Showing posts with label ultracub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ultracub. Show all posts

Friday, October 29, 2021

Is Now the Time for Electric Ultralights?

 The biggest use of ultralight aircraft is to enjoy flight. To that end, is now the right time for an electric ultralight aircraft? I've been there and done that and want to share my history with you.

My History with Electric Ultralights

I've designed and flown electric aircraft. I threw a lot of money into this one, which featured a carbon fiber fuselage and wing. It is called "SkyDock". I developed it with a gas engine as well.

Electric Ultralight Aircraft

Electric Ultralight in flight

A couple of years before that, I adapted an electric motor to a classic Belite ultralight.

UltraCub ultralight with electric motor

UltraCub Electric Aircraft in flight

To help answer the question:
  1. Ultralights are flown for fun; and electric flight is super fun!
  2. Electric motors are available with incredible value and excellent power;
  3. The best batteries ever are now available;
  4. U.S. ultralight law allows individuals to do this experimentation easily;
  5. Even a company or two (eg: Chip Erwin and Merlin) are publicly showing their work with electric ultralights.
Electric Installations:

Consider a single vs dual motor installation. The SkyDock was setup with two motors, while I flew the Belite with one motor. One of my customers used a very interesting single motor design for his converted UltraCub.

Electric Motor on UltraCub Ultralight

Electric Motor on Ultralight Aircraft

SkyDock with dual Electric Motors

Want to see the electric motors on Skydock doing their thing?:


And even more details of how the Skydock Electric motor installation was designed:

Electric Motor Installation in Skydock

Electric motor in Skydock

Electric motor development for ultralight

Is Now the Time for Electric Ultralights?

Yes, it is.
  • Electric flight in ultralights is proven by myself and others.
  • Batteries can produce acceptable flight times for ultralight aviation.
  • FAR 103 and Experimental rules allow it.
  • Bonus: Electric motors are less expensive than gas motors. (Although offset by battery acquisition costs.)
  • Electric flight has a unique sound signature, better and different than any gas motor.  It's just the prop and the airframe, no combustion sounds!
For further exploration:

I recommend you join this Facebook group, run by Bill Esker:









Thursday, June 27, 2013

Harvest

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Weather is finally allowing some flying.  Got to see God's view.

Today, while I was waiting for my guys to get a particular piece of work done, I had Christian prop the UltraCub so I could get flying.  I was aloft a minute later.

90+ degree heat on the ground turned to air conditioning as I climbed thru 100'.  Lovely feeling as the air pressed by on either side of me.

Still skies.  Even in the heat.  Pulled back to probably 50% power and loitered at 800' while turning lazy circles.  Kept the air conditioning on.  Didn't do anything stupid.  Just puttered around.

(Can't understand why the world isn't beating a path to Belite's door.  Just can't.)

****

Yesterday evening, I flew over my friend Kevin's house and left behind a friendly offering (a teddy bear with a parachute, cleanly deposited in his front lawn.)

Flew over to Benton and shot a whole bunch of touch and goes on the grass, and even one on the pavement.   Loved the folks watching me.  Kept a constant eye out for traffic, as I was NORDO.  (No Radio.)

I also flew around and looked at the harvest.   Big plumes of dust headed up and north as the evening wind and heat lifted wheat chaff upwards.

Pictures show the story:

Kansas Sunset approaches

Kansas beauty in June.


Cut Wheat Field.  Interesting effect.

Another cut wheat field.

I love the harvest.

He's got a long ways to go.

But he's working on it.
After both of the flights, I still haven't refueled -- burning less than 5 gallons combined.

I also had opportunity to do a speed check.  Yes, I was marginally concerned that the UltraCub was speeding over the FAR 103 limit of 62mph.  With full power, it clocked in at a cruise speed of about 60 - 61 mph.  I can relax.







Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Dan Johnson interviews me on the Belite UltraCub

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!



Great, great video on my airplane:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5LG1aMy3RgA

Thanks to Dan Johnson and Dave Loveman.


