REVE BLEU - Bugatti's "Blue Dream" will finally fly!
A project in Broken Arrow, OK by Scotty Wilson000days
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Funding Successful
Global volunteer group recreates Bugatti's "Blue Dream" more than 70 years after the unfinished plane was hidden behind enemy lines.
Backers: 584
Average Pledge Per Backer: $107
Funded: $62,512 of $50,000
Dates: Apr 6th -> May 6th (30 days)
Project By: Scotty Wilson
Backers: 584
Average Pledge Per Backer: $107
Funded: $62,512 of $50,000
Dates: Apr 6th -> May 6th (30 days)
Project By: Scotty Wilson
$62,512
current pledge level
Last Updated: May 7 @ 00:01 -0400 GMT
125%
of goal
(loading your very own snazzy kicktraq chart)
Latest News
Structurally Complete! 
May 4th - via: kickstarter.com
We made a lot of progress during the Kickstarter pledge period. The nearly-completed structure makes for a great photograph but says little about the work that remains to be done. Thanks to you, we're on our way to having a flyable airplane by this... (Read More)
Flags
May 3rd - via: kickstarter.com
I promised to display the flags of each country represented by our backers. We currently display flags from: Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; Italy; France; Germany; Netherlands; Sweden; United Kingdom; United States. If your country's flag is not... (Read More)
Gearbox / Props - Trial Run
May 1st - via: kickstarter.com
We could not help ourselves - we HAD to try spinning the props. Luckily, the gearbox action is so smooth (thanks to John Lawson) that we could power the box and spin two propellers using two, small, battery-powered drills. (Read More)
The Other 1937 Drawing
May 1st - via: kickstarter.com
We've been asked to include as a Reward the companion to Louis de Monge's first concept drawing. Drawing 1100 - Avion de Course - depicts the profile view of the Bugatti 100P - and like its partner is dated September 1937. Of interest in the photo... (Read More)
Momentum!
April 30th - via: kickstarter.com
Wow! We reached our initial goal with six days to spare! We're heartened by your response and elated with the results. We are grateful for every donor's contribution. We make every dollar count. We want to keep the momentum going through Monday. Any... (Read More)
Cockpit Deck
April 30th - via: kickstarter.com
We wanted to give you a better idea of how others will see your name through the cockpit canopy glass. (Read More)
Rapid Progress!
April 26th - via: kickstarter.com
We've made significant progress over the course of the past few days. The most important milestone was the successful trial installation of the gearbox and propellers. We also covered the rudder and rudder-vator flight control surfaces. The ailerons... (Read More)
Prop Spinner - Made in Brazil!
April 26th - via: kickstarter.com
Our good friend Professor Paulo Iscold is busy fabricating the 100P's spinner. This is a good example of pairing a 1930s drawing with modern CNC technology to easily and inexpensively reproduce a critical component. Paulo - who teaches aeronautical... (Read More)
Gearbox - Trial Installation
April 24th - via: kickstarter.com
The gearbox arrived late in the day Tuesday. This morning we conducted our first trial installation. To our great relief, the box slipped right into place, exactly as expected. Remember that the gearbox was designed and built in the UK, while the... (Read More)
Gearbox Arrives in Tulsa
April 23rd - via: kickstarter.com
The trip was long and arduous, but after two and one half years the gearbox finally made its way from the UK to Tulsa! This is a major milestone event for us all and opens the final chapter of our shared journey to bring the Bugatti 100P to... (Read More)
Increase Pledge / Add Rewards
April 21st - via: kickstarter.com
A generous backer wrote that he wanted to add a second reward and increase his pledge amount accordingly. Apparently, that is not an option Kickstarter supports. Let me paraphrase the Kickstarter Support Team: "Backers can only make a single pledge,... (Read More)
Phil West Original Art "First Flight" Completed!
