Aero Connections Magazine
Transcription
Aero Connections Magazine
2 Aero Connections Magazine “Share the Air” with ASC, supporting our Ultralight and Light-Sport communities. Contents FEATURES 4 Ultralights Return Jim Stephenson 8 Zigolo Motor Glider 9 Electrics are possible 11 SnF Volunteers Gary Furdel 12 Hiperlight 13 Glasair Merlin SLSA 15 Folker D7 8 MULA Denny Demeter DEPARTMENTS 04 From the Top Ultralights Return COVER PHOTO: BELITE CONTENTS PHOTO: BELTE TRUE PART 103 ULTRALIGHT HOT LINKS ABOUND IN THIS EDITION, they are highlight boxes when you cross them with your curser FOLLOW THEM TO NEW ADVENTURES. www.aerosports.org May 2015 3 FROM THE TOP President and CEO Jim Stephenson 269-209-1466 kimojim@aol.com Administrative Director Deb Stephenson 269-209-1466 oneasc@aol.com Ultralights Directors-at-Large Scott Southwell 269-420-1366 svsouthwell@hotmail.com Dave Froble 724-529-0450 davef@tsoft-inc.com Vernon Peckham 407-352-6037 Airshotalk@cfl.rr.com Club Wing (open) Design Wing Grant Smith 425-271-7464 cfig1467368@yahoo.com Fixed Wing Russ Miley 231-620-0083 flyingfun@comcast.net Flight Park Wing Gayle Boyer High 574-583-5566 gayleannhigh@yahoo.com Physically Challenged Wing Max Harth 812-659-2816 maxharth@yahoo.com Para Wing Gene Long 972-351-1851 gene@cdhomes.net Powered Para Glider Wing Mo Sheldon 602-692-7995 mo@airparamo.com Rotor Wing Robert Stark rgstark@brazosnet.com Soaring Wing (acting)Grant Smith 425-271-7464 cfig1467368@yahoo.com Trike Wing Scott Toland 323-664-6342 scott@ltd-aero.com Training Wing Rick Wolfe 269-683-1460 rickskyboy@rocketmail.com Return JIM STEPHENSON ASC PRESIDENT AND CEO Sun n Fun was a great time this year. There were many good times and fantastic volunteer help. Ultralights Returned in the strongest showing of the last five years. The gathering was a mix of 30% Airplanes, 50% Powered Paragliders and 20% Trikes, all true FAA FAR 103 ultralights. HOT LINK 4 HOT LINK John Moody was present and fathifully flew his 1978 era Eagle and Easy Riser. New this year was a display out of the museum, the CGS original protype from 1982. Chuck Slusarczyk is the forefather of modern ultralights. In a time when many where arguing foot launch or 210 lb weight limits, HOT LINK HOT LINK HOT LINK Aero Connections Magazine AERO CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE May-June 2015 Volume 18 No.3 AERO CONNECTIONS accepts free-lance material. All writers and photographers should e-mail inquiries to kimojim@aol.com or write to: Chuck brought out this example of forward thinking. With wheels, and no “bomb bay” doors to allow foot launch, Chuck ran straight up against the FAA thinking. In doing so he helped frame the rules that became Part 103. Several other notable ultralights were in attendance, Belite, Hiperlight, Zigolo and Aerolite 103 to mention a few. AERO CONNECTIONS Magazine 231 SW Bonanza Glen Lake City, FL 32025 Jim Stephenson Deb Stephenson TECHNICAL ADVISORS ASC 269-209-1466 E-Mail: Kimojim@aol.com www.aerosports.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Deb Stephenson E-Mail: oneasc@aol.com (269-209-1466) ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 269-209-1466 or AERO CONNECTIONS Magazine 231 SW Bonanza Glen Lake City, FL 32025 SUBSCRIPTIONS and Address changes to: Kimojim@aol.com or mail to: ASC 231 SW Bonanza Glen Lake City, FL 32025 HOT LINK HOT LINK www.aerosports.org HOT LINK HOT LINK HOT LINK HOT LINK May 2015 5 Belite takes best Commercial Ultralight Award 6 Aero Connections Magazine Zigolo Motor Glider in Gas and Electric The Zigolo motor glider is based on Michael Sam’s design from 10 years ago in California. They were free on the Internet. It was rendered in a 3D Cad program and adapted to one of the popular PPG engines. A very well engineered and reliable two-stroke engine. And going one step further, adapting electric power. motors made for market motors are too small. So to get the best possible performance and the lowest price, we created our own fully integrated motor controller, charger, battery system. These are beyond first-generation off-the-shelf motors and they work very well and they'll extremely quiet. Last year’s sample worked very really nice and smooth. Electric powered is so much more pleasurable than I would've ever imagined. The motor is theoretically capable of 75 hp for a shorter period of time. We govern it to 25 hp to do the take off and then throttled back down to about 8 to 11 hp for maintaining flight. It was much easier to avoid delays when you are trying to get in that 45 minute flight. The quiet in slow flight is so much more comfortable, smooth and quiet. Comfortable because I know it's going to keep running. First-generation Electric