Sabre/Pacer GT Trike Update

The new trike has been performing flawlessly. The last extension of the mast put the base tube in the perfect position for comfortable flying. I found the perfect hang position to be 1/8" back of the stock position. It is trimmed to cruise comfortably at about 4100 rpms. So far the Rotax 503 has run without any issues and the trike climbs at over 1000' per minute on full throttle.

Up to now I have been doing a lot of test flying and have been staying within glide distance of the airport. It is about time to do my first cross country in this trike, most likely a short hop from Creswell to Cottage Grove airport and back.

Once again the hangar is getting full. I currently have 3 trikes, a N3 Pup project and a paramotor stuffed in there. Something has got to go...but not the new trike, it is here to stay!

She Flies!

Update:  The mast has been extended by an additional 7" putting the base tube at the perfect control height!

After a lot of work the Sabre/Northwing Pacer GT trike was finally ready for flight testing.  After mounting the new Tennessee prop, breaking in the Rotax 503, making adjustments to brakes, throttle pedals, instruments, etc., it was time to take the airplane out on the runway.

After making four successful crow hops I was convinced that the wing would indeed fly.  Although the Pacer GT definitely flies faster than my last bird, takeoff and landing characteristics seem to be quite straight forward and predictable.

So...it was time to take out it around the pattern.  After several times around it came evident that the wing was flying too fast making me have to push out too much.  In other words I needed to move the hang position back a bit.  I made a 1/2" move back and it seemed to fly much better.  However, another concern was the amount of rake of the mast. It did not seem to be enough making the trike land a little too flat.

I went back to the hangar and adjusted the Sabre chassis geometry to provide more rake.  This however created another problem in that the control bar base tube was now too low.  After a lot of head scratching I finally determined that the only way to resolve this was to make the mast even longer. I had already added 8" to the mast length, and now I am going to have to increase it by another 6-7".

And so the saga continues!

Covid 19 Slowing Down...Super Trike Speeding Up!

It looks like the Covid 19 virus lockdown is finally starting to slow down and various states are starting the slow process of reopening.  Thank goodness for that.  In the mean time my trike build is progessing rapidly.

Here is a short list of the recent work:

2.58:1, B gear box mounted on the engine
New hand throttle installed and foot throttle rebuilt
New throttle mixer installed
New foot brake fabricated and installed
Instruments mounted and wired in
Electrical connections and engine probes installed
New fuel primer installed and fuel lines finalized

There are just a few final details that should be wrapped up in the next week or so and then it will be on to testing!

The Covid-19 Trike Build

I will always remember this trike as the one that I was building during the Covid-19 novel virus outbreak.  What a crazy unprecedented time this is, filled with unpredictability, panic and anxiety.  Hopefully, this will soon pass and we will all move on!  In any case, what better way to reduce the current stress than to work on a new airplane?

So the new Northwing Pacer GT has been setup and mounted on the Sabre trike chassis.  The wing is beautiful, 80% double surfaced and streamlined for performance.  It is going to be great to fly.  However, the mast of the Sabre was too short for the new wing so I had to fabricate a 12" mast extension out of 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" telescoping steel which fit snuggly over the 2" x 2" aluminum mast.

After mounting the wing I turned to the engine mount.  It was necessary to fabricate new mounting bars which I made out of 3/8" x 2", 6061 aluminum that I cut, drilled and painted.  It turned out great and the Rotax 503 is now comfortably sitting on the Sabre trike chassis.
To mount the engine I found it necessary to remove the fuel tank.  I took the opportunity to clean the tank inside and out and it is back on again.

Next, I will be moving on to mounting the fuel pump, carbs and running the fuel lines. Need to keep moving forward!

Picking Up The Pace!

Or should I say "Pacer"?  I am building a new Rotax 503 based trike.  It all started when I found a really pristine DCDI 503 down in Medford at a great price. The 503 has historically been my favorite engine for trikes, powerful and reliable. After finding the engine I started looking for a chassis and quickly came up with an engine less Sabre in good condition up near Albany.

The only thing missing was a wing. I wanted a topless wing for sliding into the hangar and also wanted something fast for XC as well. I wasn't able to come up with anything decent on the used market so I ended up buying a brand new Pacer GT from Kamron at Northwing. After a long drive up and back to Chelan, the beautiful wing is now safely back in my hangar. Photos will be posted soon.

