Absolutely superb Bruce. I fly a Dragonfly, Doodlebug and free fly. How this never made it to market is a surprise! Illustrates super simple is nearly always the way. Thanks!
I had such a good chuckle seeing your video Bruce. In all the years of flying (35) I have not seen your concept but I have had the exact same thing in mind and was going to explore along those lines - no need to do that now. ;) I like it a lot. Def worth tinkering further with this... :)
I see it has quite some advantages over the mosquito concept...For starters the wing and unit have a true connection that works in tension compression and twist (yaw). This alone helps in more than one way...No side cables to restrict yaw that have to be adjusted for each wing. This permits one hand flying aswell. Unit takes part of the load of the wing on the ground which helps a lot and eases the initial part of the run. Seat permits the full or almost full sweep of the legs for a natural running mode...All cocoons or pods get in the way in some meassure...Free running is crucial for better chances of event free takeoffs and landings...The wheel is the last to leave the ground...that tells that its still supporting some weight while lift increses with speed...In other words one runs really less before lift is enough to retract legs with wing still supported somewhat by unit...In flight the body seems to present one of the less possible surfaces to the more or less "apparent" wind...quite possible very near L/D angle and to make things better, the engine is hidden just behind this already small frontal surface...!
Electric is beautiful. I rebuilt the rig with a battery system and ran it up with a folding prop but only flew it unpowered. I then experimented with a view to electric 'flapping' flight by winching pilot up and down but then got side-tracked even further. No astounding results.
Hi easygtr, MartinMKR1, and others. Thank you for the positive comments. I will see what I can dig up from my old papers and let you know. Please prompt me in a couple of weeks if I haven't got back to you.
Many years ago I made a power unit more or less like yours on mine the down tube with the engin on was to have hung verticale. I never got to fly it I had intended it as take off from hill job to sustain lift. I had used a ten hp Danarm chainsaw engine, wish I still had motor I never had the guts to test fly it as never trusted the joint that was designed to break from harness to bar on take off and landing, packed up HGing till of late,still have the prop in my attic, Nice job Cheers, Pete
now that sub 70 kg aircraft are exempt, there is a revival of interest. And there are many PPG engines with superior thrust to weight to ratio than the Solo 210. Time is ripe for the Flylite Ranger to make a come back!
Hi Don. Yes it had some neat features and I am sure it was by far the most comfortable, you could fall asleep in it. I built a few but main obstacle was no CAA category for it at the time, other than microlight. Free flight frame only was nice to fly, one handed. A few geometric issues but none insurmountable. I was on my own with machining help from Tom Knight.
By the way, to work out proportions I made a simple small 2D profile model of the Ranger (plus glider keel/control frame uprights) from tubes and string. Later, recognising that the frame is a very comfortable seating system in it's own right I made a cheap and lightweight version from broomsticks, rope and some fabric. It is a very comfortable swinging seat for the garage.
This is really a good design and unique. It is even better than mosquito/doodlebug harness in that it is easy to copy, lighter and simpler. Also seating position is more comfortable and safer than prone ones. Why isn't it be commercialized? I feel now individual amateurs can install a RC model airplane engine like DLE222/170 or German ones of similar displacement and make their own gear easily and economically. Similar thrust and much lighter. Good video!
Yes, glider was rigged for prone necessitating the B-bar to allow sufficient control for pushing out while thermalling and flaring to land. A trike wing would likely need a B-bar too for landing slowly on feet. Important that B-bar swivels to allow for pull in. Hang point was two plates and halves of a delrin block bolted around the oversleeved keel allowing lateral control movement. The hang bolt through the plates allowed for pitch. Flying one handed was easy.
was also wondering if you took a long stride your feet could hit the prop. perhaps it could be a little further back the keep everything else the same.
The simple concept seems to work very well,. will your idea work with most hanglider wings, or are there wings that you would recommend for this particular type of setup?
+c shackleford So long as the wing is strong enough, does not distort unduly with the extra weight (might need stiffening somewhere) and stability is not otherwise impaired, then any wing should be fine. One issue is setting the undercarriage leg length to suit pilot leg length, for a comfortable angle of attack for take off.
