what are your single-place Airbikes coming in at weight wise? I just got my empty (no pilot, no fuel) weight back at 308# with 447 engine, wingtips, minimum instruments.
What about your max weights? I have really had my eyes opened about that figure.
Laird Lind
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GaryC
September 26, 2005, 8:29pm
Guest User
Dear LairdLind, My Airbike weights in at 327 lbs. I installed drooped tips, wheel pants, molded seat, two five gallons tanks in the wings, a full set of digital instruments, an oil injected 503 and I also rib stitched the wings. I'm due to fly it the first calm day this week. I'll let you know then how the extra weight affects the flight characteristics.
Hey LairdLind, Well lets try this new board out . This is my first post so here goes. The Air Bike that I completed back in April for the guy in Mississippi weighed in at 243 lbs. This was with a Zenoah G-25,22 hp engine,one wing tank,minimal instuments and minimal paint. This is what the plane weighed the day we did final assembly and the weight and balance....... Hope this helps......
I started to do subtraction from the 560 max weight listed in the manual and figured out that only my head and two legs could go flying because I weigh around 230# and the rest of my body would put me over "max" weight. since my first inquiry, i have found that there are some Airbikes out there flying in the 600's with good history. I have two wing tanks, 447, and wing tips with minimal instruments.
My Airbike weighed 305 empty with a 447. When I flew it to Oshkosh back in 1998, I was over 600 gross. Me (215), 10 gals gas (60), camping gear (25), tools/etc (10). No problem.
My Airbike (which has not yet flown - but I am on the last details) weighs 249 lbs - Hirth f-33, wing tips, wheel pants over 6" x 6" tires, streamline struts.
A/B Plans #112 has 1008 hours as of 02-09-2015 Ace
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OK, the heavyweight steps in.
My AirBike weighs 340# dry, fully loaded for a long cross-country trip (like AirVenture '05) the takeoff weight is almost 700#. That includes a 20# parachute, my dressed for flying weight of 225#, 20# of luggage including radio, GPS, phone, tent etc, 20# of tools, spare plugs and up to 15 pints of oil (15#) and finally 71# of gas/oil mix.
Performance is not sprightly but entirely adequate. I fly very carefully and avoid putting any sudden G-loads on the airframe. Charlie Radford saw me take off from Leavenworth under that weight, I could have climbed faster but there was no point in doing so. Admitedly, I am a test pilot under those conditions. Mine flies just fine this way, yours may not.
Hi all, not sure how to use this board yet, here is my first attempt. I was replying to Mark Reed's post. How does that airbike fly that you built with that engine setup ect.? Jim PS My sweet little Himax sits in the garage with the wings off, kicked out of the hangar by the Avid. Not sure yet, but I might drag the Himax back out. It sure is a fun little plane to fly.
Hey Jim, The guy has yet to fly it.He is on up in his years and has some back problems all summer.So, right now ,I can't tell you how it flies. I'm sure it will do OK. I just wish I had performed a thrust test like you did just out of curiousity .
Hey Airbike # 20 weighs in at 352, wheel pants, 447, electric starter, 2 wing tanks, custom heavy seat ,cowl ,BRS900 , a lot of dash, a bucket of paint, thats about. Kick her wide open take up the slack and don't look back!!!!!!!!! Rick in and above N.C..................
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