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Firestar II to Firefly
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:24 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

I just sold my Firestar II with a 503 DCDIafter flying it for 108 hours. I loved my plane, but did not want to get a Sport Pilot license and now I plan to buy a Firefly with a 447. I am wondering what to expect as far as differences in handling, take off speed and distance, cruise and stall. Are new Kolb specs in the ballbark? I have never had an UL with flaperons. When do you Firefly pilots use your flaperons? Just for landing or also for take offs. Has any one used VG's on the Firefly? Al Bumhoffer, Elkton, MI

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PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:55 pm    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

I just sold my Firestar II with a 503 DCDI after flying it for 108 hours. I
loved my plane, but did not want to get a Sport Pilot license and now I plan
to buy a Firefly with a 447. I am wondering what to expect as far as
differences in handling, take off speed and distance, cruise and stall. Are
new Kolb specs in the ballpark? I have never had an UL with flaperons. When
do you Firefly pilots use your flaperons? Just for landing or also for take
offs. Has any one used VG's on the Firefly? Al Bumhoffer, Elkton, MI


Al,

I have flown a FireFly since September, 1999 and I have never flown a
FireStar II, so I cannot offer a direct comparison. The Kolb specs are in
the ball park. I use the flaperons on takeoff from grass. I have a
continuously variable flaperon control that lets me set any setting I want.
I have found that five degrees lets the FireFly lift off in the three point
stance with the stick in the neutral position. I use the flaperons on when
landing on and taking off from grass strips. I never use them on hard
surface runways.

I do have VG's mounted on the wing and under the horizontal stabilizer.
They calmed nervous and twitchy FireFly. The FireFly will lift off and land
a few mph slower than before installing them. The horizontal stabilizer
VG's were added to increase back stick effectiveness. With the VG's on the
wing, the FireFly would not stall. It performed a parachuteal descent or
mush rather than break cleanly. Since adding the horizontal stabilizer VG's
and a gap seal, the FireFly will once again stall. The engine reduction
unit is rotated to the left to counteract forward slip at cruise (no rudder
trim). With more propeller wash air flowing over the left wing the FireFly
so the right wing stalls and the FireFly falls off or rolls to the right.
Upon testing, at 5,000 rpm the FireFly would not stall at 20 degree up
elevator (full stick back). At 4,500 rpm the right wing gave warnings that
it did not like what was going on but the FireFly bored straight on. When
I reduced the rpm to 4,000 rpm, and the stick approached 20 degrees up
elevator, the right wing complained and finally unloaded and the FireFly
fell off to the right.

Years ago when I investigated flaperon usage, I was not able to raise the
nose in an approach descent at 50 mphi. Recently there was discussion
of the Kolb List about VG's on the horizontal stabilizer, and I realized I
had not revisited this since I added the gap seal and VG's to the
horizontal stabilizer. From my flight log:

"July 16, 2007 - Flight 656 - 29 minutes 55 seconds, 226:37 tt, Victor 1+
146:47 burned 0.82 gallons for an overall fuel burn of (at) 1.64 gph???. Flew
to check out the effect of horizontal stabilizer VG's and gap seal on
elevator authority and flaperon position and stall. Flew early in the
morning so there were no thermals. Started out at 2,000 feet agl. No
problems lifting the nose at 40, 45, & 50 mphi with flaperons fully
extended. Maximum elevator deflection to raise the nose was slightly over
ten degrees. ............."

I have on my short list a reminder to vary the flaperon settings and to
check out stall, and forward and side slips. Waiting for a quiet, cool,
and clear morning.

I hope this helps you out. If you would like to subject your self to some
abuse, you can check out my FireFly web site at:

http://www.thirdshift.com/jack/firefly/firefly.html

Would I fly without the VG's on the wings and the horizontal stabilizer?
- NO!

Jack B. Hart FF004
Winchester, IN


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John Hauck



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:08 pm    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

With the VG's on the
wing, the FireFly would not stall. It performed a parachuteal descent or
mush rather than break cleanly. Since adding the horizontal stabilizer VG's

and a gap seal, the FireFly will once again stall.

Jack B. Hart FF004

Hi Jack H:

Help me out here a lilttle.

If I understand the above statement correctly, you could not make your FF
stall with VGs installed. It mushed rather than broke cleanly.

Now it breaks cleanly and does not mush?

What is the advantage of that?

