This is very interesting Dan. Thank you. I would love the opportunity to be involved in the project. I have a lot of experience to bring to the table and this would be the dream of my lifetime.
I am going to build a full scale aircraft soon. I am still deciding which one. Perhaps the "new" ultralight sailplane will be the one.
I'll be until fall finishing the Pitts.
Karl
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> Karl and guys,
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> We discussed the visibility in another thread, but I couldn't see very well up and back, which is where you need to look while you are circling in thermals. My preference would be a mid-wing with my eyeline above the top of the wing and the ability to move my head to look back under the wing. I also want my eyeline forward of the leading edge at the root. Improved visibility would greatly improve the Carbon Dragon flying experience for me.
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> I am currently working on developing ground towing operations to tow paragliders, hang gliders and ultralight sailplanes. We bought a Cloud Street Winch and have made about 100 tows over the last 6 weeks, including step tows to about 3000 feet off the ground. I expect I'll be working this development pretty hard through the Summer trying to encourage my fellow pilots to fly and go XC.
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> After towing operations are developed, I plan on rolling into the design, build, test and operation of an ultralight sailplane. I won't talk too much about this on this group, since the subject is the Carbon Dragon, but the goal will be similar to the Carbon Dragon, only with the added stipulation that it will be designed to be built from plans and be adequate for folks up to 242 pounds (110 kg).
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> The Archaeopteryx looks very nice, but has a similar configuration as the Carbon Dragon. It appears that the visibility is better than the CD, but not nearly as good as a conventional sailplane. The cost is also stratospheric.
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> Karl, your giant aerobatic models look really good. Let's stay in touch.
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> I hope to fly for a good while longer. The hang gliding may only be for another decade or so, but I bet I could fly into my 70's (should I live so long) with a good ultralight sailplane.
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> Dan 