Too much to report to you.!
It's Oshkosh week, and Belite has *lots* of news throughout the week. We'll take our news one chunk at a time; let's start this post with our aluminum ultralight aircraft.
We posted a great video of our new aluminum airplane flying. We have the prototype of this aircraft at Oshkosh this week, so please come by our booth and see it.
You can see the video of the aluminum ultralight aircraft here on youtube. We demonstrated it with a 45HP engine, but we will be selling it with our 28HP engine (expect great performance) and also the 50HP twin Hirth (expect unmatched performance).
Prices on this airplane start at $16,500, Ready To Fly. (Our Oshkosh special promotional price is $14,500, but YOU MUST place a completed order with deposit postmarked by the end of August.)
This aircraft incorporates a bigger wing and a better tail design (compared with older Belites). Also, in base configuration, it is UK SSDR compliant!
This airplane, in kit form, sans engine/prop/instruments/fuel tank, is $6800.
"The Standard Pilot Blog"TM The Chipper and Radiant Blog for Experimental and Ultralight (Part 103) Aircraft (c) 2010 thru (c) 2020 by James Wiebe.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
An Aluminum Dream
(There is news far below of a new aluminum version of our plane. Read down...)
***
I've had a dream. In it, I'm able to take a simple board, lay it across my chest, and in a few steps I am flying. Somehow, I lay on the board, and it generates enough lift to take me above trees, mountains, streams, and beautiful things.
I do not understand how this can be. I am not Jetman, but I know that it is real, and in my dream, I am gliding down over a descending landscape.
I am able to breeze by trees, houses, birds, and under a clear, blue sky, I am able to select a landing spot. In my dream, I land just a few minutes after I take off. Sometimes, I have a passenger nearby (I do not understand this either.) But mostly, I am free, and I simply fly.
I feel the joy, and I am determined to share it with others. I see that as a role given to me: to spread the joy and the ability to fly above and observe above and be above. To be above. To fly.
***
Two days ago, I was down in Tulsa, Oklahoma, making some simple wiring fixes to a plane we'd delivered to a new Belite owner. The airstrip was overkill long at 1320 feet; there were horses on either side, and the hangar was in the back yard of the house. Ironically, a windsock was 3/4ths of the way down the strip, and it was positioned nearly in the middle of the runway. I asked the owner if I could once again fly the plane that was formerly mine, and he said, of course, 'yes'.
Once around the pattern, a low approach.
Another time around the pattern. A hot day. But 300 feet above the ground, things were comfortable in the open cockpit.
A second time around with a lineup to final approach. A good breeze out of the east. A crossing landing on the runway, drifting from left side to right side, making advantage of the crosswind.
Landing. Barely disturbed the grass blades -- a combination of luck, maybe some skill, some springy gear, and some big fat tires.
Out of the plane. My wife took my picture, as did one of the new owners. The other owner showed up late, I started the engine just so he could see it easily start.
***
He called me earlier today, and I answered. I am in West Virginia, getting ready to deliver a series of talks on computer forensics at Marshall University. He wanted to know how to adjust the tension on the throttle lever; and I gave him some quick advice. He'd flown the bird, rechristened 'Queen Lady', and he was tiring of readjusting power continuously. Surely, an understandable aggravation. But he'd flown around for 30 minutes, and I was pleased for him.
***
Two planes sold in 24 hours -- that's news. One heading to California, the other to Missouri. We cut the prices on some of our planes in order to reduce inventory, and in order to prepare a way for a new aluminum variant.
***
I've always been in love with technology. I enjoyed putting carbon fiber spars on ultralights -- I thought the strength / weight thing was simply amazing. I ignored the economics -- figured people would pay. A few did. Not many.
***
Kathy and I put out a pricing survey on our planes. It seems these are the most important things to many of our potential customers:
a) They like our plane.
b) They want to fly.
c) They want to afford our plane.
d) They may weigh a little too much -- but they still want to fly. Do we have a plane that will accommodate them?
***
Belite has been in development of an aluminum fuselage of our plane. An original prototoype was built, and we did a series of tests on it:
a) Engine mount strength
b) Pilot seat strength
c) Airframe strength -- taxiing (super hard jolts while going up and down the runway without shocks).
Well, I broke the plane while doing initial taxi and flight test.
So we redesigned the cabin area, and a bunch of the round tubing was replaced with square tubing -- much stronger. It ended up looking like this:
So here's a photo of an aluminum airplane. Notice the heavy cockpit structure, also the monocoque aluminum skin on the sides, (carrying landing loads). The landing gear is chromaloy steel, and the engine mount is also chromaloy steel. The aerodynamics are largely undisturbed from our sweet flying, original 254.
