Airplanes

I've had a "thing" for airplanes as long as I can remember. At age six I could spot an airplane high above before anyone else in the family - then came third grade and glasses! I rode them, airplanes that is - not glasses, every chance I got at "penny-a-pound" airlifts. When I came back from Viet Nam, I used some of the money I had saved, and my thirty-day leave, to solo in 7.5 hours. My next assignment took me to the division headquarters for the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO, working under a major on flight status who didn't like to fly. That meant that I could get out of work, ride in a Beaver until we were out of sight of the tower, and then fly it while the Major logged his required time. Just before I got out, I was offered a program which allowed me to work toward my Private rating at the Army Air Club on base, during duty hours. I finished up shortly after I got out, then used the GI Bill money to go for Multi, Instrument, and Commercial ratings instead of college (real bright!) I paid for a Glider rating myself. Unfortunately, I never got to use the Commercial rating - my glasses again for one thing (and the fact that a jillion pilots were being released from the services with beaucoup time.) I did fly all over the States and Mexico, including a two week honeymoon trip which covered both Mexican coasts and the interior.

Someday (after the kids are gone, the house is fixed, and my wife happy - if I'm not yet dead!) I hope to have an airplane, probably homebuilt. What I really want is one like this, the Lionhart. A six-passenger, 250mph, 1000 mile range, $100K bi-plane. This photo shows the first aircraft built using the kit pieces. Read (and see) all about it at the Lionhart Homepage.

 What I'll probably get is more like a single seat, barely there, ultralight. This one is a MX II Sprint Ultralight and still costs about $6,500! I've flown an ultralight one time, at a place in Silver Creek, Colorado, which is at about 10,000 feet to start with. I flew on a frigid November day wearing two snowmobile suits furnished by the operator (thank God!) and have never had so much fun in my whole life! It was closer to flying like I dreamed of as a child than I have ever done in any other aircraft.

I've been looking at airplanes forever, (actually lost my deposit on a BD-5B w-a-a-a-y back) and I've offered to put up a page for one designer who currently doesn't even have E-mail. The plane was the feature of two articles in Kitplanes magazine and supposedly can be built for around $1,200 in parts (this was in '93/'94.) It is called the Compact 110 (for the target empty weight) and can be foot launched, winch- or auto-towed, or even air-towed by a powered ultralight. It is a 36' span, three-axis control, computer design made from pop-riveted aluminum tube and fabric. There are a picture or three of it on my page, and excerpts from the magazine articles, but you can get a whole info pack from the designer for $10. (Send him $11 and tell him to apply the extra dollar toward payment for my plan set!) His address is :

Bill Spencer
20 Stones Drive
Ripponden
Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire
England HX6 4NY  

Mail to Bill Spencer has been returned to sender for some time. 
Without a forwarding address, I fear that this design is dead.
You should look at the BUG listed below instead of the Compact110.

Flash:  A visitor has provided me with a look at yet ANOTHER itty-bitty glider.  It is called the BUG (for Basic Ultralight Glider)and can be seen at the builders' BUG page. It is actually flying, but the plans aren't finalized yet.  I am anxiously awaiting pricing and performance information.