even in a Light-Sport Aircraft World.
Despite the intense focus on the FAA’s new Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft rule, EAA’s big summertime airshow brought the introduction of at least four intriguing, legitimate ultralights—aircraft that truly meet the 254-pound rule. Many observers believed LSA would sound the death knell for Part 103. I guess not!
Not only were new ultralights common, their diversity was broad. You could see a fixed-wing, a weight-shift trike, a powered parachute and a helicopter. As if seeking to prove the new rule won’t eliminate Part 103, these machines were proudly displayed by vendors who also supply larger, heavier models.
Skymaster Light Trike
One bright spot at EAA AirVenture was—literally—the glowing yellow Skymaster Light Trike. Excellent detailing kept viewers looking carefully.
Mike Lane is the man behind the project at Skymaster. He’s a hang-glider pilot looking for an easy way to launch in the flatlands of Wisconsin. His ultralight vehicle benefits from the supply bins at Skymaster powered parachutes, helping this prototype look production ready.
Archives for April 2006
So…What Happened in that Accident?
A lot of folks have asked what happened in the accident I sustained (April 17th SPLOG). It’s a fair question. Pilots can learn from accidents. So, here’s my replay: First, any accident I’ve ever investigated had multiple causes and so did this one. The Czech Aircraft Works prototype Parrot is a fine plane with which I have only minor complaints — and I expect they’ll fix every one by the time it goes into production; this is an experienced company with expert engineers and developers. But on April 2nd, the Parrot’s Rotax 912S engine didn’t make full power. It revved only to about 4300 rpm, not the expected 5600 rpm. My contributing error, therefore, was not immediately aborting the flight after seeing less than full power. I was number one in a flight of two aircraft. The number two was behind me and while I didn’t dwell on his presence, it may have been one reason I didn’t abort.
A Completely Different Sort of SPLOG ByDanJohnson
Many visitors have now heard about the airplane crash I had just before Sun ‘n Fun where I broke my back, landing me in a West Palm Beach, Florida hospital since April 2nd. I’m happy to report that although I have two or three months of hard work ahead of me to regain my muscle use as it was, I still expect to regain most of my original capabilities. It may take a year to recover fully, but at least I have the chance for which I feel extremely grateful. I suffered a massive compression fracture (called a “starburst” fracture) of the T-12 vertebra that required, as the doctor put it, “major, invasive, and aggressive” surgery. But they feel they found all the bone parts and installed some titanium hardware to strengthen my back. It has been a difficult ordeal to be sure — especially so for my loving and faithful wife, Randee — but I had excellent medical care and the well wishes and prayers from hundreds of friends in the light aircraft industry that represents my enlarged family.
Pioneer in Ultralight Industry Still Going Strong
John K. Moody is widely acclaimed as the “Father of Ultralights,” and he makes effective use of that unique title to publicize his new millennium act featuring his last millennium ultralight.
Is Moody really the father of ultralights or the first to fly one? Several other enthusiasts were experimenting with power units for various kinds of hang gliders in the mid-1970s when Moody started. His distinction was that he was the first person to foot-launch and climb from flat terrain without benefit of wind or a slope.
I saw Moody fly in the summer of 1975 when he performed before about 250 hang glider pilots in a contest on the sand dunes near Frankfort, perched on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. He began this risky behavior on March 15, 1975, above a frozen lake southwest of Milwaukee, at age 32.
Into almost still winds at the end of a day of hang-gliding competition, Moody ran his heart out and coaxed his Icarus II biwing hang glider off the beach with a 10-hp West Bend engine giving him some push.
To the Summit: Mt. Everest!
Take one step. Stop for one full minute. Rest and breathe. Take another step. Stop and breathe for 60 seconds. Repeat for hours.
Am I describing exercise at a retirement home or hospital? No, actually the actions of young, healthy, well-conditioned men. The difference is that these individuals are nearing the top of the world. This step-and-rest technique is used by climbers ascending the summit of Mount Everest.
At 29,035 feet, the mountain’s summit is the highest place on Earth. In this thin airspace, the hazards are great-even if you’re standing still. According to pilot Richard Meredith-Hardy, the time of useful consciousness is less than 1 minute without oxygen.
At 29,035 feet, most aircraft also run out of air. Few GA or sport aircraft can come close to this altitude. Now imagine flying at this staggering height over some of the most forbidding terrain imaginable. Top off the complex scenario by towing a large object in an open-cockpit aircraft that weighs less than 1000 pounds.
Hand Control PPC
One innovative designer offers an alternative to foot-controlled powered parachute flight.
For those of you that don’t know, most powered parachutes are steered around the sky using your legs. Pushing with your right leg exerts downward force on a steering line routed to the right trailing edge of the canopy/wing, producing drag on that side and initiating a turn in that direction.
The motion isn’t hard-though some designers have added mechanical advantage to make it easier-and the turn is more responsive that you might imagine. But what if you don’t have good use of your legs? How might you fly a powered parachute?
Canadian powered parachute manufacturer Para-Ski offers a handlebar arrangement, and other companies have experimented with similar ideas. But nearly every other supplier of these flying machines uses a foot-steering arrangement of one kind or another. James Leon of Kankakee, Illinois, has another alternative.
Call It Power Steering
While Para-Ski has its handlebars, a measure of physical effort is still involved.