![]() |
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Hi group
Have found the aircraft of my dreams. Has a decent cruise , short take off and landings and a dependable VW engine. Am looking for anyone that has any knowledge of the Cygnet (name means young swan) or is interested in the aircraft. TldrgrDan -- |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
The March 1990 Sport Aviation has a 5 page spread on Zig Berzins' Cygnet,
which was the 1989 Oshkosh Reserve Grand Champion Plans Built Homebult. Eric "dan" wrote in message ... Hi group Have found the aircraft of my dreams. Has a decent cruise , short take off and landings and a dependable VW engine. Am looking for anyone that has any knowledge of the Cygnet (name means young swan) or is interested in the aircraft. TldrgrDan |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Bert Sisler, the original designer, re-acquired the prototype a year or two
ago and replaced the VW with a Jabiru. Nice installation. Bert is no longer involved with marketing of the Cygnet. That is being done by: http://www.airsport.com/kits/kcygnet.htm Greg in Minneapolis "Morgans" wrote in message ... "dan" wrote in message ... Hi group Have found the aircraft of my dreams. Has a decent cruise , short take off and landings and a dependable VW engine. Am looking for anyone that has any knowledge of the Cygnet (name means young swan) or is interested in the aircraft. TldrgrDan Dependable and VW used in the same sentence? Huuuumm. IMHO, they are not reliable in an auto, let alone stuffed into an airplane, and making more HP than the heads can handle. The thing I always heard about VW engines was, "They are so easy to work on, anyone can do it." There might be a reason for that. They NEED to be worked on!. By the way, how many HP does the plane specs say they need? You might want to google some R.S. Hoover, or R. V. Hoover articles on the subject. 45 HP is a number that pops into my head. Jim in NC '72 super beetle owner {anyone wantto buy a car?) notice, no grin BOb, shut up! g |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 22:50:06 GMT, "dan"
wrote: Hi group Have found the aircraft of my dreams. Has a decent cruise , short take off and landings and a dependable VW engine. Am looking for anyone that has any knowledge of the Cygnet (name means young swan) or is interested in the aircraft. TldrgrDan +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Here's a recent VW report...... List message posted by: "Jack" The Sonex crash details...... so others may benefit from my misfortune: I installed a VW Type 4 engine in the Sonex (see www.jacklockamy.com/Engine.html) . The engine conversion kit I purchased from Great Plains Aircraft Supply who specializes in VW conversions for aircraft. The Force One prop hub disconnected from the crankshaft while I was taking off and at 400 FT AGL over the departure end of the runway at Oxnard Airport on 9/8/02. I had 100.2 hours on the engine/prop. Landing straight ahead was nasty.... lemon grove (at that time....today the field is plowed dirt and level....). Looked to my LT and there was the parallel taxiway. Looked better than the orchard and despite hearing the voices, "land straight ahead... never turn back", I went for it. Immediately notified the tower of the engine failure and intentions to land on the taxiway. Turned LT... tried to get lined up on the taxiway and made it around through 160 degrees of turn when the LT wingtip caught dirt next to the taxiway. I hit the ground at approx. 85 MPH which was the Best Glide Speed for the Sonex. I was very aware of the 'stall/spin' occurances in this situation, thus I was locked into the 85 MPH glide speed and kept the turn as smooth as possible. Just didn't have enough altitude to get that last 20 degrees of turn.... Plane cartwheeled, and I was ejected from the cockpit. I was only wearing the lapbelts (which held) and not the sholder harness. Bad mistake! I was literally "sucked" out of the lapbelt and ejected through the plexiglass canopy and thrown/slid 135 FT from impact. Plane then proceeded to roll over me before it stopped approx 165 FT from the point of impact. During the post accident investigation, the FAA inspector confirmed the seatbelt was still buckled and intact in the plane. The Sonex is a very strong