Flying a Part 103 Ultralight

[chuteme]

This past weekend I was visiting the Blue Heron factory in the Albany, NY, area. The weather was gorgeous, with warm temps and light breezes. The factory had two single seat Spirit 103's on the floor, and I decided to take one of them flying.

I opted for the true part 103 Spirit -- a Rotax 447-based machine with an Elan 400 chute. The plane is incredibly light, and feels more so given the extra heft I'm used to in the two-seat Marathon I currently fly. I had never flown a 447 before, and also never an Elan 400 chute, so I was looking forward to the experience.

It was mid-day, and breezy. The wind was actually at about a 45 degree angle to the runway. Out of the bag, the chute had a double inversion, but after correcting that I was ready to go. The takeoff roll proved more interesting than I care to admit, with the chute catching the crosswind, my size 13 feet having trouble getting up between the rudder tubes and main frame rails, and the chute naturally weathervaning into the wind. While managing all of those elements, I didn't pay enough attention to my ground direction, and found myself heading on a diagnoal across the runway, right for a huge hay bale.

But there were to be no worries. That little 447 and super light plane climbed like crazy. I was up and out in a very short period of time, and I wasn't even close to grazing on the hay.

Flying a Spirit is like driving a sports car: everything happens quicker. Steering is instantaneous, throttle control results in faster climbs or descents, turning is on a dime. I would highly recommend this type of aircraft to anyone who plans to fly solo. The two downsides are the limited fuel capacity (you won't be doing any super long cross country flights), and the fact that you have to pre-mix your oil and gas. I have gotten very used to the nicety of oil injection!

[chuteme]

Father's Day weekend, 2009 (June 21) found me back at the Blue Heron factory visiting family. Weather conditions were great on Sunday afternoon, and that little Spirit that I flew last August was calling to me! Many people at this gathering had not even seen a PPC fly before, so it was my pleasure to be able to show them how it works.

I continue to be amazed at the sports car-like response of such a light, nimble plane, not to mention how easy it is to move it around on the ground. And again, as before, I was amazed at how the 447 engine EASILY handles my weight (200 pounds). See the takeoff image below, which shows the steep ascent rate. The other is a fly-by image.

Perry

[Prezarious]

This is nice sports, floating on air, but need to be carefully on this.

_________________
Ultra Ankle

[Carroll Werren]

(06-22-2009 10:49 AM)chuteme Wrote:  Father's Day weekend, 2009 (June 21) found me back at the Blue Heron factory visiting family. Weather conditions were great on Sunday afternoon, and that little Spirit that I flew last August was calling to me! Many people at this gathering had not even seen a PPC fly before, so it was my pleasure to be able to show them how it works.

I continue to be amazed at the sports car-like response of such a light, nimble plane, not to mention how easy it is to move it around on the ground. And again, as before, I was amazed at how the 447 engine EASILY handles my weight (200 pounds). See the takeoff image below, which shows the steep ascent rate. The other is a fly-by image.

Perry

Tell Nick that I will paint the barn for a nice little machine like that.
Carroll