Let the magic begin!

Nothwing Trike is for Sale! $4500 *SOLD*

I have had a lot of great flights in the past months and am reluctantly putting the ATF/Stratus up for sale.  The engine runs great and the wing flies beautifully.  However, as usual I am working on a new project and will eventually need the space.  I will keep flying it until sold.  Come and get it!

Test Flying the Stratus

After the Quicksilver left the hangar I wasted no time putting the new trike together. One issue I had is that the new wing is kingposted and will not clear the hangar door. To resolve this I bought a small dolly. When collapsed, both the control bar and front wheel of the trike sit on the dolly allowing me to easily roll it in and out of the hangar. Works great.

After thoroughly inspecting everything I went to flight testing.  I began with high speed taxis down the runway and quickly progressed to crow hops. Finally, on a low wind early morning I committed to taking her around the pattern.

I am still working on takeoff timing, trying to find the proper mix of wing attitude, thrust, etc., for the perfect transition into the air. However, when the trike finally pops off it climbs like a rocket, and flies and lands very smoothly.

Before I fly the trike again I want to change the oil mix. The previous owner was running a petroleum based oil at a mix of 40:1.  I intend to switch to Amsoil Interceptor synthetic and run it at 50:1. Going from 40:1 to 50:1 will require some rejetting of the carb. At 50:1 the mix will be relatively richer, so I will need to lean out the carb a little for smooth running. Some people make the mistake thinking that more oil is richer and less is leaner. This is not true. When we are discussing lean vrs rich we are talking about air and fuel, not oil and fuel. For instance, adding more oil makes less fuel available for the relative amount of air, making the air to fuel ratio leaner. Decreasing the amount of oil has the opposite effect making the ratio richer.

Wonderful World of Nanolites!

The Quicksilver has been sold to Joseph down in southern Oregon.  He is an experienced pilot with a lot of Rotax experience and is very excited about flying his new plane. It is definitely going to a good home.

For the near future I am going back to flying trikes, specifically soarable nanolites.  I am very attracted to the simplicity, ease of setup and transport of these little airplanes.

I found a nice, older, low hour ATF trike with a Stratus wing up north which I brought back down last weekend.  it has a JPX D320 engine which I have no experience with, but seems to run very well.  The wing is the earlier version of the Northwing Stratus and is in near new condition.

I am looking forward to some fun flying in the very near future.

Sprint Has Sprung!

Finally got the Quicksilver MX Sprint fully assembled at the hangar.  Here she is in all her glory!

Put the wings on, then the tail section, hooked up the control cables and there she was.  Beautiful!  Overall this bird is in great shape.  Nice sails, pod, full instruments, all the usual.  Not that I didn't have to make a few minor adjustments....always do.  For instance, the elevator cables were set up with way too much slack.  The only way to adjust them is at the foot pedals, so I had to remove the windshield and instrument panel to get to the pedals, but no big deal.  All in a day's work.

I have done quite a few engine run ups in the previous weeks and this 447 runs very well.  However, the engine is inverted, so it has the usual starting issues.  Here are a few tips that I have learned over the years for starting inverted engine setups.  Since the plugs are upside down, fuel inevitably drips down into them making them extremely easy to foul.  Tip number 1, always shut off your fuel valve after a run up.  If you don't have a fuel shutoff between the tank and engine, install one.  Tip number 2, use plugs with whatever heat equivalent  you require that have an extended electrode.  This gets the spark away from the fuel pooling area.  Tip number 3, install some sort of primer to prime the cylinders for quick start up.  Here is a trick if you don't have a fuel primer.  Plug one of the carb fuel overflow tubes with a finger, and then blow into the other one.  This blows a puff of air and fuel directly into the cylinders.....instant primer.  It is magic when you try it for the first time!

Trike Fever!

I don't know what it is about trikes....but I always seem to want to get another one. I found a great deal on a Kemmeries Tukan trike plans built chassis and wing down in Northern California.  The chassis has a lot of great features, like double sleeved tubing, an awesome running Rotax 447, dual blade ground adjustable IVO prop, exhaust clamps, quick release 5 gallon tank and a super comfortable cushy seat.

