Thanks for the flight, Pete, I enjoyed my career in aviation immensely and your video made me realize that I should have taken more time between trips to enjoy the simple joy of flight. I wish I had owned a Hummel instead of a T-craft, what a machine.
Thank you soo much for the video; flew the entire trip with you by proxy. Received Pvt Cert. 1996, flew for 1 year and lost medical. Now 67 YOA. You have sparked my passion for Aviation. Wife getting nervous! Love that Hummelbird!
great to hear - it was originally put up for my late father for that express purpose! :-) Sorry to hear of your med, it's what all us pilots are in fear of. Gotta grab the airborne fun while we can! The HB is more fun than a barrel full of monkeys! I miss it after putting 550hrs on it, as it is currently hanging from the hangar beam until II can get around to (properly this time) welding up a new case for the engine which has a cracked main oil gallery as the original builder had designed the top right engine mount stud into the gallery :-( I just need life to stop throwing up road blocks.
And here I am again in 2021, looking at this video, contemplating building a Hummel! They look like so much fun for so little money. I presently fly Cessna 172's and Van's RV-12's. I want to take one of these little things all over the Mid-Atlantic and into large Class B airports just for fun!
Hi Pete, great to see you have continued your aviation passion. You were kind enough to take me up in the OFS Diamond many moons ago. I never did do much with my flying aspirations. Life got in the way :) I'll say hi next time I see you and your bird at cyrp. Awesome video content. Cheers, Sean O
Ok had to re-comment. Awesome fly in to Osh. Drove there with Dad (gone now) and had an amazing time. Felt like I was with you from Ripon in. Great that you filmed this. Brought back some memories.
was definitely an unexpected commentary from the tower.... it put a bow on that bucket list trip. Trip home was even smoother and quicker as well (7.5hrs chock to chock).
I watched the whole series and thinking a Hummel may be in my future. The good folks at Hummel suggested the H5, but I am only 5’3” (160cm) and don’t need the extra space.
@@sierrafoxtrotgolf3638 i luv the HB for it's diminutive size, and miserly fuel burn. makes it quite the novelty at airports. The H5 is a nice ship, but lacks those attributes - with much competition out there. The HB stands by itself in the market.... except maybe the euro designed SD1 minisport. Quite the handful on the runway until one gets the hang of it tho..... as well the controls over the runway lack authority resulting in a "jab" technique (as seen in th-cam.com/video/VVzXFfBFQvw/w-d-xo.html )
@@PeteZoot I agree on the size and fuel. I considered the Cricket twin, but the novelty would wear off and it’s lack of practicality would soon disappoint me.
@@PeteZoot, the sound of the little half VW engine is great. I usually wake up when ATC asks you what kind of plane it is. At that point, I restart the video and am normally back to sleep before you announce your departure at your home airport. I have actually watched the video start to finish a couple of times. lol Lucky for me, the Rotax 912 in my Kitfox 5 doesn't have the same effect on me. lol
LOL (its the solid tailwheel resonating into the structure).. and not quite a weedwhacker engine (not a two stroke). It's not my only plane, but definitely a favorite - nothing else flys as inexpensively (at 100mph@
Fantastic video. Watched it all. Great clarity. Beautiful Hummel Bird. I actually knew Morry Hummel. We were both members of EAA Chapter 2 out of Ft. Wayne. I remember he was injured in an aircraft accident and ended up in a wheel chair. I lost track of him when I moved to Kentucky in 1996. Anyway, great video, great plane. I have a KR2 by the way. If you ever fly to Lexington area, I keep my KR at Georgetown Scott County Airport. But, I should be relocating for work once this covid thing clears up. I will be in the Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay area.
thx! Morry sure did made a hilariously fun, tiny (it flies like you are literally wearing it) and cheap to run airplane from that windwagon design. This vid was made originally for my late father, so he could "fly with me to osh", and it seems to have caught some traction beyond. It was a memorable trip for me - one that went almost perfectly (except not being able to get it started to take part in the homebuilt review, now that would'a been coolio). The trip home was even better, in that I only stopped three times, had a tailwind and also perfect weather :-) For sure I'd stop by if I planned an adventure down south once this covid insanity resolves..... and I'll flip it to you as well - I'm based in CYRP. Cheers and blue skies!
Eric Imfeld thx, i think so too and can’t tale the credit. It was built by Jack McKinney of Arizona who had excellent metal skills, and resurrected and modified by myself.
Peter, I'm impressed with the airplane.. surely built to a very high standard.Good chance to see it on an XC. My wife is from MI.. she always said that area is "flat as a die" and your video points that up. Nothing like it in the west. Will seriously look into the hummel thanks to this excellent video. Cheers
It is built very well, not by me, but an older fellow in Utah, who actually made the trip to osh where we met up. The plane changed hands twice in between, and sat and started to deteriorate. I spent 1300hours over two years rebulding/repairing (corriosion, rash etc.), and refitting totally with new systems, blew out the bottom for more headroom, added tailplane tips for longditudinal stability. It was a real challenge stuffing the plane with systems and not modify or ruin his beautiful cowl tinwork. 1/8" here, 1/8"'there......Glad to hear you are interested.....the plane is a hoot. My only complaint is its low speed handling in the flare on gusty crosswind days....very light wingloading and controls which fade quickly when slowing, make for interesting rides sometimes. Also being very short coupled with small tail feathers, it wags in turbulence, but does settle. Reports have shown that it does not recover from a spin, thus my chute (i have a significant rigging error which cannot be easily corrected, so expect it to drop a wing hard in the stall.....not tested).
PZ,.. interesting comments. I would certainly chromate as I went to prevent corrosion and extend the life of the plane..but nobody does. Even my Bellanca had problems with losing elevator authority in the flare.. now everybody knows to tape the gap between the horizontal stab and the elevator.. problem solved on that plane. I have heard same complaint about the Jodel Bebe.. this would scare me spitless. Low wing loading makes for problems when you can pick your weather.. ( on arrival ). Does rudder stay active ? Luckily I am not tall. but not a light weight anymore. just in the envelope. Lot of work on your part !
Pretty little plane you have there, looks like the air is a lot smoother over there than the Rockies. I liked your comment half way through the vid "just Hummeling along".
it is like a tiny Humming bird even the colors are match anyways cool flying video it was not boring for sure it's a lot of fun up there i really liked it!
I am temped to buy a low performance champ in upstate NY.. and try to fly it home as far as I can. This surely shows how enjoyable it can be.. at least till I hit the rockies !
Thx, i actually made it for my late father so he could “fly along with me”. As for the cockpit, snug as a bug in a rug….i could doze off if it weren’t so loud lol.
Cuz i didnt build the plane, but rather did a 1400hr complete restomod. Discovered the build had an incidence rigging, so expected it to drop a wing in the stall, and the design will not come out of a spin, so thus the chute. Stall tests (vids are here) shows the rudder is still effective in the stall, do the chute isnt necessary, but have it do why not use it.
Very cool. The taxi in at KOSH was as long as the flight! :D What is the double or triple beeping I keep hearing? I'm sure you have no autopilot to warn about.
Thx! It is a really neat little design.....and cheaper to run than your bike even :-).....I enjoy riding too, although my lil 250ds also isn't very thirsty. cheers!
Enjoyed the video Peter, engine sounds good. Watching from Liverpool UK and always keen on the Hummelbird with the 1/2 VW. I would've found it interesting if you could've given us some idea of your groundspeed and you could've pointed out the instruments ref ASI and altimeter. I've recently retired and maybe looking at building a Hummel - I understand there is one under construction here somewhere. Many thanks Mike Walling 16 Sep 2018.
5xls thx.....it was made originally so my elderly dad could "fly along" on the trip he never got around to making. Glad to hear that others enjoy it, for sure i enjoyed the trip!
Thx so much. It really was a bucket list trip of a lifetime - and worked out perfectly (the return flight was even better, with no stop-over due to weather I was back home in 7.5hrs :-) ... sure beats driving for 16 hrs )
What a fantastic little aircraft. What does it have in the way of range and payload. I.e could you take a bag of clothing with you. Nice video from the UK.
Range is 3.5hours including reserve with my now larger 7.3gal tank. Payload is me + a small light bag behind me....enough for an overnighter. I stay under 170lbs to ensure cg etc. ...great incentive to watch what i eat lol.
I used Samsung Tab and Garmin Pilot in my Bellanca with great success. What mount are you using. What is the second smaller gizmo ? what instruments are hidden behind the tablet ? I found a flight timer very handy for fuel management, but have a simple back up like a watch with a bezel.
Capt Larry - custom mount for the ipad mini. No instruments behind....panel was planned with it. The smaller ipod on the right is on a hinge so i can get to the steamgauge altimeter, but is running Levil’s 6pack app, connected to their ahrsg-minj with airdata, so the altimeter is only backup.
I still can't believe how tiny those things are and still fly! I've got a continental Teledyne 4a084 sitting on the shelf just begging for a home, anyone ever do a Hummel Bird with one??? 🙂
AZ Dad thx... not much, a small space behind my head, and yes, behind the seat bulkhead.....but CG is critical, so depends on the pilots weight. I had one nights of stuff, as well as emerg plane stuff. With me at 170 + chute i was over gross at aft cg when empty, and why my landing stick was so lively.
Hey looking into a hummel bird right now out in ontario. I actually frequently visit carp by the way haha. Was curious if a 6'2" guy could fit comfortably in one haha. Thanks!
Peter Zutrauen hah darn. Well good to know though! Yeah i will shoot you a message. Im out of country until january but would love to come by and see the plane!
The Architect there is a build rigging error in the angle of incidence between the two wings, so there must be constant aileron input, which is provided by the trimtab. Without rebuilding the center section and wings, it is not correctable.
Hey there Peter, well done! Sound and visuals are top notch. It is fortuitous that I came across your efforts to portray your trip to Osh. Been there and am planning to build the Ultralight. Any advice re; the build, choices for Avionics, engine choice and registration in Canada?
Ah but what would happen if you flying along and see a fingerprint smudge on the outside of the canopy? It would irritate some people so much they would want to open the canopy and acrobat around to wipe it off, that could be bad.
Thx! It was a hoot! The engine is all ready to go again, but it's been grounded since late August due to the cracked alum fuel tank. My composite replacement tank is almost ready to go.....took waaaaay longer the expected.
SThis really looks like a fun plane and I can't get over how well it maintains and to me it looks pretty steady as if its handling turbulence really well. Wonder what his average speed is?
Dare I said it.. get your ducks in a row before you take off.. clear your windscreen, and adjust your tablet/gps on the ground.. this is part of your preflight duties, should be on your check list. Light sport, private pilot, ultra light.. same basic duty as pilot.
Windscreen was much clearer in person, looked worse in the vid. Wipe it on the inside and it leaves a mess for the rest of the trip. I take off with the tablet in EFIS mode (levil ahrs mini with airdata), then change over into the nav program. Cheers :)
Great vid. I make it up to OSH every year the last few since moving to N. Illinois. Do you happen to know what your avg. fuel consumption was on this flight? Just curious. Hummel is on my shortlist of small planes I'd like to build, also considering a Skypup. Maybe I'll see you at OSH in the next few years if you make it again. Blue Skies!
Justin Richey thx....it would be better if I had room to mount a steady camera, but no option in a Hummel :-). I plan on 2gal/hr, cruise at 1.85+ leaned out at cruise around 100mph. I now have a nice composite tank with a solid 7.3gal usable. I hope to get the engine back together for this years osh, otherwise I'll trailer in like usual :-)
Peter, some time ago you gave me information on your alternator installation. I’m currently getting ready to complete the installation and have a few questions. Where do you place the capacitor, 12 volt side or 24 volt side? Do you have a switch for the alternator and do you use a circuit breaker. Great video, thanks.
The capacitor is on the unregulated dc side, up to 30v. I bought a high temp 100deg C 100v electrolytic cap from digikey. The rectifier also came from digikey....i love digikey :-). I have a fuse right at the rectifier, and a relay which is energized by the unregulated dc, switched to disable the alternator output. I also this relay to light up a 12v indicator and buzzer if the mag switch is on and there is no alternator output. I use this as an idiot reminder to use only the electronic ignition when hand propping :-)
Id decommend a simple blade fuse on the unregulated side, in addition to a breaker on the reegulated side. On the regulated side, i have a master aviation breaker to be pulled if on a forced landing, as well as an automotive blade type fuse box for my 6 seperate ccts, using the "lit when blown" type fuses. I also run my recognition lights from the unregulated bus.
I have some more questions for you. Does it matter how the three AC wires are positioned on the rectifier. What is the regulated 12 volt output voltage? Does it matter if the capacitor is located close to the rectifier or the switcher? Have tried it and it seems to work. Start engine rpm is 2600. I had a battery that had 9.3 volts and output was 11.78. I’m using a earthX battery. Since I’m using a magneto no relays.
I've been considering buying a Hummel bird. Any Hummel bird owners reading this have any advice, pros and cons, thoughts on safety of this airplane. I'm a newer private pilot with most of my hours in a Cherokee.
Tim Yandow its a really fun LITTLE airplane, and no cherokee. You would need to get some significant tailwheel time (if its a tailwheel) as it is a short coupled lively taildragger on the ground. With its small and short tail it will not come out of a spin, so attentive flying is obviously a good thing. Build qualtiy varies widely as it is plans built, so an AME inspection would be a good idea. The trike also needs to be flown with attention, as i have seen a few vids where the pilot pops off the runway and into PIO (not an issue with the taildrqgger obviously). All said, i find it a hoot to fly. :-)
Nice views, reminds me flying with my dad in his Navion, how much it cost to build one? electric starter? lots of questions as curious minds want to know lol.
romantic340 hand prop. Built for less than 10k, depends on panel. If you build the engine too and do all you do all your own welding, then less. Mine was more.
Canadian registered ultralight C-IPWZ, with a transponder and calibrated altimeters - yes, absolutely. I also now have ADSB out and in, so am fully compliant for all class-c airspace in north america. Different from the US ultralight designation - ours is more like your sport pilot.
Awesome plane but one question are the spark plug wires exposed? and if they are is there a risk of them getting wet in the rain? Consequently causing a misfire
@@PeteZoot ohhhh thats right silicone does help i am stupid lol but that plane is awesome and i would like to own one someday and i would like to apologize on my ignorance with the issue i just saw it as a flaw love the videos
@@PeteZoot I've heard that anyone can do it as long as their plane weighs less than 115 kg, has a tank of up to 5 gallons, speed to 55 knots and is single seater. that's why I asked. Thank you my friend. i wish you always have good and safe flights
Παν τα that is USA (which my hummelbird would not qualify. The hummel ultracruiser would, but is a different airplane). I am in Canada. Different rules.
Peter Zutrauen I've been studying this video alone since you posted it on utube, memorized every single detail screenshot every take off and land, Google mapped it from beginning to end, and even did all the research specificity on the plane itself, and it's something I feel confident in doing. I was thinking about getting an avenger ultralight, but the hummel is the best way to go. Very affordable,easy to build, and I can imagine fun to fly. Now that I did my homework on this particular plane, I'm going to start raising the money to buy me an ultracruiser . Hopefully if everything goes well, I'll be flying within two years. Once again, thank you for posting this video. It's really helped me alot. On another note, I've subscribed to your utube channel and been watching all your flight videos(which are awesome) and look forward to seeing more of your flight video's. Hopefully you'll film another osh trip video. I'm a big fan!
Again thank you for uploading your great videos, I've been watching every single one and studying them very carefully before I get in the cockpit! You are truly an inspiration!
I am just shy of 6', but with a 6'2" torso...long in the back. My hummel is the original plan design, so is the smallest of any flying....because of that i blew out the bottom and dropped the seat pan for a lower and more reclined position, adding compressive structure and covering with a kevlar fairing. Now i have more than enough room for my helmet (requirement here in Canada for ultralight registered) and it is comfortable enough to fall asleep in :-). Check with Hummel aviation about headroom and space in the current plans design.
I'm about 6 feet tall. I sat in Mory Hummel's original Hummel Bird airplane. Mory was typical of a WW2-era pilot; he was a short thin man with very skinny thighs. I am not. I could sit in the seat, and use the stick comfortably......OR use the throttle....but NOT at the same time. I would definitely not recomend an original-plans Hummel Bird to someone of my or your size. The later modified plans have options that expand the fuselage both horizontally and vertically a bit. I also sat in a later-model Hummel Bird, and that I think I could sit in and fly Ok. Sounds like Pete made his own separate mods to the airplane in this video. There's also the H5, which is a bit bigger all around. There's also Bruce King's "BK Flier", which is a similar design but slightly larger yet. Still firmly single-seat VFR. So there are options. Definitely sit in one of whatever you're going to build before you drop money on the plans, though.
Thanks for doing this. Inspirational. I have a Hummel with 11 flight hours. Did some mods and upgrades. Will be back in the air soon. It appears as though you have some extensive electronics on board. Do you have a generator? What type ignition?
Thx, I always found vids helpful when I was messing about over that two years in the garage rebuilding and modifying it (I dropped the seat for more headroom - you can see the Kevlar fairing ). I do have an alternator - actually a small but powerful model airplane 3-phase brushless motor which can bee seen at: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Hummel/photos/albums/935014859 It should give me about 10amps in cruise, and I regulate it down from 25 volts to 13.8v using a small switching power-supply. Works well so far after 150 hours. I have dual ignition, the tractor mag, and a sweet electronic Leburg from www.sky-craft.co.uk/acatalog/Skycraft_Leburg_Ignition.html works fantastic, takes little power, and eliminates any possibility of kick-back during hand propping. I also have mixture on the Zenith Carb, which is great for keeping the cruise fuel flow down around 1.8gal/hour at 3000' and above (I can be seen messing with it at the 15 minute mark in the vid).
