Kelly-D Bi-plane--C-FAPD

My love of bi-planes seems to have been forever…and was made even stronger whenever I saw a DeHavilland Tiger Moth trainer flying during the 2nd World War when I was in my teens. Years later, while at Oshkosh, I saw a Kelly-D bi-plane which appealed to me instantly. Later, I saw in the EAA magazine that John Parker of Grafton, Ontario had built a Kelly-D from “scratch”. It was completed in 1988 and took about 8 years to build. Several years ago I was in Ontario and had a chance to fly this plane….and what a thrill that was! Time passed and in the spring of 2005 I learned that John had sold it to his neighbour, Jim Burns of Colborne, Ontario. I phoned Jim and was delighted to learn that he would sell it to me.

Kelly-D Bi-plane Jim had an 0-290-D2 (135hp) engine in the plane but was having problems with it so I had a Lycoming 0-235-C (115 hp) engine made up here and shipped to Jim for installation on the Kelly. Jim also obtained a new prop for it. John Parker flew the plane for about 300 hours and Jim Burns flew it for about 50 hours before I purchased it. In early June 2006 I flew the plane from Colborne to Winnipeg (1500 miles) following the Trans-Canada Highway. This was quite an adventure…but that is another story!!!!

This plane was designed by Dudley Kelly and in some respects is similar to the Hatz bi-plane. It has a steel tube fuselage with wood formers and stringers to shape it, steel tube tail surfaces and all- wood wings. The airframe is fabric covered. The landing gear’s shock system is a simple compression spring which works well. Empty weight is 950 lb., gross weight is 1500 lb., fuel capacity is 16.5 imperial gallons, cruise is 90 mph. with fuel consumption 5 gal/hr., stall is 40 mph., Wing span is 26 ft. and length is 19 ft.

This plane is rigged well and handles beautifully both on the ground and in the air. There is no flying to compare with being in an open cockpit with the wind blowing around you and being able to have an unobstructed view of “heaven and earth”! Man, this is flying at its best!

Finally, I should mention that this is the only Kelly-D registered in Canada.

Before I flew home Jim Burns dubbed me the “Blue Baron” ( the fuselage is blue) so I have painted this logo on the cowl and a large Blue Jay on the rudder…..so, NOW this bi-plane is officially MINE!!!!

Cameron Jay