Tail Dragger

[VonMessa]

And who said the guy wasn't going to inspect it?


From talking with him he seems to have learned from his first mistake and plans to be much safer in the future.




Todd

He promised you could try it, didn't he?           

 

[Yossarian]

And who said the guy wasn't going to inspect it?

Do you mean 'inspect', as in do it himself, or 'have it inspected', i.e. by someone else?

Motorbikes AFAIK don't suffer from airframe stress the way planes do.

[2Niner]

If it is a mini-max the VNE on that plane is 100 mph. but the Cruise speed with the 447 rotax is about 65mph with a max speed of approx. 75 mph.

As for the inspection he will need a A@P mechanic with substantial knowledge in wood built aircraft kits.  thats if he can find one to even touch it.

[MORAY37]

I support any attempt to remove stupidity from the genetic pool.

I support him flying whatever he wants, if he flew it in a 2 mile box with no one else close to him.

I do not support another moron hillbilly redneck putting sane people at risk, purple heart x2 or not.  It's laughable to use Orville and Wilbur Wright in defense of this moron....anyone who trivializes a potential flying weapon piloted by this moron as acceptable, might as well just give loaded shotguns to teenagers without teaching them responsible gun ownership. 

Oh yeah, Ripchord already does that.  Nevermind.    Only a disgusting person laughs at a person put in a wheelchair by stupidity in the way he did.  What an idiot.

[MORAY37]

LOL Serenity, You sound like somebody I knew once, long ago.. He was an Schoolboy Butterbar too, still drippin with oil.. One night, some 35 odd yrs ago, he ran his arrogant flappin mouth to the wrong group of drunk Marines..  The poor selfimpressed boy was stuffed inside a barrack wall locker, and then the locker was thrown out a 3rd story window... I had to testify at the court marshal!
LOL, I still laugh about that, LOL!  You may be mighty impressed with yourself right now, but you've still got alot to learn kiddo!
There are ppl out there in the big bad world, who will gladly remind you of your place in life..  Carefull, 3 stories is a long way down from your exalted perch in your "realm", lol!  Oh yes, by the way, he didn't die, but I wonder if he is still enjoying his wheelchair life..



RC

Simply disgusting.  

[RipChord929]

  I'm enjoying being the devils advocate for the guy with the "plane"..

Some things go without saying, like I already listed earlier, weather, wind and whatnot.. And of course I would approach the whole issue with a methodical series of steps.. I am a risk taker, but I'm not insane!  LOL, as a new toy, EVERY part would be checked out, just because I'D BE DIGGIN ON IT MAN!!! I'd repair what was broke, no prob, I have full facilities for most things, and a machine shop nearby for what I can't handle.. Everything would get tested before I actually tried to fly it.. I'd also check to make sure the balance point is within an acceptable range.. Don't want no ugly faceplant surprises, ya know...
Being as I live overlooking the Pac ocean, we have significant wind here.. Fairly often, we have steady 30-40mph winds straight from the west off the ocean.. Not good for trying to fly that thing!  Also, the 150+ foot trees, and the 300ft cliff down to the water, are not good either.. LOL, well the cliff would give me 300ft to figure out how it works, LOL!  Like those old B/W films, LOL!  
But, the wind might be good for some tethered testing, and I think I would try that first.. Like a plate/eyelet attached at the prop flange bolts, and tethered to a 6ft steel post, adjust it up or down.. A 40mph wind should give a fair test, and with an anemometer (sp) you might actually discover the takeoff speed.. Handy thing to know!

What I really like about the idea, is the whole Wright brothers deal.. Nut and Bolts, backyard testing, and then actually flying the thing, with no formal training, virgin experience.. That would be awesome, and worth the risk!!!
I envy the opportunity he has, I'd do it too..  Hell yes
I seem to remember, that Glen Curtis made motorcycles before he made airplanes.. Hmmm, go figure

  ALL RC

[RTR]

Like I posted earlier, if that aircraft is what I think it is (from the mini max website), then it does not fall into the ultralight category in either Empty Weight or stabilized cruise speed.

It must be under 254 pounds and not cruise any faster in level flight than 55kts (that's about 63 mph folks). It must also have a power off stall speed of 24kts and below.

This thing probably needs a C of R, a C of A, and insurance. It also, if not in the ultralight category, requires someone with whatever currently passes for a pilot certificate in the U.S.

If he damages property, or more seriously, hurts or kills someone he will be paying for that mistake for the rest of his life.

So, other than saying you really ought to let him know what the Reg's are and where to find them, I am done with this thread.

RTR

[RichardDarkwood]

Like I posted earlier, if that aircraft is what I think it is (from the mini max website), then it does not fall into the ultralight category in either Empty Weight or stabilized cruise speed.