+Peter Zutrauen Oops - the Kevlar fairing can be seen at: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Hummel/photos/albums/1055755284 I found that the vibration is hard on the steam gauges, so I've replaced a couple with the light units from MGL - the only ones which would fit with only 2.5" avail behind the panel. They've performed flawlessly so far. I'll likely replace the ASI next (which is sticking over the fence currently). Have a great time building your hours M.Hansen, it's great fun and awesome inexpensive flight time :-)
+Peter Zutrauen, I have found the vibration to be hard on the steam gauges as well. I thought that this problem was unique to me since I use a UltaVair engine instead of a VW. Thanks for the info on the alternator. My model of the Hummel is wider and taller than yours. Do you have part numbers/info on Model airplane motor and pulley ratio? Best Regards, Matt
+M. Hansen yip, my hummer is per morry's original design....narrow and small :-). The motor is: www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=EFLM4110A&hf_type=R And I spin it at about 7500 at cruise, for a ratio of about 2.1/1. When I made the split pulley at the flange, I made it as small as possible. Note that I do not use the motor bearings for the pulley loads.....they are taken by a dedicated bearing on the bracket. Cheers!
+Peter Zutrauen Matt asked for the following part numbers and sources (but he deleted his post?): Switcher is a Vicor V24C12T100BG off of fleabay (still listed), The rectifier is GUO40-12NO1-ND 3-PHASE BRIDGE RECT 1200V 40A from Digikey.com, Small pulley is 1.42 Inch 3L-Size Pulley with Hub -3/8in. bore from robotmarketplace.com, Bracket bearing is an NSK 44x18 3200b-2rsrtngc3
Fits like a glove, so can be as comfortable as one wants. Just can’t move around, so that may be an issue. Note that it was designed for a 5’9” 160lbs pilot. I blew the bottom out of mine with many structural mods, so i fit at 6’ (but with the back of a 6’3”), and weigh in at 185lbs with chute. Great incentive to keep off the sugar and beer diet lol.
In flight its a docile hands off airplane (smooth air, horiz stab tips added for main wing wing tips). On the ground and the runway you need happy feet and watch cross wind limits carefully due to the short and small tail.
Throttle Lock it is based and registered in Canada, as a basic ultralight, which requires a Canadian ultralight license as a minimum. In the USA it would qualify only as an experimental.
![[BAEMON NEWS 7] NEW ALBUM COMING IN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wtVeAPimOyo/mqdefault.jpg)
Not too many decent Hummel videos out there. Thanks for taking the time to bring everyone along!
Thanks for the flight, Pete, I enjoyed my career in aviation immensely and your video made me realize that I should have taken more time between trips to enjoy the simple joy of flight. I wish I had owned a Hummel instead of a T-craft, what a machine.
I don't know exactly why but love this video. Just love it.
Wow! It has some warbird vibes to it from inside the cockpit! Even the sound is nice!
A mini p-51 😆
One day. I can dream!
Its an absolute hoot to fly....indeed like a mini gutless fighter. I luv it more (differently) than my sweet flying europa.
More people need to wake up. WWG1WGA
"" unbelievable !! - nice little airplane ""
" Thank You " .,
I guess the Hummel is just what's is says on the tin ! !
Great video thanks for sharing
Totally thrilling, like I was experiencing it too. Such a cool trip in an awesome flying machine.
Thank you soo much for the video; flew the entire trip with you by proxy. Received Pvt Cert. 1996, flew for 1 year and lost medical. Now 67 YOA. You have sparked my passion for Aviation. Wife getting nervous! Love that Hummelbird!
great to hear - it was originally put up for my late father for that express purpose! :-) Sorry to hear of your med, it's what all us pilots are in fear of. Gotta grab the airborne fun while we can! The HB is more fun than a barrel full of monkeys! I miss it after putting 550hrs on it, as it is currently hanging from the hangar beam until II can get around to (properly this time) welding up a new case for the engine which has a cracked main oil gallery as the original builder had designed the top right engine mount stud into the gallery :-( I just need life to stop throwing up road blocks.
What a small world! I actually saw your airplane there that year. It was the first Hummelbird I had ever seen.
And here I am again in 2021, looking at this video, contemplating building a Hummel! They look like so much fun for so little money. I presently fly Cessna 172's and Van's RV-12's. I want to take one of these little things all over the Mid-Atlantic and into large Class B airports just for fun!
Thanks for posting. I am in the process of getting my plans and building soon. Thanks for the inspiration.
How far along are you in 2020?
Looks like it changed is life
Way to go! - makes me want to fly there again - thanks for posting - really enjoyed it
Such a nice flight video, I watched it all the way through. I like when you said. "just Hummeling along" ....
Hi Pete, great to see you have continued your aviation passion. You were kind enough to take me up in the OFS Diamond many moons ago. I never did do much with my flying aspirations. Life got in the way :) I'll say hi next time I see you and your bird at cyrp. Awesome video content. Cheers, Sean O
Very Very Beautifull hummel bird.................I have a Ultra Cruiser........
Sell me your ultracruiser :)
Ok had to re-comment. Awesome fly in to Osh. Drove there with Dad (gone now) and had an amazing time. Felt like I was with you from Ripon in. Great that you filmed this. Brought back some memories.
I love your response about the speed, “not as fast as it looks.” It is a great looking plane.
was definitely an unexpected commentary from the tower.... it put a bow on that bucket list trip. Trip home was even smoother and quicker as well (7.5hrs chock to chock).
I watched the whole series and thinking a Hummel may be in my future. The good folks at Hummel suggested the H5, but I am only 5’3” (160cm) and don’t need the extra space.
@@sierrafoxtrotgolf3638 i luv the HB for it's diminutive size, and miserly fuel burn. makes it quite the novelty at airports. The H5 is a nice ship, but lacks those attributes - with much competition out there. The HB stands by itself in the market.... except maybe the euro designed SD1 minisport. Quite the handful on the runway until one gets the hang of it tho..... as well the controls over the runway lack authority resulting in a "jab" technique (as seen in th-cam.com/video/VVzXFfBFQvw/w-d-xo.html )
@@PeteZoot I agree on the size and fuel. I considered the Cricket twin, but the novelty would wear off and it’s lack of practicality would soon disappoint me.
I use this video for my "white noise" while napping in my recliner. I have listened to it over a hundred times.
