Hans S

While I haven't built an aircraft, I have built boats, one off fairings for motorcycles, car hoods/scoops. I'm building the wings first as I haven't decided about some of the mods I am going to make to the fuse/strakes. I want to get started nontheless. For me, seeing complete "big parts" done would be a motivator, the little stuff is to easily hidden. I'm not really picky, I'd do the canard if someone had those templates/jigs instead, just not the fuselage. The two car garage is my "man room" so storage is not a problem.

Does anyone have a set of already made jigs and templates for wings I can borrow? I'm in the Tampa area and am trying to shave some time/money.

The weights were for the legs only. If you do a drybread/velocity style legs, it has all the same extra equip. And yes, from what I've seen in the plans, more glass/weight is added in Chap 9. Not sure how much weight. When I went back to the site, I'm not sure which one (21lb) I was referencing. I had been on a few other sites too, think I referenced the wrong company. Anyway, it was a thought about alternatives. They are pricey at about $1000-2000.

This is what I'm thinking. These guys make gear out of aluminum, the equivalent size seems to be less than the 30lb fiberglass bow currently used. My thought was to make a templete of the shape I need bent and have them build a set of retract arms. These would only recess into the fuselage an inch. And from what I can tell, 9lbs lighter. No worry about warm brakes melting the gear also. http://www.groveaircraft.com/landing_gear.html

Finally have a set of plans. Turned out better than expected. I bought Mark Sharp's off the want ads here. He sent a bunch of other stuff and the newsletters 52-83. Reading through the newsletters now, will be updating probably this weekend. I'll get some good study time on the plans then start asking questions about all the mods I am looking into.

Anyone have any specs on the new diesel boxer engine they're coming out with. I searched the net and couldn't find diddle.

I plan on using the Drybread style RG. I'm wondering about anyone's thoughts about making them rotate. When taking off/landing they are at normal position. When just hanging around on the ground parked, they can be rotated so that the wheels are more under the engine. Basically changing the center of gravity forward to avoid back tipping. Probably more trouble than it is worth.

Good point. I'll have to think of something else.

One of the problems I've heard people mention is the extra weight of a cooling system. I plan on using VW TDI, at least the plan so far. I'm thinking instead of a typical radiator, running lines to the leading edge of the wings and canard, under the glass. This would give me more than enough surface area to dispel heat with the advantage of anti-icing. I'm also going to run a line thru the tanks so that any of the biodiesel / svo stay warm and flowing. My thoughts as a sleep deprived idividual.

Now, how to shorten the strakes

Yeah, it uses a 16hp Briggs and Stratton engine.

A mating of a cozy to this. http://www.rqriley.com/tm.html Or something to do with the fuselage you started and will never finish.

Did that thing even fly? That would be cool. Like a flying whale shark.

To sell the biodiesel, I'd have to tax it and who knows what else. Actually, I still want to build up a tdi. I'll probably build what I want, get a prop to match, bring it out to the country so as not to make the neighbors mad, and run it through a test phase. I still think a 1.9TDI would be a viable solution.

And before someone takes all that seriously and tries to give me death by calculator, the numbers are WAYYY loose and the $25,000 in materials and $250,000 in legal battles isn't reflected. Not to mention the possible $6,000 motor being turned into a pretty piece of scrap if/when it goes boom.

So, I was thinking of the issues that people are talking about with modifying a VW to get reliable 200hp out of it. So, to test it, tell me if this makes sense. 1. Build the engine to 200hp. 2. Using a generator draw out 200hp. 3. Feed the output through a transfer switch to run the house and feed excess to sell back to the electric company. Like what you can do with solar panels on your house. 4. Run for 100hrs or more continously for 100-200hrs at max power. 5. Tear engine apart and see if it is still in spec (assuming it didn't grenade). Assuming 100% efficiency, no heat loss 1hp = 746 watts 200hp = 148200 watts 148200 watts / 220 volts = 673 amps. My wiring can't handle all the amps going back to the service so I know I'll have to create a resistor bank to bleed over 470 amps out. Or, talk my neighbors into letting me bounce through their meters too. All these measurements are assuming no heat loss, 100% efficiency. A test that pays for itself, or at least partly pays. If I run it on homebrewed biodiesel, I might actually make money:D Maybe enough to finance my plane:p 148kwh x $.04 per kwh = $5.92 $5.92 x 7,22.4hrs/month = $4276.61 6gph x 722.4hrs/month x $.50 gal. (biodiesel) = $2167.20 $4276.20 - $2167.20 = $2109.00 profit per month if I can sell all of it. $2109 / 3 services = $703 per home per month $703 - $250 aver. electric bill for my house in the summer in Florida in which they charge 5-6 cents per kwh = $453 in the pocket. I'm an electrician so I don't need the "blah blah electricity is dangerous" speach. And, I know these numbers are loose.

Are there any builders/flyers in the Tampa area?

The libraries around here have been no help. When I meant from scratch, I guess I was a little vague. I was talking fixed pitch as my engine choice may be different than stock, hence,I'll want a prop designed for my plane. As far as CS, yes, I have the machinist skills. I can build the parts, I was looking for a design that was already made. Most all work the same way, I was just wondering if one of them engineering types had worked it out and was willing to share. Maybe say, MT selling a plans form of their products:rolleyes: . And I've seen the parts in other cs units, I can machine it a heck of a lot cheaper than ten grand. Tearing one apart to reverse engineer isn't what I had in mind, unless that was all I could find. But building one from a set of already designed plans was. I'd like to build everything I can myself, just for self ego if anything else. And I do want to understand prop design, borrowing one and running it through a duplicator is just that, duplication with no understanding. The running out of epoxy was just an example, my wife would be able to keep me from being idle, honey do lists galore. My plans won't arrive here till the first week of Nov. So untill they arrive, I'm just deciding on what changes and upgrades I want to make before I even buy the first chunk of foam. Dream now, compromise later. Planning 2 chapters ahead? One change at the end can cause changes in every other chapter. I plan on having all mods and upgrades figured in before I even start building. I hate rework, it's a pet peeve.

Edge, I agree with you, but look at it this way. Let's say I run out of foam or epoxy, or any of the other things out there and I'm waiting for it to be shipped. All the other odds and ends are done, playing with a prop would be a good waste of time. Now, on the other hand, a cs or variable is going to take some effort in putting together. A good couple of months if I don't come across plans, a scrapped one, or someone with the know how on how to build one. If this turns into the last thing I'm waiting for, that would be a few months that it sits without its first takeoff. I haven't decided on an engine yet, or a bunch of other things at that. My plans won't get to me until Nov. Having an intimate knowledge of them now will save time later when I'm ready to get to that stage. You can fly without wheelpants, not a prop.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. Either copy an existing, or find some kind of 3d software where you just put in all the numbers and it pukes you out templates. I have access to a machine shop and was also thinking about trying my hand at building my own cs or at least a manual variable pitch.

Does anyone know where I can get some software on designing a prop I could build myself? I've heard other people that have built fixed pitch, anyone ever try building a cs prop from scratch?

And to really get the weight conscious folks up in arms, diesel weighs roughly a pound more a gallon.

----------lyc 360--------------------tdi 100%-----180hp----------------220hp (mod) 75%------135hp----------------165hp 40%------72hp-----------------88hp 165hp is just over stock, no problem, 220hp is easily possible. And, the tdi is set for turbo and boost. Sea level and altitude, same power. Yes it might need a bigger turbo or sequential.

weight - http://www.haywood-sullivan.com/vanagon/TDI/tdi_specs_en.pdf Yes, I was talking about making the biodiesel.