It must be under 254 pounds and not cruise any faster in level flight than 55kts (that's about 63 mph folks). It must also have a power off stall speed of 24kts and below.

This thing probably needs a C of R, a C of A, and insurance. It also, if not in the ultralight category, requires someone with whatever currently passes for a pilot certificate in the U.S.

If he damages property, or more seriously, hurts or kills someone he will be paying for that mistake for the rest of his life.

So, other than saying you really ought to let him know what the Reg's are and where to find them, I am done with this thread.

RTR

Well whether you think it's not an ultra-lite or it is one, the plane isn't required to have any ID#'s or a license to fly it.

The max speed is 100MPH but I seriously doubt that it will cruise at that speed, maybe as he is heading to the ground it might hit 100MPH




Todd

[Cougar68]

Rip, if you saw a guy out at the racetrack that was unsafe would you say something to him?  Even if he was going at it with a gung ho attitude?  Would you put yourself on the same track with him?

[Yossarian]

Well whether you think it's not an ultra-lite or it is one, the plane isn't required to have any ID#'s or a license to fly it.

The max speed is 100MPH but I seriously doubt that it will cruise at that speed, maybe as he is heading to the ground it might hit 100MPH




Todd

Did you even read what I posted earlier?

[RipChord929]

Rip, if you saw a guy out at the racetrack that was unsafe would you say something to him?  Even if he was going at it with a gung ho attitude?  Would you put yourself on the same track with him?

For some types of racing, and isolated events, you have to have an AMA racing licence.. Which means you have to show your licence when you sign in and pay your event entry fee(s).. I have an expert ticket, have since the 70s.. Event tech ppl go over the bikes in the line up, before they are allowed on the track.. But it depends on the event, and the sponsors.. I've raced on alot of outlaw tracks, where the standards are somewhat suspect yes, lol!  But thats cool too! Vintage races of all types are a gas, because you see all kinds of rare bikes, and cool contraptions, and the hyper anal AMA bozo's usually aren't around.. But yes, for bigger events, 1/2 mile, mile, and TT, Or MX races with LOTS of riders in the gate, there needs to be some kind of restriction... Things are just too fast and or dangerous for dinkin around..


  RC

[Vulcan]

Sometimes you just have to stand aside and let darwin do his handiwork.

[Simba]

"I doubt the plane is registered and probably has no insurance."

As if that makes any difference as to whether he can fly it safely or not. Rules were made for the obedience of idiots and the guidance of wise men, not to feed the FAA and insurance company fat-cats. Thank goodness the pioneers of manned flight didn't go with the po-faced doom-mongers or we'd still be flightless.

My advice to him is to write out his last will and testament and then find somewhere flat with a steady light breeze and no witnesses to hurt when he hits the deck. Then it's just his own neck he'll be risking.

   

[Cougar68]

For some types of racing, and isolated events, you have to have an AMA racing licence.. Which means you have to show your licence when you sign in and pay your event entry fee(s).. I have an expert ticket, have since the 70s.. Event tech ppl go over the bikes in the line up, before they are allowed on the track.. But it depends on the event, and the sponsors.. I've raced on alot of outlaw tracks, where the standards are somewhat suspect yes, lol!  But thats cool too! Vintage races of all types are a gas, because you see all kinds of rare bikes, and cool contraptions, and the hyper anal AMA bozo's usually aren't around.. But yes, for bigger events, 1/2 mile, mile, and TT, Or MX races with LOTS of riders in the gate, there needs to be some kind of restriction... Things are just too fast and or dangerous for dinkin around..


  RC

Do you not see any similarities between the danger of racing around other people without mechanical and proficiency checks and the same for aircraft?

[Cougar68]

"I doubt the plane is registered and probably has no insurance."

As if that makes any difference as to whether he can fly it safely or not. Rules were made for the obedience of idiots and the guidance of wise men, not to feed the FAA and insurance company fat-cats. Thank goodness the pioneers of manned flight didn't go with the po-faced doom-mongers or we'd still be flightless.

My advice to him is to write out his last will and testament and then find somewhere flat with a steady light breeze and no witnesses to hurt when he hits the deck. Then it's just his own neck he'll be risking.

   

Sure insurance won't help him fly it, but if he crashes into anything or anybody on the way down he and his family will be paying for it for the rest of their lives.  The pioneers of manned flight did what they did to advance civilization and show the world that flight is possible.  They had to risk their neck because their wasn't a trail to follow.  "Learn from the mistakes of others because you can't live long enough to make them all yourself." 

There is a HUGE community of aviators that would absolutely love to help this guy out.  To not seek the advice of experts in a situation where you know nothing and could end up dead is foolish.  And to top it all off, he's risking my right to fly while he's doing it.  Every time somebody goes up in one of those "dangerous little planes" and crashes into something they try to put more restrictions on aviation as a whole.