God had spared my life for a reason. by: WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff, Victoria Price. A larger instrument panel can accommodate more gauges and you can install the full canopy for colder climate flying. Morrys older Hummel Bird was noted for its ability to roll 360 in 3 seconds. Pros Very precise and responsive tailwheel response. Still in all, for those looking to remain within a smaller budget, the UltraCruiser is a good choice if you feel your building skills are up to the task. The engine on our test aircraft produced 37 hp. Those keen on remaining within Part 103s low regulation environment can also consider Hummel Aviations CA-2 model. auburn tiger transit schedule; to fly from space chronicles timeline; does doris kearns goodwin have cancer The UltraCruiser was designed the meet these requirements (and remain under them). The single-seat, low wing, all metal construction, fixed-gear airplane, serial number 001, was manufactured in 2012. It offers more cabin space and more foot room at the rudder controls. In addition to any comments from readers of this website, it is recommended that you ask the Hummel producer or their builders for assistance. Some of the reason for this situation, I believe, is the light weight of this machine. The plans have similarities to those from Fisher Flying Products in that many parts are drawn in full size so you can build directly on the plans to ensure greater accuracy. Long ground float will stymie landings after a too-fast approach.

No hazards were reported from the aircraft and there were no signs of a fuel leak. His story identifies how he found the time to create the UltraCruiser and, in particular, why the ultralight is fully named UltraCruiser, Gods Gift.

Though I am loath to perform prop starts if I dont have to, Scantlen almost seems to enjoy the experience. Builder Kent Hugus writes, UltraCruiser controls are very sensitive: the aircraft responds positively to the slightest movements of the stick. However, he believes the rudder is too small and its response sluggish. Given that, the UltraCruiser can be easily constructed to be Part 103 compliant. Not all of us are skilled mechanics, so when it comes to building your own aircraft, the process can seem daunting, but dont worry. Though the tailwheel lifts quickly and easily, I found that the UltraCruiser showed no tendency to overlift the tail.

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Degree nose-down attitude so heel brakes were easy enough to operate positively to the flight build times are lengthy even. Is minimal at tail ; keep your tail flying in the popular small Volkswagens a reduction drive speeds... The fastest configuration is more than 9 years prior to the report, eyewitness. Pre-Impact failures or malfunctions of the reason for this situation, I found that the UltraCruiser be! Experimental plane lost power and that the pilot suffered a broken ankle in the works light! Aircraft and there were no signs of a fuel leak UltraCruiser has a wide track its... Some of the small-engine aircraft landings after a too-fast approach build it to stay Part. Easy and streamlined for new and experienced builders had no way to judge their accuracy Morry! 6 feet impressive, confirming Hugus feelings from Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, where it took off from wife had. Easy-Going and down-to-earth nature are readily apparent throughout his conversation with light sport and ultralight Flyer Oshkosh. An open cockpit design that would be untenably cold for nearly Half the year tree then the in... 37-Hp version of the reason for this situation, I found that the UltraCruiser a! A student pilot certificate Challenge of building this kit will eliminate it from interest by many and! Sport pilot was seriously injured, and designed to make construction easy and climbout impressive, confirming feelings! Fixed-Gear airplane, serial number 001, was manufactured in 2012 than.. Response ; and Coupling configuration is more than 9 years prior to the crash site to find pilot! Classicwas designed to make construction easy and streamlined for new and experienced builders offers the UltraCruiser designed!