power on the single place was not only viable but very desirable for the access to quiet, smooth flight or the self launching to get thermals during the day. So where to from here? Off-the-shelf electronic components are not optimum electric Cost will be about $20,000 price for a complete kit including the electric motor, battery controller, propeller and everything up which includes the parachute. And, yes it meets true FAA Part 103 requirements. Aeromarine LSA Chip Erwin 262-408-0124 HOT LINK Electrics are PossibleDon Lineback Okay, what happened was that in the past 20 years I've been trying to design the best airplane possible. I really wanted something electric and I wanted to make electric work. After searching, like many other people, there is nothing to pick from. So I put all that on hold and decided to design a motor. We had the perfect battery and motor. They're both just as important and then go back to the airplane. We can meet any configuration, using a prismatic battery system. The battery design has an oldfashioned cylindrical basic cell. The company that produces the cells for us has never been www.aerosports.org able to cause a failure. The net inside the batteries is of the same chemistry. We took the steel casing off because they made them for non-weight sensitive applications. The steel was replaced with carbon/Kevlar. That makes the safest and lightest battery ever produced. We had to have the most efficient motor. We designed it to have two motors in one. That really increased our efficiency. I didn’t want the builder to have to mess with the electricity, finding parts, so the design is complete to provide everything from the key that starts it to the smart charger that takes care of the batteries and for the motor batteries everything ready to go. Don Lineback LINEBACK_C.E. May 2015 9 10 Aero Connections Magazine To the best area of volunteers at Sun ‘n Fun: To the best area of volunteers at Sun ‘n Fun: Well, I hope you have all had time to decompress. We’re all back to normal life again for another year. To sum it up, WE DID IT!!! The loss of Dave will not fade in our hearts, but because the show must go on, we all stepped up and did what we all know how to do, make Paradise City an awesome place to be. I thought that the week was going to be very difficult and trying, but I learned very quickly that with very little direction Paradise City Volunteers know there jobs and how to do them. While in my own learning curve with issues like the showers and porta potty placements, pump outs, vendor issues, I did my best to lead. It is my sincerest hope that all volunteers know their importance and value to our area. I did not get to learn all that I want to learn but that will come in time and allow me to be more ahead of the game as opposed to putting out fires. Every entity of Paradise City was managed well by the directors and we, the directors are only as good as all the volunteers make us. We had high praise from the Sun ‘n Fun Staff. We were highly praised publicly at the Ground Loop Party on Sunday evening, in fact “Lites” told everyone that Paradise City was his new favorite place at Sun ‘n Fun. He mentioned all the areas at Sun ‘n Fun but spent more time on us than any other area. “GO TEAM!” Both of the tributes we had for our volunteers past were a success and we will be building on that in the coming year. I had a blast participating in the parade on Sunday morning (We should have won), and also getting more intimate with all the jobs you all do on the north side of the runway. We are preparing our debrief and I welcome all volunteers to send me your cheers and www.aerosports.org jeers as well as your suggestions to begin our Plan for Improvement for 2016. No need to mention the showers, porta potties, and permanent power for the headquarters and tower, they have all been mentioned (that was a nice way to put it) to the staff in detail. I also welcome all comments about the Directors and myself. I hope that I have lived up to the leadership you expect and deserve. Special thanks to all the Directors and volunteers. I am very proud, honored, and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead such and incredible and diverse group of people. Let’s all keep in touch, cause that’s what families do and until then: May our lift exceed our weight, Our thrust transcend our drag. Following winds and blue skies Check out what Barbara did!! Photos: https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A4GfnH8t GucOIW Video: http://animoto.com/play/dr3gfEAcHgrDC5VH7ue bNQ Gary Furdell achcaman@msn.com May 2015 11 Hiperlight Ron Jones I bough the Hiperlight rights in 2002, establishing Thunderbird Aviation, with