Upcoming 2012 Product Innovations at Belite

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"Upcoming 2012 Product Innovations at Belite"

 an overview of what's coming...
 this post focuses on "Hoerner Wingtips"

One of the absolute joys of my pseudo-job is that I get to investigate, implement and test aerodynamic improvements to my Belite ultalight airplanes.  As a result, I have come up with a goal of decreasing drag on our aircraft so that our very smallest engine option will allow cruising flight at 62mph.  (And the larger engines will require throttle limitations in order to stay within Part 103 -- or registration as experimental aircraft.)

When all is implemented, this will provide important improvements to takeoff and landing performance, along with substantial improvements to climb rate, reduced stall speeds.

Because our aircraft is so similar to a conventional high wing aircraft, I have identified several opportunities for drag reduction which are already available on many 'commercial' certified aircraft.  These opportunities include:

a)  lift strut drag reduction via fairings  --  all airplanes should have this
b)  wingtip drag reduction via reduction of wingtip vortices
c)  increased Lift / Drag in wing airfoil via subtle improvements
d)  reduced drag due to improved cowling design
e)  And maybe there will be more.

(none of these future options have been made available, or even priced yet)

I've already implemented and test flown a Belite with lift strut fairings, and I will provide a full report soon.  Hint at the outcome:  It was awesome.

I'm also working on a changed cowling design -- it will take a few more months and I'll have that one ready for report.

I've been reading through a variety of aerospace engineering reports on wing airfoils.  I find that my engineering and math background are an excellent helper for me as I've learned more and more about airfoils.

As for wingtip vortices, lots of people already know that Dr. Hoerner tested many different types of wingtips, in order to select and document those which increased effective span and reduced drag by reducing or eliminating those nasty wingtip vortices.  I happen to have gotten my hands on a copy of a couple of his books (they were loaned to me by a friend at my Church) and they have been delicious reading for my ultralight aircraft aerodynamic engineering education.

So, here's some photos of a set of wings in construction progress, showing Hoerner wingtips being fabricated.  These will end up on a plane which is being built to exhibit at Sun N Fun in 2012.  No opportunity for improvement is being overlooked in this airplane.  The wings in question are carbon fiber spars, with aluminum ribs, and the Hoerner wingtips.  You may also notice that they are also being prepared for VFR night flight via the addition of wingtip lights.  (The airplane is being built with a heavy 4 stroke engine, and will be registered experimental, thus allowing night flight.  It will be also be flyable as a legal FAR Part 103 airplane, albeit with a different engine.).  (This particular set of wings is being built by builder Mike.  Mike is awesome.)

So here are the pictures:

Belite Ultralight Aircraft wing, under construction with Hoerner wingtip

Detail of Hoerner wingtip, showing nav light fairing

Front view of Hoerner wingtip, with much smooth work still to do

Quartering view of Hoerner wingtip

View of Hoerner wingtip, prior to adding foam to front cell

Trailing edge quartering view of Hoerner wingtip

View of Hoerner wingtip from outside rear

Belite's Turn Coordinator: "More sensitive and more stable..."

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!


From one of our customers, we received this unsolicited testimonial concerning our Turn Coordinator and VSI:

Kathy,

Attached are two snapshots of my instrument panel "upgrade". The close-up shows the turn coordinator and the VSI (with an aux power port for my AdventurePilot 700/Skyradar kneeboard.)

I'm most impressed with the turn coordinator. It's both more sensitive and more stable than the analog instruments.

I've also tried using just the turn coordinator, VSI and the existing airspeed indicator as a "needle-ball-air speed" substitute, and it works very well.

I've also used the combination to fly the traditional two minute turn and I'm quite impressed.

Regards,

Ted Jula, KTAN

N701TJ (Zenair CH-701, Rotax 912ULS)

Here's the photos he included of his installation:

Belite's Turn Coordinator and VSI used in experimental aircraft

Belite's Turn Coordinator and VSI used in experimental aircraft

Thanks, Ted, for your positive comments!  The Turn Coordinator is our best selling instrument, and you've helped explain why.

Our Turn Coordinator is priced at $200 SRP.  Compare our product's performance and price to any old fashioned electric unit!