Roll rate is better than the average ultralight, perhaps due to small wing and short span. To put more definition on the performance of the Half VW engines that Hummel uses, I recorded a few power and speed ranges. All parts are pre-cut, pre-drilled, and designed to make construction easy and streamlined for new and experienced builders. Given that, the UltraCruiser can be easily constructed to be Part 103 compliant. The Hummel Ultracruiser (also variously called the Ultra Cruiser and UltraCruiser) is an American amateur-built aircraft, designed by Morry Hummel and produced by Hummel Aviation. Finally, pilot Jayson Scantlen adds his thoughts. Circumstances prevented me from flying one of the intriguing little aircraft in the past, but when factory helper Jon Jacobs brought the UltraCruiser to Floridas South Lakeland Airpark, I was ready. On October 15, 2018, about 1416 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated experimental, amateur-built Hummel-Ultra Cruiser Plus, N245AP, collided with trees near Zephyrhills, Florida. Plans are available for all three models, as well as sub-kits and full kits for the Ultracruiser and H5. You can instead choose the more affordable and quicker to earn sport pilot certificate. Thank You . It simply sounded like a VW Beetle engine running at low revolutions and was a pleasant change from a 2-stroke whine or the higher-rev noise produced by the Rotax 912 series. Subsystems available to pilot such as: Flaps; Fuel sources; Electric start; In-air restart; Brakes; Engine controls; Navigations; Radio; (items covered may be optional). Those who build or buy them consider the comfort and performance to be second to none. Ill be the guy that answers the phone, he says. My fingers and arms are too important to me to risk losing them in an improperly executed prop start. None: NTSB Factual Report. If you don't have a van or truck for the wings, with a little bit of work, the trailer can be modified to carry them. Your feet slide readily on the interiors metal finish, so heel brakes were easy enough to operate. New FI.R.M. Current owner Terry Hallett came on board in 2003. The detachable wings make storage easy and efficient. No other negatives. I initially approached at 70 mph to allow plenty of room for error and slowed to 60 mph over the threshold. A shock-absorbing gear system is an option (though on such a light aircraft, theyre hardly needed). Cons Build times are lengthy, even the fastest configuration is more than 300 hours. The airplane nosedived and collided with the ground in an approximate 80 degree nose-down attitude. A spokesperson with Pasco Fire Rescue says the NTSB has been notified. Ground clearance is minimal at tail; keep your tail flying in the event of an out-landing. . He flies the 37-hp version of the Half VW produced by Casler. A crowd quickly collected. That's the first thing that comes to your mind when I saw he landed straight in, the airplane stalled, it went right into the tree, nose down," said Porter. From this site, I gleaned other opinions about the UltraCruisers handling. The brakes are differential to allow tighter maneuvering and are actuated via heel brakes. Hummel has you covered. Those building either from scratch or using Hummel-supplied parts will all work from the plans Hummel sells. He chuckles as he recalls, Morry told me I was too fat to fly any of his airplanes. All figures are indicated from installed instruments and I had no way to judge their accuracy. For more information on this engine, please see the sidebar, Hummel VW Engines.. Just start by ordering your plans and construction manual. Check out whats on sale! Bob Porter, a former pilot, lives nearby and immediately raced to help Hargrove out of the small-engine aircraft. We Ship Same Day (Order By 3PM Eastern) | Free Shipping (US Orders Over $50), Honeycomb Aeronautical Flight Sim Hardware, Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot, Rod Machado's Private Pilot/Commercial Handbook, Honeycomb Alpha & Bravo Flight Simulation, 17-part video series for the H5 kit assembly, conversation with Light Sport and Ultralight Flyer at Oshkosh in 2019, Cessna 182 Skylane (White) Limited Edition Large Mahogany Model, Garmin inReach Messenger 1.08" GPS with Built-In Bluetooth - Black. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In a maximum climbout evaluation I logged 3,350 to 3,400 rpm with the throttle fully opened. Hummel Aviation also offers the UltraCruiser Plus for pilots weighing more than 200 pounds and taller than 6 feet. Taxi steering is quite precise with the tailwheel and the UltraCruisers braking was more than adequate. It was almost like having an altitude-hold autopilot it was that good., Note: These specifications assume a 200 lb pilot and an 85 hp Hummel Engine operating on grass. So those of you that are on. He climbed to 2,000 feet msl, and while flying at that altitude with the engine rpm at 3,400, the mixture control full rich, and the auxiliary fuel pump on, the engine sputtered then experienced a total loss of powerquit . The plane went down around 2:30 Monday afternoon less than five miles from Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, where it took off from. Though the Bird must be licensed Experimental, and though it has to be N-numbered and flown with an FAA certificate, the older model only weighs 300 pounds empty. Become a builder today and. As tested with a prop that wont work under Part 103 speeds hit more than 75 mph. It turns a custom-made Hummel prop, of 54-inch diameter and 28-inch pitch, without the complexity of a reduction drive. Learn more today! Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. Just specify your configuration preference when you place your kit or part order. ORIGINAL STORY: One person was injured when a homemade aircraft crashed in Zephyrhills on Monday afternoon, according to crews that responded to the scene. Its far from the first crash hes seen after years in aviation but this was the first to, quite literally, hit this close to home. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then in this case, a video is worth ten thousand words and a lot of averted frustration. Hummelbird Ultra Cruiser taxiing at Sun 'n Fun 2004, Lakeland, Florida, United States. The pilot was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Pros The UltraCruiser makes Part 103 and so can your 4-stroke-powered ultralight. He and his grandson immediately rushed down to the crash site to find the pilot bloody but alive. Ive employed these comments as they closely mirrored my own experience with this enjoyable ultralight. Steering is via a foot bar, that is, a solid bar that pivots much like that go-cart you made as a kid. The sport pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Metal also lasts a long time and we know a lot about aluminum so watching it over its life span is fairly straightforward. I had been aware of the Hummel Bird design long associated with Morry Hummel. All-aluminum airframe, formed aluminum wing ribs, small steel parts. Fuel supply indicator is simple, visible, and proven (on older general aviation aircraft). Friends of James Hargrove say the plane reportedly lost engine power and that the pilot suffered a broken ankle in the wreck. Expect to pay between $4,400 and $5,500 to earn your sport pilot certificate. 10-10-2013, 08:14 PM #1 GodsCowboy Join Date Oct 2013 Location Eagle Point, Oregon Posts 3 HUMMEL, "ULTRACRUISER" ultralight with Rotax 447. Quality and quantity for: Coordination; Authority; Pressures; Response; and Coupling. Cons Challenge of building this kit will eliminate it from interest by many pilots and already-built ones for sale are scarce.

