All i need now is the balls to try it
 

Homebuilt job
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/PICT0007.jpg

What can you do with it Bug, apart from a sneaky hover ?

I'm guessing it doesn't have a permit ?

Other nations are awash with 'experimentals'..but they're useless over here in Blighty

PD

Does anyone have that big balls?

I'd have a go at hovering it but i'd prefer it to have a collective. :ok:

All i need now is the balls
 

The end of the collective is just visible next to the lower part of the cyclic. It is a white disc with a flat on it. Bug .

Bug... that :confused:

Wheels?
 

Surely you can just pick it up...

Don't forget the Fedora and overcoat when experimenting with new types.

http://www.aviastar.org/foto/vought-sik_vs-300.jpg

What are the wheels on rear boom? Please don't tell me its a belt drive to rear fan
I presume the vertical case is a cover for the drive either chain or belt to a X shaft & then a bevel to the top fanny thing and the tail drive is off the X shaft. I presume that is the reason for the steeped pulley in centre of boom.
I have Small .. so will be of no use whatsoever :E please keep me informed as to your continued health, as my granny said to each his own looks well put together though

it's budget homebuilt.
No need for angled gearboxes :-)
Belt would do. And you get get replacement in homebase..

size counts
 

More substantial seatbelt than the Robbies. Be careful. Small choppers remind me of toy dogs, they can have a nasty bite disproportionate to their statue.

I'm not sure the multiple failure points on the tailboom are necessary - way too complicated!

I think the size of the carton of juice at the top is disproportionate to the size of the machine.

Mitigate the problems that you might feel would arise, wear some good bodyarmour and connect the battery, I think I would have a go but what really puts me off is all those drive belts to the T/r , wind blown leaves would cause those belts to come adrift, they look flat would be better if Vees. and short belt connection to drive a lightweight shaft thru a small G/Box

Get some body to Vid it when your trying, Oh and what about tethering it to a couple of tractors, very interesting! Good luck!:eek:

Peter R-B
Vfr

Same machine, but with a different M/R head? Love the BERP blades and skateboards for ground handling:

after watching that video, just a couple of points!

1. are those flat belts driving the tail rotor?:eek:

2. Is this just a wind up?:confused:

3. I've changed my mind!;)

"Trying it"
 

You could call up the Pilots Office at Westland, and I am sure someone would be glad to give you advice on how to proceed.

Thanks,
John Dixson

I don't know what frightens me more - the cheap, supermarket-style, plastic fuel container, that obviously has passed muster as a fuel tank (please tell me, it's fuel-rated plastic) - or the frightening multiple-belt tail rotor drive system that reminds one of a flat-belt-powered machine shop, of pre-WW1 vintage.

I reckon the life of the whole unit, including the operator (I wouldn't dare call him a pilot - a circus daredevil, would be a more fitting term) revolves around the life of the plastic fuel container - which I would estimate at 3 weeks maximum - and possibly even considerably less, if subjected to strong UV light ..... :eek:

All i need is the balls to try it
 

For those of a more technical nature. The small blades in the video clip were only to put a little drag on the drive system whilst testing the tail rotor. The tail drive system was run for several hours at on and a half times its normal running speed. The vee and toothed belts have given no problems to date. Belts provided a lighter method of transmitting power to the tail, negating the need for an anglebox on the boom,helping with the longtitudinal balance. As i have some 80 hp available the extra drag of the belts is not a promblem. The small fuel tank ensures only short runs are possible during testing. Each run is followed by a full inspection of all critical components.The tailboom is extendable via a carbon sleeve, this allows all belts to be tensioned at one go.

I like the belts. Should work fine as long as they don't come off the wheels.

Looks cool!


p.s. Hope you have some recent piloting time or dual instruction.

all i need now is the balls to try it
 

Having only just noticed onetrack,s concern over the fuel tank. Rest assured cobber, it,or rather they, are indeed designed to carry petrolium spirit. I note too your observations as to the pilot,clown,nutter, or whatever other noun you choose to describe yours truly. Permit me to say this is the uk mate. we breed em tough and fearless here. wich is why i shall resist giving you a tongue lashing on this occasion. Peace to all men, and a safe 2010

Good on you Bug!
 

Bug,

whether the MK4 ever flies or remains an engineering passion for you, I wish you every success.

The world needs more people like you -- you cheer us all up. Well me, anyway.