Tell you more...This unit is the true "paramotor" for hangliders...With todays power units and some, if any mods, it should be very difficult to improove...There is so little that makes it that the only mods would be to seek efficiency and best materials...Few mods to the wing other than reinforce the keel and workout the control bar demandments for all different requirements regarding takeoff/landing and flight...Getting the best possible handling and authority in commands...I could of most certain been sold as paramotor today...Strange how things like this happen...Maybe at the time you, for personal reasons did not promote the concept and no one else envisioned it just the same...30 years have past and in that time ones life can take so many turns that one may feel far away in many a way from the time...Or...who knows...Regards, Alan.
ever thought about makeing another.what was the frame ,looks like outer leading egde of a hg.i would love to have any info on it.as i would like to build one.useing a rad engine.i fly flphg/ppg
one more question. do you need limit lines to the leading edge crossbar junction like a minimum or a moskito or duodlebug. if no this is a big advantage. also no worries about the retracting legs and lines and and and all that. this is so much more (or less) minimum than the minimum. I was dreaming about this all night.
love the simplicity and light weight! I had a couple questions. is the control bar rigged like a standard prone hang glider and thats why you need the "b" bar? would this concept work with a glider that was rigged for a soaring trike? also whats the conection to the keel? Is there a pivot block like a trike so the gliders keel can rotate for weighshift or is this like a minimum with a hinge and the weightshift is done with a flexable connection between the pilot and the mast? imagine electric!
thanks for all the answers to my many questions. Have you seen the electricmotorsport website ? also alot going on with ppg and electric motors used on giant scale rc planes.
Is there any chance to have the plans for this FLPHG? I am working on a design myself but this one is so so so simple i'm loving it. If there are no plans do you have the dimensions of it? We can still rebuild it with lighter material and engine. Please contact
Absolutely superb Bruce. I fly a Dragonfly, Doodlebug and free fly.
How this never made it to market is a surprise!
Illustrates super simple is nearly always the way.
Thanks!
+Michael Pollard Thanks Michael, glad you appreciated it.
Nice one, light and simple, thanks, this brings back good memories!
I had such a good chuckle seeing your video Bruce. In all the years of flying (35) I have not seen your concept but I have had the exact same thing in mind and was going to explore along those lines - no need to do that now. ;) I like it a lot. Def worth tinkering further with this... :)
Thank you Don. I did see your photo with the Ranger outside my tent, after I searched some time ago.
Nice video, thank you! Long time I search pictures of the "Ranger"...
mark r Scranton Pennsylvania usa well done my best THX!
I see it has quite some advantages over the mosquito concept...For starters the wing and unit have a true connection that works in tension compression and twist (yaw). This alone helps in more than one way...No side cables to restrict yaw that have to be adjusted for each wing. This permits one hand flying aswell. Unit takes part of the load of the wing on the ground which helps a lot and eases the initial part of the run. Seat permits the full or almost full sweep of the legs for a natural running mode...All cocoons or pods get in the way in some meassure...Free running is crucial for better chances of event free takeoffs and landings...The wheel is the last to leave the ground...that tells that its still supporting some weight while lift increses with speed...In other words one runs really less before lift is enough to retract legs with wing still supported somewhat by unit...In flight the body seems to present one of the less possible surfaces to the more or less "apparent" wind...quite possible very near L/D angle and to make things better, the engine is hidden just behind this already small frontal surface...!
Electric is beautiful. I rebuilt the rig with a battery system and ran it up with a folding prop but only flew it unpowered. I then experimented with a view to electric 'flapping' flight by winching pilot up and down but then got side-tracked even further. No astounding results.
Exactly, no worries or need for lines because it cannot yaw independently of wing and the rear section of keel is removeable to clear the propellor.
Hi easygtr, MartinMKR1, and others. Thank you for the positive comments. I will see what I can dig up from my old papers and let you know. Please prompt me in a couple of weeks if I haven't got back to you.
Many years ago I made a power unit more or less like yours on mine the down tube with the engin on was to have hung verticale. I never got to fly it I had intended it as take off from hill job to sustain lift. I had used a ten hp Danarm chainsaw engine, wish I still had motor I never had the guts to test fly it as never trusted the joint that was designed to break from harness to bar on take off and landing, packed up HGing till of late,still have the prop in my attic, Nice job Cheers, Pete
Do you have video of it? photos maybe?
Молодец Брюс - экспериментатор!
now that sub 70 kg aircraft are exempt, there is a revival of interest. And there are many PPG engines with superior thrust to weight to ratio than the Solo 210. Time is ripe for the Flylite Ranger to make a come back!
