Spencer's 1st homebuilt, having built an RV-8, CH701, and a Legal Eagle as well. In fact, he's known within the Legal Eagle community for having one of the lightest and best examples built. The SS-1 was a three-and-a-half year project that began when Spencer drew up the fuselage on legal pad. Other drawings ... such as the wing ... were done full-scale to work out the aileron torque tube geometry to make sure he could get it all in the wing. When asked about the engine, Spencer noted it's a small Continental of 90 to 95hp. It was an engine his Dad had built up some 40 years ago, and he went through it by having the crank magnifluxed, added new bearings, and upgrading to O-200 Cylinders. When he was done, the SS-1 came in at 559 lbs empty weight, with full electrics (Li-Ion Battery equipped), 24 gallons of fuel available in 3 tanks, and with it's 43 mph stall and 137 mph top speed, it meets the LSA requirements as well as being large single seat closed cabin cross country airplane.

While the SS-1 is flying, it's in Spencer nature to tinker with it. For instance, he moved the seat back two inches, and it was via just trial and error. If you like doing it, it's ok he said. Spencer is on his second tail configuration, with the first being the tail surfaces off a RV-3. While he likes the weight reduction of the current tail (17 lbs), he is looking to not only add some horizontal surface area, but to add simplicity as well. So, he is currently looking at a Sonerai for inspiration. Spencer noted he likes “to try stuff and you learn a lot,” but he has his limitation. While he'll do airframes and engines, he doesn't do props. Other changes on his agenda are wingtip plates, which he has on his Legal Eagle. While reflecting on his efforts and the SS-1's overall look, Spencer noted with chuckle: “You know, it sits kind of aggressive and proud of itself ... cocky ... but it makes it hell to land! You can't see anything!”

Joe Spencer's SS-1 will be at Oshkosh to the left of the Archway until Wednesday.

(Staff images)

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