***
Pricing to be announced at Oshkosh on these models:
a) Aluminum Belite 254 taildragger with 28HP engine. Weighs about 210 pounds. UK SSDR compatible as well!
b) Aluminum Belite 254 Trike with 28HP engine. Weighs about 220 pounds. UK SSDR compatible as well!
c) taildragger with 45HP engine. Weighs less than 254 pounds. Phenomenal takeoff performance.
d) same thing in Trike.
e) deluxe taildragger with 50HP engine, carbon fiber, 'chute, every option we make.
f) deluxe trike with 50HP engine.
And yes, we're still working in the 4 stroke engine. And the aluminum kit version.
***
Many of our potential customers are concerned about their weight in relationship to our planes. These new aluminum planes solve that problem.
The 45HP engine, in combination with the lightweight aluminum fuselage, provides the ability to lift a lot of load! We can now handle pilot loads up to 275 pounds in the taildragger configuration. With really great performance!
***
The aluminum fuselage airplane pictured above has already been presold to a customer.
***
We have two more fuselages already started. We will have at least one aluminum ultralight at Oshkosh. Please come see us.
***
I've had a dream. In it, I'm able to take a simple board, lay it across my chest, and in a few steps I am flying. Somehow, I lay on the board, and it generates enough lift to take me above trees, mountains, streams, and beautiful things.
I do not understand how this can be. I am not Jetman, but I know that it is real, and in my dream, I am gliding down over a descending landscape.
I am able to breeze by trees, houses, birds, and under a clear, blue sky, I am able to select a landing spot. In my dream, I land just a few minutes after I take off. Sometimes, I have a passenger nearby (I do not understand this either.) But mostly, I am free, and I simply fly.
I feel the joy, and I am determined to share it with others. I see that as a role given to me: to spread the joy and the ability to fly above and observe above and be above. To be above. To fly.
***
Two days ago, I was down in Tulsa, Oklahoma, making some simple wiring fixes to a plane we'd delivered to a new Belite owner. The airstrip was overkill long at 1320 feet; there were horses on either side, and the hangar was in the back yard of the house. Ironically, a windsock was 3/4ths of the way down the strip, and it was positioned nearly in the middle of the runway. I asked the owner if I could once again fly the plane that was formerly mine, and he said, of course, 'yes'.
Once around the pattern, a low approach.
Another time around the pattern. A hot day. But 300 feet above the ground, things were comfortable in the open cockpit.
A second time around with a lineup to final approach. A good breeze out of the east. A crossing landing on the runway, drifting from left side to right side, making advantage of the crosswind.
Landing. Barely disturbed the grass blades -- a combination of luck, maybe some skill, some springy gear, and some big fat tires.
Out of the plane. My wife took my picture, as did one of the new owners. The other owner showed up late, I started the engine just so he could see it easily start.
***
He called me earlier today, and I answered. I am in West Virginia, getting ready to deliver a series of talks on computer forensics at Marshall University. He wanted to know how to adjust the tension on the throttle lever; and I gave him some quick advice. He'd flown the bird, rechristened 'Queen Lady', and he was tiring of readjusting power continuously. Surely, an understandable aggravation. But he'd flown around for 30 minutes, and I was pleased for him.
***
Two planes sold in 24 hours -- that's news. One heading to California, the other to Missouri. We cut the prices on some of our planes in order to reduce inventory, and in order to prepare a way for a new aluminum variant.
***
I've always been in love with technology. I enjoyed putting carbon fiber spars on ultralights -- I thought the strength / weight thing was simply amazing. I ignored the economics -- figured people would pay. A few did. Not many.
***
Kathy and I put out a pricing survey on our planes. It seems these are the most important things to many of our potential customers:
a) They like our plane.
b) They want to fly.
c) They want to afford our plane.
d) They may weigh a little too much -- but they still want to fly. Do we have a plane that will accommodate them?
