Subject: Re: [baidarka] Engineered lumber
From: Peter Chopelas (pac@premier1.net)
Date: Fri May 20 2005 - 23:15:50 EDT
William Nettles wrote:
> $300 flying airplane--My friend Tim and I built a Hang Ten glider when
> we were in high school.
> We spent a lot less than $300--we 'liberated' the lumber from my
> contractor dad's left over stock. Covered it in visquene plastic, duct
> tape and bailing wire. It started to fly, but one of the 'helpers'
> pushed down on the wing instead of letting it lift up.
> Anyway it was just a glider, but it might be a place to start building
> your plane. I've looked for the plans, or any reference on line but
> with no luck. A nicer bi-wing design named Icarus was made and flown
> by a guy in California.
It just so happens that I lived in the area where modern hang gliding
was rediscover (the first manned flight was actually a hang glider, Otto
Lillianthal of Germany in the late 1800's, took over 1000 controlled
flights). The guy I remember actually built the thing from bamboo
poles, lashed into a frame that he hung by his arms with feet dangling
free, with the now familiar Rogallo wing. It was lashed together with
silver duct tape and used clear visquene plastic sheet. He took many
glides down the sandy slopes above Torrance and Redondo beach in
southern California where I spent my summers. Yes, it looked, and was,
as dangerous as it sounds. By the time dozens of people got killed it
was out-lawed in most beach jurisdictions. Eventually all of the
areospace engineers got involved and made them safer and perform better,
it also got expensive. Although modern hand gliding is still the least
expensive way to go flying (and much safer now than it used to be), it
is also unpowered and the most limited.
More as a creative act, and a challenge, I want to build a safe and
useful powered aircraft, for as little as possible. Just to see if it
can be done. Peter
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