War Aircraft Replicas International

War Aircraft Replicas International, Inc. is an American aircraft manufacturer, originally located in Brandon, Florida and now Tulsa, Oklahoma, that specializes in kit built replica aircraft of World War II fighters.[1]

War Aircraft Replicas International, Inc.
TypePrivate company
IndustryAerospace
Founded1974
Headquarters
Tulsa, Oklahoma
,
United States
ProductsKit aircraft
Websitewww.flywaraircraft.com

The company was founded in California by Warren Erberspacher, Jim Kern, and Ken Thoms after collaborating on the Johnathan Livingston Seagull biplane racer of 1973. The founders were inspired by the scale fighter designs of Marcel Jurca of France, as well as the KR-1 wood and fiberglass construction.[2]

History

Development of the company's first design, the W.A.R. Focke-Wulf 190, commenced in 1973, with the first flight following in 1974. The aircraft are all half-scale World War II fighter aircraft replicas, based on a common design, consisting of a wooden fuselage box shape and wooden spar wing. Polyurethane foam was then used to create the different aircraft shapes and details. The foam was then covered in a high-strength laminating fabric and epoxy-resin. The series all share a common conventional landing gear design that is electrically retractable. The aircraft were initially powered by 1600 cc Volkswagen air cooled engines of 70 hp (52 kW) using Lloyd Patner's gear reduction units driving 3-blade Fahlin props, but later Continental O-200 and Lycoming O-235s were used along with the Rotec R2800 radial engine.[1][3][4][5]

The company announced plans for a multitude of replicas that shared the basic layout. The geared Volkswagen engine width required aircraft with larger cowlings to accommodate the size of the engine and radial engine designs were selected for this reason. Molded foam blocks were offered for the following aircraft, however, not all remained in later production. The Corsair and Stuka designs required more complex bent-wing spars.

In 2014 the company was purchased and moved from Brandon Florida to Tulsa, Oklahoma.[6]

Aircraft

Notes
  1. Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, pages 126-127. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. Jack Cox (November 1974). "It's W.A.R.!". Sport Aviation.
  3. Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 159. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
  4. Downey, Julia: 1999 Plans Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 16, Number 1, January 1999, page 71. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 291-2. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  6. "FAQ's - Fly War Aircraft -". War Replica Aircraft. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

References
  • Kitplanes. August 2001. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Recreational Flyer. November 1988. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Recreational Flyer. Fall 1987. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Popular Mechanics. Jan 1981. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Popular Flying. November 1981. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Homebuilt Aircraft. November 1980. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Popular Mechanics. Jan 1980. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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