the intent of building and selling both the single place Hiperlight Ultralight and the two place version. be built for the Ultralight class. This also means more components will be available. For more information you can contact us at our office phone 586-212-5862 or email us at TbirdRJ@aol.com. Over the last several years we've been able to get them back up and running and even get some notice. Right now our main focus is going to be to toward the special light sport (SLSA) version of the two place. We are working now with the help of SAFE LLC. We should have the SLSA version out within the next 6 months, with only paperwork to complete on this tried and true ship. This will make it easier to buy and build with ELSA and SLSA options. The single and earlier “Guppy” versions will still 12 Aero Connections Magazine Merlin LSA Takes First Flight April 9, 2015 ~ Glasair Arlington, WA – After months of careful preparation, Glasair Aviation’s new light sport aircraft, Merlin, took its first flight through the skies above Arlington Municipal Airport Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Following detailed validation testing, including engine run-up, high-speed taxi, and ground roll lift off, the team at Glasair stood back and watched as Merlin departed the surface of runway 34 with test-pilot Grant Smith at the controls. The flight lasted fifty-seven minutes, as Smith took the plane through a full test flight profile that included validating the engine’s reliability, exploring flight control characteristics in flight and conducting standard flight maneuvers. www.aerosports.org “While nothing can replace the sheer wonder of witnessing the birth of a child, the introduction and maiden flight of a new airplane design is a close second!” Glasair Development Manager Ted Setzer said. “The ‘parents’ were all there to witness it, including the Glasair Aviation’s flight designer engineer, Chuck Hautamaki, and the entire Glasair May 2015 13 14 Aero Connections Magazine Darrell Porter and the Folder D7 Hi I'm here with Darrell Porter looking at this beautiful 1918 Folker D7. I want to let Darrell talk a little about the plane and its hand built guns.. The Folker D7 was build about 2 1/2 years ago and has 130 hours. I fly on a regular basis. It's an aerodrome ship out of Holden, Missouri I presently reside in Harrison Ville, Missouri. I built this one for airshows, a replacement airplane for my bigger one and I'm presently involved in making gas replica guns for the Aerodrome company. It's just a hobby for me and I love putting them on the ultralights guys with the light sport culture. I say these are bargains for the movies and just enjoy flying around making noise. These are www.aerosports.org simulator replica gunsthat are gas propane guns. They make a lot of noise for reenactments and in the movies. We perform at the all major shows here in the United States. This is the hundredth anniversary of the Air War of WW I. We went to Dayton Ohio for the hundredth year reunion for these aircraft. There were over 20 vantage reproduction replicas at the air show. We also plan to perform at the World War I reenactment in Newville, Pennsylvania. It's on the website under World War I reenactments. We'll see about 68 of our planes flying over battlefield engaging on a simulated HOT come back and ground support LINK ground attack. It is a lot of fun. May 2015 15 16 Aero Connections Magazine www.aerosports.org May 2015 17 May The Official Newsletter of the Michigan Ultralight Association Visit us at www.michiganultralight.com Volume 27, Issue 5 What’s Inside This Month FEARLESS LEADER . . . . . Goose Encounter . . . . . . . CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . CALENDAR of EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 2 . . . . . . . . . Pg. 3 . . . . . . . . . Pg. 7 . . . . . . . . . Pg. 8 2015 100+ pilots attended the MULA / Lapeer Aviation sponsored Annual Safety Seminar held at DuPont Lapeer Airport! A word from the... FEARLESS LEADER aerograf@lentel.com • 989-708-7104 • Denny Demeter The FLY-IN Season is upon us! The 2015 Annual MULA Safety Seminar was a big success! There were over 100 pilots in attendance, with over 80 of those registering for FAA WINGS Points. Fun at the Seminar! A HUGE thanks to our sponsors: • Lapeer Aviation • Hayes Aero • Great Sails, Inc. & Mich. Sport Pilot Repair • AVGRAFIX • WICKS AIRCRAFT SUPPLY • IRWIN INTERNATIONAL (A/C Spruce) • EAA Chapter 1303 Lapeer • Jeanne Brubaker, who’s work and dedication to procuring door prizes for the seminar, and coordinating with Betty at Lapeer Aviation made the seminar possible! We had a huge table full of free give-aways as well as some awesome door