N147LF Lothar Fechter Defiant c/n 161 - Flugplatz Leer-Papenburg in Germany - 12 April 2007

more at Leer-Papenburg airfield

The Lothar Fechter Defiant is a 4 seat amateur-built push-pull, twin engine canard. Two Lycoming O-360 series tractor-pusher engines drives an pull and a push prop. The Defiant is designed by Burt Rutan. In 1974, Burt Rutan started Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF) in Mojave, California, in order to develop his design of a non-conventional research aircraft. The prototype of this research aircraft, Rutan Model 40 Defiant s/n 001 N78RA, flew first on 30 June 1978. The Defiant was intended as a proof-of-concept of a very safe light twin design, requiring little trim change and no pilot action in case of engine failure, and with good single engine performance. In 1979, the Rutan Aircraft Factory announced they would proceed with certification of a Model 40 Defiant based light twin. Adequate financing was not secured for this project, and the design was modified for homebuilt construction as the Model 74. Work began on production Defiant Model 74 in 1982. Plans were offered in mid-1984. One of the homebuilt Defiant Model 74 was built by Lothar Fechter at Flugplatz Leer-Papenburg in Germany.

On 12 April 2007, the Lothar Fechter Defiant N147LF was photographed at Flugplatz Leer-Papenburg. In a hangar at this airfield Lothar Fechter used several years to built the aircaft from the plans bought from Rutan Aircraft Factory. Certification to the Lothar Fechter Defiant N147LF was given on 24 September 2002. The Air Worthiness Test on 3 June 2003.