Which Ultralight to build.....

Guy at my field built and flies an Airbike. Kit, not plans though. It
weighs 252 lbs., so is supposedly 103 legal. Single cylinder Hirth engine.
Lots of vibration. But he likes it, and it is 103 legal. Far as I know,
it's the only one that is at my field.

Martha

"WC" wrote in message ...
OK, was planning on building a Texas Parasol (as you've probably seen from
my previous posts) but it's looking like it may not be a very good design
for a legal 103. That being the case, what design to build. I spent a good
part of my life as a mechanic, can weld steel and aluminum (stick, mig,
tig), have access to a machine shop. Below is my wish list.


Legal FAR Part 103 (not going to quibble a few pounds but would like it
close)

Built from plans rather then kit

Short takeoff and landing (under 300 feet)

Prefer a high wing

Ability to trailer (wings remove easily)

Prefer tractors to pushers

Big wheels a plus (for field operations)



I tend to prefer "conventional" looking designs like the N-3 Pup or a J-3
kitten but I can't see how it can be kept near 254 without striping it
naked
so I'm starting to think a more form follows function design (keep it
simple
and to the point and invest the weight where it is useful rather then on
ascetics). With that in mind I'm looking at designs like the Dream Classic
or the Weedhopper 40 although both of these are kit. How about the Legal
Eagle? One other design I was looking at was the Aero Adventure Aventura
UL
(even though its out of my price range). Do you get to take the float
allowance flying boat?

Looking forward to your advice;

WayneC

As I understand it Ison was sued by a pilot who was injured in an
airbike. The suit settlement caused him to loose the rights of the
airbike to the plaintiff and they have been unavailable to the public
since. It's been a while since I read the facts on the case, but I
believe this is substantially correct.

Have you considered a Skypup? Genuine 103 capable. There's an active
builders group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Skypup-club/ . Check
www.machnone.com for building information or www.skypup.net for
general information on the skypup.

Unfortunately, you won't get to do any welding, it's constructed out
of wood/fabric/foam.

Roger


On Jun 4, 1:29 am, "Russ and/or Martha Oppenheim"
wrote:
Guy at my field built and flies an Airbike. Kit, not plans though. It
weighs 252 lbs., so is supposedly 103 legal. Single cylinder Hirth engine.
Lots of vibration. But he likes it, and it is 103 legal. Far as I know,
it's the only one that is at my field.

Martha





"WC" wrote in ...
OK, was planning on building a Texas Parasol (as you've probably seen from
my previous posts) but it's looking like it may not be a very good design
for a legal 103. That being the case, what design to build. I spent a good
part of my life as a mechanic, can weld steel and aluminum (stick, mig,
tig), have access to a machine shop. Below is my wish list.

Legal FAR Part 103 (not going to quibble a few pounds but would like it
close)

Built from plans rather then kit

Short takeoff and landing (under 300 feet)

Prefer a high wing

Ability to trailer (wings remove easily)

Prefer tractors to pushers

Big wheels a plus (for field operations)

I tend to prefer "conventional" looking designs like the N-3 Pup or a J-3
kitten but I can't see how it can be kept near 254 without striping it
naked
so I'm starting to think a more form follows function design (keep it
simple
and to the point and invest the weight where it is useful rather then on
ascetics). With that in mind I'm looking at designs like the Dream Classic
or the Weedhopper 40 although both of these are kit. How about the Legal
Eagle? One other design I was looking at was the Aero Adventure Aventura
UL
(even though its out of my price range). Do you get to take the float
allowance flying boat?

Looking forward to your advice;

WayneC- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

how bout the flitplane from ed fisher

("patrick mitchel" wrote)
how bout the flitplane from ed fisher


http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/flitplane.html
The Flitplane

http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/h...ltralight.html
Home Despot Ultralight ......"Motor Glider 101"

A: Why not name it 103? (Stall speed. Drat!)
B: I like different, and this is different!!!

(From the link)
Power is provided by two 10 HP Tecumseh motors are mounted directly onto two
by two's, hollowed out in the center with 1/8 inch plywood on the side. No
rubber mounts are used for the engines, but it would be a good idea. Power
from the two 10 HP engines was transferred directly to the props, no gear
reduction was used. The props for the prototype were homemade and were
"whittled out of wood." They were redesigned several times until optimum
performance was reached. The wings have a plywood main spar, the ribs are
Styrofoam, and 1.7-ounce Dacron sail cloth is used as a covering material.
According the Jack he has "over 50 years of experience building planes."