I bet it will stall with VGs.

john h
mkIII


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:27 pm    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

At 05:07 PM 8/12/07 -0500, you wrote:
Quote:


Hi Jack H:

Help me out here a lilttle.

If I understand the above statement correctly, you could not make your FF
stall with VGs installed. It mushed rather than broke cleanly.

Now it breaks cleanly and does not mush?

What is the advantage of that?

I bet it will stall with VGs.


John,

With VG's on the wings only and the thrust line centered, one could pull the
stick back against the stop and the FireFly would mush straight ahead. No
tendency for a wing to drop and no need to kick a rudder pedal to pick up a
dropping wing in quiet air. You could displace the stick slightly off
center in roll and the plane would turn with out dropping a wing. I don't
remember the wing complaining that it was near stall, it just mushed.
Basically you are flying on the back side of the lift curve.

This is an indication that there was not enough elevator control to raise
the nose to the point that the wing would stop flying. Mushing may seem to
be a good thing, but I would rather the wing complain a little to warn me
that it is about to stop flying. The advantage is that you get a definite
warning where as you may not notice you are already mushing and dropping out
of the sky.

One of the things that happens when you add VG's to the wings, is that the
air remains attached to the upper wing surface for a greater distance from
the leading edge. This means that the center of lift is going to move more
toward the rear too. Since the center of lift is behind the cg, it will require
more tail down force to raise the nose. By adding the VG's to the bottom of
the horizontal stabilizer and a gap seal, it gives the added tail down force
required to get it to stall.

Jack B. Hart FF004
Winchester, IN


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:58 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

it gives the added tail down force required to get it to stall.>>

Hi Jack,

what an interesting idea that you actually WANT the plane to stall.
Manufacturers always use the fact that a plane will not stall as a selling
point. Certainly having a plane that stalls gently, or just nods and
continues flying is what most pilots look for.
I am sold on the VG`s as without them my Extra would not have produced a low
enough stalling speed to qualify as an ultralight here in the UK.

Have a read your post correctly?

Pat


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:58 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

At 09:58 AM 8/13/07 +0100, you wrote:
Quote:


it gives the added tail down force required to get it to stall.>>

Hi Jack,

what an interesting idea that you actually WANT the plane to stall.
Manufacturers always use the fact that a plane will not stall as a selling
point. Certainly having a plane that stalls gently, or just nods and
continues flying is what most pilots look for.
I am sold on the VG`s as without them my Extra would not have produced a low
enough stalling speed to qualify as an ultralight here in the UK.

Have a read your post correctly?

Pat,

I flew gliders/sailplanes for several years. This was one of the things
that lead me to the FireFly. I like to sit up front for the view. The next
best thing is and if you are going to have an engine, is to have all the
noise behind you. But the neat thing about gliding is the fact that there
is no engine noise or vibration that masks what is going on as the aircraft
slips through the air. Since you are trying to stay up as long as possible,
one must stay in a thermal as long as possible. This is done by slow flight
in a tight bank. You keep your eyes out side and keep pulling back on the
stick until the wing starts to burble and then relax pressure to keep the
wing at maximum lift and just above stall as you climb.

The only reason the FireFly broke cleanly is because I forced it to. The
right wing complained long before the stick reached the stop. IF one
continued to hold the stick centered and back against the stop, the FireFly
would go into a spin. All one has to do is let the stick go forward and the
FireFly starts flying again with very little altitude loss. I consider your
statement "Certainly having a plane that stalls gently, or just nods and
continues flying is what most pilots look for." and apt description for my
FireFly.

Jack B. Hart FF004
Winchester, IN


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:38 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Well Pat, its a question of how far away from the stall he runs out of elevator authority. If he can get another 3 or 5 mph before a stall then I doubt he would want to give up on that, and in ground effect it can be as much as 10 mph of less speed. So I would certainly want my airplane to give me all the performance it has. In a short field environment you really do want your LD max at its optimum, otherwise you lost margins for safe flight, either in climb (VX) or landing (VFE). Could mean the difference between bent gear, or hung up in a tree, or just a close call.

Ron
====================
---- pat ladd <pj.ladd(at)btinternet.com> wrote:

=============


it gives the added tail down force required to get it to stall.>>

Hi Jack,

what an interesting idea that you actually WANT the plane to stall.
Manufacturers always use the fact that a plane will not stall as a selling
point. Certainly having a plane that stalls gently, or just nods and
continues flying is what most pilots look for.
I am sold on the VG`s as without them my Extra would not have produced a low
enough stalling speed to qualify as an ultralight here in the UK.

