Sometimes, even with the guidance of an ultralight airplane kit it could be a challenging task to build your airplane. Building and using your own ultralight airplane could be a daunting task if you’re not properly organized. Before you model your first airplane some you must make sure that you frame a proper action plan .The following article provides you with some basic tips to put to use while building your plane using an ultralight airplane kit. Keep in mins that the things below must be executed in order.

The first thing to do when using an ultralight airplane kit is to make a builder’s log used for keeping track of your building process.

We will need this because:

1. This documentation is needed to prove that you are responsible for building at least 50% of the ultralight airplane. This is a must in order to receive an ‘Amateur build airplane’ certificate.

2. In case of any claims on insurance policies this may prove useful to show them the worth of the plane. Also they could be useful while reselling your ultralight airplanes.

3. It is much useful for keeping a record of your project and track them more effectively and to find out exactly where you are

There are not any exact or correct formats for making the builder’s log when dealing with ultralight airplane kits. A 3 ring binder will do as long as there is enough space for pictures, recipts of purchased items,samples,dates on which you’ve worked and so on.

The most important thing to do when using an ultralight airplane kit is to have an technical inspector inspect the airplane after every major phase of building. The reports produced by the technical inspector should be written down or attached to the builder’s log.

You must make sure that you obtain an ‘N’ number for your plane and make sure you register it with FAA as early as you can.If you wish, you can make your own choice of numbers and the numbers will be such that an ‘N’ followed by 5 numbers. This step is a must before having an FFA inspector issue you with a certificate.

The Rotax is easily the most used engine in the ultralight flying machines. It is Australian built and an excellent efficiency throughout the range. It is also come to light that BMW has recently built an even better engine that produces one hundred and five horsepower at an attractive price, so it might be used instead.

The Rotax 447 being the starting model is a 40 horsepower, two stroke air cooled unit while the top of the line model is much better in stats. It is the four stroke Rotax914 turbo which produces a high end 115 horsepower with a water cooled unit.

The high speed and dual seat versions of the ultra light flying machines often have a two stroke or 4 stroke Rotax unit which is water cooled. The water cooling has an eminent advantage over the air cooled variant as the working temperature stays in a limit optimizing power, fuel efficiency and markedly reducing the carbon dioxide deposits on the inside walls of the engine chamber.

The Rotax ultralight flying machines have a problem in flying in a wide range of altitudes as they lack in even the basic adjustment options. They are usually calibrated for a particular altitude range and if they fly out of that then the engine efficiency drops considerably which makes it difficult to fly. So if the pilot decides to increase or decrease the flying height by more than three thousand feet then the engine temperature can’t be maintained at a specific value which leads to poor combustion and decreased throughput in terms of the power delivered to the fuel consumed. The engine chamber is coated with excess carbon dioxide which needs to be cleaned. For overcoming this, the carburetor needs to be opened to fix another size jets which is not a good option in the long run. A turbocharger can do much better.

The above problem could easily be resolved with a modification allowing the pilot to alter the fuel mixture. Obviously, the Rotax engineers must have this in mind but they left this out as for this plane is used for recreational purposes only and also training the pilots to use it would also be a problem.

The new BMW engine on the other hand may be an exciting prospect with computer monitored fuel injection that takes the responsibility of the pilot’s shoulder and provides adequate engine power at all altitudes.

]]> http://ultralightairplane.org/ultralight-flying-machines/feed/ 0 http://ultralightairplane.org/fly-an-ultralight-glider/ http://ultralightairplane.org/fly-an-ultralight-glider/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:04:54 +0000 karloz http://ultralightairplane.org/?p=71 Outdoor flying with ultralight gliders is a fun and exciting experience. Ultralight gliders offer a good flying experience at a cheap cost when compared to other normal gliders.

Neil Armstrong the first man to make his steps on the moon said that “Gliders, sail planes, they’re wonderful flying machines. It’s the closet you can come to being a bird.”

Of course he wasn’t wrong. An ultralight glider is similar to an airplane but the only difference is that they don’t need power to fly except when taking off the ground.

The first thing to understand would be that there are both the sailplanes and ultralight gliders, which are the same basically but, it’s just that gliders sometimes hold a small electric motor.

Also an ultralight glider needs more space to make a turn and also they turn and move pretty slower. This is a drawback when it comes to gliding experts but at the same time it is a proven advantage for beginners which allows them to practice quite efficiently. So an ultralight glider is the best for beginners, but for people willing to have a better gliding experience there is not so much fun.