prizes and TWO aviation headsets to raffle. This event grows substantially every year. We had a few minor snafu’s which were quickly remedied by the fast action of volunteers and sponsors. As we continue to sponsor this event, we will get better and better at it. Lunch being served at the Seminar 2 Goose Encounter It was obvious that the geese were aware of my approach as I could clearly see them looking over their shoulders at me as I approached. They didn't seem too alarmed though, and just continued to fly along in formation. I slowly dropped into the right echelon slot and drew to within 5 yards of the flock. How incredible! I was so close, I could see the slipstream rippling their feathers. I could see their eyes as they glanced back at me. We were directly over the lake now, and the rippled blue water in the background would make the perfect setting for a photo of the geese in flight. I sandwiched my control stick between my knees and started to reach for my camera that was hanging from a strap around my neck... (And tales of aerial-animal encounters from the hood) - Originally published in Ultralight & Light-Sport Flying! Magazine, 1999 By Dennis Demeter It was a beautiful July morning in 1980. I was flying my Maxair Hummer over Michigan's Lake Fenton, the area where I grew up as a kid. My Mom & Dad's house was at the south end of the lake and I had just finished doing some lazy circles around the homestead at an altitude of about 1800 feet AGL. I turned back to the north and noticed a westbound flock of Canada Geese flying in their typical “V” formation approaching me from the east. Assuming that geese were likely unfamiliar with standard navigational principles, I decided to yield to the flock and turn slightly so as to allow them the right-of-way to pass in front of me. Just then, the “Tail-End-Charlie” goose that was closest to me, looked back at me one more time and then tucked his wings in and tumbled downward out of the formation! “Oh my God!!” I exclaimed. Did I just give that poor animal a coronary? Did he have a heart attack and croak right in front of me? I chopped the power and started a spiraling descending turn to follow the stricken goose down. His tumbling earthward plummet easily outpaced my aircraft's ability to keep up without over stressing it, but I held the Hummer into a tight descending turn in an effort to keep the goose in sight, fully expecting to see him splash into the glittering surface of the lake below. As they drew near, I thought this would be a neat opportunity to get some air-to-air shots of these majestic animals in flight. I had my camera around my neck, cocked, locked and ready to go. I also was thinking about the fact that a local Audubon society chapter had befriended my mom and had been coming out on occasion to sit in the grass of our front yard near the lake shore to observe the geese that would congregate there on a daily basis. I bet they would get a kick out of some neat air to air photos! Just as he got to about tree-top altitude, I saw the goose spread his wings, arrest his crashing tumble and recover back into controlled flight. He quickly reoriented himself and again assumed his original course, albeit at a lower altitude. I waited for the flock to pass in front of me, and then started a left turn to drop in behind the flock. Hopefully, my presence would not alarm them so badly as to cause them to break formation and scatter. This would not only destroy my chances of getting the shot I wanted, but ran the risk of placing me at risk of a mid-air collision with an avian creature that can weigh as much as 30 pounds! It turns out that the Hummer I was flying cruised at just about the same speed as a flock of geese, so as I dropped in behind them, I closed the distance between me and the flock slowly. As I approached, I adjusted my approach path to assume a right echelon trailing position in the formation. Hopefully, if I was lucky, the geese would act as if I was just another goose joining the gaggle, and not break up the formation. “What did I just see here?” I wondered, astonished. Was I just duped? This big fella just played “Shot Duck”! (The avian version of “Playin' Possum”) Did he do this in an effort to draw me away from the flock? If that was the plan, it WORKED! There was no chance of me climbing back up and catching the flock for another photo attempt, so I broke off the pursuit and meandered my way back to the airport, thinking about the behavior I had just witnessed. Was this just a random selfless act that a quick thinking hero goose had engaged me in to save his comrades, or was this something done by instinct? Continued Next Page... 3 Goose Encounter - Continued