Have a read your post correctly?

Pat
--
kugelair.com


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:53 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

This is done by slow flight in a tight bank. >>

Hi Jack,

All pilots would benefit by some gliding IMHO. A 45 degree bank, 5knots
above the stall with 9 or 10 other gliders formating on you within a 200
yard circle is very character building. That plus the knowledge that a
farmers field is waiting for you below....

Cheers

Pat


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:50 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

See below...

Hi Jack H:

Help me out here a lilttle.

If I understand the above statement correctly, you could not make your
FF
stall with VGs installed. It mushed rather than broke cleanly.

Now it breaks cleanly and does not mush?

What is the advantage of that?

I bet it will stall with VGs.

john h
mkIII
<SNIP>
John,
I have had same experience with the VG's...different airframe
though...same fix and same results.

Explanation...

Original configuration, if plane was slowed and the stick brought back
slowly it, would slow, slow, slow...and then eventually stall. Then
added VG's to the main wing...now you could slow down and start pulling
the stick back...it would slow, slow, slow (approx. 7 MPH slower than
before) but if you were gentle with the deceleration, you would hit the
elevator rear stop before you got so much as a "buffet" of an impending
stall. In other words with the considerably slower airspeed the elevator
was not able to generate enough downforce to raise the nose enough to
stall the wing...this was coupled with the fact that the VG's allowed
the wing to go to a higher angle of attack before stalling anyway.
Slower speed = less elevator authority + wing capable of higher AOA than
before = an "elevator limited plane", similar to a Ercoupe.
The "bad" thing about that is this...you have a plane that while not
"stalled" is actually dropping like a rock. Just like the day out at
Joneslite in Smiths Station, Al. when you demonstrated the Kolb "mush"
to me where we were not really "stalled" (at least never got a drop out
of it) but had a rate of descent that would have been ugly on
Short,short,short final. Same situation with main wing only VG's on my
plane...if you actually used the new and improved super-slow speed
capabilities on landing and a steep approach you were going to not have
enough elevator authority to get the nose up real quick to arrest the
descent and arrive "politely"...Wink

Added the VG's under the horizontal stab and the elevator effectiveness
improved to the point that even with the super slower new stall speed I
was again able to still pull the nose up high enough to stall it (the
elevator was again strong enough to overpower the wings desire to fly).
This translated into some amazing new STOL ability...slower approaches +
total control to arrest the descent rate from a steep approach = SHORT
landings...

The main wing only VG's are great for making a stall-proof
airplane...physically not being able to pull the stick back and get a
stall could be a real safety plus...thousands of Ercoupes can't be
wrong. (to be totally honest you could snatch the stick back at a higher
speed and get an accelerated stall or pull hard in a steep bank and get
it to break...but no typical approach control input would do it...) But
to get good gentle landings I had to basically keep the same approach
speed as before VG's because even though I could fly slower, I couldn't
FLARE any slower than before...add the VG's under the horizontal stab
and you're back to an airplane that will stall if you tell it to...it
will just be slower than before when it does...

Clear as mud?

Jeremy Casey
Hoping to finish up a Kolb "Superfly" by this fall...then the RANS S7
can rest a bit...


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:55 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Jeremy,
Inquiring minds want to know.
What is a Superfly?
How is Super different than Ultra?

On Aug 15, 2007, at 9:49 AM, Jeremy Casey wrote:

Quote:
Jeremy Casey
Hoping to finish up a Kolb "Superfly" by this fall...then the RANS S7
can rest a bit...


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PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:24 pm    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Jeremy,
Inquiring minds want to know.
What is a Superfly?
How is Super different than Ultra?

<snip>

Cage from a Firestar KXP that got trashed from being outside not tied
down during a pop-up afternoon thunderstorm (wings and tail feathers
busted up, cage fine)

Build 22' wings (ala Slinghot/Firefly), 7 ribs, bunch of bracing (ala
Slingshot) really stout drag strut...single lift strut like all the
Kolbs except the Firefly...

Add 9" chord ailerons like a Slingshot uses...fab the flaperon mechanism
like the Firefly/SS/Firestar2 and get rid of the original Firestar
aileron mechanism...

Fab a support to mount a 10 Challenger tank

Build a set of tail feathers but cut the boom tube down to Slingshot
length.