Monday, May 13, 2013

MZ201 Revised Mount

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


It's interesting to see the background work in creating a new motor mount.  We recently had opportunity to improve our MZ201 motor mount, and here's the result, in step by step photo fashion.  This is everything from raw placement to ready to fire up:

First of all, let's put the motor on blocks, adjust height, and ensure that the propeller is on centerline:

Lining up the MZ201 engine on a Belite Ultracub.
Then we put a laser on the rear of the fuselage.  It is lined up with the centerline, which is easily determined from the CNC cut rivet holes further forward in the fuselage design.

Using a laser to line the engine mount.
Using a level to find the middle of the thrust line.
The laser shoots through the entire structure from the tail forward and hits the thrust line.  See the red dot on the level, below?  Also note the square in the lower left side of the picture.  It is lined up with the centerline of the firewall, and the laser is lined up with it, as well.

You must click the following link to expand the article:

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Gust Kiss Land

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Rippling gusts played with the newly forming leaves in the trees.  The moving air went across the short strands of wheat in the nearby fields, like waves over a tossed pond surface.

Checking the local weather, even with gusts to 26mph, I had to do it.

Takeoff.

Extraordinary beauty.

Dusk approaches, takeoff, strut view.

Everywhere I look, I see the sea of wheat.  I see the wind rippling through it.  I see the shadows.  I see the green.

Sea Of Wheat
I make four or five touch and goes.  They are challenging:  the gusts are testing my alertness on the controls.  My UltraCub cuts through them.


Saturday, April 20, 2013

Best deal in the world right now for a small airplane kit. Giveaway Multi Function aircraft instrument.

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


I want to give you the new aircraft Multi Function Instrument from Belite.

Of course there is a catch!  You have to buy something else from Belite, as explained below.

The picture below shows it in the Multi Function Instrument.   Click anywhere on it to see the full resolution version on your computer:
Belite Ultralight Aircraft
Multi Function Instrument for Belite,  Free.  With a catch.
Here is the 'catch', or 'Terms and Conditions'.

1.  The Angle Of Attack is not included, but is an option ($700) to this free instrument.  For $700, you get the sensor, the vane, and the separate AOA computer that plugs into the back of this instrument.

2.  The unit includes an inclinometer as shown above.  You can upgrade to the Turn Coordinator for $150 more.

3.  A blank instrument panel is included, ALSO FREE.  This blank CNC cut panel has a custom cutout for the MultiFunction instrument and four 2.25" round cutouts.  The panel is supplied unpainted.  Here is the panel, as typically installed in a plane, with additional instruments:

Multi Function Instrument in Belite metal panel, free*.  *Check T&Cs.
from Belite Aircraft
Painted Blank Panel, part of free*. offer from Belite (supplied unpainted).  *Check T&Cs.
4.  You must buy our Belite UltraCub kit to receive the free MultiFunction Instrument.  The Belite UltraCub is also specially priced; normally $8500, it is priced at $6995 until May 15, 2013.  If you include the value of this instrument, it is about a $550 additional value.  So over $9 grand of Belite Stuff for $6.995 grand plus + shipping.  (Check with Kathy for your shipping quote).

With a little work, along with an engine, prop, etc..., you can make your kit look like this:

Belite UltraCub with 4 stroke 1/2VW engine.
In other words:  you get the Belite UltraCub kit, including the Turtledeck kit, along with a blank panel and this MultiFunction Instrument.  All for $6995 + shipping.  Best deal in the world right now for a small airplane kit.

5.  The Multi Function instrument is available ONLY as configured as shown.  It includes the airspeed indicator with the speed range set as shown; the inclinometer; the fuel gauge (compatible with capacitive or resistive senders), and the AGL altimeter.  The power switch has three settings:  Off, On/dim, On/bright.  The power switch has detents which prevent accidental powerdown.  The dim and bright refer the LED brightness.  Also included are 3 general purpose alarm LEDs.  All alarm LEDs are brilliant red when turned on.  They may be attached to anything:  when grounded, they turn on.  In our Burgundy demonstrator, one is attached to the engine oil pressure switch.

6.  We ran a similar promotion one year ago which was very successful.  This is even better:  the airplane has improved, engine options have improved, and the free instrument set is much better.  And a free metal panel is included.

