The Spirit of Butts' Farm
The Spirit of Butts' Farm (also known as TAM 5) was the first model aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean on August 11, 2003. The aircraft was launched from Cape Spear (Template:Coord) near St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, and landed at Mannin Beach (Template:Coord) near Clifden, Ireland 38.9 hours later.<ref name="STAR newsletter Oct, 2003">Template:Cite news</ref> It was recognized by the FAI as a double world record<ref name="fai" /> flight for its duration of 38h 52 min 19 sec<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and straight-line distance of Template:Convert using an autopilot,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and using the Argos System for telemetry to track the flight's progress;<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> the team's use of technology also spurred the FAI to create new record categories.<ref name="fai">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The aircraft was controlled by autopilot for >99% of the flight in a manner similar to that used by the Insitu Aerosonde UAV "Laima" that crossed the Atlantic in 1998. The flight used 99.2% of its fuel and left only Template:Convert (or 44 minutes of flight time) remaining when it reached its destination.<ref name="maynardhill" /><ref name="wash post">Template:Cite news</ref>
The aircraft was built by a team led by Maynard Hill, a retired metallurgist. Hill had previously set 25 model airplane records<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was inducted into the Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 1977. The Spirit of Butts' Farm was the 25th of 28 airframes<ref name="faqs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the team had built in the attempt to cross the Atlantic; the five best models were selected for actual transatlantic flight attempts. The 25th airframe was the fifth selected for the record attempt and was redesignated TAM-5. Later, describing his reaction to learning that the flight had been successful, Hill said, "I just grabbed my wife, hugged her and cried like a baby."<ref name="wash post"/>
The aircraft was named after R. Beecher Butts, an aviation enthusiast who allowed the use of his farm for testing of the aircraft. The name echoes that of the Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft used by Charles Lindbergh in his transatlantic flight. The aircraft is on display at the National Model Aviation Museum. A backup plane for the transatlantic effort is in the collection of the National Air and Space Museum.<ref name="wash post"/>
An article on the flight can be found in the October 2003 edition of Model Aviation Canada magazine.Template:Citation needed
| Name: | TAM-5 | |
| Weight: | Dry: Template:Convert; Fully fueled: Template:Convert<ref name="FAIappl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Time: | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| Start time: | 2003-08-09 22:15:41 UTC (chosen for favorable Atlantic weather and to arrive during Irish daylight)<ref name="faqs" /> | |
| End time: | 2003-08-11 13:08:00 UTC<ref name="faqs" /> | |
| Distance: | Template:Convert<ref name="maynardhill" /> | |
| Flight Altitude: | Approx. Template:Convert | |
| Fuel tank: | Approx. Template:Convert | |
| Fuel: | Coleman lantern fuel with Template:Convert of Indopol L-50 lubricant additive per Template:Convert. Single fuel tank in the fuselage at the CG point <ref name="barnardmicro">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> (normal: alcohol) |
| Engine: | O.S. Engines FS-61 0.61 cubic inch (10cc) four-stroke, CH Ignition CDI spark ignition system, carburetor from a "PET" O.S. 0.10 two-stroke engine | |
| Engine modifications: | Smaller valves in engine, custom carburetor mounted remotely, triple fuel filtration down to 1 micron, pressurized fuel tank using crankcase pressure, custom power takeoff to run electronics | |
| Cruising speed: | Template:Convert, the transatlantic flight had an average ground speed of Template:Convert including tailwinds | |
| Size: | Wingspan Template:Convert, Length Template:Convert<ref name="Model Airplane News">Template:Cite journal</ref> | |
| Propeller: | Zinger wooden propeller, Template:Convert diameter, Template:Convert pitch with trailing edge sanded to razor sharpness,<ref name="maynardhill" /> ~3900 RPM |
<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} 080205 sciencenewsforkids.org</ref> The Society for Technical Aeromodel Research (S.T.A.R.) was organized to help support the costs of the project.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>