Rig it with the lower angle of attack (and decalage of course) of the
Slingshot and add Slingshot-like gear legs to get the deck angle right
to get a 3 point landing out of it with the lower wing AOA.

Weld up a flip-over canopy frame (ala Slingshot).

Mount the 503 sitting under the workbench...

You basically have a single seat Slingshot. It will only have 52HP but
also should be about 100 pounds lighter than a 582 Slingshot.

Will have same wing area, flaperons, and tail dimensions and tail
rigging of a Slingshot (just little lower wing loading from being
lighter). With the lighter weight and the 52 HP of the 503 it will
actually have a better power/weight ratio than a 582 Slingshot...that
combined with the lower wing loading should mean better takeoff and
climb than a 582 Slingshot (which is awesome...)

Sound fun? Wink

Jeremy Casey


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Richard Pike



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:57 pm    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Sounds like fun. If I were doing it, I would use the 6" tube for the main
spar tube like the MKIII & Kolbra use.

Richard Pike
MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
---


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Thom Riddle



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Posts: 1597
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 2:51 am    Post subject: Re: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Jeremy,

Your superfly project sounds like fun for sure. One question: Why do you refer to the Rotax 503 dual carb engine as 52HP?

I suspect you are just repeating what you've heard/read from many aircraft kit sales organizations. I've seen this myself countless times. However, all the official Rotax Engine websites, including Kodiak list this engine's max horsepower at 37 kilowatts which equates to 49.6 HP using the American standard of 550 ft-lb/sec. method.

FWIW, there are other types of "horsepower" including the following:

37 KW = 49.61 HP (550 ft-lb/sec)
37 KW = 50.31 HP (metric)
37 KW = 49.60 HP (electric)
37 KW = 49.60 HP (water)
37 KW = 3.77 HP (boiler)

There is only one type/measure of kilowatts which is a pretty good reason to specify power in those units.

The reason I'm saying this is that since the actual HP of the 503 is 49.6 and not 52, your lb/hp calculations are off by nearly 5%. Still sounds like a fun project, even with 2.4 HP less than you thought.


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:46 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Jeremy is more than likely using the saddle horse co-efficient of power,not the Budwieser Beer wagon draft horse type,which of course was obvious to us non-engineer types By the way,did anyone else get a little .004 kick on their condescension meter? Nah,it's probably the rainy weather .The humility has been really high this week.
com> wrote:[quote] --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Thom Riddle"

Jeremy,

Your superfly project sounds like fun for sure. One question: Why do you refer to the Rotax 503 dual carb engine as 52HP?

I suspect you are just repeating what you've heard/read from many aircraft kit sales organizations. I've seen this myself countless times. However, all the official Rotax Engine websites, including Kodiak list this engine's max horsepower at 37 kilowatts which equates to 49.6 HP using the American standard of 550 ft-lb/sec. method.

FWIW, there are other types of "horsepower" including the following:

37 KW = 49.61 HP (550 ft-lb/sec)
37 KW = 50.31 HP (metric)
37 KW = 49.60 HP (electric)
37 KW = 49.60 HP (water)
37 KW = 3.77 HP (boiler)

There is only one type/measure of kilowatts which is a pretty good reason to specify power in those units.

The reason I'm saying this is that since the actual HP of the 503 is 49.6 and not 52, your lb/hp calculations are off by nearly 5%. Still sounds like a fun project, even with 2.4 HP less than you thought.

--------
Thom [quote][b]


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:48 am    Post subject: Re: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Gary,

No offense taken, though it appears you might have been trying. If you knew me, I doubt you would have said anything about "condescension" or used the word "humility" in a sarcastic manner.

All I was doing is sharing some facts, which is part of the charter for this list and the primary reason I think most of us participate. I have learned so much from the guys on this list that have shared what they know that I don't or didn't before their sharing. I figure giving back a little from what I know that others may not, is the proper thing to do, and plan on continuing to do so when I think it appropriate.

If you (and others perhaps?) wish to continue thinking that the 503 engine is a 52 HP engine when the factory says otherwise, go right ahead. Doesn't bother me in the least.

Happy aviating!

do not archive


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:09 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

On Aug 15, 2007, at 9:23 PM, Jeremy Casey wrote:

Quote:
Sound fun? Wink


Yeah,
But for even more fun ,,,,,,,,,,,,, use a 582 engine with more power
and less weight.

