Bear with me for a sec as I explain some free association....
Mike Sandlin's Bloop motorfloater + De Schelde Scheldemusch pusher biplane + MS.660 kitplane designed to be built on a 2 m x 1 m kitchen table = LIGHT BULB!
The pusher biplane configuration lends itself well to designing a plane as a series of relatively small, managable subassemblies themselves made up of small components. No long wing spars or longerons, just short spars, struts, etc. This makes it easy to build in a spare room or other small workshop. There is even the potential of keeping all the components short enough for easy shipping through ordinary parcel service, not freight, to allow a kit to be shipped almost anywhere in the world.
I have in mind an 1835cc VW-powered single-seater of fabric-covered, bolted aluminum tubes: the aesthetic would be something like an updated and cleaned-up Scheldemusch and the performance would be in the microlight category rather than Sandlin's motorfloater. It would be handy to make the tail a simple three-tube triangulated affair that can be unbolted to leave the rest to fit on a trailer sideways when necessary, no need to fold or remove the wings. Classic VW designs--Clutton FRED, Stewart Headwind, Flaglor Sky Scooter--give us an idea of the modest performance to expect.
With careful design and a 2100cc VW engine it would even be possible to make it a two-seater, perhaps motorcycle-style like the Buddy Baby Lakes or cozy side-by-side like the Volksplane II. Four 8' x 3' wing panels plus a 2' span upper wing center section and lower fuselage make 108 sq ft, or 10 sq ft more than the Sonex. I would use a high-lift airfoil so, combined with the draggy airframe, speed would be quite a bit less though STOL performance would be better.
What do you think? Would there be any interest in such a design emphasing low cost, ease of building and minimal building space required rather than racy good looks or high speed? If yes, which one tickles your fancy, the single- or two-seater?
Let's hear your thoughts--I have my flameproof underwear on!
Cheers,
Matthew
Mike Sandlin's Bloop motorfloater + De Schelde Scheldemusch pusher biplane + MS.660 kitplane designed to be built on a 2 m x 1 m kitchen table = LIGHT BULB!
The pusher biplane configuration lends itself well to designing a plane as a series of relatively small, managable subassemblies themselves made up of small components. No long wing spars or longerons, just short spars, struts, etc. This makes it easy to build in a spare room or other small workshop. There is even the potential of keeping all the components short enough for easy shipping through ordinary parcel service, not freight, to allow a kit to be shipped almost anywhere in the world.
I have in mind an 1835cc VW-powered single-seater of fabric-covered, bolted aluminum tubes: the aesthetic would be something like an updated and cleaned-up Scheldemusch and the performance would be in the microlight category rather than Sandlin's motorfloater. It would be handy to make the tail a simple three-tube triangulated affair that can be unbolted to leave the rest to fit on a trailer sideways when necessary, no need to fold or remove the wings. Classic VW designs--Clutton FRED, Stewart Headwind, Flaglor Sky Scooter--give us an idea of the modest performance to expect.
With careful design and a 2100cc VW engine it would even be possible to make it a two-seater, perhaps motorcycle-style like the Buddy Baby Lakes or cozy side-by-side like the Volksplane II. Four 8' x 3' wing panels plus a 2' span upper wing center section and lower fuselage make 108 sq ft, or 10 sq ft more than the Sonex. I would use a high-lift airfoil so, combined with the draggy airframe, speed would be quite a bit less though STOL performance would be better.
What do you think? Would there be any interest in such a design emphasing low cost, ease of building and minimal building space required rather than racy good looks or high speed? If yes, which one tickles your fancy, the single- or two-seater?
Let's hear your thoughts--I have my flameproof underwear on!
Cheers,
Matthew