Glasair's "Two Weeks To Taxi" program has been approved by the FAA. Pilots can now build their own experimental category "homebuilt" aircraft with the help of Glasair technicians inside of two weeks vacation time.
Amazing turbine STOL homebuilt airplane
This is Scott Ehni's custom Zenith CH701 airplane (that he scratch-built from plans) powered by the lightweight Garrett JFS 100-13A turboshaft engine, putting out at least 90 BHP at a prop speed of 3,100 rpm, burning about 12 gph. The small APU will work on almost any liquid that will burn. The best off-airport fuel choice is a mix of diesel and unleaded regular gas as it burns a bit cleaner. Awesome turbine jet engine sound on the experimental aircraft!
Details on this custom engine installation: http://www.zenithair.com/misc/turbine-power.html
Details on the Zenith STOL CH 701 plane: http://www.zenithair.com
Build it yourself
There is no greater joy than seeing an aeroplane you have built yourself take to the sky.
Aero-TV: Sub-Sonex "Teeny " Jet - Re-Engined and Ready for Flight Test
Even Smaller Than A Micro-Jet, 'Monnett's Madness' Has Produced Something Even Cooler Than Usual
I think John Monnett is nuts... a pure, certifiable, grade-A, crazy-man... and in the best of all possible ways. His inspired madness has not only brought forth Jet: Re-Esome great airplanes that have furnished the necessary means (and yes, madness) by which hundreds, even thousands, of pilots (overall) have managed to keep their hearts, minds and bodies in the world of flight, but he shows NO signs of slowing down. And for that, aviation is a better (and more affordable) place.
One of the most divinely inspired bits of craziness has led John to develop a teeny-tiny single-place jet airplane that will cost less to build and fly than most APUs used by the civil jet fleet. And better yet; the SubSonex single-place jet aircraft is about to resume testing. Following a series of initial high-speed taxi tests, the Sonex Aircraft Hornets' Nest Research and Development team determined that a review and modification of the aircraft design was necessary to achieve acceptable handling qualities for the average pilot.
Due to the increased power offered by the new PBS TJ-100 engine selected for the SubSonex, it was determined that a tricycle gear configuration would be needed to increase yaw stability on the ground in the transition phase approaching takeoff speeds.
Unveiled at AirVenture 2009 under the banner of the Hornets' Nest Research and Development program, the SubSonex jet was intended as an effort to study the feasibility and marketability of a small, single-place homebuilt jet aircraft. The SubSonex has attracted a tremendous level of interest from the public and aviation press, however, Sonex Aircraft, LLC has not yet decided if the aircraft will become an available homebuilt aircraft product. Following first flight of the aircraft and a full series of flight tests, Hornets' Nest designers plan to construct a second SubSonex prototype with a larger cockpit, enhanced landing gear system and other refinements to further evaluate the aircraft concept.
Wood Aircraft Construction
Snippet from HomebuiltHELP's DVD: Wood Aircraft Construction. This video discusses the aspects of constructing homebuilt experimental aircraft from wood. The DVD is available from HomebuiltHELP.com
Verhees Delta, a FAST, tiny homebuilt airplane
It is small, only 50 HP but ...has cruise speed of 220 km/h. Its single retracting wheel gives the idea it is tricky on the ground, but it is not. Also stable in the air.
Uses 13 liters/h at cruise speed. Has tank of 50 liters. So ...ideal to travel.
Cricri airplane in flight HD
Known to be the smallest twin-engine airplane in the world (4.90m wingspan, 72kg empty weight, 2x15HP), it still has a 190km/h cruise speed and is capable of executing all the basic positive aerobatic maneuvers. Formation flight and air-to-air shots with an Avid Hauler homebuilt. Now in HD!
RV4 - the making of - (Experimental Aircraft)
Process of building an experimental aircraft during the last five years in my garage. It's a long way to the top if you want an RV4.....Credits to my wife Andrea and Willi, the dog, for beeing still here, Pat the personal bucking bar for help and support, my parents for some extra grease, Klaus for infecting me with the RV-virus, Doug Reeves for his fanastic www.vansairforce.net community, Van for his great design and support, Georg for all the tools and for teaching me how to land this thing and all the others on the way. The experience of a lifetime!!
Aircraft Emergency And Landing in a Glasair - the impossible turn ???
My Glasair engine is a Subaru SVX EG-33. Six bearings in the planetary speed reduction unit failed during departure. I declared an in-flight emergency and immediately returned for landing. Total flight time was 63 seconds.
Departure was made with 10 degrees of flaps and remained there until landing with 25 degrees. The buzzer during much of the flight is the "gear up" with "flaps extended" warning horn ... the stall horn never sounded. Speed did drop but the flight never reached critically low speed. Power was intentionally reduced to keep gearbox temps down. I fly patrol flights at 500 ft or less, often 6 to 7 hrs a day. So I do have low level maneuvering experience. Some may call this the impossible turn but power was available during the entire flight.
Flying a home-built experimental plane 1: "Takeoff"
Flying in a home-built airplane. Taking off from a grass air strip. The plane is powered by an air-cooled six cylinder engine from a 1960s era Chevrolet Corvair.
Lancair Weekend Fun N913MP N694RS and others.
Flying around the beautiful Utah Rocky Mountains and valleys. Saturday mornings could not be any more fun for this group of pilots. Fall of 2010.
Building your kit airplane with builder assistance from Can-Zac Aviation
Here's an excerpt from the Zenair News DVD, with Mark Townsend of Can-Zac explaining the services that they offer to builders in getting a head-start in building their own Zenith STOL CH 750 light sport utility kit plane.
Newsletter info: http://www.zenair.org
Glasair Sportsman: 360 vs. 390
If you're building a Glasair Sportsman, you have the choice of a 180-HP IO-360 or the beefier IO-390. Which engine is best? It depends? In this video, Kitplanes Magazine editor Marc Cook analyzes the pros and cons.
