Contemporary 3-axis primer

zaitcev

zaitcev

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Pete Zaitcev
I was looking into small experimentals recently, with an idea to fly over a remote area from a base camp. So, I envisioned something that is trailerable, yet with 3-axis control. But I have no idea what is possible and/or available.

Searching the Internet cold yields a lot of opinions, some folks even saying that "3-axis never was legal" and so on. I have no idea whom to believe, and I would appreciate if someone pointed me towards a trustworthy write-up or a primer about ultralights.
 
zaitcev said:
I was looking into small experimentals recently, with an idea to fly over a remote area from a base camp. So, I envisioned something that is trailerable, yet with 3-axis control. But I have no idea what is possible and/or available.

Searching the Internet cold yields a lot of opinions, some folks even saying that "3-axis never was legal" and so on. I have no idea whom to believe, and I would appreciate if someone pointed me towards a trustworthy write-up or a primer about ultralights.
Click to expand...

Part 103 limits you on weight / fuel / seats (1) - not on control type.

Interestingly enough, the Avid Flyer was designed in response for an "ultralight". The designer observed what a PITA most folding mechanisms were and came up with a real nice wing folding design - but he missed the ultralight limits and landed right in the middle of what is now Light Sport. The original Kitfox was pretty much a clone of the Avid Flyer and has the same wing folding capability. You might want to look into one of those for an easy trailer, two place, three axis aircraft.
 
I looked into A220, Cheetah, and the like. The problem is, they are far too much airplane for the application. This leads to two big problems: cost and size.

Cost is from 5 to 10 times greater than what I would like to find (ideally I'm shooting at something $10k or even below, if that is realistic -- used of course).

Size is a problem because I would like to use a 2500 lbs trailer (gross -- tow rating of my jeep). However, every one of those LSAs require a 24 ft trailer. Although the airplane only weighs 700 pounds, any trailer big enough to carry it weighs... well, more than 1500. Adding a few things makes for a problem. Also, I need a limited trail capability.

So I was thinking about something open-seat, and as light as possible. Henning once made noises that one can teach himself to fly Quicksilver MX... if I recall correctly. I am a fresh private pilot, and I know basics, but I have some doubts about survivability of self-teaching course.

On the other hand, I knew a gentleman, Mr. Earl Miller, who flew a P-47 in 1940s for U.S. Army. He said that a senior officer climbed on the wing with him, instructed him about controls, and said, "ok, now go". And so off he went, in a 1000hp+ taildragger. The problem is, I'm not Earl Miller, so...
 
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camp near a lake

icona5_folded_0608_600.jpg
 
Loss of medical made me look at the problem with reviewed focus, and I found some interesting things.

The most interesting is Culverprops Backyard Flyer (culverprops.com). It is very much intended to fit a 24-ft v-nose trailer when folded, and its swing-wing mechanism is rather intriguing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fzu1nH_vAU
http://culverprops.com/back-yard-ul.php
The only downside is, it's not a widely proven design. I think something about 20 are flying. There's no kit, only ready-to-fly product. The two old gentlemen who make them may not even have any plans :)

I knew about Kolb Firefly before. It is well-proven and needs no introduction. The downside is the weight, which makes it very borderline legal, and also I think there's no ready-to-fly version.
http://www.kolbaircraft.com/firefly.htm

Belite makes a heavily revised Kitfox, which they claim to pass under 254 lbs. The airplane looks amazing, and I'd really like to know if they speake the truth. RTF version is supposedly available.
http://www.beliteaircraft.com/ultralight-aircrafts/

Other than that, the usual suspects of Challenger, CGS Hawk, and perhaps Gull 2k. Quicksilver and Breese are space-frame designs, which I do not like. And various exotics like Mini Max are either unaffordable, too hard to build, and both.
 
Have you looked at the Team Air Bike? I am building one to fly to the airport from home. There is the Legal Eagle as well. Either one takes only 20 minutes to remove the wings.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Ultralight advisory circular

FWIW, Most of the trailers that I have seen under Avid Flyers / Kitfox are not big long flatbed trailers. Lightweight trailers more like modified boat trailers are common.

Like this:
http://barnstormers.com/listing_images.php?id=549898&ZOOM=a835ab73b7a0c00246237680f01d970e

or

http://barnstormers.com/listing_images.php?id=547762&ZOOM=bbabd75004b82c2dce8eef25832ad3c9
Click to expand...

Motorcycle trailers convert for small plane use as well.
 
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