7.  Like last year, we did not repeat this promotion after the deadline had ended.  This offer will terminate no later than May 15, 2013.

8.  You have to place a nonrefundable deposit of $2500 to get this offer.  You can schedule delivery of your kit for anytime later this year, but not later than Dec. 15, 2013, but the deposit is due on May 15.

9.  This offer is also available on Ready To Fly aircraft:  Just tell us that you want the free Multifunction Instrument upgrade for your RTF plane when you place your order.  Next delivery slot is open for August, 2013.  Check our website for pricing and model configurations.  Prices on our aircraft range from $15995 up to $40K (or more) and this offer is available on any configuration.  You must specify it to receive it.

10.  Just because the multi function unit includes an "AGL" altimeter does not preclude you from adding a conventional altimeter, such as our high resolution digital LCD unit.  It would install in any of the open 2.25" instrument holes.  For example:

Digital LCD altimeter from Belite.  $249.
11.  This offer may be withdrawn or changed at anytime without notice.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Something else from Belite takes off...

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Our Youtube videos have been viewed about 59,000 times in the last year, with over 100K minutes watched.  :-)

The reason why is great videos like these: (Click any to see them)

Flying the new Paradise City pattern at SnF 2013 (you got to see this, brand new video from last week)
Flint Hills flying in a Belite UltraCub with 4 stroke (2 hour walkabout in a Belite)
High Performance climbout in a Belite (STARTLING climbout)

there are many more.

Below is the the statistic chart from YouTube.

Thanks for watching.

Belite YouTube Video Views over the last year


Monday, April 15, 2013

Paradise City photos of all sorts from Sun N Fun

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Below are some fun photos from Sun N Fun.  This proves that the new Paradise City had a lot of stuff happening!

Make sure you also look at the YOUTUBE VIDEOS of flying the pattern at Paradise City.

Click on any photo below; it will open on your computer in high resolution.  Enjoy!

Also, you'll enjoy looking at the many other posts that are on this blog, covering topics ranging from aircraft construction, carbon fiber development, adventure, and more.  CLICK HERE to see the latest post.  


taken from a Belite UltraCub with a 4 stroke.
Paradise City is dead center of this photo.  Lots of activity there!

Taken from a Belite ultralight.
Paradise City runway top dead center.

Sun N Fun, photo taken from the Paradise City pattern.

Ultralight airplane.
A Belite Ultracub in front of a tree.

UltraCub from Belite, 4 stroke engine.

taken from a Belite Ultralight airplane.
Paradise City runway.

taken from a Belite Ultralight Aircraft.
Sun N Fun.

4 stroke engine
A Belite UltraCub!  With a 4 Stroke!

Flying the pattern at Sun N Fun -- video posted!

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


I strapped a GoPro to my head and flew the pattern at Sun N Fun.

It shows takeoff, pattern, and landing, all just as I saw it.

I was flying our Burgundy II demo airplane with a 45HP four stroke motor.  I flew it a lot!

On Saturday, I was following the Just Super STOL and I had fun trying to match his landing lengths and takeoff rolls.  If any of you readers were there, how did I do??  :-)

As I was getting ready to takeoff one more time on Saturday, I looked down and noted that I had a flat tire!!  It was a good time to quit, so we called it a day and I taxied back.  I couldn't find any hole in the tire, perhaps I spun the tube and broke the stem when hitting the brakes hard (while showing off the short stop landing).

CLICK HERE for the youtube video with the camera strapped to my head.

CLICK HERE for the youtube video taken from the lift strut.

(Two different videos -- two different views!)



