What is Digg?112 Comments
- blixel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+29"I figure I'll buy the plans, then build it but not fly very high."
Good plan. Falling to your death from 500 feet (152.4 meters) is much safer than falling to your death from 5,000 feet. (1,524 meters) - kb9okb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+28I am a private pilot, and an ultralight pilot. I have been flying for about 10 years now. I was first taught in Quicksilver ultralights by Mark Smith, one of the world's foremost authorities on ultralight aircraft. I would not recommend the Affordaplane that is noted in this article. They are of poor construction, and have several negative features with regard to what you want in a quality ultralight. If anyone is serious about learning to fly ultralights, or light aircraft, email me at david@bottomley.us and I'll direct you to the proper people in your area so you can learn to fly safely. It is a safe and fun sport, but don't think you can build an Affordaplane from plans and go hop in and not kill yourself without proper training. My friend, Mark Smith's site is at http://www.trikite.com He has lots of good information about Quicksilver ultralights on his site. Oh and my latest toy, a CGS Hawk Arrow II, is here: http://david.bottomley.us/hawk.html if you're interested.
- oddball, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13luckly for me, I will never see your fat ass....
- vertinox, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12$7,000 you say? Thats as much as a coffin... Oh wait.
- firehawkmn, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Have you ever built one.... because guess what I have. It's built like a tank and much tougher then a quick (it's not even close to 103 legal). My first flight training was in a quicksilver MX sprint II, it's a good plane and I'm not knocking it at all, but I'd trust the A-plane with my life over the quicksilver any day.
I agree training is key. Anyone who tries to fly without training is a fool.
BTW nice hawk. - invisiblespam, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14have to be a brave soul to build and take that thing up in the air... looks like it could fall apart in strong winds
- muleking, on 10/12/2007, -16/+24No Digg,
Should be titled: Die like John Denver of JFK Jr. for 7,000 bucks - Kitsune818, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7That thing is pretty typical of an older fabric covered plane that are still flown quite a bit to this day. It just isn't covered in that photo.
I've flown in Piper Cubs.. I don't think that thing would be much different. - seanl, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14"have to be a brave soul to build and take that thing up in the air... looks like it could fall apart in strong winds"
You obviously know nothing about flying. Airplanes do not experience wind when they are in the air, only wind shear and gusts. Plenty of people fly ultralights that are much flimsier than the affordaplane. - firehawkmn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7You can get a ballastic parachute for airplanes that bring you and the entire plane down in the event of an emergency. Expect to spend 2K for one. http://www.brsparachutes.com/default.aspx
- amahler, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8You, too, can become a human lawn dart.
- 1337geek, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8read the specs, most of the people on digg are a bit over weight for that.
- sshack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7An ultralight? That's like saying "can't afford a ferrari?! Try the new 30hp john deer!"
I'd rather build one of these: http://www.supermarineaircraft.com/
A kit build supermarine spitfire. 260hp, 6.6G -4.0G loading, and easily flown. (None of this prop torque on takeoff). It still has that merlin crackle and pop on landing too.
There are some things that just aren't worth faking on a budget. Flying is one of them. - harley999, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Ahh, a quick google search yeided the plans if anyones interested, :)
Links to PDF: http://www.ultraligero.net/Sitios/Planos/Affordaplane/planos.pdf - HiddenForce, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Both John Denver and JFK, Jr. died due to pilot error.
John Denver didn't check his fuel tank switch (which selects which tank is being used) prior to take-off, which is part of the take-off checklist. After takeoff, he realized he was on the wrong tank, and due to the location of the switch (over the left shoulder), he had to twist around to try to reach it. When he did, he used his right foot for leverage. Unfortunately, by doing so, he applied right rudder pressure, which caused him to roll over and crash.
NTSB Report: http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001208X09045&key=1
JFK Jr. got disoriented in the foggy weather (in which he should NEVER have been flying as a relatively low-time pilot). When he did, he paid too much attention to his inner ear and ended up flying a downward, decreasing radius spiral. He should have trusted his instruments, but they were telling him something different from what his inner ear was telling him. If he had trusted his instruments, he and his passengers would probably be alive today. Although it's possible to have one or more instruments fail, since the three primary and three secondary instruments run on different systems (vacuum, pitot ram air, or electric), it's unlikely that a there would be failure of multiple systems, which would leave enough instruments to maintain attitude control.
NTSB Report: http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19354&key=1 - KidVicious, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9***** that, I'll just fly it off the road to my house.
- oddball, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7then why did u buy that car?
- JasonPrini, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6just make sure you can fly before you try...
This darwin award worthy dude did not...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyp-uZvDiy4&search=helicopter%20crash - binky79, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7how much more for a parachute?
- jeremy66158, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I'm going to build it! I don't think it will fall apart because it doesn't go that fast. What I want to know is if the engine kills can you glide it? I would guess so but want to know for sure before I buy plans.
- bjohnsonwsu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5No more expensive airline tickets for me! Digg party in Maui? See y'all there!
- funkytaco, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Screw training, I'm flying around my back yard!
