Bunny Hops & Flying POV

I received a call from my daughter earlier today. She's currently a counselor at Camp Quaker Haven and it was the first time I'd heard her voice since she left last week.  She's also our 'corporate cinematographer', and has produced almost all of the videos that Belite has posted on Youtube.

"Hey Dad," she said. "Did you know that I posted another Belite video before I left Wichita?"

No, I didn't know that.

It's great having a cinematographer in the family!  More video to show people what we are doing.

I had taken quite a bit of video, shot from my Point Of View, while flying the Superlite several weeks ago. It does a great job of showing the world flying by while piloting an agile single seat airplane. You can see it here:

Also, we shot some video of our Trike a few weeks ago.  It's just a series of bunny hops, mostly up and down the runway, but it shows the gentle landing characteristics of the Trike. 

(A little off topic:  I flew both of these planes earlier today, in Kansas strong winds.  They handled the wind with no difficulty).

Anyway, here's the video of the Trike doing bunny hops.

The Trike has free castering nosewheel steering.  You turn the airplane by applying either left or right heel brake.  I'm reminded of when I first flew a Grumman Cheetah back in 1978 or 1979:  ground handling works basically the same.

Pictures that nearly got away

Here's some photos that nearly got away...

Benton Airport



My friend Terry Alley's Kitfox Lite



The Kansas country side passes below. Trees and a creek; farmland too.



Someone took this photo of me at Sebring in January. I'm in a Belite Superlite.



A nice in flight photo of a Belite.



Jabara airport, in a photo from last year.



And a wounded Belite, injured in a taxiing accident. (Stupid hole in the ground.) (Stupid pilot for taxiing over hole in the ground.)

Belite manufactures FAR part 103 kits, airplanes, and featherweight avionics.

www.beliteaircraft.com

Can my ultralight legally cruise faster than 55 knots?

Yes it can.

You may already be saying: "James -- you are just flat wrong. I have Part 103 memorized -- and it says that the cruise speed limit of an ultralight is 55 knots."

Well, I think you are flat wrong. I've been mulling on this a while, and I thought it was worth some discussion.

How to configure a Ready To Fly Superlite 50HP ultralight!

I've created a spreadsheet that allows users to select different options to personalize their Belite 254. Do they want a taildragger, or a trike? Do they want a Superlite, or a really light version? What you may not realize is that these are all really the same airplane. The only thing that varies is the option selection.

The spreadsheet keeps track of option selections, cost, and weight. As a result, you can end up with any type of FAR part 103 ultralight that you want!

Here's our base spreadsheet. Have a look: