KANSAS SPARROWHAWK I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE SPARROWHAWK as an ultra-light sailplane (less than 155 pounds empty). My quest was to use this wonderful platform for a self-launching glider/ultralight. My criteria were simple: design and build a “power pack” that could be installed and removed with no impact to CG or the operation of the ballistic parachute. What emerged was experimental N37LD. Both engines are 120-cc (9-hp) model airplane engines turning 26-by- 12 pusher props. The power pack mounts by means of a saddle on the CG of the air- craft. It attaches with four pins, two control cable pins, and two electrical plugs. The engine strut houses all of the control cables, electrical wiring, and fuel. It takes about 20 minutes to set up from a trailer and another five minutes to install the power pack, which has a dry weight of 24 pounds (wet is 5 pounds more). Takeoff weight is typically less than 400 pounds. I received the airworthiness certificate in the fall of 2010 and flew one week later.
Richard Boone, EAA 670161; Wichita, Kansas; E-mail: richard@boonefly.com
ARKANSAS RANS S- 19
FUN, FRUSTRATION, CHALLENGE, UNEXPECTED DELAYS, and pure joy are
some of the ways to describe an amateur building an airplane. It all
began four years ago. I still fly a 1946 Piper Cub and have owned a
RANS S- 7. However, as soon as RANS came out with this model, I
knew it was for me and ordered the kit immediately. It is powered by a
Jabiru 3300, six-cylinder, 120-hp engine, with a ground-adjustable
Sensenich prop. Avionics include a Garmin 696 GPS, Tru Trak EFIS
with autopilot, and a Tru Trak EIS, and it weighs 832 pounds. Having a
full-time business limited the time I could devote to the project; however, thanks to a supportive wife, I was able to devote most of my extra
time to building. I designed the paint scheme on the computer, and
everyone comments on it.
The first flight was on June 12, 2011. Everything worked great, and
it was a dream. On the first flight, it handled with hands-off controls,
and certainly exceeded my expectations.
Jim Halbert, EAA 304295; Fayetteville, Arkansas; E-mail: halpet@halpet.arcoxmail.com;
Technical Counselor: Frank Sperandeo
FLORIDA SONEX N506DG IS A CONVENTIONAL-GEAR SONEX with dual sticks, powered by a Jabiru 3300. Construction started with delivery of the kit on January 13, 2003. Then, a short eight years, four months, and two weeks ( 1,600 construction hours) later on May 27, 2011, CONNIE B flew for the first time from Spruce Creek, Florida (7FL6), Runway 23. CONNIE B flew straight and true and is a pleasure to fly. The panel features an MGL Avionics Enigma EFIS, MGL V10 VHF communications trans- ceiver, and Microair transponder. I want to thank my friend, neighbor, mentor, and guru Ed Lynch. Without his valuable guidance N506DG would not exist today. I also need to thank the “Spruce Creek Experts,” my neighbors. I am truly fortunate to live in an aviation commu- nity filled with so much talent. There wasn’t any problem encountered that couldn’t be solved. Next I would like to thank Matt at MGL Avionics, who patiently answered all of my stupid questions. Of course, I need to especially thank my wife, Connie B. She is the one who nursed my numerous cuts, dings, and bruises, cleaned up after me when I dragged oil, aluminum shavings, dirt, etc. into the house, and listened to me rant and rave when things weren’t going right.
