BIO_DREAD DETAILS
Project BIO_DREAD is a modified Sonerai I design built from the John Monet plans. The major changes are the wing spar modification which is a requirement for racing the aircraft. Also, the typical blown canopy has been replaced with the wraparound style borrowed from the cassutt racer and made from "Lexan". The dimensions of the turtle back and cockpit have been modified to reduce frontal profile as much as possible and still be able to fit inside and maximize visibility.
Bio-DREAD contains a highly modified 1600 CC Volkswagen engine,. The engine has been blueprinted and set up with 9.2:1 compression to run on 100 LL aviation fuel. There is no starter , battery, or electrical system. The engine has the 29mm Aero Vee anodized aluminum carburetor, custom polished intake and exhaust manifolds, and the heads have been ported and polished with professional valve lapping. Pushrod tubes and gascolator are anodized aluminum, and the rings are gapless from "Total Seal". The custom tuned, four into one exhaust has been ceramic powder coated inside and out for durability and superior performance. The magneto is brand new "Slick", large external oil cooler. Cooling system is pressure baffle system with additional cooling to the oil cooler, magneto, engine cylinders and heads, and the gascolator.
The aircraft is cover in the "Poly-Fiber" system, finished off with "Dupont" Hot Hues brilliant Yellow paint. The only fabric is the turtle back and empennage, fuselage sides are aluminum and the front cowling is fiberglass, and the wings are all aluminum construction. Low drag NACA vents have been added to the fuselage sides into the cockpit for cooling on ground as well as in flight. The brakes are mechanical toe-brakes and are fully enclosed in the wheel pants. All flight instruments are brand new and the finest available, 260MPH Airspeed, Dual CHT, Dual EGT, Accelerometer, Altimeter, oil temp, oil pressure, engine RPM with recording hour meter range 0-5000 RPM. This aircraft was built with the intention of racing it in Formula V Air Races and therefore conforms to the rules and specifications of Formula V Air Racing Association. Cockpit layout is standard with right hand stick operation and left hand throttle/mixture controls. There is a mounting position on the right for a portable/hand held transceiver with a high gain antennae mounted in turtle back which connects to radio. Polished aluminum spinner, 52/44 wood prop, wings do not contain the original storage/tailoring option built into them.
Custom enclosed trailer built for the project, has dual axles and electric trailer brakes. 18 ft. X 8 ft. inside dimensions, and a vee shaped nose to break the wind. Rear door provides ramp to load/unload aircraft and there are custom wheel hold downs that don't allow the aircraft to moved or be damaged during trailering. Unique wing storage system is "wing-saddle" system to safely and easily transport detached wings. Inside trailer is completely finished, with interior storage cabinet and shelf, spare tire also mounted in front of trailer. Floor and back door/ramp are epoxy paint coated and are gray in color. Trailer has side entry door also and custom "master" lock trailer locks that are very difficult to break into. Trailer is set up for a class 3 heavy duty hitch, and the trailer with plane and equipment weighs approximately 4500 lbs.