For Everyone

For SABC Members

Owned, re-built twice, and flown by member Alan Mitchell.

The Turbulent and Turbi are two different types (single-seater and much bigger two-seater).

Roger Druine was a young French aero modeller in the 1950s. He made increasingly big models, until somebody said predictably 'Why don't you build one big enough to fly yourself?' So he did. That was the D.31 Turbulent (a derivative of the original D.3), a very light, open-cockpit, single seater, usually powered by a Volkswagen engine of from 1200 to 1600 cc. It has wonderfully responsive controls, but is regrettably not aerobatic.

Hundreds of homebuilt Turbulents were constructed in France, Germany, Britain, Canada, Australia and the USA, but an English firm, Rollasons, built a couple of dozen production examples, including three of a certified version (D.31A) with a strengthened wing spar which permitted limited aerobatics, but unfortunately the authorities required modifications to the flying controls which spoiled their lightness. Rollason Turbulents could have cockpit canopies, skis for winter flying, and enclosed cowlings. That renowned British flying club, the Tiger Club, has had a display team of Turbulents for over thirty years (longer than the Red Arrows) which still flies today. Their forte is tied-together formation flying.

Roger Druine subsequently designed a two-seat version, the D.5 Turbi, using Beaussier or Walter Mikron inverted in-line engines. Alan Mitchell's is unusual in having a de Havilland Gipsy Minor engine. (small d, IpsY)

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