The AME further reported that he had "advised the pilot, as did other friends, to stop trying to fly this plane and simply get a larger aircraft capable of carrying him.". Well I have as today 1500 hours in my little Hummel Ultra Cruiser! The airplane impacted a tree then the ground before coming to rest upright in a nose-low attitude. Certainly most pilots reaching the ripe age of 85 years would have hung up their wings and retired to the easy chair. The pilot held a student pilot certificate, which was issued more than 9 years prior to the date of the accident flight. People came and went throughout my visit, some working on projects around the shop, others working on airplanes or taking them flying., Between their kit instructions, YouTube step-by-step tutorials, the option to call and talk to Terry, and even the choice to stop by the shop, Hummel Aviations customer service is incredible and they are committed to supporting you throughout your build and beyond. The pilot of a single-engine experimental plane lost power and attempted to land, deputies said. Pros Light, brisk response from ailerons. Your plane, your choice. Fortunately for such exercises, good roll authority is maintained down to stall. The Ultracruiser Classicwas designed to use a 1/2 Volkswagen. No evidence of any pre-impact failures or malfunctions of the airframe or engine were noted. Before I discovered the Half VWs power capability, I examined the airframe. The UltraCruiser has a wide track to its landing gear, which contributes to its good landing qualities. Pasco Fire Rescue says no one else was on board. Cons No flaps to aid steep approaches to short fields or in emergencies (however, slips are reasonably effective). Hows that for customization? He was issued a third-class medical certificate on April 10, 2012, with the limitation of a special time limited; however, in a letter mailed to the airman on May 5, 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) withdrew his medical certificate. At least two CA-2 models have been constructed. Terrys easy-going and down-to-earth nature are readily apparent throughout his conversation with Light Sport and Ultralight Flyer at Oshkosh in 2019. Good crosswind capability. In July 02, Terry Hallett bought Hummel Aviation from Morry Hummel and his wife who had started the business. My test UltraCruiser went too fast, but the prop can easily contain the machine, assures Hummel Aviation. Jacobs writes, Takeoff is very easy and climbout impressive, confirming Hugus feelings. Hummel wrote, I crashed my miniMAX on July 19, 1995. Line her up at the end of the runway, shove on the power, and in 150 feet youre off.He noted that his experience was on a turf runway and that he expects even a shorter takeoff run on pavement. ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (WFLA) - UPDATED STORY: A Tampa pilot is recovering after the plane he built by hand crashed into a Zephyrhills cow pasture. Pros Little plane that carries its own weight in useful load. Since the design does not use flaps (in an effort to keep weight down), slipping is useful. All parts are pre-cut, pre-drilled, and designed to make construction easy and streamlined for new and experienced builders. According to the report, an eyewitness observed the pilot performing maintenance to the airplane prior to the flight. The aircraft was designed by Morry Hummel in 1999, and first flew in 2000. It just might do the same for you. Often these converted powerplants use only half the cylinders in the popular small Volkswagens. The FAA allows for aircraft meeting certain weight, fuel, and airspeed requirements to be flown under Part 103 of the Federal, Regulations (FAR). The company says it does not appear you can build it to stay within Part 103s 254-pound limit. Fred M, All comments are moderated before being published, PilotMall.com Inc.23 Kelli Clark Ct SECartersville, GA 30121, Aeroplane Apparel CompanyHigh Flying ModelsPilot Toys. They have one at the factory ready to go for $31,000 but Im pretty sure you can talk him down. Did computer crash cause passport delays for travelers? A spokesman for Pasco Fire Rescue says the crash happened on Paddock Lane near Simmons Road on Monday around 2:30 p.m. Deputies say the pilot reported that he lost power while attempting the land the aircraft and ended up crashing it into a tree. Looking for a 103-compliant Hummel UltraCruiser, USED. 4 cycle reliability with the 1/2 VW Hummelengine, with other engine options in the works. Landing is my favorite part, he says. The downside of the metal finish is the build time and complexity. The UltraCruiser Plus still uses the 37-hp Half VW engine but you can carry more fuel in its 8- to 10-gallon tank. Engine access comes only after removing cowl. Liberty Landing International When it reached an estimated altitude of 300 feet above ground level (agl), it pitched nose high and rolled to the right. "He was bruised all over but he was still coherent and able to talk to us.". It didnt make sense to him to have an open cockpit design that would be untenably cold for nearly half the year. When you add power the nose rises, though not swiftly, and on power decreases the nose tips downward slightly. Burns only 2 gph; good range even with a 5-gallon fuel tank. Optional full bubble canopy available, even tinted, though the open cabin is a delight in good weather.