Heath Parasol plans, 103 trimmable?

[Chris Wells]

I visited Old Rheinbeck Aerodrome, and fell in love with the Heath Parasol hanging from the ceiling. The spec sheet says it weighs 260# empty, meaning a little trimming should bring it to 103 specs, if the stall speed is low enough. Are plans still available?

I understad the Pober Pixie is supposed to be an updated version, but it also seems to weigh a lot more. Can someone provide more info on this plane, and what is different from the Heath? Are Heath Parasol plans available anywhere?

[Peter Dohm]

"Chris Wells" > wrote in message
...
>
> I visited Old Rheinbeck Aerodrome, and fell in love with the Heath
> Parasol hanging from the ceiling. The spec sheet says it weighs 260#
> empty, meaning a little trimming should bring it to 103 specs, if the
> stall speed is low enough. Are plans still available?
>
> I understad the Pober Pixie is supposed to be an updated version, but
> it also seems to weigh a lot more. Can someone provide more info on
> this plane, and what is different from the Heath? Are Heath Parasol
> plans available anywhere?
>
>
>
>
> --
> Chris Wells

The very short answer is: "I doubt it, but don't know."

The slightly longer answer is that there was a brief coverage of the Heath
Parasol in one of the EAA publications a couple of years age--I think that
it was in Experimenter, which has since had a name change to Sport Pilot.
Very basically, the problem stated was that Mr Heath was small and slight,
about the size and weight of the Wright Bros, and designed the aircraft to
fit himself and others of similar size. IIRC, according to the publication,
it will only work for pilots in the range of 125 pounds or less. I also
think it is a really cool looking little aircraft; but, at 6'1" and nearly
200#, I couldn't fit in it and it couldn't carry me.

Peter

[[email protected]]

On Jun 30, 6:12 am, "Peter Dohm" > wrote:
> "Chris Wells" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > I visited Old Rheinbeck Aerodrome, and fell in love with the Heath
> > Parasol hanging from the ceiling. The spec sheet says it weighs 260#
> > empty, meaning a little trimming should bring it to 103 specs, if the
> > stall speed is low enough. Are plans still available?
>
> > I understad the Pober Pixie is supposed to be an updated version, but
> > it also seems to weigh a lot more. Can someone provide more info on
> > this plane, and what is different from the Heath? Are Heath Parasol
> > plans available anywhere?
>
> > --
> > Chris Wells
>
> The very short answer is: "I doubt it, but don't know."
>
> The slightly longer answer is that there was a brief coverage of the Heath
> Parasol in one of the EAA publications a couple of years age--I think that
> it was in Experimenter, which has since had a name change to Sport Pilot.
> Very basically, the problem stated was that Mr Heath was small and slight,
> about the size and weight of the Wright Bros, and designed the aircraft to
> fit himself and others of similar size. IIRC, according to the publication,
> it will only work for pilots in the range of 125 pounds or less. I also
> think it is a really cool looking little aircraft; but, at 6'1" and nearly
> 200#, I couldn't fit in it and it couldn't carry me.
>
> Peter- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

The plans for the Heath Super parasol are published in the EAA's
1929 Flying and Glider manual along with a bit of a construction
manual. The 1931 edition has a chapter on the Church Mid-wing
Monoplane it is a modification of the Heath. The reason I mention it
is that it has the Heath wing and the drawing is much more legible.
Some areas of these plans are very vague and they require updating for
safety, so they probably wouldn't be the best project for someone with
no previous aviation or engineering experience.

However, Ed Fisher has designed a light plane loosely based on the
Heath. It is a pretty cute little bird and I think most pilots would
fit into it. Ed has a shop in Sebring ,Fl Raceair designs Inc, phone #
863-655-0361 or his web site is <www.raceairdesigns.com>. I'm sure
that he would be more than happy to sell you a set of plans or a kit

Frank M. Hitlaw at my secret world Hq.