Bart Goins LOL.....NOW i know how the silly view count got so high...... everyone is using it as a sleep aid :)
@@PeteZoot, the sound of the little half VW engine is great. I usually wake up when ATC asks you what kind of plane it is. At that point, I restart the video and am normally back to sleep before you announce your departure at your home airport. I have actually watched the video start to finish a couple of times. lol Lucky for me, the Rotax 912 in my Kitfox 5 doesn't have the same effect on me. lol
I love that garden wheel barrow sound from the landing gear it is very satisfying after a long flight with that weed wacker engine.
LOL (its the solid tailwheel resonating into the structure).. and not quite a weedwhacker engine (not a two stroke). It's not my only plane, but definitely a favorite - nothing else flys as inexpensively (at 100mph@
@@PeteZoot What's your other plane?
KutWrite Europa classic mono
Great video and beautiful plane Peter! I hope to see your plane in person at #OSH16!
Dave LeBlanc - Okotoks, Alberta
Im having trouble finding a H-bird. Looking for a nice one. Great vid. I enjoyed the entire trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Long but satisfying listening to the putt putt of the half VW engine was somehow soothing such a tiny but friendly aircraft
I love the Hummel and it's great to see a Canadian boy doing this awesome cross country adventure. So glad i happened upon your video sir.
Fantastic video. Watched it all. Great clarity. Beautiful Hummel Bird. I actually knew Morry Hummel. We were both members of EAA Chapter 2 out of Ft. Wayne. I remember he was injured in an aircraft accident and ended up in a wheel chair. I lost track of him when I moved to Kentucky in 1996. Anyway, great video, great plane. I have a KR2 by the way. If you ever fly to Lexington area, I keep my KR at Georgetown Scott County Airport. But, I should be relocating for work once this covid thing clears up. I will be in the Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay area.
thx! Morry sure did made a hilariously fun, tiny (it flies like you are literally wearing it) and cheap to run airplane from that windwagon design. This vid was made originally for my late father, so he could "fly with me to osh", and it seems to have caught some traction beyond. It was a memorable trip for me - one that went almost perfectly (except not being able to get it started to take part in the homebuilt review, now that would'a been coolio). The trip home was even better, in that I only stopped three times, had a tailwind and also perfect weather :-) For sure I'd stop by if I planned an adventure down south once this covid insanity resolves..... and I'll flip it to you as well - I'm based in CYRP. Cheers and blue skies!
This is my 3rd time watching this plane love it when I think of the Ultralite I think of the movie those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines.
Thx! Its truly a fun as heck lil plane. I had made this vid so my late dad could fly the trip with me :)
@@PeteZoot Excellent.
Nice video and love the Hummel!
Thx! So do I ;-)
*SOOOooooo* jealous! Last time that I made it to KOSH was in 1978...and it was at ground level. Thanks for the ride-along.
Never heard of these planes before...It actually looks and sounds really nice! Tnx for sharing!
that is one of the best looking Hummel I've seen so far
Eric Imfeld thx, i think so too and can’t tale the credit. It was built by Jack McKinney of Arizona who had excellent metal skills, and resurrected and modified by myself.
That was pretty cool to see the guys with the certifieds stop what they where doing to check out your Bird! Hehe!
Thank you for inviting us on your adventure.
Thank you for the flight!
That airplane is badazzz ,,, love it
Peter, I'm impressed with the airplane.. surely built to a very high standard.Good chance to see it on an XC. My wife is from MI.. she always said that area is "flat as a die" and your video points that up. Nothing like it in the west. Will seriously look into the hummel thanks to this excellent video. Cheers
It is built very well, not by me, but an older fellow in Utah, who actually made the trip to osh where we met up. The plane changed hands twice in between, and sat and started to deteriorate. I spent 1300hours over two years rebulding/repairing (corriosion, rash etc.), and refitting totally with new systems, blew out the bottom for more headroom, added tailplane tips for longditudinal stability. It was a real challenge stuffing the plane with systems and not modify or ruin his beautiful cowl tinwork. 1/8" here, 1/8"'there......Glad to hear you are interested.....the plane is a hoot. My only complaint is its low speed handling in the flare on gusty crosswind days....very light wingloading and controls which fade quickly when slowing, make for interesting rides sometimes. Also being very short coupled with small tail feathers, it wags in turbulence, but does settle. Reports have shown that it does not recover from a spin, thus my chute (i have a significant rigging error which cannot be easily corrected, so expect it to drop a wing hard in the stall.....not tested).
PZ,.. interesting comments. I would certainly chromate as I went to prevent corrosion and extend the life of the plane..but nobody does. Even my Bellanca had problems with losing elevator authority in the flare.. now everybody knows to tape the gap between the horizontal stab and the elevator.. problem solved on that plane. I have heard same complaint about the Jodel Bebe.. this would scare me spitless. Low wing loading makes for problems when you can pick your weather.. ( on arrival ). Does rudder stay active ? Luckily I am not tall. but not a light weight anymore. just in the envelope. Lot of work on your part !
I really want one. If i ever can it will be bright red
Pretty little plane you have there, looks like the air is a lot smoother over there than the Rockies. I liked your comment half way through the vid "just Hummeling along".
it is like a tiny Humming bird even the colors are match anyways cool flying video it was not boring for sure it's a lot of fun up there i really liked it!
I am temped to buy a low performance champ in upstate NY.. and try to fly it home as far as I can. This surely shows how enjoyable it can be.. at least till I hit the rockies !
Great film.
Excellent; thanks for sharing your bird and the experience...
Great trip - great video
Great video. You need a shoehorn to get in the cockpit though huh.
Thx, i actually made it for my late father so he could “fly along with me”. As for the cockpit, snug as a bug in a rug….i could doze off if it weren’t so loud lol.
Cuz i didnt build the plane, but rather did a 1400hr complete restomod. Discovered the build had an incidence rigging, so expected it to drop a wing in the stall, and the design will not come out of a spin, so thus the chute. Stall tests (vids are here) shows the rudder is still effective in the stall, do the chute isnt necessary, but have it do why not use it.
Thanks Peter, quality work on the visuals!