The 582 with a B box is 3.2 lb. lighter than the 503 and has 14.8
more horses.


http://www.kodiakbs.com/PDF/2strokeweight.PDF


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:50 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Quote:
Sound fun? Wink


Yeah,
But for even more fun ,,,,,,,,,,,,, use a 582 engine with more power
and less weight.

The 582 with a B box is 3.2 lb. lighter than the 503 and has 14.8
more horses.

<snip>

true...true.

When I bought the damaged plane that became the basis for this little
project it came with a 447, but a 503 DCDI became available and I like
the dual ignition...so it will go on and the 447 will hibernate under
the bench full of oil in all the appropriate places. I'll have to live
with 49.6HP for now Wink

Jeremy


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:24 am    Post subject: Re: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

Jeremy,

49.6 hp on a single seat "Superfly" should be plenty. I'd like to see that machine fly some day. That was not sarcasm, BTW, it was an expression of honest desire to see this airplane. Neat idea.

do not archive


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PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:48 pm    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

You're right Thom, I don't know you well enough to be pok'in fun at you.My apologies .I get it all the time from the grandkids,big answers to small questions.I'll try to resist in the future.
Thom Riddle <riddletr(at)gmail.com> wrote:[quote] --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Thom Riddle"

Gary,

No offense taken, though it appears you might have been trying. If you knew me, I doubt you would have said anything about "condescension" or used the word "humility" in a sarcastic manner.

All I was doing is sharing some facts, which is part of the charter for this list and the primary reason I think most of us participate. I have learned so much from the guys on this list that have shared what they know that I don't or didn't before their sharing. I figure giving back a little from what I know that others [quote][b]


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PostPosted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:25 am    Post subject: Firestar II to Firefly Reply with quote

At 09:23 PM 8/15/2007, you wrote:
Quote:
Cage from a Firestar KXP that got trashed from being outside not tied
down during a pop-up afternoon thunderstorm (wings and tail feathers
busted up, cage fine)

Same thing here .... crashed in the lake - Firestar KXP but: I rebuilt the cage,
rebuilt the wings, bought a new engine, (I really like my new 503 - 732+ hrs) ..got the
same nose cone, stick - .....But I figure it's taking up the same space/time continuum
So I don't need to buy a "carbon credit".
My Great Grandfather left me his hammer (he was a carpenter from Ireland) ....But the "head " was
"eioj" Iron and rusted really bad, so I had to replaced it. And the handle was broken..so I had to replace it too..
But...I figure it's taking up the same space and it's an antique - except for the parts.

Quote:
Build 22' wings (ala Slinghot/Firefly), 7 ribs, bunch of bracing (ala
Slingshot) really stout drag strut..

Me too - except 8 ribs and 26' 9" wings ...tip to tip. bunch of bracing (ala
Slingshot) really stout drag strut..like you said. + angle bracing per Hauck.
You should change your wing tips?.It would save you about 18 inches.
AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION - It will cost you at LOT to go to 22' wings.
Work on the tips and add a little wing, it's nice to stall at 30 -mph with VGs.
They work, and that's the truth!

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Quote:
.single lift strut like all the
Kolbs except the Firefly...

Me too - the doubles only "slows you down" 8 mph
unless you're doing loops - you don't need them.


Quote:
Add 9" chord ailerons like a Slingshot uses...fab the flaperon mechanism
like the Firefly/SS/Firestar2 and get rid of the original Firestar
aileron mechanism...
Fab a support to mount a 10 Challenger tank
Build a set of tail feathers but cut the boom tube down to Slingshot
length.
Rig it with the lower angle of attack (and decalage of course) of the
Slingshot and add Slingshot-like gear legs to get the deck angle right
to get a 3 point landing out of it with the lower wing AOA.

Weld up a flip-over canopy frame (ala Slingshot).

Mount the 503 sitting under the workbench...

You basically have a single seat Slingshot. It will only have 52HP but
also should be about 100 pounds lighter than a 582 Slingshot.

Will have same wing area, flaperons, and tail dimensions and tail
rigging of a Slingshot (just little lower wing loading from being
lighter). With the lighter weight and the 52 HP of the 503 it will
actually have a better power/weight ratio than a 582 Slingshot...that
combined with the lower wing loading should mean better takeoff and
climb than a 582 Slingshot (which is awesome...)

Sound fun? Wink

Jeremy Casey


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