Need free ultralight plans, and guidance

I might be insane, what about a bicycle rim and tire? I know as a kid I've beat the crap out of my bmx bike. I had a set of aluminum rims with a plus sign four spoke design. They were very light and nearly indestructable. A 16" rim would bebop over some gopher holes too.

Originally Posted by xj35s

...A 16" rim would bebop over some gopher holes too.

True, but could it do it with a 250# load? Even a 'light' ultralight is pushing 500# once you put fuel and pilot on board. Many are over that.

Bike tires and rims are light and strong, but not usually that strong.

Many ultralights have used bicycle wheels. I don't know how they hold up.

-Dana

Never vote for a politician who has to borrow a gun to go duck hunting

Not well, from what little I've heard. A couple of the guys around the glider club had some of the early ultralights - Pterodactyl, etc. - that used BMX wheels. Apparently hub failures were relatively common. Of course, failures of all sorts were more common then...

Well, in my opinion it would like be commiting suicide to try and use bike wheels. I am barely 150, yet I went off a small jump, but the wheels broke. They are really fragile, and it would be like, would you trust your life with a peice of paper? Or would you rather trust your life with a rip-stop nylon parachute with a reserve? Thats just my opinion on it. Most of the things on an ultralight are there for structure. There isn't much nonstructural items you can put on an ultralight, and still have it bee an ultralight.

Mike

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Originally Posted by rtfm

First, plans are available for it at only about $100

NO plans available yet. Promised before July.

GeoB

Originally Posted by manicor

Hi, i'm searching for free ultralight plans that look like the plane below.

There is a plane, the Beaujon Enduro, that is similar to the plane you wanted. The plans have been given to the public by the author. You can get them at the following link. I think you have to join the TBUC forum 1st.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TBUC/f...m%20B.%20site/

I have attached a pic of a completed plane.

GeoB

It is difficult to build a legal U/L on a tight budget. Generally every time you try to save a buck, you'll be adding weight. And removing weight usually adds expense. Many designs are already right at the weight limit because they chose less expensive materials and simpler ways of connecting things.

Topaz is right, plans aren't really flexible. The designer had to resolve many structural and aerodynamic problems that might not be obvious. A qualified engineer would have to analyze any changes. For an U/L, weight has to take a very high priority. So compromises have been made... but only if safety is retained.

You might get the best bang for your buck by finding a used plane, plans, kit, or project on Barnstormers.com. Buying each part individually really adds up. So you'll come out way ahead if you buy a partially completed kit.

The engine is usually the biggest single expense, and the heaviest weight, and the source of most of your reliability problems. So spend some time researching engines. I don't know of any U/L engine that I would consider ideal. The twins tend to be too heavy. And the singles tend to vibrate too much and/or be too low powered and/or unreliable. And there's a gap of engines in the 28 to 40 Hp range, which is just what many U/Ls need. Most successful U/L pilots find an engine they can live with, and learn ways to deal with its issues.

Beware that many, if not most, U/Ls may not REALLY be legal, even if they claim they are. It takes an awful lot of wing area to pass the stall speed limit. But all that wing area tends to add expense and weight. So manufacturers tend to skimp on wing area. People who buy U/Ls generally want a lot of fun for their money. So designs often have good climb and roll rates, but fail to pass the weight, speed, or stall speed limits to accomplish that.

Many, if not most, U/Ls flying in this country are not completely legal in one way or another. Their pilots generally try to stay under the radar. The FAA still hasn't budgeted manpower to enforce Part 103 operations. Only a few isolated busts have been made. So there are wide differences in opinion about whether it's important to be completely legal.

Good luck with your project.

Originally Posted by GeoB

There is a plane, the Beaujon Enduro, that is similar to the plane you wanted. The plans have been given to the public by the author. You can get them at the following link. I think you have to join the TBUC forum 1st.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TBUC/f...m%20B.%20site/

I have attached a pic of a completed plane.