Very cool. The taxi in at KOSH was as long as the flight! :D
What is the double or triple beeping I keep hearing? I'm sure you have no autopilot to warn about.
Nice to enjoy a well flown video.
Capt Larry - thx! Its a hoot.
What an awesome little plane!
Thx! It is a really neat little design.....and cheaper to run than your bike even :-).....I enjoy riding too, although my lil 250ds also isn't very thirsty. cheers!
Am I the only one who thought the last controller sounded like Gerald McRaney from 'Major Dad'? Lol
The GREEN dot. Nicely done.
Ok, this is freakin' cool. Awesome! Liked in 2021.
Humble Life thx!....was way cooler in person :-). Fun as heck!
Enjoyed the video Peter, engine sounds good. Watching from Liverpool UK and always keen on the Hummelbird with the 1/2 VW. I would've found it interesting if you could've given us some idea of your groundspeed and you could've pointed out the instruments ref ASI and altimeter. I've recently retired and maybe looking at building a Hummel - I understand there is one under construction here somewhere. Many thanks Mike Walling 16 Sep 2018.
thanks Pete
thats super cool!
Wow Pete! In for 2022? We've got to chat....
Lets chat indeed! 🙂
Watch this video again what a great trip
Thx….one of those bucket list things :-D
Really great. Thanks for posting.
5xls thx.....it was made originally so my elderly dad could "fly along" on the trip he never got around to making. Glad to hear that others enjoy it, for sure i enjoyed the trip!
Thanks:) great videos too....inspiring stuff!
What can I say? Nicely done!
Thx so much. It really was a bucket list trip of a lifetime - and worked out perfectly (the return flight was even better, with no stop-over due to weather I was back home in 7.5hrs :-) ... sure beats driving for 16 hrs )
What a fantastic little aircraft. What does it have in the way of range and payload. I.e could you take a bag of clothing with you. Nice video from the UK.
Range is 3.5hours including reserve with my now larger 7.3gal tank. Payload is me + a small light bag behind me....enough for an overnighter. I stay under 170lbs to ensure cg etc. ...great incentive to watch what i eat lol.
I used Samsung Tab and Garmin Pilot in my Bellanca with great success. What mount are you using.
What is the second smaller gizmo ? what instruments are hidden behind the tablet ? I found a flight timer very handy for fuel management, but have a simple back up like a watch with a bezel.
Capt Larry - custom mount for the ipad mini. No instruments behind....panel was planned with it. The smaller ipod on the right is on a hinge so i can get to the steamgauge altimeter, but is running Levil’s 6pack app, connected to their ahrsg-minj with airdata, so the altimeter is only backup.
I still can't believe how tiny those things are and still fly! I've got a continental Teledyne 4a084 sitting on the shelf just begging for a home, anyone ever do a Hummel Bird with one??? 🙂
Dan Goldbach sadly, too heavy
That was fun!
Nice vid and plane. Thanks for posting ! One question;
Is there any storage space for a change of clothes, and such? Maybe behind the seat??
AZ Dad thx... not much, a small space behind my head, and yes, behind the seat bulkhead.....but CG is critical, so depends on the pilots weight. I had one nights of stuff, as well as emerg plane stuff. With me at 170 + chute i was over gross at aft cg when empty, and why my landing stick was so lively.
Hey looking into a hummel bird right now out in ontario. I actually frequently visit carp by the way haha. Was curious if a 6'2" guy could fit comfortably in one haha. Thanks!
Karlin Besner Cool....stop on by. Nope, no way without mods.....(mine has mods, and im 6' but with a long torso)
Peter Zutrauen hah darn. Well good to know though! Yeah i will shoot you a message. Im out of country until january but would love to come by and see the plane!
is that thing moving????? Maybe i should get one of those little boids. Nice build just the same....
very very nice airplane and video ! what is the range of that plane with a full tank ? (I don't know much about airplanes)
NICO RELL 3hrs plus 1/2 hr reserve, at 100mph...... so 300miles with zero wind (at 2gal/hr, for 50mpg)
I was curious why your left aileron has that small extension on it? still learning about these kind of aircraft.
The Architect there is a build rigging error in the angle of incidence between the two wings, so there must be constant aileron input, which is provided by the trimtab. Without rebuilding the center section and wings, it is not correctable.
Hey there Peter, well done! Sound and visuals are top notch. It is fortuitous that I came across your efforts to portray your trip to Osh. Been there and am planning to build the Ultralight. Any advice re; the build, choices for Avionics, engine choice and registration in Canada?
Alex Derry thx, cool, shootme your email.....
Ah but what would happen if you flying along and see a fingerprint smudge on the outside of the canopy? It would irritate some people so much they would want to open the canopy and acrobat around to wipe it off, that could be bad.
Nice video Pete! I have been working on my gear, have yet to bend the nose wheel fork, all parts cut for the mains. How is your engine rebuild going?
Thx! It was a hoot! The engine is all ready to go again, but it's been grounded since late August due to the cracked alum fuel tank. My composite replacement tank is almost ready to go.....took waaaaay longer the expected.
SThis really looks like a fun plane and I can't get over how well it maintains and to me it looks pretty steady as if its handling turbulence really well. Wonder what his average speed is?
Rand- ster1 100mph.....handles ok.
Great video, really enjoyed the trip with you!!
personally I like the helmet cam view
Dare I said it.. get your ducks in a row before you take off.. clear your windscreen, and adjust your tablet/gps on the ground.. this is part of your preflight duties, should be on your check list. Light sport, private pilot, ultra light.. same basic duty as pilot.
Windscreen was much clearer in person, looked worse in the vid. Wipe it on the inside and it leaves a mess for the rest of the trip. I take off with the tablet in EFIS mode (levil ahrs mini with airdata), then change over into the nav program. Cheers :)
Sorry..
You must have gone In early
Yip, Friday.
This was fun, thanks
Great vid. I make it up to OSH every year the last few since moving to N. Illinois. Do you happen to know what your avg. fuel consumption was on this flight? Just curious. Hummel is on my shortlist of small planes I'd like to build, also considering a Skypup. Maybe I'll see you at OSH in the next few years if you make it again. Blue Skies!