When purchasing an ultralight glider, two things must be considered; whether it is a powered one or a non-powered. The major difference between powered and non-powered is that powered ultralight gliders have motors within them for steering or to say in a better way propelling, whereas the non-powered ones doesn’t. As a personal recommendation it’d be better to take up a non-powered one as a powered ultralight glider takes the basic purpose of a glider i.e: to glide itself.

Non-powered ultralight gliders are guided by air currents whereas powered gliders are initially triggered on by an electric motor and after it reaches some level of height the motors could be turned off and it acts as a real glider. If it drops in height then again the motors could be turned on to reach the desired height and turned off again.

The glider prices are more or less same of that of an ultralight airplane, but its still more cheaper as it uses no fuel. The only problem with ultralight gliders is that they need to be carried on to some airports for launching but this problem could be overcome by the use of a powered ultralight glider.

Just do remember that, when buying an ultralight glider make sure it comes with all the necessary components, and also see what’s not included in it. Make sure that you buy a kit that is ready to make you and your glider fly.

Building your own ultralight airplane can be fun and exciting provided, there is proper dedication and hard work. Apart from this, the first requirement in building an airplane is to possess some good ultralight aircraft plans. However , with so much of ultralight plans available in the market choosing a good one can be quite confusing. One of the necessary steps to carry on is to make a list features of what you wish your ultralight plane to be.

Getting this list ready earlier will get you the best experience possible.

Some of the features to make a list include:

• Difficulty level

• Speeds

• Climbing rate

• Height of sealing

• Noise level

• Handling

• Seating

• Visibility

It is also necessary to compose two more lists while using ultralight aircraft plans in order to get the best outcome possible and to make the work easier. One of the lists here will look similar to the first list, but it’d be more specific including items as 50 pound baggage capacity if you’re planning to do a lot of travelling. So finally it’s better to list down all the practical steps involved in making the plane as:

• The total cost after making the plane

• How soon can you finish the project

• Will the costs of maintenance be affordable

Once you complete all the three lists, give them some time to show results. Throughout the process of making your ultralight aircraft go through them and make any necessary changes. Once you have those lists perfected its time to look for some ultralight aircraft plans. During this process it is essential that you go through the lists and cancel out everything that doesn’t fit your plane. To get better, it is good to combine the first two lists and then put them in the order of their importance.

Many men today want to fly high in the sky and have some sort of thrills, but they could only dream flying because of the lack of money for buying an ultralight aircrafts or gliders.But if you knew you can have a ride with your own ultralight airplane for a few thousand dollars and a few days of work won’t your dreams come true?

An ultralight flying trike would be one of the most funny and exciting things to make your dreams come true and get engaged. Building an ultralight flying trike doesn’t need a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. Just people like you and me are building ultralight flying trikes everyday. And yes, they do fly on them!

So here is a step by step guide on how to build your own flying ultralight trike,

Step 1:Purchasing Construction plans for your flying glider

Construction plans can be purchased online for a few hundred dollars in a downloadable (pdf) format. While buying a construction plan make sure it has all the materials needed listed clearly.Also it is preferred to buy plans with full sized drawings which avoids unnecessary complications. Always make sure you’re buying plans from reputed buyers and take special care to stay away from online scammers.

Step 2: It is better to begin with a Partial Kit

Some companies offer you with some kind of partial kits for your flying trikes. Starting from this scratch is easier than to do everything by yourself. Also the partial kits are much cheaper than the complete ones.If you don’t like the partial kits after you try them you can just continue building your flying trike without any kits. Buying a partial kit is a fantastic way to gain some insight to buid a flying trike. Some companies also provide online and phone support.

Step 3: Time required to build a flying trike

With a skillful set of hands in airplane building it wouldn’t go more than 1600-1900 hours if the ultralight flying trike is started from a scratch.If you are not a that much so called expert then it could add another 500-600 hours which makes the total time required to build a flying trike as 2500-2600 hours.

If you don’t have that much of time to spend and want things to run faster it’s better to buy a kit. The kit will do its work within 200-300 hours, and if you’re of much expertise then you could easily finish your flying trike within 150-200 hours.

Don’t just keep on thinking. The first step to fly is to decide to fly(did I say that?).Just make a decision now and better purchase a kit and start flying really but not in your dreams.

The definition of a homebuilt helicopter in United States differs from that used in the European countries and thus, the regulation code applied is different. The following attributes are used in the United States:

• Comprised of a single seat.

• Major use of sports and recreation.

• The weight shouldn’t be more than 155 pounds.

The best part about flying a homebuilt helicopter is the freedom from any kind of licenses or certificates. You do not need to meet airworthiness certification requirements or earn any such certificates. There are no age restrictions or restrictions based on knowledge or experience for flying these homebuilt helicopters. No registration or registration markings are required for such homebuilt helicopters and training is not necessary too. However, professional training is considered important for your own safety and security while flying such homebuilt helicopters.

Leniency in registration and regulations surrounding such homebuilt helicopters doesn’t mean that there are absolutely no guidelines listed for them. You can only fly them during daylight or twilight, if you have an anti-collision light installed. Furthermore, you are not allowed to fly them over congested places or open air assembly. Also, there can be a relaxation in terms of the weight if your helicopter has two seats.

Another important factor comes into being if you are purchasing a homebuilt helicopter for sale, you should be a licensed mechanic who can take care of the repairs, issues and maintenance of such crafts. Little cost and risk is involved if you are handling your own homebuilt helicopter and this also sharpens your skill of handling an experimental aircraft.

How dangerous does it seem actually?

Just have a look at what can happen:

1. Your plane may get involved in a mid air crash with another plane.

2. The body may breakdown.

3. Engine failure.

The entire above are considered one by one as below:

1. You can hit (or be hit by) another aircraft.

This will be fatal in most cases. There was a case of a Cessna light aircraft which bumped into the back of a microlight wing. The microlight helicopter pilot lived to tell the tale while the Cessna light aircraft’s pilot died on the spot. Although it can’t be considered as a sample to draw a conclusion but still says that not all accidents are fatal. But still, your mind will say that the odds of you surviving a mid air collision are astronomical. You might also ponder upon the fact that the sky is big and vast and the pilots go through intensive training before flying one aircraft. Feel a lot safer now, do you?

2. The microlight airplane can fall to bits in some way

There is always a possibility that the planes crack up or develop a minor snag. This will lead to an uncontrolled fall with death a looming possibility. This is the reason why the standards for microlight airplanes maintenance have been set high by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK. The Microlight Airplanes have to pass through stringent and regular inspections so that they are safe. Pilots are also instructed and taught to inspect the plane before flight. Most of the problems can be eradicated with a thorough visual inspection (like a frayed wire).

The bits which are of critical importance like the ‘hang-bolt’ always have a standby arrangement. Although, the odds of it failing maybe miniscule, there is always a secondary strap holding the Trike and the wing together until the plane lands.

3. The engine can pack up

It’s the worst nightmare of a pilot but still doesn’t mean that you have no option. After all, your plane is as good as a glider so a good pilot will always try to make a emergency landing in a nearby makeshift airstrip. A considerable portion of the pilot’s training is to learn landing with engines off or the ‘glide approach’. So you can bet on the pilot’s skills to land the aircraft safely at a landing site which is in close proximity.

They also could be broken down into a center hull like structure or float similar to the lotus mono hull and the two float system.

The Mono – Float systems – These ultralight floats are designed to land and take off on a center float, and to help in cross wind conditions it’s been provided with two sponsors.

The pilot sits in his plane and above the float in a ‘Mono-Float’ system whereas in a amphibious gear he is really above the float. When the plane lands on water it floats on the center hull and could tip in one of the ways depending on the weather condition.

The land plane, a two float system has been adopted to handle floats. For ultralight floats there are a variety of styles available in the market, from several manufacturers. The Full lotus two float system for ultralight floats are available in two sizes. The main benefits this system provides are strength, durability, light weight and hence easier to ship, easier maintenance and low maintenance costs. Both straight and amphibious ultralight floats are available.

The main problem faced by the full lotus system, is the leaky or ruptured bags due to stall landings or improper inflation. Another problem is water in the bladders.

The second type of ultralight floats is the fiber glass float. Puddle Jumper is one of the largest manufacturers of ultralight fiber glass floats. They are similar in weight to full lotus structure and come pre-built, ready to install, and with amphibious gear. These floats have some advantages over the full lotus float system.

The main problem with this is the less strength and durability of the float which makes the ultralight floats to crack at the point of joining of the two halves.

