Dempsey TD-3 Beta Lightning homebuilt prototype first flown in 1969

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BryanEW710@reddit

I mean, that wouldn't be too bad. I mean it's no Lightning, but I wouldn't be completely disappointed.

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Ruskiwaffle1991@reddit

Was this ever produced in meaningful amounts? I would probably like to fly one someday

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aGuyWithaniPhone4S@reddit

Is there any other images? I can't find any other one except this one

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bjornbamse@reddit

The more I look at small piston twins the more I think that Burt Rutan Boomerang is the right way to build a small piston twin. Why deal with the drag of an additional nacelle, asymmetric thrust?

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Agent_of_talon@reddit

Talking about aircraft developed by Rutan and his company, there was also the Pond Racer. Sadly tho, it never managed to live up to its potential and was eventually lost.

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diogenesNY@reddit

You grew up always daydreaming about flying a P-38.

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Such-Oven36@reddit

But your view will be like that of an any GA twin; a seat to your right, engine either side of you and a tiny fraction of the sound and horsepower.

Maybe it rolls quicker and the single engine handling is better and it won’t kill you in a dive though!

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I love that intersection between speed and maneuverability. This thing looks like a vans rv7 or something with a tiny bit extra horsepower from that 2nd engine. I bet it's quick and still nimble, cause it looks pretty small overall

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GavoteX@reddit

188 kias VnE.

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Empire_of_walnuts@reddit

That looks cool as hell

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CrouchingToaster@reddit

Oh boy that thing looks fun to fly.

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Such-Oven36@reddit

It wasn’t very fast 188 kias Vne but it had a great climb rate at 3k’ fpm. Fabric wings, wood spars and fiberglass canopy.

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NeighborhoodParty982@reddit

That's not bad for 320 hp.

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KokoTheTalkingApe@reddit

Homebuilt fiberglass amaze me. The fumes, the mess, the cutting and filing of the (I presume) structural foam core.

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jamcultur@reddit

A baby P-38.

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jacksmachiningreveng@reddit (OP)

It was apparently inspired by the WWII fighter, hence the "Beta Lightning" moniker.

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jacksmachiningreveng@reddit (OP)

The Dempsey TD-3 Beta Lightning is the second original homebuilt aeroplane design by Thomas Dempsey.

The TD-3 Beta Lightning is a twin boom, twin engine, tricycle gear monoplane with side-by-side configuration seating. The wooden spar wings are fabric covered. The fuselage pod is all fiberglass. The landing gear mechanism is sourced from a Piper Aztec, with the retraction mechanism retracting rearward rather than forward as on the Aztec. Four wing fuel tanks are mounted internally. The fuselage and tail booms have a supported welded steel tube frame with aluminum stringers.