Next project

[RubberFrog]

Re: Next project

If you're going to do it, do it BIG! I'm thinking trans-atlantic for the maiden voyage!

 

[jay.robinson15]

Re: Next project

That would be ridiculous. I would love to see someone build it though.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Next project

So you're saying... Spruce Goose 2 ?

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Next project

Better yet-
Spruce Deuce Bigalow!

 

[oops!]

Re: Next project

Let me ask just one question. In airplanes they dont use the same ingnition system as say a car or lawn mower...Do you know why and what the main differance is ?

sarge i think farlaine was referring to the split master switich. and why they use it....

btw.....mythbusters did a spot on a flying machine......they found a really light high hp motor......google it.....but id want around 130....depends on what type of wing you build....

if yer gonna do it....im behind ya bud....will give ya all i can.....but please at least take a ground school course before you strap your self in......

introductory flights.....are cheap.....75 bucks each....take one at one airport..with one school...another at another school.....

introductory flights are there to hook you into pilots lessons....kinda like givin ya a free stay at a resort if you go to the time share pitch!

cheers bud
oops

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Next project

If I take some time off from school between degrees, I could conceivably go to work at a small airport on my days off from my regular job to pay for flight training... then my wife wouldn't even have to know I shelled out the cash for a pilots liscense until next year's tax returns.

Of course, if I were to do that, then I would want to build an FAA acceptable plane so I could log some flight hours and become a flight instructor on the weekends myself, which I've wanted to do for a while. But then that kinda makes this whole project pointless, as it would almost certainly be cheaper to just buy a plane.

But then I don't get that, "hey look, some average guy just built his own working plane without any formal aeronautical engineering background, and for less than 5 grand" (I'm actually aiming for less than 3 grand, but I'll be happy with less than 5) thing.

 

[EMM]

Re: Next project

Most piston engine airplanes use a dual magneto for igniton. This is in case the altenator of generator goes out the engine will not quit. You can also loose one of the magnetos and it will continue to run.

 

[DJ]

Re: Next project

When I was a kid, I built a hovercraft from PM (Popular Mechanics) plans. It flew but misearbly. No control and it would JUST clear the curb at the end of the driveway. But, hey, it flew.

Thank God I was only 14" off the ground.

I don't like to squash peoples dreams, especially when they are on the "cutting edge" of something new.

But......"thrifting" old ideas only leads to disaster.

There are reasons that airplanes are built they way they are. We've got about 100 years of experimentation behind us-thank God.

Unless you can get one to fly, without conventional power, you are on the top of the "Darwin Awards" potential list.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Next project

Sarge, I do have a great deal of background and experience both in aviation in general, and as an aviator. That said, I'm going to be blunt - if you go about this in the way that you seem to be intent on doing, you stand an extremely good chance of killing yourself.

Now, if you told me that you wanted to take at least enough flight training to get a recreational pilots license, and that you thought you might shop for some plans to build a professionaly designed homebuilt aircraft, I would say "go for it."

The problem with your plan, aside from being totally unqualified to fly an aircraft alone, much less become its test pilot, is that you know nothing of thousands of small details that factor into aircraft design. I'm not even going to offer a short list of those things because it isn't a short list - there are just so many things that will get you in trouble with respect to trying to design and build something such as an airplane.

Do yourself a favor, join EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) and begin to learn about the homebuilt aircraft hobby. Once you do, you will quickly realize that you are trying to bite off more than you can chew. You will also realize that there are much better ways to pursue the dream of building an experimental aircraft.