NOTE: This post describes the process
for mounting a Hirth F33 (28HP) engine to a Belite Ultralight aircraft. We
support several different types of engines, all are similar in mounting
techniques. Call us (or the engine
vendor) if you need installation information for any other type of engine.
The F33 is the exact engine that was used on the MythBusters Duct Tape Plane episode, which aired in October of 2011. :-)
It provides awesome performance in our base aircraft. This is due to the many aerodynamic improvements we've made to this airplane and our lightweight construction. It is easily possible to fly a Belite with less than 210 pounds all up weight, including the engine!!
Let's get on with our engine installation...
The F33 is the exact engine that was used on the MythBusters Duct Tape Plane episode, which aired in October of 2011. :-)
It provides awesome performance in our base aircraft. This is due to the many aerodynamic improvements we've made to this airplane and our lightweight construction. It is easily possible to fly a Belite with less than 210 pounds all up weight, including the engine!!
Let's get on with our engine installation...
Section
A. Firewall Assembly
Cut the
firewall to the pattern supplied in our blueprint data. We recommend using either 0.032 or 0.040
aluminum. (If you don’t have the
blueprint PDF for the Firewall – email us!
We will send it to you.)
Fabricate the
firewall from the aluminum sheet using the blueprint PDF template sheet. Cut
the template sheet to size with scissors and then use spray adhesive on the
template sheet to temporarily attach it to the aluminum sheet. Cut the aluminum
with metal snips. Mark the templates' top contour on the sheet metal with a
felt tip pen, but cut the top contour a little long (1/2" or
so) in case your cowling does not fit up exactly as ours did. Any extra
material will get trimmed away during the cowling fit-up sequences to come.
Using a brake,
bend the bottom lip to fit under the fuselage, and drill holes at the engine
mount locations.
Deburr all
edges.
Section B.
Engine Mount Assembly
 |
| Figure 1 -- Completed F33 Engine Installation in Belite ultralight airplane. |