GeoB

Or you can get them from his website for free:

enduroindex.html

Originally Posted by xj35s

I might be insane, what about a bicycle rim and tire? I know as a kid I've beat the crap out of my bmx bike. I had a set of aluminum rims with a plus sign four spoke design. They were very light and nearly indestructable. A 16" rim would bebop over some gopher holes too.

Bicycle wheels are not exposed to high side loads and are, therefore, not designed to handle them... especially while supporting the weight of an aircraft.

Bruce

Originally Posted by Thudley

I've already opted for Azusalight wheels. Now to find the right size tundra-type tire.

Hi,
I've looked at the AZusalight wheels, and they are certainly within my budget - but what do you plan to do for brakes? It doesn't look as though these wheels come equipped with brakes - the cheapest wheel and brakes combo is the 5" Azusa Aluminum Wheel and Brake Kit for $176.30 That's a good price, but it does seem that the Azusalight wheels have no brakes. and this represents over $350 NZD...

I'm planning to raid the local bike wreckers to see if I can get a pair of schooter wheels complete with disk brakes. Don't know how much they weigh, but they will be a pretty neat package. And should be pretty cheap also. Well, less than $350 anyway...

Duncan

True U/Ls don't need brakes. They land so slow and have so little momentum, they don't roll very far. There are other ways to slow down if necessary, like drive off the runway onto the grass or kill the engine, or even drag your feet on some designs.

Your landing (stopping) distance over an obstacle is much more affected by air drag. So if you really need to be able to land on a small field, add air brakes or flaps with a lot of deflection. Prop drag helps a lot too, so keep the engine idling until after you touch down, then kill it if necessary.

With a tractor engine, you could carry a small parachute in a pouch that you could throw in an emergency to slow down, But you'll probably never need it. You can buy 'chutes of all sizes from hobby stores that specialize in high powered rocketry. A 4' diameter 'chute packs up into a wad about the size of your fist. With a pusher engine, you'd have to make sure the engine stopped completely before throwing the 'chute through the prop circle

With tail draggers, differential brakes are handy to aid turning. I tried Azusa brakes on my first design. They work okay until you get them hot and warp the drums, which is super easy to do since the drums are just stamped out of sheet metal.

Adding brakes adds weight. Many U/L designs that claim to make the weight limit, will only make the weight limit without brakes, and without a lot of other optional items, like electric start, electrical systems, many instruments, and comfort items for the pilot.

Remember that you can gain more performance with lighter weight than with any other modification. So don't look for more cool stuff to add to your U/L. Look for things you can do without. Less is more.

OK I get the point about microlights, slow stall, no brakes required, etc.

But my situation is a little different. My mission is: build the cheapest plane possible, in the shortest time possible.

Weight isn't an issue for me, since we have nothing like your Part 103 rule. I have up to 544kg to play with. Stall speed isn't an issue. The only things I am worrying about is cost, and build time.

What I have on the drawing board at the moment is a cookie-cutter "strongback" as the load-bearing airframe, a 170lb 100hp engine, and with the wing I've selected, a stall speed of 35kts, and (if the figures are to be believed) a pretty impressive climb rate and cruise speed.

I'm not setting out to design a fast plane, or a fancy plane. But speed is a product of the fact that I'm going to use an engine which produces about four time the required power. Just because I already have it. So it is what it is. And so I certainly do need brakes.

Sorry to hijack this thread. I'll move off to my own. Apologies.

Duncan

Originally Posted by mstull

True U/Ls don't need brakes. They land so slow and have so little momentum, they don't roll very far. There are other ways to slow down if necessary, like drive off the runway onto the grass or kill the engine, or even drag your feet on some designs.

When you fly from an airport with paved runways and taxiways as I do, brakes are necesary even for an ultralight. And, as you say they're a big aid for turning a taildragger.

-Dana

Chaste: why virgins run.