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Where do I start? It has been quite some time since we updated this
site, and a lot has happened.
I returned home and got busy trading and building to make a stronger
and more powerful PPC for the cross-country flight. I customized an
Airframes Unlimited Outlaw 103 frame and used a new Hirth 2702 40 hp
engine and my Thunderbolt 310 wing.
In August we had our fly in here at home, and about a week later, on
September 2nd, I was practicing for the big flight in some wind. I
stayed up too long and pushed my luck too far. On my attempt to land
the last time, I had to abort once and then I thought that I had it. I
was wrong!
To make a long story short, the winds were too strong, gusty and
shifty for any PPC, and especially a 250-pound Ultra light PPC. I
attempted to abort another landing by using power as I have done many
times in the past with bigger, more powerful PPCs, but there was not
enough power. I ended up flipping it over on the nose and this time I
got hurt.
My left shoulder was crushed from the impact and shattered the bones
into more pieces than the doctor could count. I have since recovered
as much as I am going to without surgery. It still hurts every day and
is a constant reminder of what happens when you push and push the
envelope like I did.
For a while I did not want anything to do with flying. Then I started
getting the urge again, but the painful shoulder served as a good
reminder.
Airframes Unlimited built me a new frame with extra protection, custom
made for me, and I sold the elliptical wing. I thought that if I
slowed things down I might enjoy it again. After I got the new custom
Outlaw 103 put together I made the maiden flight to check it out, and
found that while I enjoyed it, I was still apprehensive about it. It
was slow and boring to me too with a square wing, but I did feel safer
under the square wing at that light of a wing loading.
I gave it a few more months, but it was not becoming anymore appealing
to me. I bought a new cruiser motorcycle and made a few long
cross-country rides over the winter and spring, one to Key West, and
another to tour the gulf coast where the hurricanes destroyed
everything last year. I also took up playing Texas Hold'Em and enjoy
playing at different casinos around the country.
Now, I know that I really enjoy flying, but I need the heavier planes
for my style of flight. I know that I love to travel, and when I sold
the Outlaw 103, I delivered it out west and toured the west while I
was there. I took my time and imagined flying around the mountains and
the high deserts. That is when I decided to lay it all on the line one
more time and go for a dream that I have had for several years.
My new plan is to incorporate my love of travel, flying a PPC, driving
a motorcycle and playing poker. With the cost of gasoline I am not
thrilled with the idea of hauling a trailer and plane around, so I
will eliminate all of that and make one vehicle that will do it all.
I just returned home from a trip to northern Illinois to meet with a
custom motorcycle trike builder,
www.eztrikekits.com .
They are building me a custom trike right now out of a 1982 Honda 750.
It will be a basic unit and as light as possible and still be as
strong as possible. I am having it custom made with a wider than
normal rear end for more stability when transitioning to flight for
takeoff and landing.
When I get it back home in my shop I intend to fabricate a frame so I
can add some steering tubes, throttle, fuel tank and engine to make it
into a motorcycle trike/powered parachute or MCT/PPC. I have seen
mopeds and 4 wheelers turned into flying PPCs before, so this is just
one more evolution that will be more practical for someone like me. :
When it is all complete and tested, I will travel around to areas
where I would like to fly and find a suitable field or deserted
stretch of road and takeoff and see the sights. I can land where I
like and refuel, get food, lodging, etc. If it is too windy to fly, I
can drive and still see some nice scenery or go to a local casino for
a poker game, or visit with friends along the route.
As I make progress in the build and testing I will ask Chris to update
the sight with more explanations and photos. We will plan an
approximate route to travel and fly for the next big adventure when
the time comes too.
Until the next update,
Have a good one!
Steve
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