April 21st - via: kickstarter.com
Phil West's original art "First Flight" - created for our Kickstarter fundraising appeal - is complete! This is a stunning artist's impression of how the Bugatti 100P's first flight might have appeared to observers lucky enough to be at the Étampes... (Read More)
Avion de Course 1937
April 20th - via: kickstarter.com
We've received suggestions that we need a reward in the USD $100 range. We agree! We've added a high-quality print of the earliest known de Monge engineering drawing. Avion de Course is dated September 1937 and depicts the plane as de Monge and... (Read More)
We get Visitors
April 20th - via: kickstarter.com
Dr. Robb Brinkley snaps a photograph of a JLawson Modelmakers' prototype Bugatti 100P model. Dr. Brinkley (he's an anesthesiologist) snapped up one of the few remaining limited-edition models. No one knows the airplane as well as we do, and these... (Read More)
EAA Features Bugatti 100P in On-Line Magazine
April 17th - via: kickstarter.com
We're featured in the Experimental Aircraft Association's most recent edition of their on-line magazine. Read about the EAA and their coverage of the Bugatti 100P project here. (Read More)
Gearbox Ready For Shipment
April 17th - via: kickstarter.com
The Bugatti 100P gearbox is modeled after the original and was designed and built in the UK. It is shown here packaged and ready for shipment to Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Read More)
Gearbox Test (10 Seconds)
April 15th - via: kickstarter.com
Not every required test is filled with drama. Sometimes it's a simple as ensuring the gears mesh correctly. These do! While not unexpected, the gears will contribute to the 100P's unique sound. (Read More)
Landing Gear Retraction Test Video (10 Seconds)
April 14th - via: kickstarter.com
Nothing dramatic, just a check of the landing gear components as they cycle through retraction and extension. We're doing this manual test in preparation for fabricating the landing gear doors. The the landing gear components are nearly-exact copies... (Read More)
Gearbox Video
April 12th - via: kickstarter.com
With the gearbox finally complete, we thought you'd like to see a brief (20 seconds) video animation of the gearbox and its internal workings. Many thanks to John Lawson and Stuart Holden for this video. Thanks also to all of you for your support.... (Read More)
Gearbox Complete!
April 11th - via: kickstarter.com
John Lawson and I had our first conversation about the gearbox in September 2010, over two and one-half years ago. Finally - after redesigns, broken promises, and vendors who just couldn't get the job done - we have a complete gearbox! While many... (Read More)
Phil West Painting
April 10th - via: kickstarter.com
We're honored to be working with noted aviation artist Phil West. Phil has created a stunning series of paintings depicting "what might have been" had the war not interrupted the Bugatti 100P's development. In this photo, Phil is putting the... (Read More)
Bugatti 'Blue Dream' plane being replicated with Kickstarter help [w/video]
April 10th - via: autoblog.com
The Bugatti100p team is hoping to raise $50,000 to push the program forward. If successful, Bugatti's dream could take flight as soon as September. Here's a direct link to the Reve Bleu Kickstarter page, worthy of a visit even if only to check out the interesting pictures. (Read More)
Leading-edge fairings - complete Step 1
April 9th - via: kickstarter.com
Today, we completed the first step in fabricating the leading-edge fairings. These are the triangular-shaped metal pieces just aft and either side of the cockpit. They have a very complex shape and making them was time-consuming and tedious. Next on... (Read More)
Old World Craftsmanship
April 9th - via: kickstarter.com
We've built this airplane the old-fashioned way - by hand - torturing wood and metal into shape. Here TJ Balenitne forms an aluminum fairing. He's an artist who paints with a rawhide hammer. (Read More)
Meaningful Updates
April 9th - via: kickstarter.com
I just received a message from a backer who suggested we make more meaningful updates. Great idea! We post updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheBugatti100pProject. You can also visit our website www.bugatti100p.com. The site has old... (Read More)
It's Monday...
April 8th - via: kickstarter.com
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read. (Read More)
Off to a good start!
April 7th - via: kickstarter.com
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read. (Read More)
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