Grassroots Aerosports: what could possibly go wrong edition...

http://m.wimp.com/aircrafttest/

holy hell, at 1,800 lbs it's going to have a tough time getting off the ground, even if he can stop it from falling apart.

A famous quote... "With a big enough engine you can make a barn door fly"

I think this guy needs an LS9.

1800lbs actually isn't bad for a plane that size...I'd say I want to see this wacky contraption fly, but I kind of don't want to see what might happen if it flies

Even if he un-berkeleys the landing gear (LOLZ at nose gear barely in front of the CoG, with what looks like wheelbarrow pegs further forward for some reason) all those extra wings will make it quite unstable.

The video is over 2 years old... here's the builder's channel on YouTube for more recent stuff: http://www.youtube.com/user/gnm7544/videos

Looks like he's reduced the weight a lot.

hey, much respect for the ambition, dream and dedication though.

"The problem lies in the rear wheels."

Really? Gonna place the blame there?

Half a million Kenyan Shillings is a little more than $5,800 US dollars. That sure does seem like a lot of money for that "plane."

• Lee

A plane built by someone who's lack of planning requires hacksawing off part of the truck to transport it?

No. Thanks, but no.

Prefer this way.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pH09RkvuFw

No comments on the close your eyes and weld technique?

Apexcarver wrote: Prefer this way.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pH09RkvuFw

I miss that show.

icaneat50eggs said: No comments on the close your eyes and weld technique?

I'm just as guilty as that guy, well almost. I've gotten a decent tan just tacking a lot of stuff together, so glass houses and what not.

• Lee

I think this dude is awesome!

I admire his ambition. I wish I was half as optimistic as him.

ultraclyde wrote: A plane built by someone who's lack of planning requires hacksawing off part of the truck to transport it? No. Thanks, but no.

I know I'm living in a first world country and everything like that but I can't imagine how long it took them to freaking hacksaw through that tube when I know it would've taken mere seconds with a battery powered sawzall.

Teh E36 M3 wrote: I admire his ambition. I wish I was half as optimistic as him.

Yes... and no. He's probably only alive because his optimism hasn't panned out yet.

Are those flaps? Some were Hugo Junkers is crying.

His latest model looks great apart from the very questionable shape of the wing.

Edit: And it looks like the horizontal stabilizer is installed upside-down.

"No formal aeronautical training ...."

Dude, at least go read a few books.

Powered flight and skydiving, two things you wanna "get right" early on.

GameboyRMH wrote: 1800lbs actually isn't bad for a plane that size...I'd say I want to see this wacky contraption fly, but I kind of don't want to see what might happen if it flies

I dunno, I thought the smaller Cessna's were around 1,000lb's for a 150 up to around 1,500 for a 172. 1,800 for a back yard hack is a lot.

Dude should check out some Red Bull Flugtag efforts on how to build light weight.

Apexcarver wrote: Prefer this way.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pH09RkvuFw

Pulled from You Tube for copywright, is there another version out there ?

OK, things are looking better, but a long way to go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct0ZyKOenBY

Why not lighter weight wing made of wood with a doped fabric covering? That has to be cheaper, lighter and probably easier to find material for where he is.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: That has to be cheaper, lighter and probably easier to find material for where he is.

Hahaha no, he would certainly have to import anything that specialized. I know I would.

"He attributes his knowledge to online research..."

And there it is.