Experimental Aircraft - death of a dream

[Gardenlover]

I didn't want to take away from, or derail, mike4lorie's thread (a-two-seater-small-plane-crashed-in-ottawa-ontario-yesterday), so I started a new one.

In my teens my dad was building a volksplane, which was classified as experimental at the time (or so he said). He had it nearly completed when my mother told him she would divorce him if he ever attempted to fly it. After much discussion and with a heavy heart he sold it without ever flying it. I guess there are many ways to live or die, depending on your outlook.

 

[Been There]

I didn't want to take away from, or derail, mike4lorie's thread (a-two-seater-small-plane-crashed-in-ottawa-ontario-yesterday), so I started a new one.

In my teens my dad was building a volksplane, which was classified as experimental at the time (or so he said). He had it nearly completed when my mother told him she would divorce him if he ever attempted to fly it. After much discussion and with a heavy heart he sold it without ever flying it. I guess there are many ways to live or die, depending on your outlook.

At least back in the 60’s (maybe before), there was a plane called an ultralight. It could be purchased as a kit that was shipped to the buyer’s house. The buyer would assemble it and could fly it without a license. I have flown one of these machines, but didn’t feel comfortable in the one I flew. The buyer could purchase a 1-seater, or a 2-seater. I think it had a 50 horsepower motor on it. I flew at about 30-35 knots and about 900 ft. In altitude.

When I flew this plane (of sorts) it was in 1979. The owner was selling it and I was considering buying it, but like I already wrote, I didn’t like the feel of being in the air with nothing around it. I really didn’t feel safe. The only thing holding me in the plane was a seatbelt. The wings were made out of sailcloth, like what’s used on a hang glider and the fuselage was made from aluminum.

I flew one looking near this one.