Engines – Power

Wasp Systems Wasp SP-Mk4

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A powered hang glider harness, built by Chris Taylor in the UK in 2007.
The SP-4 uses quality fittings, and the best buckles on the market. It is electric start, with the master switch and start button neatly fitted in the ends of the two main tubes of the frame. Has its own charger, tip protectors and carbon propellor.
Comesw with a Radne engine and fits a Vittorazzi of more power.
To launch you start off with a mouth throttle (which has a safety microswitch fitted), and then as soon as you are comfortably airborne, you swap over to the foot throttle. Climb in, zip up and enjoy the ride.
It has a pouch for an emergency parachute. Pockets for all sorts, including your radio, a large storage area inside the main pod for those long x-countries.

Washington Aeroplane Co Columbia

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The Columbia monoplane was entered for the 1912 Gordon Bennett aviation race held in Chicago, to be piloted by Paul Peck, known as “The Birdman of West Virginia”, powered by a rotary rated at 50 hp. In 1912 Peck was killed while flying the Columbian at a Chicago exhibition. Peck started a steep spiral, ignoring a sudden storm, the engine came loose, cut through the pilot’s seat with its whirling propeller, and the airplane disintegrated in the air.

Warwick Bantam

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Bill Warwick built his third plane, the Bantam, first flying in 1966. The first Bantam, N2258B, first flew in June 1966.

Designed for simple fabrication, the Bantam uses no compound curves and very few simple ones. The cockpit area is a steel tube structure taking all wing, gear and engine mount loads. The steerable front wheel has a spring leaf shock absorber. The remaining is wood construction with a plywood cover.

The Bantam is a single-seat, low-wing plane that can use any engine from 65 to 100 hp.

Blueprints cost US$55 in 1972.

Gallery

Engine: Lycoming O-145, 65 hp
Wingspan: 18 ft 6 in
Length: 13 ft 9 in
Height: 6 ft 0 in
Gross weight: 790 lb
Empty Wt. 535 lbs
Fuel capacity 11.5 USG
Top speed: 140 mph
Cruise speed: 105 mph
Stall 52 mph
ROC: 1000 fpm
TO run: 550 ft
Ldg run: 500 ft