Cool. Puzzling, but cool, nonetheless. An hour later I stopped by my Mom and Dad's house on the lake, and as luck would have it, there were three elderly ladies from the Audubon Society sitting with my mom on lawn chairs in the shade of our huge old Oak tree near the shoreline. My mother poured me a glass of tea, and I sat down in the grass next to the “Bird Ladies” in our front yard. I started telling them my story about my flight earlier that afternoon. As my tale unfolded, I watched as an astonished expression formed on the their faces. Grace and Louise looked at each other wide eyed and started babbling at each other in breathless excitement. Grace asked if I could stick around for a while, and when I said I could, she asked to use our phone so she could go call her friend who was a professor of zoology at the University of Michigan. Thirty minutes later we were joined by a distinguished looking older gentleman wearing a tweed sport coat with the typical college academic patches on the elbows... Once again, I recounted the details of my sortie, as “Professor Tweety” furiously scratched notes down in his spiral notebook. The good professor looked at the ladies, who were sitting in their lawn chairs, leaning forward, hanging on every word... “To my knowledge,” said the professor, “This behavior has never been documented in Canada Geese before.” He asked me if I could try to duplicate the encounter on another flight in the future, and to document my observations as best as I could with notes and photos if possible. The prof theorized that this was an ancient, latent instinct that could not be documented until such time as the invention of an aircraft which was capable of flying at the same speeds as the geese. The old man continued to explain, saying that the Canada Goose has not evolved a whole lot since the days when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Back then, they had airborne predators like the Pterodactyl preying on them. Over the last few thousand years however, Canada Geese have had no actual flying predators, and until now, have had no inclination to show this behavior to us. This report, if verified by duplicating it in another flight under similar circumstances would be a significant addition to science's understanding of not only this particular breed of avian creature, but may even add to scientific discussions about the nature of instinctive behavior. One week later, I was over another lake when I saw another flight of geese flying in formation. Again, I maneuvered around to drop into the formation with the geese. Once again, as I drew to within about 5 yards, “Tail-End-Charlie” tumbled out of formation and plummeted toward the Earth. This time, rather than follow him down, I stayed in position and continued to follow the group. After about 30 seconds, a second goose tumbled out of formation. I looked below me and watched as the two geese joined up with each other and started flying to rejoin the group. Eventually, I think the group realized that my intent was not to attack them, and no other geese attempted their decoy maneuver. I did try to take some pictures, but the geese were pretty much lost in the background clutter. I had the roll developed (This is before digital cameras, kiddies) and gave the whole pack to professor Tweety. I am told that This phenomenon has been noted in recent years by other ultralight pilots that get too close to migrating Canada Geese. A disclaimer is in order here. I DO NOT recommend that anyone fly in close proximity to migratory birds. First, these animals are by and large protected, and your flying close to them could be considered an act of harassment, and could bring the state Department of Natural Resources down on you. Second, You do run the risk of a mid-air collision. If a couple geese can put Chesley Sullenberger's Airbus into the Potomac River, they sure as heck can bring a light aircraft down. Third, it's not nice to mess with Mother Nature, so please give migratory birds a wide berth when you encounter them during a sortie. Stories of bird encounters abound in aviation, and ultralight aviation adds a new twist to these encounters. A fellow in our flying club brought his wounded Chinook into our field and together, we surveyed the holes in the Dacron on top of his wing. He told us that he was trying to share a thermal with a Red-Tailed Hawk, and the Hawk got a bit territorial on him. It dove from above him, bouncing off the wing, twice! It is a good idea to circumnavigate flocks of soaring seagulls. Don't assume that they will always get out of your way as you approach. Last summer I had a midair with a Tern. It passed through the prop of my Phantom, got sliced