The wing is an Apco Sabre trike wing.  It is pretty old but still in really good shape.  Apparently Mark Gibson (R.I.P) did some work on the wing to beef it up, including sleeving the keel and doubling the flying wires.

With just a little love I think I will be flying it soon!

Time to Sprint!

Picked up a pretty nice Quicksilver MX Sprint ultralight from Jodi in Sweethome.  This bird is fully 3 axis, has a nice running Rotax 447, new wood prop, full instruments, sweet pod, steerable nose wheel, hydraulic brakes and is basically ready to fly. Just need to get a little help to put on the wings and I am ready to Sprint!

R.T. Stole Over $5000 From Me!

R.T. is well known as a pioneer in the Oregon flying scene.  He is considered an exceptional pilot, famous or infamous depending on who you talk to.  I was a loyal friend of his for over 30 years. No more, and here is why.

About 4 years ago R.T. had just fired D.L., his only employee in his electrical contracting business.  R.T. needed someone quickly to replace him and called me. 

Within 2 days of his call I started working for him in Portland.  To work in Portland I had to rent a room on a monthly basis and make the commute up and down from Eugene twice a week.  The overall expense of this was around $800 per month.  This seemed fine as R.T. was going to pay me well for the work I did for him.

I worked for R.T. for about a year.  I always showed up on time, worked hard and never missed a day.  Unfortunately, R.T. is a rageaholic in all aspects of his life.  Whether driving, working or for that matter doing anything, he is constantly fuming, swearing and abusing everyone around him.  On a daily basis he called me names, made fun of my appearance, swore at me, hid my personal possessions, took money from me and emotionally abused me in every manner that you could conceive.

I told R.T. on multiple occasions that I would not continue to work for him if he was not willing or able to change his behavior.  After a while D.L. was hired back again, and just like me he was subjected to the same type of daily torment.

Long story short, there finally came the day that I was no longer willing to be treated in this manner and I quit.  At the time of my separation R.T. owed me back wages totaling well over $5000.  Over the past 3 years I have attempted to collect the money owed to me in every possible and amicable manner.  He has told me over and over that he is going to pay me the money, but has yet to pay me a dime.  Part of the money that he owes me is for medical bills.  I was almost electrocuted working for him on one of his jobs and suffered permanent nerve and tissue damage to my hand.  R.T.'s electrical contracting business was basically illegal, no contractors license and no electrical license.  At the time of my accident he implored me not to inform the Urgent Care Facility that this was a job related accident, and swore that he would pay my medical deductible.  Of course he never did.

For the last six months I have tried to reach R.T. through every possible avenue.  I have called him, texted him, and e-mailed him....without any response whatsoever.  I have good information that he sold his house in Portland and has moved to Palm Desert to live happily ever after with his accomplice L.G.  The last time I spoke to him in October of 2017 he told me that he would come down to Eugene and pay me the money he owed me.  Of course, just another lie in a long list of lies.

This is not the first time that R.T. has stolen money from me.  In multiple endeavors over the years he has not paid money owed to me, and I have always forgiven him.  I have always been a loyal friend and responded to him when ever he needed my help.  Never again.

It is clear that R.T. and L.G. have no intention of ever paying back the money which they have stolen from my wife and I.  Not only did I not get paid for probably 3 months of work, but I had the privilege of paying out $2400 of my own money to work for free. As far as I am concerned our 30 year friendship is over and never again will I have anything to do with him.

In the end, this is a cautionary tale.  Beware of doing business with or having anything to do with this person. If you have been wronged by him in a similar manner I would welcome your comments.

For years I thought that R.T. was one of my best friends...but in reality...he is actually the worst enemy I have ever had.  My new mission in life is to let every pilot in Oregon and Hawaii know exactly what kind of liar, thief, narcissist and coward he is.

Unfortunately, great pilots are not always good people.

The Phantom Has Moved On!

Reluctantly, the Phantom Menace has moved on to new owners in Sandy Oregon.  Andreas (Andy) and John made the trip down to purchase the Phantom and trailer it to its new home.  Hopefully,

I will receive some updates to be posted soon!

Behold the Phantom "Menace"!

The phantom I found up in Vancouver turned out to be a pretty nice little plane.  I have been looking for one for some time that was in reasonable driving distance and I had seen this one for sale for several months.

