Midwest Flyer Magazine

Aw a r d s & Re c o g n i t i o nEAA’s “Gold Lindy Award”Goes To Spencer Aircar BuilderStory & Photos by Michael J. “Mick” KaufmanBrackett_Dec04 Spencer 12/22/04 Aircar 5:34 PM Page 1Like many seaplane lovers thatdedicate his or her time as avolunteer at the EAA Seaplanebase year after year, I did the same. Iwas a volunteer dockworker when aradio call came from an approachingseaplane, a 2007 Spencer Aircar(N351DP).As the seaplane sailed throughthe cut from the lake into the lagoon,I knew I had a story to write. Theaircraft was a work of art that nofactory-built seaplane could everequal. I met Douglas Palmer, the pilotand builder, and his mentor and flightinstructor, Brian Williams. Doug wasquite ecstatic after completing his tripto Oshkosh, so I agreed to meet himseveral days later to get his story.The original Spencer Aircar wasdesigned in 1939/1940, built in 1941by P. H. Spencer, sold to RepublicAviation, and named the “Sea Bee.”Production of the Sea Bee beganafter WWII in 1945, and 1,060 wereproduced. P.H. Spencer redesignedthe Spencer Aircar in 1967 forconstruction by amateur builders.Doug built the aircraft totallyfrom plans, as no kits or prefabricatedcomponents were available. Doug wasinspired to build this aircraft whileon an Alaskan vacation 15 years agowith his wife to be. The aircraft took10 years to complete. The projectoriginally started in Doug’s apartmentand later moved to a hangar at the HalfMoon Bay, California airport (KHAF).The hangar had no electricity, so Dougused a generator to power the toolsand lights while he worked.The Spencer Aircar is constructedmostly of wood with many compositeparts that Doug fabricated from hisown molds. A Continental Tiaraengine powers the aircraft. The engineis unique in the fact that the camshaft,rather than the crankshaft, drives thepropeller. This allows the engine torun at a higher speed and turn thepropeller around 1700 RPM in cruise.The aircraft has a special reversible“MT” propeller that is invaluable fordocking and beaching. Doug’s Aircarhas a cruise speed of 120 MPH and afuel capacity of nearly 85 gallons.Doug Palmer was not a pilot whenhe began the project. He started to takeflying lessons soon after the projectwas started, but had to put them onhold until the project was finished.When the project began, Dougworked as a commercial photographer.He is now employed as a fabricator ofDouglas Palmer proudly holds EAA’s “Gold Lindy Award” for hisSpencer Aircar homebuilt. Friends Dave and Kris Williams (left) and EricGurley (right).components for a company, which isbuilding pilot-less aircraft.Co n t i n u e d Ne x t Pa g eBRACKETTTOWBARSCESSNA 150THRUGULFSTREAM VplusHELICOPTER(928) 757-4005FAX: (928) 757-1948E-Mail: brackett@ctaz.comWebsite: www.brackettaircraft.comBRACKETT AIRCRAFT CO., INC.7045 Flightline Dr. • Kingman, AZ 86401OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE 21