Justin Richey thx....it would be better if I had room to mount a steady camera, but no option in a Hummel :-). I plan on 2gal/hr, cruise at 1.85+ leaned out at cruise around 100mph. I now have a nice composite tank with a solid 7.3gal usable. I hope to get the engine back together for this years osh, otherwise I'll trailer in like usual :-)
Peter, some time ago you gave me information on your alternator installation. I’m currently getting ready to complete the installation and have a few questions. Where do you place the capacitor, 12 volt side or 24 volt side? Do you have a switch for the alternator and do you use a circuit breaker. Great video, thanks.
The capacitor is on the unregulated dc side, up to 30v. I bought a high temp 100deg C 100v electrolytic cap from digikey. The rectifier also came from digikey....i love digikey :-). I have a fuse right at the rectifier, and a relay which is energized by the unregulated dc, switched to disable the alternator output. I also this relay to light up a 12v indicator and buzzer if the mag switch is on and there is no alternator output. I use this as an idiot reminder to use only the electronic ignition when hand propping :-)
I’m wondering if a dual pole breaker/switch 10 amp, panel mounted would work on the regulated dc side?
Id decommend a simple blade fuse on the unregulated side, in addition to a breaker on the reegulated side. On the regulated side, i have a master aviation breaker to be pulled if on a forced landing, as well as an automotive blade type fuse box for my 6 seperate ccts, using the "lit when blown" type fuses. I also run my recognition lights from the unregulated bus.
I have some more questions for you. Does it matter how the three AC wires are positioned on the rectifier. What is the regulated 12 volt output voltage? Does it matter if the capacitor is located close to the rectifier or the switcher? Have tried it and it seems to work. Start engine rpm is 2600. I had a battery that had 9.3 volts and output was 11.78. I’m using a earthX battery. Since I’m using a magneto no relays.
I've been considering buying a Hummel bird. Any Hummel bird owners reading this have any advice, pros and cons, thoughts on safety of this airplane. I'm a newer private pilot with most of my hours in a Cherokee.
Tim Yandow its a really fun LITTLE airplane, and no cherokee. You would need to get some significant tailwheel time (if its a tailwheel) as it is a short coupled lively taildragger on the ground. With its small and short tail it will not come out of a spin, so attentive flying is obviously a good thing. Build qualtiy varies widely as it is plans built, so an AME inspection would be a good idea. The trike also needs to be flown with attention, as i have seen a few vids where the pilot pops off the runway and into PIO (not an issue with the taildrqgger obviously). All said, i find it a hoot to fly. :-)
Nice views, reminds me flying with my dad in his Navion, how much it cost to build one? electric starter? lots of questions as curious minds want to know lol.
romantic340 hand prop. Built for less than 10k, depends on panel. If you build the engine too and do all you do all your own welding, then less. Mine was more.
Thanks for the info, it looks like a fun flyer for sure.
great video!
excellent
My friend flew hs hummel from Ohio to kosh his name jon jacobs better know as JJ and flew it back to Ohio.
sweet. HB or UC?
That being an ultralight aircraft, you can land at towered airports? And have a N number as well?
Canadian registered ultralight C-IPWZ, with a transponder and calibrated altimeters - yes, absolutely. I also now have ADSB out and in, so am fully compliant for all class-c airspace in north america. Different from the US ultralight designation - ours is more like your sport pilot.
@@PeteZoot wow. That is super cool. Thanks for the response. Love your videos.
What’s going on with the smear on the windscreen
No idea… timestamp? At the start it was simple condensation due to the dewpoint.
Humblebee!
Awesome plane but one question are the spark plug wires exposed? and if they are is there a risk of them getting wet in the rain? Consequently causing a misfire
Yip, and Never misfired in the rain yet. Maintained appropriately, and silicone. Also dual ignition, magneto and electronic.
@@PeteZoot ohhhh thats right silicone does help i am stupid lol but that plane is awesome and i would like to own one someday and i would like to apologize on my ignorance with the issue i just saw it as a flaw love the videos
Andrew Sybert not at all.....stupid is not bothering to ask. :). The plane is fun as heck, and no way to fly cheaper.
@@PeteZoot thanks and i bet
Hi peter. Very nice video. you can fly it away without a pilot's permission?
Παν τα thx! Nope. Needs an ultralight license as a minimum here in canada.
@@PeteZoot I've heard that anyone can do it as long as their plane weighs less than 115 kg, has a tank of up to 5 gallons, speed to 55 knots and is single seater. that's why I asked. Thank you my friend. i wish you always have good and safe flights
Παν τα that is USA (which my hummelbird would not qualify. The hummel ultracruiser would, but is a different airplane). I am in Canada. Different rules.
This video literally thought me how to fly!
I'm buying me a Hummel Bird
Sergio Mendoza thats scary lol. Its a hoot!
Peter Zutrauen
I've been studying this video alone since you posted it on utube, memorized every single detail screenshot every take off and land, Google mapped it from beginning to end, and even did all the research specificity on the plane itself, and it's something I feel confident in doing.
I was thinking about getting an avenger ultralight, but the hummel is the best way to go.
Very affordable,easy to build, and I can imagine fun to fly.
Now that I did my homework on this particular plane, I'm going to start raising the money to buy me an ultracruiser .
Hopefully if everything goes well, I'll be flying within two years.
Once again, thank you for posting this video. It's really helped me alot.
On another note,
I've subscribed to your utube channel and been watching all your flight videos(which are awesome) and look forward to seeing more of your flight video's.
Hopefully you'll film another osh trip video. I'm a big fan!
Again thank you for uploading your great videos, I've been watching every single one and studying them very carefully before I get in the cockpit!
You are truly an inspiration!
Quero comprar uma eronave dessa como faço? ?
é construído em casa, então você compra planos da Hummel Aviation. Ou você precisa encontrar um usado.
Why the parachute? Will the plane fail?
Will/could they make manual retractable gear?
Not possible. No room.
@@PeteZoot Wing's full of fuel?
W L no, just way to thin, too much structure.