Hi Don. Yes it had some neat features and I am sure it was by far the most comfortable, you could fall asleep in it. I built a few but main obstacle was no CAA category for it at the time, other than microlight. Free flight frame only was nice to fly, one handed. A few geometric issues but none insurmountable. I was on my own with machining help from Tom Knight.
wow.......... very well done
By the way, to work out proportions I made a simple small 2D profile model of the Ranger (plus glider keel/control frame uprights) from tubes and string.
Later, recognising that the frame is a very comfortable seating system in it's own right I made a cheap and lightweight version from broomsticks, rope and some fabric. It is a very comfortable swinging seat for the garage.
This is really a good design and unique. It is even better than mosquito/doodlebug harness in that it is easy to copy, lighter and simpler. Also seating position is more comfortable and safer than prone ones. Why isn't it be commercialized? I feel now individual amateurs can install a RC model airplane engine like DLE222/170 or German ones of similar displacement and make their own gear easily and economically. Similar thrust and much lighter. Good video!
master , genial .
I love this video!
I did fly the Doodlebug and the booster. But Your construktion looks much more better and easyer to me.
Yes, glider was rigged for prone necessitating the B-bar to allow sufficient control for pushing out while thermalling and flaring to land.
A trike wing would likely need a B-bar too for landing slowly on feet. Important that B-bar swivels to allow for pull in.
Hang point was two plates and halves of a delrin block bolted around the oversleeved keel allowing lateral control movement. The hang bolt through the plates allowed for pitch. Flying one handed was easy.
Bruce Hudson what the width of it?
No, feet could not reach prop. Seat tubes were about 1m and then the motor and reduction.
was also wondering if you took a long stride your feet could hit the prop. perhaps it could be a little further back the keep everything else the same.
The simple concept seems to work very well,. will your idea work with most hanglider wings, or are there wings that you would recommend for this particular type of setup?
+c shackleford So long as the wing is strong enough, does not distort unduly with the extra weight (might need stiffening somewhere) and stability is not otherwise impaired, then any wing should be fine.
One issue is setting the undercarriage leg length to suit pilot leg length, for a comfortable angle of attack for take off.
Tell you more...This unit is the true "paramotor" for hangliders...With todays power units and some, if any mods, it should be very difficult to improove...There is so little that makes it that the only mods would be to seek efficiency and best materials...Few mods to the wing other than reinforce the keel and workout the control bar demandments for all different requirements regarding takeoff/landing and flight...Getting the best possible handling and authority in commands...I could of most certain been sold as paramotor today...Strange how things like this happen...Maybe at the time you, for personal reasons did not promote the concept and no one else envisioned it just the same...30 years have past and in that time ones life can take so many turns that one may feel far away in many a way from the time...Or...who knows...Regards, Alan.
Hi Bruce, I just would like to kindly ask you, whether you've had a chance to look for some old papers to share ;) Thanks, Martin.
ever thought about makeing another.what was the frame ,looks like outer leading egde of a hg.i would love to have any info on it.as i would like to build one.useing a rad engine.i fly flphg/ppg
one more question. do you need limit lines to the leading edge crossbar junction like a minimum or a moskito or duodlebug. if no this is a big advantage. also no worries about the retracting legs and lines and and and all that. this is so much more (or less) minimum than the minimum. I was dreaming about this all night.
love the simplicity and light weight! I had a couple questions. is the control bar rigged like a standard prone hang glider and thats why you need the "b" bar? would this concept work with a glider that was rigged for a soaring trike? also whats the conection to the keel? Is there a pivot block like a trike so the gliders keel can rotate for weighshift or is this like a minimum with a hinge and the weightshift is done with a flexable connection between the pilot and the mast? imagine electric!
Hmmm.. Is n`t this a trike - with most parts missing?
@helithoper do sell plans and kit im very interested..simple and easy to set up.
thanks for all the answers to my many questions. Have you seen the electricmotorsport website ? also alot going on with ppg and electric motors used on giant scale rc planes.
Is there any chance to have the plans for this FLPHG?
I am working on a design myself but this one is so so so simple i'm loving it.
If there are no plans do you have the dimensions of it? We can still rebuild it with lighter material and engine. Please contact
I want to buy this thing. Who can help me to findit ?
love it.do you still have it....
you sell the scheme to mount?
+tapiraiverde No, sorry, I do not.
I haveve the same tube from a miniuium with wheel at bottom,and a spare bailey 4 stroke engine i have to copy this and try it
I´m with you easygtr. I like that simplicity very much. If you have anything to share, pls let me know. BTW: What is your design like ? Thx.
No it's long gone. Couldn't make it legal while I had it unfortunately.