The third type of float is the aluminum float. Some of the manufacturers in the market offer kits for aluminum float. It takes around 200-300 hours to build an ultralight float from kits. They are very light, aerodynamic and because they are kit build they cost much lower which is affordable for everyone.

]]> http://ultralightairplane.org/an-introduction-to-ultralight-floats/feed/ 0 http://ultralightairplane.org/ultralight-seaplane/ http://ultralightairplane.org/ultralight-seaplane/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:48:46 +0000 karloz http://ultralightairplane.org/?p=26 There are different types and names of the ultralight aircrafts which are better known as – the Ultralight Seaplanes. Have questions about what’s so great about them?

Just try to visualize yourself in a situation in which you had both an airplane and a boat (or you already own them both). Assuming that you are from Montana and need to travel to Idaho Lake for fishing, you’ll have a choice between the plane and the boat. To get your boat may seem impossible to many. So why not take both?

Ultralight Seaplanes – Easy Flying, Easy Sailing

Basically, ultralight seaplanes can both take-off and land on water. Some of them also have the ability to do it on land as well. There are two main types of ultralight seaplanes which are described as below:

• Ultralight Amphibians – These are those types which have the technology to be able to be used in the lake and also on land (for a race). With the help of the pontoons they can easily land in shallow as well as deep water and can also sail easily as they are small in size. Resembling the airplanes in appearance they are also known as the floorplanes.

• Flying Boats (or Floats) – These don’t have a pontoon like the amphibians and rely on the fuselage to land as a result of which most of them can only land and take off from water. They are cheaper and normally have a flexible wing design rather than a rigid one.

• Cost of Ultralight Seaplanes

The comparatively lighter seaplanes can cost a fortune with offers up to $75,000 as they are under the category of LSA (light sports aircraft), so being the high cost. On the other side the ultralight amphibians can be yours in the range of $8000 to $15000(for second hand and new). A new floatplane may cost you up to $20,000 but still cheaper than a seaplane for a good reason.

Websites will offer you creative and exciting options like “do-it-yourself” fans which may interest you if you are that person who wants to take control of things and customize a bit. The people who sell these ultralight seaplanes change often so it is advisable that you use your search engine to good effect to get the best deal. Try searching ultralight seaplane plans, ultralight floatplane plans or just ultralight planes.

The first thing which you need to do when you are selling a gyrocopter is listing it so that you can find potential buyers. Researching the sale price is another important activity which needs to be carried out. You should understand the working behind the market pricing and decide your price based on the information. A good price usually means a quick sale but that doesn’t mean that you can almost give it away as a freebie.

Listing Price

There are quite a few things which affect the pricing of gyrocopters and they can be market conditions like seasons etc. And, quite obviously, the current economic condition also affects these prices. A good listing for the gyrocopter sale would mean including both the internet and the classic listing methods. You can use social networking sites, free online classified, enthusiast forums for gyrocopters or you can even bring up a website for selling the gyrocopters.

Overview of the Gyrocopter

Any smart seller would want his gyrocopter to be in pristine condition when he is putting it up for sale. You should get the gyrocopter inspected by a qualified mechanic before putting it up for sale. Since safety is really important in used gyrocopters, you should get the smallest of the parts checked for any flaw. You need not offer a warranty but you need to list down if there is any flawed equipment, with a possible price reduction. You can even get the issues repaired before listing it for sale, whichever way it suits you. A gyrocopter sale isn’t like a car sale because the safety issues related to faulty equipment are much severe than car ones.

Potential Offers and Finance

After you have listed the gyrocopter for sale, there are a few things which you need to be aware of. First, there might be some buyers who are interested in the gyrocopter but cannot arrange the money for buying it. You shouldn’t hold on to such offers for long as they may lead to rejection of other good customers. Secondly, you might want to consider a deposit or some commitment through monetary means before holding out for the buyer.

Payment and Important Documents

For carrying out a good sale, you need to be transparent in terms of the gyrocopter. You should be open to any discussions related to the gyrocopter or even an inspection by the buyer’s mechanic. Usually, a successful inspection usually results in a sale of the gyrocopter since most serious buyers want to check if the aircraft is worth the money or not, through their own credible source. Apart from the payment issues, you should also be professional about the timely transfer of ownership to the buyer. Good customer service, healthy interaction and service to the buyers usually brings good results and successful sales of gyrocopters.