dogcatcher
Well-Known Member
there are several options of rigs powered by chainsaw motors.
FLYING BIKE!!
- Thread starter Jimmy Bloodmaker
- Start date
Bikeguy Joe
Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
I will only add from experience that
1.- You don't want a tiny prop buzzing at 5-8k rpm.
2.- You don't want to fly with anything that is "semi reliable".
3.- You NEED to learn about air science and structures/power ect before you "whip up a plane".
I will also add- you CAN build a safe, reliably powered plane for under 5 grand, and even less if you are resourceful.
2 hp bicycle engines from china are only good as the wheel chock of your plane for this application.
1.- You don't want a tiny prop buzzing at 5-8k rpm.
2.- You don't want to fly with anything that is "semi reliable".
3.- You NEED to learn about air science and structures/power ect before you "whip up a plane".
I will also add- you CAN build a safe, reliably powered plane for under 5 grand, and even less if you are resourceful.
2 hp bicycle engines from china are only good as the wheel chock of your plane for this application.
Bikeguy Joe
Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
Back in the day, those Lazair's with the twin "chainsaw" engines and tiny props were LOUD.
So was the Easy Riser fitted with a McCullough.
So was the Easy Riser fitted with a McCullough.
Bikeguy Joe
Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
I will tell you a secret of sorts- You can build a plane that will take you higher than you want to fall, and probably should be not flown higher than that for a couple hundred bucks.
Bikeguy Joe
Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
You can also build a plane that just the kit costs 68K, plus a prop, engine, avionics......250k anyone?
That's what I was doing before they laid me off (not due to covid)- building T-51 aircraft for people that bought kits, got in over their heads, and needed "assistance" from the factory.
That's what I was doing before they laid me off (not due to covid)- building T-51 aircraft for people that bought kits, got in over their heads, and needed "assistance" from the factory.
Tom from Rubicon
Well-Known Member
Nice job when you have it. Back in the 80's I built Eipper Qiucksilver MX's for customers with no mechanical skills and Reagan ara disposable income.
Tom
Tom
Bikeguy Joe
Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
I used to do a lot of part 103 work for people.
At one time I owned the prototype for this- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howland_H-3_Pegasus
It was crashed by Bert Howland, sold to an ultralight guy in southern Ohio, who re-built it, crashed it, then sold it to me for $200. I Asked the Howland people if they were interested in having it back (free), they said "no"....
I also had a Catto brothers weight shift flying wing with a mac 101 on it.
At one time I owned the prototype for this- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howland_H-3_Pegasus
It was crashed by Bert Howland, sold to an ultralight guy in southern Ohio, who re-built it, crashed it, then sold it to me for $200. I Asked the Howland people if they were interested in having it back (free), they said "no"....
I also had a Catto brothers weight shift flying wing with a mac 101 on it.
Tom from Rubicon
Well-Known Member
That Howland H-3 Pegasus experimental and the BD5 had very tight flight parameters. Buddy of mine actually made the down payment on a BD5 which was as far as he got. (He) Skip did get a pilot license and flew our two seat Demo Quicksilver.
We had one of the original Eipper weight shifts on our field a father son thing which was a regular visitor to the surrounding corn fields. My airfield boss was a pilot and owned a Mooney and somehow saw a profit opportunity in ultralights. His first UL was a Pterodactyl Ascender. better known as a terrordactyl. The one that was on TV showing the pilot being ejected from his seat from a series of whip stalls. That video killed UL's.
Tom
We had one of the original Eipper weight shifts on our field a father son thing which was a regular visitor to the surrounding corn fields. My airfield boss was a pilot and owned a Mooney and somehow saw a profit opportunity in ultralights. His first UL was a Pterodactyl Ascender. better known as a terrordactyl. The one that was on TV showing the pilot being ejected from his seat from a series of whip stalls. That video killed UL's.
Tom
Bikeguy Joe
Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
It sure didn't help things.....the new Sport Pilot administered the coup de gras.