***
Belite has been in development of an aluminum fuselage of our plane. An original prototoype was built, and we did a series of tests on it:
a) Engine mount strength
b) Pilot seat strength
c) Airframe strength -- taxiing (super hard jolts while going up and down the runway without shocks).
 |
| Engine Mount Strength -- over 400 pounds of steel. Ken needs to smile. |
 | |
| Pilot Seat test -- 819 pounds of steel and sand |
So we redesigned the cabin area, and a bunch of the round tubing was replaced with square tubing -- much stronger. It ended up looking like this:
 | |
| Closeup of square aluminum tubing |
So here's a photo of an aluminum airplane. Notice the heavy cockpit structure, also the monocoque aluminum skin on the sides, (carrying landing loads). The landing gear is chromaloy steel, and the engine mount is also chromaloy steel. The aerodynamics are largely undisturbed from our sweet flying, original 254.
 |
| Aluminum Fuselage Ultralight Airplane from Belite Aircraft |
***
Pricing to be announced at Oshkosh on these models:
a) Aluminum Belite 254 taildragger with 28HP engine. Weighs about 210 pounds. UK SSDR compatible as well!
b) Aluminum Belite 254 Trike with 28HP engine. Weighs about 220 pounds. UK SSDR compatible as well!
c) taildragger with 45HP engine. Weighs less than 254 pounds. Phenomenal takeoff performance.
d) same thing in Trike.
e) deluxe taildragger with 50HP engine, carbon fiber, 'chute, every option we make.
f) deluxe trike with 50HP engine.
And yes, we're still working in the 4 stroke engine. And the aluminum kit version.
***
Many of our potential customers are concerned about their weight in relationship to our planes. These new aluminum planes solve that problem.
The 45HP engine, in combination with the lightweight aluminum fuselage, provides the ability to lift a lot of load! We can now handle pilot loads up to 275 pounds in the taildragger configuration. With really great performance!
***
The aluminum fuselage airplane pictured above has already been presold to a customer.
***
We have two more fuselages already started. We will have at least one aluminum ultralight at Oshkosh. Please come see us.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Belite Ultralight Aircraft @ Mythbusters
(c) all photos by James Wiebe, Reproduction prohibited without written permission
If you read all the way to the bottom, I'm posting some more great photos of working at Mythbusters, including some photos of the MythBuster gang and a Belite Ultralight Aircraft. If fact, the airplane pictured far below is the same aircraft which won "Best Commercial Ultralight" at Sun N Fun -- refinished with a different engine and as a showstopping taildragger.... But first, some of the editorial on what it was like:
ARRIVING MYTHBUSTERS STUDIO, AKA 'M7'.
No, I'm not shouting, I'm just in shock.
I'd been given the address to drive to by the Associate Producer, a very nice guy by the name of Eric Haven. I really didn't know what to expect, other than the Google Map streetview had provided a grainy photo of an industrial area near the city's downtown.
I drove into the parking lot, and passed business unit after unit, waiting to find the one that said "MythBusters" on the door. I realized that nothing said MB on the door, but that the contents of the parking lot had somehow shifted from average cars to a collection of strangeness: a vehicle which looked like a small desert tank in progress; a bomb bunker, large markings on the parking lot (like a bomb drop "X"), and an oddly painted VW beetle.
I realized I had found Mythbusters. Kewl. In the door I went.
Which I did -- went in the door, expecting amazing offices and greatness, and I walked instead into a common room with desks crammed together, a huge mess on all of the walls, a small black dog, and people who were very busy. And a Mythbuster host or two at their desks, working (or playing) right in the midst of the chaos. And a big warehouse in the next room, where all the non-location shots would be setup and filmed.
Debris of a hundred episodes spread throughout all the walls, floors, ceilings, parking lots, desks, bathrooms, storage cabinets, and vehicles.
Hey, I can't tell you what we did. I've signed a blood enabled non-disclosure oath. But I can tell you some other things:
1) Our myth will certainly use a Belite airplane.
2) I've never been a part of a work environment that was so ad hoc on the back end. What a riot!
3) The hosts (Tory, Grant, Kari) are fun, witty both on and off camera.
4) The hosts (Tory, Grant, Kari) can be serious, can show concern and compassion just like all good human beings.
5) The hosts (Tory, Grant, Kari) really do everything you see them doing on the show. And they do a lot more. They are working the myths with great diligence.
6) There are other people who are also working just as hard to make sure that the show is great TV. I've mentioned Eric, but there's also John, Lauren, Benny, Amid, Duncan, and many more.
7) Not that I've had great opportunity to, but I've never seen a group that knew so much about how to get a great camera shot. Both first and second camera (Ben and Duncan) know their stuff forwards and backwards.
8) MB very graciously allowed one of my daughters to join the fun for a day. Duncan (2nd camera) even more graciously took her and put her to work, instructing her on building a super cool show prop (which she did) and having her directly assist with setup on a "Mythbusters" logo shot, which they do frequently and freshly for each episode. I even got to contribute some thoughts to that particular logo shoot. It took them 3 hours to produce less than 2 seconds of video. The end result was world class super hi-def slow-mo footage shot on an amazing hi speed camera.
