11/30/2009. Remarks by Walter van Tilborg: "The Esprit was an original single-seat sport/racer homebuilt aircraft of composite material construction developed by Valentino Fry of Wilen bei Wollerau, Switzerland. Work on the Esprit VF-II design started in 1994 and the prototype aircraft made the first flight on September 8, 1998, powered by an 100 hp Rolls-Royce/Continental O-200-A engine and using a two-bladed propeller.

Fitted with one 140 hp Walter/LOM Praha M-332AK engine (with turbo-supercharger) in an altered nose and driving a three-bladed propeller, the prototype was redesignated Esprit VF-II SC. The wing was replaced by a thinner wing of double-trapezoidal planform and reduced span. It first flew in the new guise on April 28, 2001 and showed considerable improvement in performance.

The type became available for amateur construction via Fry Aircraft Design established by the designer, but no additional aircraft has been completed. Pictured in flight near Wohlen, Switzerland in late 2005, the aircraft was deregistered on June 1, 2006, and in 2008 it was put on display at the Verkehrshaus der Schweiz (Swiss Transport Museum) at Lucerne."

Span: Length: Height: Weight empty: Weight loaded: Max speed: Climb: Service ceiling: Range:

Esprit VF-II 19 ft 11.8 in (6.09 m) 18 ft 4.5 in (5.60 m) 5 ft 8.9 in (1.75 m) 1,080 lb (358 kg) 789 lb (490 kg) 175 mph (282 kmh) 1,800 ft (549 m)/min 18,000 ft (5,486 m) 600 mls (966 km)

Esprit VF-II SC 18 ft 0.5 in (5.50 m) 18 ft 4.5 in (5.60 m) 5 ft 8.9 in (1.75 m) 1,080 lb (360 kg) 794 lb (490 kg) 250 mph (402 kmh) 2,700 ft (823 m)/min 18,000 ft (5,486 m) 600 mls (966 km)