The timing turned out to be good so I took a trip up and bought it.  This weekend I rented an enclosed cargo trailer and took the old man along with me to help load her up.  The seller Alan was very helpful in giving me information about the plane and loading it in to the trailer.

She is now back at Creswell ready for some work.  She is an older plane, not really sure of the exact age, and not perfect by any means.  She however has a lot of things going for her, such as a brand new, never run Rotax 447, new sails, and a new EIS instrument panel for engine monitoring.

In any case, this is the plane I have been been waiting for.....a part 103 legal 3 axis ultralight.  Let the games begin!

Bye Bye Birdie!

The Quicksilver MX has been sold!  Roger from Southern Oregon is the proud new owner and is on his way back from Creswell as we speak.

I hope to hear of his flying adventures with Betty Boop soon!

As for me I have my eye on a Phantom ultralight up north that I will be checking out this weekend.

We can't let that hangar stay empty now can we?

There's a New Bird in My LIfe!

The Mini Max is now gone.  It is kind of sad since I never did fly it.....but it now has a happy new home with Dale in Washington.  He is pretty excited about the plane and has the rating(s) to be able to take her up.  I hope to hear reports of it flying the Big Skies soon!

My new bird is a nice example of a flying 1983 Quicksilver MX  two axis ultralight.

She is in excellent, airworthy condition with a freshly rebuilt Rotax 377 engine, new GSC Systems 51" wood prop, new sails, hardware and flying wires, etc.  And of course she is pretty as well.

At this point I have inspected her pretty thoroughly and have performed numerous crow hops at the runway.  The 377 runs really well and she flies straight and true!  Just waiting for warmer weather to take her around the patch.

Look below for a video of the Rotax 377 running strong at 3000 rpm's!

As usual she is also for sale at the current price of $4200.  Not sure if I would let her go though...at least not yet.  She is just too fun and easy to fly!

I also have a new trike project in the works.  I found a nice Airborne X-Air trike chassis that I purchased up north.  To get it flying I need to find a engine and a wing.  If you have a nice Rotax 503 or a trike wing for sale please get in touch with me.

For Sale: Beautiful Mini Max 1550 V-Max!!!!

Very nice single place Mini Max 1550 V-Max with strong running 1776 cc VW flat four engine, engine cowling (not shown), Tennessee Prop, full instruments, summer and winter canopies, in cabin heat, in flight trim, flaps, wheel brakes, steerable tail wheel, etc.

The cockpit of this aircraft would probably be most appropriate for a pilot up to 5' 11" tall and of average weight.

Excellent condition. N-812MW, all paper work in order. $6500 OBO. Will consider trades for ultralight aircraft, motorcycles, cars, trucks, rv's, etc.

Located at Creswell airport.

Aircraft Update!

Time to update the current inventory of planes and kits.

As of today the Mitchell Wing T-10 kit has been sold.  Stephen and Traci (spelling?) of Pueblo, Colorado made the long trek to Aumsville, Oregon to pick up their new project.  Steve has an engineering background and is very enthusiastic about getting the kit completed. I look forward to his future build updates.

The Cumulus Glider kit was sold a month or so back to Jim from Tennessee.  Jim took 5 separate flights to arrive at the Eugene airport, spent one night at a hotel, rented a truck, loaded the kit up and made the odyssey back to Tennessee.  I think the whole trip took him about 10-12 days.  He is also very excited about his new project.

The Sky Cycle Trike was sold locally last year toward the end of the flying season to Steve from Roseburg.  Steve had flown just about every type of aircraft except a weight shift trike, so this was a definitely a new adventure for him.

Finally, within the last few weeks I sold most of my remaining props, engines, ultralight aircraft parts to Mark from Southern Oregon.

All I have left is the Mini Max 1550 V-Max.....and I finally have enough room in the hangar to put on the wings!

Mitchell Wing T-10 Two Place Motor Glider Kit for Sale! SOLD!

The T-10 motor glider kit is still for sale at the reduced price of $7500!  Kit is as new and complete, less engine, prop and instruments.  The aluminum over foam factory built wing sections are still covered with the original protective plastic.

This kit may be the only one in existence, allowing you to build a legal Mitchell Wing T-10 two place motor glider in either the "Experimental Amateur Built" category or "Motor Glider" category.