Sauser P6E

The Sauser P6E is an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and built by Donald Sauser of Tustin, California. The aircraft is an 82% scale reproduction of the 1920s Curtiss P-6 Hawk. When it was available the aircraft was supplied in the form of plans for amateur construction by the Sauser Aircraft Company.^[1][2]

Sauser P6E
P-6E built as a Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk replica
Role	Homebuilt aircraft
National origin	United States
Designer	Donald Sauser
Status	Plans no longer available
Number built	4
Developed from	Curtiss P-6 Hawk

Design and development

Like the aircraft it is patterned after, the Sauser P6E features a strut-braced biplane layout, a single-seat open cockpit with a windshield, fixed conventional landing gear with wheel pants and a single engine in tractor configuration.^[1]

The aircraft is made from welded steel tubing and wood, with its flying surfaces covered in doped aircraft fabric. Its 25.83 ft (7.9 m) span wing has a wing area of 170.0 sq ft (15.79 m²). The acceptable power range is 180 to 260 hp (134 to 194 kW) and the standard engine used is a 212 hp (158 kW) Chevrolet small-block V-8 automotive conversion powerplant.^[1]

The Sauser P6E has a typical empty weight of 1,425 lb (646 kg) and a gross weight of 2,040 lb (930 kg), giving a useful load of 615 lb (279 kg). With full fuel of 27 U.S. gallons (100 L; 22 imp gal) the payload for the pilot and baggage is 453 lb (205 kg).^[1]

Operational history

Sauser P6Es have been registered with the US Federal Aviation Administration under a variety of type designations, making them hard to catalog. Types registered include Sauser QC, Johnson F11C-2PJ (built as a F11C-2 replica), Wooldridge Saco P6-E Hawk and Roof Curtis Hawk P6E.^[3][4][5][6]

Aircraft on display

• March Field Air Museum - donated by the designer's widow in 2002.^[2]

Specifications (Sauser P6E)

Data from AeroCrafter^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Length: 18.91 ft (5.76 m)
• Wingspan: 25.83 ft (7.87 m)
• Wing area: 170.0 sq ft (15.79 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,425 lb (646 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,040 lb (925 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 27 U.S. gallons (100 L; 22 imp gal)
• Powerplant: 1 × Chevrolet small block V-8 eight cylinder, liquid-cooled, four stroke automotive conversion engine, 212 hp (158 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch wooden

Performance

• Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h, 161 kn)
• Cruise speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)
• Stall speed: 60 mph (97 km/h, 52 kn)
• Range: 425 mi (684 km, 369 nmi)
• Wing loading: 12.0 lb/sq ft (59 kg/m²)