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Old February 12th 06, 07:37 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
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Default Texas Parasol Plans...


ChuckSlusarczyk wrote:
In article .com,
says...

Will it fly? Of course it will fly! Lookit how many 'Chuck Birds' are
already flying. But the plans Richard drew up simply don't make sense
and he's obviously incapable of correcting them.


One small question what's a "Chuck Bird" ? :-)


This construction method was developed by Chuck Beeson, thus the "Chuck
Bird". When Richard started drawing up the construction plans and
selling them, the name changed to the Texas Parasol.

R.S. Hoover, Juan Lozano and I had some dialog with Richard Back In The
Day about the way the wing struts were attached to the spars, and the
use of fasteners in tension rather than shear, and he more or less blew
us off.

I think the design is generally OK (it's the DETAILS that look hinky),
and a good starting point for an experienced builder to improvise, but
as a design capable of construction by a first time builder straight
from the plans, it's on par with a Teenie Two, which is damining with
the faintest of praise.

Still....

I respect Richard for the effort of drawing up the plans and the
manual, and for, after an unsatisfactory experience with Sirius
Aviation (regrettably not uncommon), putting the plans into the public
domain. Perhaps a Open Source effort can iron out the difficulties
R.S. Hoover and others have pointed out.