oriol
Well-Known Member
Hi!
I am a big fan of free flight, but powered flight is much more practical. The more I read about structures, the more I feel tempted to buy a second hand parafan frame, recycle the engine and build a wheeled tricycle frame. It does not seem too complicated, from the building point of view, to design and build, a frame for both a pendular and a parafan aircraft.
Some people carry a parafan unfolded in a trailer. Another option, is to disassemble the frame, and carry it on an average car trunk. To achieve this small miracle, the most straightforward option seem to be that of using wing nuts.
Using wing nuts, and a cotter pin to avoid, at least, that the nut falls. Seem to be an option used by some manufacturers. What do you think about wing nuts and cotter pins for securing a powered frame? This is not something you will find, in a certified aircraft at all. I assume that the engine, is secured by self locking nuts?
Albeit it is a bit hard, to tell from the picture below. The nose wheel, seem to be connected with the frame using wing nuts. I do not know how long it takes to disassemble the full frame? But the resulting sizes might allow to fit the frame in a car trike. The geometry seem about right to achieve that. Given that no matter what, you still have to drive to the airstrip. It might be a good deal, to store the wing folded, which is very annoying to carry, and the charriot mounted on a hangar, for less money than the average aircraft.
Any inputs welcome!
Cheers,
Oriol
I am a big fan of free flight, but powered flight is much more practical. The more I read about structures, the more I feel tempted to buy a second hand parafan frame, recycle the engine and build a wheeled tricycle frame. It does not seem too complicated, from the building point of view, to design and build, a frame for both a pendular and a parafan aircraft.
Some people carry a parafan unfolded in a trailer. Another option, is to disassemble the frame, and carry it on an average car trunk. To achieve this small miracle, the most straightforward option seem to be that of using wing nuts.
Using wing nuts, and a cotter pin to avoid, at least, that the nut falls. Seem to be an option used by some manufacturers. What do you think about wing nuts and cotter pins for securing a powered frame? This is not something you will find, in a certified aircraft at all. I assume that the engine, is secured by self locking nuts?
Albeit it is a bit hard, to tell from the picture below. The nose wheel, seem to be connected with the frame using wing nuts. I do not know how long it takes to disassemble the full frame? But the resulting sizes might allow to fit the frame in a car trike. The geometry seem about right to achieve that. Given that no matter what, you still have to drive to the airstrip. It might be a good deal, to store the wing folded, which is very annoying to carry, and the charriot mounted on a hangar, for less money than the average aircraft.
Any inputs welcome!
Cheers,
Oriol