9) For all of the fun on camera, there are people who are sweating details. The producers and the director have plates full when the project is on -- there are loads of unforeseen things (EG: no porta-potty on location -- where to Pee? -- find a porta-potty). Some of the unforeseen things cause the director to think on their feet; some of them cause the producer to think on their feet; some of the problems cause the hosts to think on their feet.
10) It's teamwork. You have to work very hard to make great TV.
If you read all the way to the bottom, I'm posting some more great photos of working at Mythbusters, including some photos of the MythBuster gang and a Belite Ultralight Aircraft. If fact, the airplane pictured far below is the same aircraft which won "Best Commercial Ultralight" at Sun N Fun -- refinished with a different engine and as a showstopping taildragger.... But first, some of the editorial on what it was like:
ARRIVING MYTHBUSTERS STUDIO, AKA 'M7'.
No, I'm not shouting, I'm just in shock.
I'd been given the address to drive to by the Associate Producer, a very nice guy by the name of Eric Haven. I really didn't know what to expect, other than the Google Map streetview had provided a grainy photo of an industrial area near the city's downtown.
I drove into the parking lot, and passed business unit after unit, waiting to find the one that said "MythBusters" on the door. I realized that nothing said MB on the door, but that the contents of the parking lot had somehow shifted from average cars to a collection of strangeness: a vehicle which looked like a small desert tank in progress; a bomb bunker, large markings on the parking lot (like a bomb drop "X"), and an oddly painted VW beetle.
I realized I had found Mythbusters. Kewl. In the door I went.
Which I did -- went in the door, expecting amazing offices and greatness, and I walked instead into a common room with desks crammed together, a huge mess on all of the walls, a small black dog, and people who were very busy. And a Mythbuster host or two at their desks, working (or playing) right in the midst of the chaos. And a big warehouse in the next room, where all the non-location shots would be setup and filmed.
Debris of a hundred episodes spread throughout all the walls, floors, ceilings, parking lots, desks, bathrooms, storage cabinets, and vehicles.
Hey, I can't tell you what we did. I've signed a blood enabled non-disclosure oath. But I can tell you some other things:
1) Our myth will certainly use a Belite airplane.
2) I've never been a part of a work environment that was so ad hoc on the back end. What a riot!
3) The hosts (Tory, Grant, Kari) are fun, witty both on and off camera.
4) The hosts (Tory, Grant, Kari) can be serious, can show concern and compassion just like all good human beings.
5) The hosts (Tory, Grant, Kari) really do everything you see them doing on the show. And they do a lot more. They are working the myths with great diligence.
6) There are other people who are also working just as hard to make sure that the show is great TV. I've mentioned Eric, but there's also John, Lauren, Benny, Amid, Duncan, and many more.
7) Not that I've had great opportunity to, but I've never seen a group that knew so much about how to get a great camera shot. Both first and second camera (Ben and Duncan) know their stuff forwards and backwards.
8) MB very graciously allowed one of my daughters to join the fun for a day. Duncan (2nd camera) even more graciously took her and put her to work, instructing her on building a super cool show prop (which she did) and having her directly assist with setup on a "Mythbusters" logo shot, which they do frequently and freshly for each episode. I even got to contribute some thoughts to that particular logo shoot. It took them 3 hours to produce less than 2 seconds of video. The end result was world class super hi-def slow-mo footage shot on an amazing hi speed camera.
9) For all of the fun on camera, there are people who are sweating details. The producers and the director have plates full when the project is on -- there are loads of unforeseen things (EG: no porta-potty on location -- where to Pee? -- find a porta-potty). Some of the unforeseen things cause the director to think on their feet; some of them cause the producer to think on their feet; some of the problems cause the hosts to think on their feet.
10) It's teamwork. You have to work very hard to make great TV.
 |
| First Camerman and Sound |
 |
| Duncan *WANTS* this airplane. |
 |
| Some Mythbusters on the (closed) runway. Notice there's nothing around: miles from people. |
 |
| Kari Byron, 'nuff said. |
 |
| MythBusters, Lauren (Director) and Benny (1st Camera) |
 |
| Tory dreams of takeoff in a Belite Ultralight Aircraft. Sorry, you need some training first. |
 |
| Tory, Grant, Kari, Jennifer and James with Belite Ultralight Aircraft |
Friday, June 24, 2011
More Mythbusters!
Tory, Grant, Kari, James, Jennifer @ Mythbusters!
What an awesome amazing week. And more to come...
 |
| Tory, Kari, James, Jennifer, Grant @ Mythbusters |
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