- firehawkmn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6John walton also chose to ignore the factory about flying the plane with the doors removed. Thats what killed him. The wings lost their shape and lift when air was forced through the cabin into the wings because the doors were off. It has nothing to do with the fact is was an ultralight. It has everything to do with following directions.
- Kitsune818, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Wasn't JFK jr. flying a Cherokee?
- jnorris441, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"The Affordaplane offers many things other ultralights do not"
LIke the ability to fall out of the side if you make a sharp turn - Beanlover, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4That would be sweet to have. I would fly it to work and back everyday (if possible). Since there is an international airport between my house and where I work I'm betting I wouldn't be allowed to do that. :(
- detrux, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8I like it when knowledgeable people come on digg.
- Wolfboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3It's an ultralight. top legal speed in the US is around 63mph. And they aren't allowed to fly over urban areas.
- harley999, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4LOL, kiss my ass!
they link to other peoples plans: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:zmVerhFalGcJ:affordaplane.com/freeplans.html site:affordaplane.com&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3
but expect to sell theirs. - oddball, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4come on, everybody knows Australia also has a 90% higher occurance of drunk ultralight pilots.
- Dabellah, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I wouldn't trust something I built with my own two hands to fly...
- EABird1013, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4You can own a Cessna 172 (used) for as little as $40K. My Pilot's License cost me less than $2000 (in Ohio) in 2002.
Owning an airplane is not that big a deal. The payment on a $50K used airplane (financed for 20 years, they tend to hold their value) is less than most new car payments, a little more than $400 a month. Many people partner on an airplane and their payments would be half or quarter of that. Often times it is the maintenance that hurts, but still not as bad as the post makes it sound.
And try flying into any Class B, C or D airport in that thing. - loveandrockets, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I want you to build it too! Please email me for your first flight.
- hammerattack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Denver was flying a Piper Saratoga - not a cheap flimsy aircraft at all, but in fact more like a cadillac with wings. He'd be alive today if he were an IFR rated pilot.
- blugu64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@turgor
heh, ya helicopters autorotate almost straight down!
by the way stalling in an airplane and stalling a car are two completly different things. When you stall a car you engine stops. When you stall a plane it means you are going too slowly for the wings to generate ample lift to keep you airborne, then you start to fall. Then as you fall you can pick up speed again and level out and keep flying. Note the engine never stops. - Argyle, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5IANAP, but with that much wing, I'm sure it would glide quite a way, especially gather speed on descent.
- Wolfboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2the plane in the picture appears to have a parachute mounted behind the seat. Some ultralight planes carry parachutes to land the whole airplane in one piece in an emergency.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I don't think you have the room to carry a parachute in that thing.
- amahler, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Assuming a parachute has time to open at 50 feet...
- mikeyj10, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Maybe if the inflight movie was good, I'd consider flying in it.
- whackaxe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Disposable plane for disposable humans. Darwinism at it's best.
- diggdat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ blugu64
I have been in a Helicopter on auto-rotation in the Canadian Rockies. At the right time of day along the ridge of a mountain, the updraft adds lift and you can maintain altitude with very little fuel. The engine was idling all the while.
I asked the pilot if you can land on auto-rotation and he said yes, it will be a hard landing (not graceful) but not likely to be an injury event (hard on the helicopter). We went in and out of auto-rotation a few times through the flight and he descended down most of the way down before engaging the drive train (if you call it that). The engine remained running all the while but it is quieter. The decent was very gradual and graceful. - jfmgraphics, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5*****' Corky, neither one of them was flying an ultralight.
- zbeast, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2There's nothing wrong with ultra lights as long as you follow instruction and fly them within the limits of
the design. - kiwimonk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Next week on digg:
Digg user Breaks typing fingers in tragic $7000 plane accident.
"I figured I could substitute the a dremel power tool for the engine.. Save a few bucks." - fuggo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5"Good plan. Falling to your death from 500 feet (152.4 meters) is much safer than falling to your death from 5,000 feet. (1,524 meters)"
Well, if you have a parachute, then it's the probably other way around. - kickmenow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Any airplane can glide after an engine failure. Ultralights fly so slowly that even if their glide angle is relatively steep, landing an ultralight after an engine failure should be a non-event.
As far as the parachute goes, yes...many ultralights, and even airplanes, have ballistic parachutes installed (ballistic parachutes allow the parachute to be deployed at extremely low altitudes). These are reserved for more serious issues, such as structural failure or an unrecoverable spin (for examples). The likelihood of needing the parachute is exceedingly small (much smaller than the sorts of risks most people take every day), but the consequences are normally fatal, so having a way out is often desirable. - rockintom99, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Funny, my dad recently bought an ultralight (cant think of the name right now) for $1500. Its also one of the safest planes ever made (though, it only hits a top speed of 45 mph)
- thewise1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1ultralights are so incredibly fun to fly. A lot of folks are putting it down, but what you don't realize is that even a cessna isn't much more sturdy then these things; it merely has metal skin over a similiar frame.
- kb9okb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Another note... you can easily get a quality used Quicksilver-style ultralight in the $4-5k range, considerably less than the $7000 "Affordaplane"
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