A retractable Pitot Tube on an 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!


One really cool feature we've been shipping on our ultralight aircraft is a retractable Pitot tube.  The old fixed pitot tube was a royal pain, and tended to get bent everytime we shipped an airplane in our trailer.

Solution:  a retractable pitot tube.  Credit for this idea:  Gene comes through again.

Here's photos as to how we do it:

First of all, this is what it looks like when it's extended.  We've placed the pitot tube through the leading edge of the wing, which is also our front spar.  Although this photo shows a carbon fiber spar, it works equally well with aluminum spars.  Also note that the location of the pitot tube is very close to the wingtip, so there is very little stress on the spar at this point.  (I have to have a very good reason to drill through a spar.)

Retractable Pitot Tube in Ultralight Aircraft

Funeral Arrangements for Sheryl Riney

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!


Received from Northridge this morning:

Dear Northridge Friends,

Here is the information as we have it for Sheryl Riney’s service:

There will be a viewing with the family on Wednesday evening at Broadway Mortuary, 1147 S. Broadway. The time has not yet been set, but we will inform you as soon as we know.

The Memorial Service will be Thursday morning at 10:30 at Eastminster Prestyberian Church, 1958 N. Webb Road. Participants will include Steve Dickey from Eastminster, Michelle Henderson, Earnest Alexander, Jim Smith from Friends University, and Ben Staley.

The Graveside Service will follow the Memorial Service at Kensington Gardens, 11500 E. 21^st Street. There will be a luncheon for the family here at Northridge following the graveside.

Please continue to lift Doug & Paul, Cecil & Verna, Kevin & Michelle and their children, as well as Cheryl’s family in your prayers during this difficult time and the times to come.

Sheryl Riney passes from this world to heaven UPDATED

FUNERAL NEWS:  We have just received word that Sheryl's funeral is to be at 10:30 on Thursday at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita, KS.  Double check with other sources... 

Sheryl Riney was Presiding Clerk of Northridge Friends Church, where I am assistant Presiding Clerk.  She was 52 years old, and died unexpectedly earlier this Saturday afternoon.  She is a dear friend of my wife and I.

Here is a very old picture of Sheryl, from 1987 (?) found on Facebook.

Sheryl Riney

Katie Henderson posted this recent photo on her Facebook:

Katie Henderson and Sheryl Riney

Katie wrote the most moving words, describing her stunned feelings upon hearing of her Aunt's death -- and much more about Sheryl.  You can read it on Katie's Facebook -- it is a 'must read'.

The Church posted this notice:

Dearest Family of Northridge Friends,

It is with very deep grief that I explain to you that Sheryl Riney surrendered her eternal presence into the hands of the Lord early this afternoon. For several days she has been seeking medical treatment in dealing with symptoms of a blood clot, yet without a complete diagnosis. At this writing word is that a blood clot lodged in her lungs and caused a fatal heart attack. She passed from this life to the next at around 1:30 this afternoon. 

Please pause throughout this evening and pray earnestly for Doug and Paul, Cecil and Verna, Kevin and Michelle, their families, Sheryl’s mother and siblings. Sunday Service Schedule: The Sunday evening business meeting has been indefinitely postponed. Normal service times of 9:15 and 10:45 will be observed Sunday morning. Both will be abbreviated in time. Some general announcement, words of comfort and directed prayer will lead both services at 9:15 and at 10:45. Following there will be an open-ended time of un-programmed prayer and soft music. The 10:45 fellowship time will be moved to the sanctuary for a come-and-go time of quiet prayer and reflection. Adult Sunday School classes may individually choose their participation. 

This is a time for our church to gather at the foot of the cross of Christ. He came that we might have life, and live it to the fullest. Sheryl Riney lived it to the fullest for the years she was granted. The tragedy is that she could have enjoyed 40 more so easily. Pray for one another. 

Yours, Larry Kinser

Flaperon Build Manual Update

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!


Everyone is interested in reducing build time and building a better product.  I've been able to do that with flaperons, used on our Belite ultralight aircraft.  The time required to build a flaperon structure is now down to less than four hours per flaperon!

This assumes an easy to build wooden jig, which will hold all the ribs in place.

This is an update over our earlier manual, published just a few weeks ago.

These techniques may be applicable to building control surfaces (elevator, rudder, stabilizer, etc.) on your favorite ultralight aircraft.

At Belite Aircraft, here's how we do it.

Table of Contents

Section A.  Specifications. 2

Section B.  Materials. 3

Section C. Preparation. 5

Section D: Build Jig; Test Fit Ribs and Bushing/Droppers. 6

Section E: Glue the Main Spar. 8

Section F:  Glue the Leading Edge, False Ribs. 9

Section G: Balsa Parts. 11

Section H: Trailing Edge. 13

Section I: Trim aluminum placement. 17

Section J:  Trim and sand glue. 17

Section K:  Apply sealant to wood. 18

Section L: Covering. 19

Section M:  Check Fit to wing assembly; install control horns. 19

Figure 1.  Completed Flaperon on an ultralight plane.