and diced, and then was deposited all over my windshield and me! Luckily, my wooden GSC prop was not damaged. Another animal to watch out for is deer. NEVER assume that a deer standing alongside the runway as you approach for landing will do the logical thing and run off and away from you. Do a fly-by and go around, and watch where it goes off to after it saunters off into the brush. A fellow I know flying a C-150 into his Continued Next Page... 4 Next Meeting of MULA JOIN MULA NOW! The Michigan Ultralight & Light-Sport Association Wants YOU! Join up with one of the most diverse and recognized ultralight & light-sport clubs in the country! Add your voice to the pilots represented by EAA and meet some of the finest people in the sport! May 3rd Chesaning MULA Hangar 1:00 P.M. 50/50 WINNER DINNER DRAWING No April Drawing NAME _________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________ _______________________________________ CITY ___________________________________ Goose Encounter - Continued ST __________ ZIP _______________________ private strip saw the deer standing next to his runway. He assumed the deer would run off and away as he approached. What it did do was to run directly in front of him. The deer went through the prop, through the windshield, and landed in his lap. The impact broke his nose and the deer, still alive--- writhed wildly inside the airplane. It's hoof caught the pilot in the corner of his mouth and basically de-gloved the side of his skull. Paul wears a full beard today to hide the scar that runs from his mouth to his ear lobe. Two summers ago, I was taking off from my strip and noticed what appeared to be a cloud floating across the soybean field next to our runway. The cloud passed in front of me as I was in the midst of my take-off run. Split seconds later my entire windshield was covered in bug goo. I felt the prop load up and the engine lost a little power as the air filter loaded up with bugs! The “cloud” was a migrating horde of termites! I could see NOTHING through my windshield, and rather than risk re-engaging the swarm during a landing attempt back at my field, I flew a few miles to my buddy's place to clean up the mess. PHONE ( )_ _____________________ TYPE OF AIRCRAFT _______________________________________ E-MAIL ADDR: _______________________________________ E-News only ( ) (Mark “Y” for YES) Send $24.00* for a 1- Year membership to the address below. Members receive FLYING WIRES Newsletter in either Print or E-Version and club voting privileges. *Dues due each JUNE - Pro-Rate your payment $2 per month after June. Michigan Ultralight Assoc. 10587 Dupcza Dr. Durand, MI 48429 And then... There's the story that launched my career as a writer for this magazine... The day in 1979 when a bee flew up my shorts while on a landing approach to a local municipal airport in my Maxair Hummer... Alas, THAT me mateys, is a tale for another day! 5 23 Aero Connections Magazine www.aerosports.org Aero Connections May 2015 24 Looking for a Unique Gift? Professional Artist Dottie List... Enjoying a passion for art as a child, she began an art career with a BS in Fine Art and Education at Florida State University and continued Master studies at University of Florida. She is an award winning artist and in numerous private collections around the USA and international. She has won first place in southern states, colleges, and Business Private collections, Purchase Awards and Patrons Awards. As a founding member of the Art League of North Florida, she continues to be active on the board. She has taught summer arts programs and home school programs to budding and developing artists. Focusing her techniques with enriched luminous Oils, Watercolors, and the transparent colors of Chroma Atelier Interactive Acrylics she does many commissioned works. Her career posts rewards through the endeavors and activities in the List Fine Art Studio. Currently she is one of www.aerosports.org the founding directors of the highly successful 140hours.com world wide web auction for artists. Her personal website is dottielist.com “Afternoon Pleasure” 18 by 24 inch expresses the exciting, achievement and pleasures of ultralight flying. Commissioned work is available with the buyer supplying their favorite series of photographs (which will be returned). Paintings of 16 x 20 ($425) or 18 x 24($495) in Choma Atelier Interactive Acrylics. Other sizes available on request. Enjoy having your favorite plane captured in memories on canvas. Delivery can be within one month. Gift certificates available. Certificate of authenticity will be provided by the artist. Contact dottielist@yahoo.com or 386-965-8143. May 2015 25 26 Aero Connections Magazine