Monday, April 8, 2013

Updated Ultralight Aircraft from Belite: Need to know details


Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Sun N Fun 2013 demonstrator
Ultralight aircraft in metallic burgundy with accent copper



Q:         What is a Belite UltraCubTM?
A:        The Belite UltraCub is a predominantly aluminum ultralight airplane manufactured in kit and Ready To Fly form by Belite Aircraft.  It is available in several different configurations, with variations of instrumentation, landinggear, assembly materials and engines.  All configurations evoke the classic look of a Piper J3 Cub, hence the name, UltraCub.  Some of the key characteristics include:
  • Removable rear turtledeck; the plane may be flown either way.
  • Legal under FAR 103 (responsibility lies on the owner / operator)
  • Precision CNC cut aluminum parts in cabin and throughout assembly
  • Folding wings (must remove turtledeck)
  • Large wing area and flaperon area designed for low speed flight.
  • Enormous windshield and sunroof
  • Multiple storage compartments
Belite Ultracub
UltraCub flies away


Q:         What standard features and benefits does the Ready To Fly UltraCub have?
A:         All configurations include:
  • CNC cut aluminum parts throughout the entire airplane.  We use a CNC computer automated bed router for sheet metal and a four axis CNC robot for billet aluminum pieces. 
  • Taildragger configuration.
  • Folding wings.  (must remove turtledeck).  Easily and quickly fold!
  • Standard basic instruments: inclinometer, EGT/CHT, airspeed, AGL altimeter.
  • 5” tires and wheels.
  • Rear turtledeck, fully covered.  (Higher end configurations also cover the rear of the fuselage.)
  • OracalTM vinyl covering, with your choice of single color.  Very beautiful finishes!
  • Rear steerable tailwheel with steel tail wheel spring. 
  • Aluminum fuselage – riveted construction utilizing mainly 2024T3 longerons; also 7075 and 6061T6 aluminum in critical areas.  Other alloys are also used.
  • Lightweight 6061T6 aluminum lift struts.
  • 4130 Chromaloy steel landing gear “A” frames
  • Polycarbonate windshield and sunroof
  • Enhanced wing area (40” x 144”)
  • Enhanced flaperons (12” x 120”), reduces stall speed and improves roll control.
  • Intermixed aileron / flap controls, providing standard stick (aileron) and standard flap (flap handle) control with 3 notches of flaps.
  • Multiple storage compartments under seat
  • 5 gallon plastic fuel tank.
Q:         What does a Ready to Fly UltraCub cost?
A:          $15,995 + $2.50/mile delivery charge (one way) to any US destination.  This configuration includes a 28HP Hirth 2 stroke engine.  Other configurations are also available with 4 stroke engines, carbon fiber options, and additional instrumentation.  If you want everything in our option list, the price can hit $40,000.   At that price, you should expect, and you will receive, a state of the art ultralight aircraft.

Final approach for UltraCub


Q:          What does an UltraCub Kit cost?
A:         $8,495 includes the TurtleDeck and everything firewall back except instruments, paint, rivets, glue and the fuel tank.  Stiff link main gear are included.  Popular options include our spring main gear and our disc brake assemblies.  It also doesn’t include a fuel tank, but we buy ours at Walmart for about $12, and you can too.

Q:          What type of construction is used in the fuselage?
A:         It is straightforward aluminum construction.  All of the cabin area and most of the gussets have pre-drilled holes, and the rear fuselage is pre-aligned, mostly pre-drilled and ready for you to start drilling and riveting.  All main cabin bulkhead formers and gussets are CNC cut and have many pre-drilled pilot holes as well.  The builder has to trim some of the cabin longerons and members, but as these lengths are short, and all formers are square, the resulting assembly process is easy and straightforward.  Aluminum may be cut with a carbide blade table saw, or a band saw, or a hack saw.

Cabin Assembly Detail
Q:         What type of construction is used in the wings?
A:         The wigs are build with aluminum spars and CNC cub Baltic birch ribs. Everything slips together and is locked in place with Gorilla glue.  Aluminum ribs are also available, as are carbon fiber spars.

Q:         What type of construction is used in the tail feathers?
A:         The purchaser may select between aerodynamic horizontal stabilizer/elevator or pre-welded stabilizer/elevator.  The pre-welded feathers simply need to be covered.  The aerodynamic feathers are easy to build and very straightforward, like a big model airplane wing.

Q:         How is the structure covered?
A:         We use generic Dacron, glued and shrunk to the underlying wing or fuselage structure, and riveted to the aluminum ribs.   We use Stewart Systems glue for most other fabric work, and we use Oracal vinyl (available in about 80 colors) for covering over the shrunk fabric.  Kit builders may use whatever system they are comfortable with.  We supply 30 yards of Dacron with each kit!