You can buy it from our webstore, or from Aircraft Spruce, or from Wicks.

 -- James

Risk, Cannonballs and Mythbusters

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!


... 

Risk, Cannonballs and Mythbusters

Last week, I deliverered an airplane to a new owner.  The airplane had been specially modified to meet the requirements of a handicapped pilot.  We'd modified the control stick and reduced the door entry height.  We'd also installed doors, simply to provide a little comfort on chilly fall and winter flying days.

James Wiebe flies a very special ultralight airplane from Belite; modified for a handicapped pilot

The aircraft had a number of features to increase safety:  aluminum fuel tank, extra wing spar, spring landing gear.  Even the cloth fairings on the landing gear arms cut dag, resulting in increased cruise and climb peformance.

Risk can be measured in many ways.  Flying our aircraft entails risk:  they are not certified; we sell them under the FAR Part 103 exemption which allows all kinds of privileges, in return for risk:  no medical, no pilot license, no aircraft registration.

Earlier today, I flew another ultralight aircraft:

Test Flight of a Belite Ultralight Aircraft (on the ground, actually)

 And I took some risk.  I am interested in providing a high quality product for my customers, so I realize that I must be willing to accept risk.  The engine was running roughly at high power:  a carburetor problem of some sort.  Gene and I fiddled with it, and I had it running acceptably for my test flight purpose, but certainly not acceptable for customer delivery next week.

In one or two days, I will test fly the same plane with a different propeller.  We will evaluate the performance of the propeller, because it is important to add to the body of information available to us, and to our customers as to what works best, and to our vendors, and to the greater community of aviators.

There is a financial reward, if I manage these risks appropriately.  Hopefully, this small business will continue to grow, and will eventually pay me something.  (The financial account has mostly run the wrong way.  Thankfully, that pendulum also is moving in a more positive direction.)  I've risked *a lot* on Belite. 

And now, Mythbusters.

Errantly, they shot a cannonball through the front and back of a house, off the roof of another house, and into a minivan.  They certainly didn't mean to, and before it happened, a lot of very intelligent people thought they had properly mitigated their risks.

Which goes to show, even the smartest of folks can't anticipate everything.  Risk doesn't always pay off (at least for the current account.)

I've read through many articles, I've researched the Mythbuster cannon shot literally from a bird's eye view (thanks to Google Maps), and I've seen what I believe to be factually incorrect (but irrelevant) reporting on their accident.  I read the twitter posts of Grant, Tory and Kari -- they seem to be taking responsibility straight on.  And from my limited experiences working directly with these people, I am confident they will make it right.  They are very proactive, they will rise above this accident, and they will be better for it.

Back to airplanes.

I want to help aviators fly.  This experience doesn't happen: ....

Belite Tricycle Gear Ultralight Aircraft landing

... unless I stick my neck out, invest the money, and fly the plane.  And let my customer do the same.

Risk can produce some beautiful things.

I can't help but think of our aircraft handicapped customers.  We have a couple of them.  Their ability to fly was severely eliminated by the FAA, but then they discovered Part 103 -- and our aircraft.  One of them (Eric) has become a wonderful friend of Belite, and has given Harley a beloved permanent home in our hangar.  He is allowed to risk and fly under Part 103, even though medical certificates would be denied, and Eric has received immense joy as a result.

For further background on why I say these things, consider reading Matthew 25, verses 14 through 28.  It speaks critically of people who don't take risks, and it speaks well of those who do.

Ultralight Aircraft from Belite touching down

Beautiful Cub Yellow Ultralight Aircraft

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!

Belite Ultralight Aircraft, aluminum construction, 45HP motor

I flew this plane today.  Loved it!  Phenomenal performer.  The airplane is constructed from aluminum, and is available with a variety of motor options.  Shown is a 45HP motor from Compact Radial Engines.  This looks very similar to the Duct Tape Plane which was featured on Mythbusters - same color, same taildragger configuration, but with aluminum construction and a bigger engine.  This particular ultralight airplane is soon heading to a customer in Missouri.

Belite Ultralight Aircraft, aluminum construction

Belite Ultralight Aircraft, aluminum construction