Marathon build

[kitersandy]

My name is Sandy. I started a kitbuild in 2000 in Selkirk,Manitoba. My son came on board and we finished an all aluminum side by side high wing Bushcaddy in 2005. (a 2000 hour hobby) My son Alex went into Aerospace engineering and now works for Boeing.

 

While awaiting final inspection, my plane was taken by a plow wind for a 200 meter ride across the airfield. Five years later with new wings, fuselage repair and lots of adjustments we have her under flight testing. She runs an EA81 Subaru but since she is on (full lotus) floats we are questioning the power capabilities. Her gross empty is just under 1000 pounds.. I have a team lined up to replace the cam and hope this will get-er-done!

 

I welcome any pointers that are out there!

 

 

[cherk]

G'day Sandy, the trials and tribulations (eventually....or is that eventfully/) of kitbuilding!

 

Wow, 1000# empty is sure a load for an ea81 !

 

I think the way to jump up to the task is probably to check out Ram heads.......http://www.ramengines.com/index.html .

 

Up to 140 hp, modified heads and cams et al . Worth a look.

 

Good luck and welcome .

 

 

[farri]

Hello Sandy and to this forum.

 

I don`t have any pointers for you but I`ve had an experience similar to yours.

 

I built an Ultralight Aircraft 30 years ago. This got me going into what is now called recreational aviation. After a couple of years and 135 hours of flying this aircraft,we had what we call a cyclone. Cyclone Joy, it was called.

 

This aircraft didn`t going flying off because it was well tied down but the shelter I had built for it got destroyed. The right hand wing struts of the aircraft collapsed and the wing fabric was damaged. By this time, I also had the Drifter so I decided one was enough to look after in a Cyclone. I pulled the damaged aircraft appart and stored it for quite a few years.

 

Finaly! I put it back together and it was flown for many more years by a husband and wife couple who I`d instructed when I was instructing. They wen on to build an X-Air and used the Rotax 582 off the old aircraft as the engine for the X-Air, so now my original aircraft remains disassembled once more. Will it fly again? Possibly as it is still in good order.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.