Q:         What does an UltraCub weigh?
A:         As built by Belite, with a reliable four stroke engine, and as described in this document, it weighs 278 pounds.  This is the maximum allowed by FAR Part 103.  (Our configuration includes a parachute which is deployed by hand, for which FAR Part 103 provides a 24 pound allowance.) The rear turtledeck is not included in this weighing, as it is removable for flight.  (The rear turtledeck weighs about 7 pounds).  Much lighter weights are possible by using two stroke engines.  We don’t weigh anything required for flight; if assembled like our Sun N Fun demonstrator, the airplane may be flown without the windshield, for instance.  We even made our instrument panel easily removable, and James has flown one of the UltraCubs without a main seat – he really did it, just to prove a point.

ultralight aircraft landing
Landing an UltraCub
Q:         I see that your configuration doesn’t include an engine cowl.  How could I add one?
A:         It is available as an option for $350.  We don’t weigh them as they are removable for flight.

Q:         What other options are available?
A:         There are all kinds of options.  Check our price list for full details; we’re even offering amphibious floats.  Carbon fiber, wheels, covering completeness, paint on the aluminum, type of engine, type of parachute, instruments…  Doors – really well designed doors.  Too much to discuss here.

ultralight airplane
Belite Aircraft are available with emergency parachute.


Q:          Are other instruments available?
A:         We are happy to install any instrument manufactured by Belite Electronics, including our Multi Function Display, our Turn Coordinators, fuel gauges, etc.  We do not install other instruments.  We recommend you have other installations (EG, radio) performed by your local instrument shop.

from Belite Electronics
MultiFunction Instrument from Belite Electronics


Q:          Does the four stroke engine have electric start?
A:          It is available.  It adds 10 pounds weight, and will work in high end configurations.

Q:         What power does the 1/2VW four stroke engine develop?
A:         James likes the 45HP variation with Nickasil cylinders.  He runs it with a 58 x 22 propeller, which derates it to about 38HP.  That makes it very much in line with the original Kitfox Lite, which had a 2 stroke engine of slightly less horsepower.  Fuel consumption hasn’t been nailed down to the last drop, but James is hoping to get it below 1.5 GPH in low cruise. 

1/2 VW Engine on Belite UltraCub

Q:         Who is the engine vendor?
A:          Scott Casler, Hummel Engines is our first choice for 1/2VW aircraft engines.  Scott makes a great engine and stands behind his work.   www.hummelengines.com

Q:         Will other 1/2VW four stroke engines work?
A:         Absolutely.  We recommend at least 37HP.  Great Plains is a good source for plans for a complete kit. See: http://www.greatplainsas.com/schalfvw.html  And as of this writing, their 1/2VW kit is under $3400.   Furthermore, an online build manual for 1/2VW engines may be found here: 

Q:         What about the motor mount for a Belite with the half V/W?
A:         We designed it, and it is pretty small and sweet.  It is welded out of 4130 steel.

Q:         What kind of gasoline does the engine use?
A:         91 Octane auto gas.  100LL will also work just fine, but like any other aircraft engine, pay attention to lead fouling in the spark plugs.
Sun N Fun 2013 Demonstrator aircraft
Happy Flying from James!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

What an ultralight airplane should look like!

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


More photos of the Belite Burgundy Ultralight Aircraft, which even as I write this is being loaded on the truck to head to Sun N Fun!:

(more photos can be found here)

Belite climbs out
Belite Aircraft UltraCub climbs out.  Looks like nostalgic Cub.  :-)

Belite passes overhead
Belite ultralight airplane:  UltraCub passes overhead.

Belite head on
Head on profile of Belite ultralight airplane.

short final in an ultracub
Over the fence in an UltraCub from Belite!

almost directly overhead
Almost directly overhead in the burgundy Belite.

taxiing
Taxiing for takeoff.

PPG in distance
Belite one pointer landing, PPG in distance.

short final in an ultracub from Belite
Short final in a Belite ultracub.  Sweet!