Industrial Espionage at Belite

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Following note found in Belite Parking lot:

TOP SECRET -- EYES ONLY FOR UNDERSIGNED

To:  C.S.R.
From:  Ace Industrial Spy Service, Bob Phillips, PI, acting SPECIAL AGENT
Re:   Belite's Product Improvements ----- TOP SECRET MEMO #2

SIR:  I was able to take more spy photos of Belite's product development effort.  In particular, I observed their latest development:  a highly streamlined rear turtledeck for Belite's aircraft, which appears to make a Belite look like the best single seat nostalgic cub reproduction ever, and I overhead them mumbling about expected improvements in climb rate, speed, and fuel efficiency as a result of their innovation.

While their staff was out to lunch, I was able to closely examine the prototype structure, and I can confirm that it was built from CNC cut wood formers using five layer baltic birch 1/4" plywood and aircraft quality wood longerons.  It looks like they are making impressive use of their CAD / ShopBot to create a potentially inexpensive and attractive addition to their product line.

Rumor has it that a degreed aeronautical engineer has also entered his belief as to the expectations as to drag reductions.

Build quality of the prototype was excellent - world class.

While crouched outside their shop door, I heard them discuss the weight of this innovation -- only 5 1/2 pounds as shown.

They had left the structure to dry, after application of some sort of waterproofing spar varnish, and I had my opportunity to take the photos.  I hope you can appreciate the risk I have taken to get these photos to you.

They were constantly muttering something about it being called an UltraCub -- best ultralight ever.

I also saw some other innovations.  THREE MORE ultralight innovations in particular caught my eye, but I did not have the opportunity to take photos or the time to describe the other innovations in this report.  Hopefully soon.

P.S. -------  While taking these photos, I observed three of their employees methodically walking back and forth across the runway, dragging rakes and hoes.  Very very odd behaviour indeed.  I will attempt to gain an explanation, but I emphasize:  I have never seen such an odd thing before.  Whatever the explanation, it misses my mark at this time.

((((SCANS OF SECRET PHOTOS FOLLOWS))))

UltraCub rear structure -- Belite ultralight aircraft

UltraCub rear structure -- Belite ultralight aircraft

UltraCub rear structure -- wooden formers and longerons, Belite

UltraCub rear former being glued, clamp still in place

Amazing lines on UltraCub from Belite Aircraft

Sneak Peek of upcoming Belite 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!


Yeah, I haven't posted much in the last 30 days.  Unlike a lot of blog authors, who blather on with apologies, make a weak post, then disappear from view, never to be heard from again -- I would rather say I've been busy.  And working on a number of very special things.  And I want to start sharing them with you.

Earlier today, I had a meeting with my wife and business partner, Kathy.  I opined that we needed to start the publicity engine for Airventure, and that perhaps it would be helpful to start 'leaking' information on our upcoming aircraft and product announcements into the market and customer base.  As no one drives by our workshop and takes spy photos (at least that I'm aware of), I have to be the one to let the information out.  Very carefully, of course, so no one will suspect that I am the source of the information.  So, this post is my first unofficial information leak.

Here is a photo of a work in progress:  our 'UltraCub'.  (That name selection is not final.)  You do have to use some imagination to fill in the rear turtledeck with fabric and paint, and you have to imagine where the windows are (in the half moon shapes.)

Belite UltraCub ultralight airplane, work in progress

It looks like it is going to be the perfect one man Cub.  We'll have one at Oshkosh.  More details then, including pricing and performance, and how it relates to the rest of our product line.

Notice the use of wood, which allows us to maintain low assembly costs and also easy three dimensional shapes.  Our use of our ShopBot helps as well -- the upper turtledeck is constructed from CNC milled Baltic Birch formers, and all of the longerons are cut from amazing aircraft quality fir.

Some more photos of the construction:

Belite UltraCub?  Ultralight Airplane, work in progress

Detail of UltraCub assembly, lots of clamps...

The lines on this plane are drop dead gorgeous.  The main color is cub yellow, of course, but we're thinking of doing the back upper fuselage in some shade of black.  Stay tuned.

There's lots more coming.

Is the Wichita Lineman Back On The Line??

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!


Just before Father's Day 2012, James was camping in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Skunked on flyfishing, he landed some very nice pictures of flowers, a bear, a deer, and Cades Cove, all in GSMNP.

Bear in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

About 20 exceptional photos have been uploaded to Belite's Flickr account.  You can see them here.

Flower in GSMNP

Joy Of Flight - $10 / hour in an ultralight airplane

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!


Confession of flight:  I fly ultralights. 

I have a video at the end of this brief post which shows a flying experience from earlier this week.  You need to watch this video, but first, you need to hear how strongly I feel about ultralight aircraft and the experience of creating and flying them.

Belite Ultralight Aircraft

When I am in my ultralight airplane, I climb rapidly to high altitudes.  This is just the same as 'real airplanes'.  In fact, it is better, because I have a better point of view. 

I burn less than 2.5 gallons per hour, and I use auto gas.  My operational cost is about $10 per hour for flight.

I do not apologize for my aircraft's performance, because it leaves the ground as fast as many certified aircraft.  In fact, it is better than many certified aircraft.

I repair my own airplane.  When I see something that needs attention, I fix it.  I do not take it to a mechanic, because I have educated myself on just about every component in my airplane.

I practice takeoffs and landings, because I want to be able to land in short places.  And I do.  I've landed in 100 and 1/2 feet  (100.5 feet).  Someday, I'll do better than that.  But I didn't have enough practice a year ago when I did that.

I cruise at 58 mph.  This is more than fast enough for everything I do.  In fact, it is too fast and I will throttle back to about 50 mph.  I achieve this on 28HP.  My airplane is well streamlined, and I am still working on ways to make it fly more efficiently.

I can fit my airplane in small garages, because my wings fold in 2 minutes.  Really, they do.

My airplane was an award winner at Sun N Fun.  A variety of our planes have won a major award every one of the last 3 years.

I'm constantly innovating.  I keep finding ways to improve the experience of ultralight flight.  I share these with others who have similar interests.  I share them with my customers, and I share them with my aircraft.

I use my airplane to help others fly.  So far, I've helped two people with significant physical disabilities.  I hope to help more.

The Federal Aviation Administration does not view my airplane as a real airplane.  This is helpful, because it means I do not need a pilots license.  I just need to know how to fly.  I also do not need a medical, and I also am not allowed to register my airplane.  I have no desire to register my airplane.

I have practiced many things in my airplane.  I know what to do if the wing stalls.  (Push the stick forward, duh).  I know what to do if the engine quits.  (Keep the airplane flying, aim for a landing spot, try to solve the engine problem, if time permits.  If all else fails, pull the parachute handle.)

I taught myself how to fly a taildragger in my airplane.  I am now a very good taildragger pilot.  I enjoy taildraggers more than tricycle gear airplanes, and I never thought I'd be able to say that, or understand it.  But I do.

I have surrounded myself with good airplane people, who have like minds.  I receive great expert advice from Doug, the friendly A&P in the next hangar, who also builds components for helicopters.  I receive advice from  Neal and to his son, both of whom are aeronautical engineers.  My customers give me feedback.  On the business side, my wife is wonderful and balances my dreaming with great financial management.  She helps cover airplanes with dacron, too.

I want you to watch a video that I made yesterday, from the cockpit of a Belite Ultralight.  It's raw and it is jerky, and I spend a lot of time focusing on the instruments, yet it shows the joy of simply circling above fields.  I hope you find it enjoyable, and I hope it helps you dream.  Please enjoy the video.

Here it is.