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Is there anyone here who flew his own personally built aircraft ?

I plan to build a 1-2 seater joy rider.

Can some one help me out ?

My first question is What Engine to Buy ?
Is 35 HP engine enough to take me in air ? What ROTAX (how many HP and weight ?) is used in the UL FlightStar ?

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Engine is usually the last choice, or a later one anyway. What are you looking to build? Something light or something fast? I am building a modified Long EZ that will do about 240 MPH. Have flown the prototype a lot. Its awsome. I will put an IO-390X in it. IO-360 in the other one and it flys very fast. Lots of fun.

There are a lot of kits, are you trying to do that or build from plans or scratch? Mine is all plans build, which means I make all the parts. Kits are easier because you don't have to fabricate everything.

What are you interested in?

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I want to build a light one.

What is the cost of the Kits ?
Where are the available from ? Any links please to good flying and affordable kits ...

What about the plans ? Please give me links for plans also ...
I hope its not very difficult to build from plans .... i hope its more or less like R/C building.

What do you suggest ? It's my first project .... I've done a lot of r/c ..all kinds of building experience for R/C ... but have not a single job for full scales ... What you think someone like me should do ?

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uby:

Sounds to me you would be far better off getting a kit.

Do a Google search on "Ultralight" and "kit" to see what's available, both in price and size.

Bill.

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[link=http://www.skypup.net/]Skypup[/link]
[link=http://www.flyhummel.com/#CA2]Hummell CA-2[/link]


These are the two I am considering building, FWIW
Pete

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pcjohnson_ohio

Those are some great planes ..... wow !

Can you give me some info on pricing ?

Are these kits or plans ?

UBY.

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[link=http://www2.wcoil.com/~rford/faq.htm#cost]Skypup Cost[/link]
[link=http://www.skypup.net/plans.htm]Skypup Plans[/link]

[link=http://www.flyhummel.com/ca2intro.htm]Hummel CA-2 Costs[/link]

Both are plans built, supposedly easy to build, minimal machining
The skypup has a max pilot weight of 180-200 lbs, the CA-2 up to 250 lbs

Pete

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There are no accurate cost figures there ...

Only the cost of wood .

Can someone tell the cost of Engine new and used ? (any links please ? )

How much covering is required , where to get it ? (links please ...) also can china be used with a dope ?

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[link=http://www.recpower.com/f33.htm]F33 Engine[/link]
[link=http://www.vortechonline.com/engines/]Used Engines[/link]
Lots of Info on the Skypup [link=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Skypup-club/]Here[/link] and [link=http://www2.wcoil.com/~rford/]Here[/link]
50 yards of polyester dress liner needed, no dope (disolves the foam)
China silk would probably work, best is 1.8 oz. dacron [link=http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/cs/dacron.html]Here[/link]

Pete

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Somebody is going to get KILLED. The ONLY thing to cover with is Stitts polyfiber or Ceconite. They are easy to apply, tough and they last if hangered. Two stroke engines work great on chainsaws or weedeaters. Keep them off your airplane. VW conversions are reliable and cheap as compared to certified aircraft engines. I just got rid of one that came in a trade for less than $2500.00. If you SERIOUSLY are interested in getting a SAFE flying airplane, let me know and I'll help you out. I've 5 hangars and three shops full. I am NOT interested in getting anyone started that is going to cut corners, half-ass and get themselves killed!

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You need to research more of what you want. there are hundreds of kits and at at least that number of engines. I am building a modified Long EZ for instance. Some guys put cheap O-200 engines in them, some O-320s, some O-360s, mine will be an IO-390X. Prices range from a few thousand to well over $30,000 for the engine. Instruments range from a few thousand to over $100,000 depending on how you want it set up.

Go to Aircraft Spruce and specialties and look at some of their kits. Its hard to price it till you know what you want. There are guys that can build one specific kit for half of what someone else can because they use different engine and instruments.

Google aircraft spruce and see whats there, they have a good list of kits.

Then you have plans built like mine, no kit but good plans. You make the parts. Sometimes cheaper, but takes longer.

Lots of options out there.

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Man......I looked at that "Sky Pup".......just use a large pistol or a shotgun. You won't suffer.

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:) LOL

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I guess I'll have to dang near give PC and UBU something to fly before they get killed. I hate to see PC all bloody and broken wrapped in "50 yards of polyester dress liner ".

I've got a Hyperlite and Mini Max I'm never going to do anything with. I'm NOT an ultralight flyer or fan. All the ribs and fittings are made. If they look around you never know what you can find. I got a Woody Pusher off www.Barnstormers.com last month for TWO THOUSAND. The workmanship on it is unreal. The guy was moving and had to dump it. All it needed was an engine and I had a fresh 0-235.

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I've flown the Long EZ (s) and was not impressed. I didn't see anywhere close to that speed. If I recall, VNE was about 190. 240kts is in the rare numbers with Lancairs and SX300's.....with nasty fire-breathing IO-540 angle valve engines.
Better check your numbers ;)