design. Probably saved my life. Broken nose, broken ribs, punctured/collasped RT lung, broken LT hand, 50 or so stitches in the face, dislocated LT hip/leg, and MASSIVE amounts of 'road rash' from sliding on the asphalt pavement. All in all... a very bad day. But I survived!!! Airplane was totaled. Spent a week in ICU. I was out of work for 8 weeks. Great Plains Aircraft had another builder experience the same prop hub failure a week later. That engine builder was fortunate in that his plane was tied down and the prop ended up in splinters about 8-10 FT out in front of the plane. He had approx 80 hours on his plane/engine. Great Plains has since issued a Service Bulletin on the VW Type 4 crankshaft they were machining and no longer recommend it. They now recommend the SCAT Type 4 crankshaft which is machined differently for the prop hub attachment. Lessons learned..... have full coverage insurance and ALWAYS wear the sholder harnesses!!! Oh.... and time passes very quickly when you have an in-flight emergency. Jack "installing a lycoming" |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 23:24:25 -0800, "Morgans"
wrote: "dan" wrote in message ... Hi group Have found the aircraft of my dreams. Has a decent cruise , short take off and landings and a dependable VW engine. Am looking for anyone that has any knowledge of the Cygnet (name means young swan) or is interested in the aircraft. TldrgrDan Dependable and VW used in the same sentence? Huuuumm. IMHO, they are not reliable in an auto, let alone stuffed into an airplane, and making more HP than the heads can handle. The thing I always heard about VW engines was, "They are so easy to work on, anyone can do it." There might be a reason for that. They NEED to be worked on!. By the way, how many HP does the plane specs say they need? You might want to google some R.S. Hoover, or R. V. Hoover articles on the subject. 45 HP is a number that pops into my head. Jim in NC '72 super beetle owner {anyone wantto buy a car?) notice, no grin BOb, shut up! g ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Get a Corvair, dood. "Unsafe at any speed". - Ralph Nader? Barnyard BOb -- Barnyard BOb |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "dan" wrote in message ... Hi group Have found the aircraft of my dreams. Has a decent cruise , short take off and landings and a dependable VW engine. Am looking for anyone that has any knowledge of the Cygnet (name means young swan) or is interested in the aircraft. TldrgrDan Dependable and VW used in the same sentence? Huuuumm. IMHO, they are not reliable in an auto, let alone stuffed into an airplane, and making more HP than the heads can handle. The thing I always heard about VW engines was, "They are so easy to work on, anyone can do it." There might be a reason for that. They NEED to be worked on!. By the way, how many HP does the plane specs say they need? You might want to google some R.S. Hoover, or R. V. Hoover articles on the subject. 45 HP is a number that pops into my head. Jim in NC '72 super beetle owner {anyone wantto buy a car?) notice, no grin BOb, shut up! g |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
![]() "RU ok" wrote Get a Corvair, dood. "Unsafe at any speed". - Ralph Nader? Barnyard BOb -- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ chuckle - snort You REALLY know how to hurt a guy! Right to the heart! I expected nothing less. I've owned both. There is no question in my mind, as to which one I would trust my life. At the point of a knife. That is what it would take to get me behind a VW. And then there are two cycles. I'll not go there..... I am glad to see the one reply that has gone to the Jubaru. It still sounds like a sewing machine. :-o From what I hear, it seems reliable enough. Any Jubaru PIREPS out there? -- Jim in NC |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Wing in Ground Effect? | BllFs6 | Home Built | 10 | December 18th 03 05:11 AM |
Type of wing carrythrough? | Toks Desalu | Home Built | 0 | October 30th 03 08:35 PM |
Props and Wing Warping... was soaring vs. flaping | Wright1902Glider | Home Built | 0 | September 29th 03 03:40 PM |
Can someone explain wing loading? | Frederick Wilson | Home Built | 4 | September 10th 03 02:33 AM |
Wing Extensions | Jay | Home Built | 22 | July 27th 03 12:23 PM |