Thanks for the info, amazing flight
OK, I'll bite! What's on the piece of paper you are holding up on the ground at Oshkosh (it looks like HBP) and what does it mean?
philip ritson as per the NOTAM, its a request to marshal me over to homebuilt parking.
HBP!
Makes sense once it's explained.
how tall are you? I am looking to build one of these but am concerned about my 6'2" height
I am just shy of 6', but with a 6'2" torso...long in the back. My hummel is the original plan design, so is the smallest of any flying....because of that i blew out the bottom and dropped the seat pan for a lower and more reclined position, adding compressive structure and covering with a kevlar fairing. Now i have more than enough room for my helmet (requirement here in Canada for ultralight registered) and it is comfortable enough to fall asleep in :-). Check with Hummel aviation about headroom and space in the current plans design.
Pete Z great! Thanks!
One more question- can it be flown without the canopy. I live in the south and would really love some open air flying
Never tried.....but i think so? Best ask Hummel aviation. I wonder tho how all that disturbed air behaves on the very small and short coupled tail.
I'm about 6 feet tall. I sat in Mory Hummel's original Hummel Bird airplane. Mory was typical of a WW2-era pilot; he was a short thin man with very skinny thighs. I am not. I could sit in the seat, and use the stick comfortably......OR use the throttle....but NOT at the same time. I would definitely not recomend an original-plans Hummel Bird to someone of my or your size.
The later modified plans have options that expand the fuselage both horizontally and vertically a bit. I also sat in a later-model Hummel Bird, and that I think I could sit in and fly Ok. Sounds like Pete made his own separate mods to the airplane in this video.
There's also the H5, which is a bit bigger all around. There's also Bruce King's "BK Flier", which is a similar design but slightly larger yet. Still firmly single-seat VFR. So there are options. Definitely sit in one of whatever you're going to build before you drop money on the plans, though.
Thanks for doing this. Inspirational. I have a Hummel with 11 flight hours. Did some mods and upgrades. Will be back in the air soon. It appears as though you have some extensive electronics on board. Do you have a generator? What type ignition?
Thx, I always found vids helpful when I was messing about over that two years in the garage rebuilding and modifying it (I dropped the seat for more headroom - you can see the Kevlar fairing ). I do have an alternator - actually a small but powerful model airplane 3-phase brushless motor which can bee seen at: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Hummel/photos/albums/935014859 It should give me about 10amps in cruise, and I regulate it down from 25 volts to 13.8v using a small switching power-supply. Works well so far after 150 hours. I have dual ignition, the tractor mag, and a sweet electronic Leburg from www.sky-craft.co.uk/acatalog/Skycraft_Leburg_Ignition.html works fantastic, takes little power, and eliminates any possibility of kick-back during hand propping. I also have mixture on the Zenith Carb, which is great for keeping the cruise fuel flow down around 1.8gal/hour at 3000' and above (I can be seen messing with it at the 15 minute mark in the vid).
+Peter Zutrauen Oops - the Kevlar fairing can be seen at: groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Hummel/photos/albums/1055755284 I found that the vibration is hard on the steam gauges, so I've replaced a couple with the light units from MGL - the only ones which would fit with only 2.5" avail behind the panel. They've performed flawlessly so far. I'll likely replace the ASI next (which is sticking over the fence currently). Have a great time building your hours M.Hansen, it's great fun and awesome inexpensive flight time :-)
+Peter Zutrauen, I have found the vibration to be hard on the steam gauges as well. I thought that this problem was unique to me since I use a UltaVair engine instead of a VW. Thanks for the info on the alternator. My model of the Hummel is wider and taller than yours. Do you have part numbers/info on Model airplane motor and pulley ratio?
Best Regards, Matt
+M. Hansen yip, my hummer is per morry's original design....narrow and small :-). The motor is: www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=EFLM4110A&hf_type=R And I spin it at about 7500 at cruise, for a ratio of about 2.1/1. When I made the split pulley at the flange, I made it as small as possible. Note that I do not use the motor bearings for the pulley loads.....they are taken by a dedicated bearing on the bracket. Cheers!
+Peter Zutrauen Matt asked for the following part numbers and sources (but he deleted his post?):
Switcher is a Vicor V24C12T100BG off of fleabay (still listed),
The rectifier is GUO40-12NO1-ND 3-PHASE BRIDGE RECT 1200V 40A from Digikey.com,
Small pulley is 1.42 Inch 3L-Size Pulley with Hub -3/8in. bore from robotmarketplace.com,
Bracket bearing is an NSK 44x18 3200b-2rsrtngc3
I wonder if there is a mod to ventilate the windscreen for fogging?
No need.... it always clears quickly.
does this run on 100LL or auto? whats the fuel situation at these airports?
Tim Yandow either, prefers mogas, but add decalin when using 100ll on the road to keep it cleaner.
how would this be if you have a bad back. I'm going to sell my harley and I would love to build one of these or something similar
Fits like a glove, so can be as comfortable as one wants. Just can’t move around, so that may be an issue. Note that it was designed for a 5’9” 160lbs pilot. I blew the bottom out of mine with many structural mods, so i fit at 6’ (but with the back of a 6’3”), and weigh in at 185lbs with chute. Great incentive to keep off the sugar and beer diet lol.
Hummel has a larger H5 with a full VW. Check out the hummel FB page....
What's the max flight height on this?:) love the stuff!
Andrew Meszaros th-cam.com/video/fsF9ah3HSKg/w-d-xo.html But was still climbing.
@@PeteZoot awesome stuff! Thank you
What kind of handling and flight characteristics does the Hummelbird have? Is it a docile aircraft or something more of a handful?
In flight its a docile hands off airplane (smooth air, horiz stab tips added for main wing wing tips). On the ground and the runway you need happy feet and watch cross wind limits carefully due to the short and small tail.
awesome!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this considered to be a ultra light aircraft, so you don't need a license to pilot it?
Throttle Lock it is based and registered in Canada, as a basic ultralight, which requires a Canadian ultralight license as a minimum. In the USA it would qualify only as an experimental.
Is it against the rules to have music piped into your cockpit on long trips?.
Long short whatever….absolutely no issue! :-)