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Kyle Franklin Reveals ‘Dracula’ Airshow Biplane

Kyle Franklin's new airplane, Dracula
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Kyle Franklin is returning to airshows with "Dracula," a highly customized biplane featuring a retro design, high-performance capabilities (e.g., 300-degree-per-second roll rate), and a horror-movie theme with a two-color smoke system.
  • The airplane holds deep personal significance, having been conceived by Franklin's late father and featuring an "Amanda Switch," a safety mechanism named after his late wife that cuts fuel and smoke oil after a severe impact.
  • "Dracula" is designed for practical touring, with the ability to be towed overland, allowing for a more stable schedule of appearances.
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After the tragic loss of his wife Amanda in an airshow accident, Kyle Franklin will return to the circuit with a dramatic new airplane. Revealed this week at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas, “Dracula” is a highly customized biplane with the retro appeal of early Waco racers – speed cowl, sloped windshield and sleek fuselage lines.

Its full-span ailerons yield a 300-degree-per-second roll rate. The MT propeller contributes 100 pounds to overall weight savings. A two-color smoke system and dramatic airbrushed paint scheme lend to the horror-movie theme of the performance.

Mark Phelps

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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