The plane shown here had about 7 hours on it with the last flight made the
week prior to the show where it was on display. Jack reports that it fly's
along at about 40 to 45 mph. When asked how much the average person would
have invested in materials - the reply was "if you go down and buy
everything from Home Depot, the average person will have about $1,000
invested in engines and materials. However, the builder will, carve his own
props or buy some commercially produced." Of course materials like the 4130
steel tubing, sail cloth, etc will have to be sourced out somewhere else.

http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/index.html
Ok, the subs are COOL!


Montblack

"Montblack" wrote:

http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/index.html

Tecumseh motors cost more than they used to...

Like alot of things...

"Montblack" wrote

http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/index.html
Ok, the subs are COOL!

No doubt! I want one of the luxury 213' luxury models!
--
Jim in NC

Montblack wrote:
("patrick mitchel" wrote)
how bout the flitplane from ed fisher


http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/flitplane.html
The Flitplane

http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/h...ltralight.html
Home Despot Ultralight ......"Motor Glider 101"

A: Why not name it 103? (Stall speed. Drat!)
B: I like different, and this is different!!!

(From the link)
Power is provided by two 10 HP Tecumseh motors are mounted directly onto two
by two's, ....

IIRC it also weighs more than 400 lbs, nowhere close to being
a FAR 103 Ultralight.

That's why he calls it a 'Motorglider', not an Ultralight.

OTOH if you have (or can get) a glider license with a self-launch
endorsement then a motorglider may be a better choice than
a FAR 103 ultralight.

--

FF

wrote)
OTOH if you have (or can get) a glider license with a self-launch
endorsement then a motorglider may be a better choice than a FAR 103
ultralight.


This is a hoot - AND A MUST READ!!! g

http://edburkhead.com/Challenger/gli...torglider1.htm
Experimental Glider? YES!!

IIRC it also weighs more than 400 lbs, nowhere close to being
a FAR 103 Ultralight.

That's why he calls it a 'Motorglider', not an Ultralight.

As a 'Motorglider':
(ii) Maximum weight does not exceed 850 kg (1874 pounds);
and
(iii) The maximum weight to wing span squared (w/b2) does not exceed 3.0
kg/M2 (0.62 lb./ft.2).

500 lbs MTOW
and
28.5 ft wingspan = 812 (wing span squared)

500 lbs MTOW (/) 812 = 0.61576 lb./ft.2

....which does not exceed 0.62!

So yes, it is a motorglider

....IF the MTOW is 500 lbs
....or we go with longer wings
....or we follow the first link. g

http://www.usppa.org/Resources/FARs/part103_far.htm
(Part 103)

Home Depot Ultralight: aka "Motor Glider 101"
http://www.digitalmarketingusa.com/h...ltralight.html


Specifications:

Empty Weight: 254 lbs
Stall Speed: 30 mph
Cruise Speed: 55 mph @ 2600 rpm.
Fuel Capacity: 5 US Gallons.
Wing Span: 28' 6"
Gross Weight: Not established, however pilot flew prototype with 5 gallons
fuel, pilot weight 225 lbs.

Wing Chord: 5' 0"

Gross Wing Area: 142 1/2 sq. ft.
Dihedral: 3" from Fuselage to Wing Tip.


Tail Span: 6' 6"
LOA: 15' 8"

Height: 6' 0"
Wheel Track: 4' 10" - Center to Center

Maximum HP: Not Established

Prototype Power: (2) Tecumseh 10hp 4 Stroke Engines or (2) 227 Rotax.

Endurance: (2) Techunesh engines consume approx. 1 gph.

Landing Speed: 35 mph.

Landing Rollout: 100'

Rate of Climb: Slow but steady with (2) 10 hp motors. Will maintain level
flight on one engine.


Bad Montblack, Bad!
Too much to do today to play anymore on the Groups :-(

"Montblack" wrote

This is a hoot - AND A MUST READ!!! g

http://edburkhead.com/Challenger/gli...torglider1.htm
Experimental Glider? YES!!

I predict that if many people start using this option, it is a loophole that
will quickly be regulated out of existence.

Interesting, indeed.
--
Jim in NC

That's why he calls it a 'Motorglider', not an Ultralight.

OTOH if you have (or can get) a glider license with a self-launch
endorsement then a motorglider may be a better choice than
a FAR 103 ultralight.

That would have to be in the amateur built experimental classification, and
not even as a light sport plan (thus needing a regular glider ticket, not
LSP) because of the two engines, right?

Then, you get to the definition of the span to weight requirements of a
motorglider, which are not easy to meet. I do not think it meets the
requirements for a motorglider, by a long shot.

I'm not sure where this plane would fall, except as a twin engine
experimental amateur built. You would need a regular PP ticket, (or higher)
with a twin engine endorsement, I would think.
--
Jim in NC