And I'd rather be in your machine than in that weird Japanese 4-engines-just above-your-head-thing that we've seen here in previous posts.

Having said that, I think both yours and the Japanese one look great fun -- and there's an American one to check out as well -- the Air Scooter. (I don't know how to add the links).

Happy landings!

Big Ls

BigLs

You mean Welcome to the AirScooter Corporation Website ?

GS

Bug

Quite simply brilliant. Go for it!

Youth passes - but with luck immaturity will last a life time!

Good luck and best wishes for a simply exciting new year - keep us all posted:ok:

Seriously, anything you can adjust the c of g of, just to tension the belts? You serious?
You say the belts have been tested up to higher speeds, how about increased loading due thrust from the tail?



Good luck for 2010. I'm all for homebuilds, exciting stuff but I don't think it'll ever fly.:hmm:
If it does, please post the vid up here to prove us naysayers all wrong. :E

Yep my .. just got smaller, after viewing vid.

all i need now is the balls to try it
 

The tail fenestron, blades and sliding guide tube are carbon, the shafts are titanium. The digree of movement to tension the belts has minimal effect on the c of g which remains within limits with up to two inches of tail movement. The belts, blades,and linkages have undergone several hours of full load and movement. to date no problems. I thank you all for your replies, and of course will post a vidio when i have succesfully flown the machine. May i quote Otto Lilienthal It is easy to invent a flying machine, more difficult to build one, to make it fly is everything

BugDevHeli

I admire people who have the intelligence and patience to do stuff like this.

I'd love to do something like that.

Good on you.

Gary

Wow!
 

I've waited over 50 years for this...and now I HAVE seen an old bold pilot! Nice one Bug..the world needs guys like you. HNY bm

Hey Gary, keep a space for G-BXTV on the Griffin Database. Me thinks it'll be there soon enough! :eek:

Looking at the "collective" I am assuming it is a fixed pitch heli? And your knob that you call the collective is a throttle perhaps?

If that is true then good luck, my model helis were a pain to fly as a fixed pitch machine, there was a noticable delay between inputting power and the aircraft gaining altitude. The normal point for noticing this is when descending too fast and needing to stop the descent and praying it reacts in time.

I'm being anal here but you don't have a Fenestron, a fenstron is what is on a dauphan/ec155 etc, the tail blades enclosed in the tail fuselage. You have a normal tail rotor but I don't know if it has a specific name.

Good luck and be carefull, but we want a video of the outcome good OR bad.

Si

The Vid of the run up must be the LHD export model, is that why the belts are on the port side?;)

Still like it, but with a few reservations:eek:

PeterR-B
Vfr

So it looks as if the Rotorheads are pretty much in agreement, as we all seem to like the 'idea' but I have to say, the more I think about it, I feel that Bug is running 3 cans short of a six pack!
:ok:


I'm looking forward to the flying video. Bit like 'A Chopper is Born'!

Oi !!!

Lay off the Rotorway :=

Bug,

I have nothing but good wishes for your adventure. To build something like this takes a lot of nouse and I tips me hat to you.:D:D:D:D

Good luck and take it slow (and low).:)

Homebuilt Ultralight G-1 Helicopter

And heres one where the plans are 24.95 or 2 for 26.95 , but if you act now we will throw in the graty as well :D

Also note that they will pay for any flight video

all i need now is the balls to try it
 

I thought i had sort of signed off on this topic, but cant resist. In answer to points raised. Firstly "fenestron" stand orrected on that one. perhaps its impenage or something similar. Second. tail rotor is driven vai pulleys both sides of the boom which are not interconnected. The system will drive on one,or both sides. Any lateral flex in the tailboom is restricted by the belt on the .side that would tend to lengthen. The machine has a conventional collective lever with a twistgrip throttle. It has built in correlation,that can be overidden where necessary. Bug. ps i have a question for more knowledgeable folk than myself. Is it safer to tether the machine for initial lift off, and risk the snatching about at around twelve inches off the floor. or should i go for the full monty,and just grit my teeth.

Hey Bug,

I am sure I have seen a Different machine at a PFA Meeting a few years ago. How many of these have you built now

Cheers

How many of these machines have you made because this one is totaly different.


Cope Bug 2, G-BXTV, Private

There is a pic from Weston helidays 2008 I think.

http://www.unicopter.com/Temporary/BugDevHeli.gif