I AM NOT ONLY A DREAMER ! I AM BUILDER TOO !
Some of my projects that I managed to realised alone or with help of my dearest friends in the past
STREAMLINED COMPOSITE TRIKE (completed in 1990)
This trike was designed in 1989. I did all drawings for composite shell and with friend Igor we carved out the plug from styrofoam. The foam was reinforced and sanded to final shape. The automotive proffesional painter done al finish. The molds were made in proffesional workshop, and all rest such metal parts, gear and Chronos wing put on trike manufacturer Peter. The trike was fast and stable (atractive too), but it was not accepted commercially. Some large pilots complain the narrow leg room and overall comfort for the pasenger (2 place!). Well, trike was designed with strong wish for performance rather than comfort...
MINIMUM POWERED HANGGLIDER (builded in 1987)
This is my attempt to made a powered hang glider similar as N.S. "Minimum". I use a 90 ccm Go Cart engine with 15 HP. The engine was from GoCart but it was really an motorbike engine. I carved a wooden propeller and the first one was the right. There were no modification to any part of powerplant. Power unit was attached to my hang glider Hornet 15m2. It climb slightly over 1 m/s. The noise level was high due exhaust system with no silencer.
(You can look at some technical drawings if you click on the sketch above)
MINI and FOXY recreational boats (builded in 1988)
When I was member of hang gliding club Krila Krsko, the president give me a chance to design a small recreational speed boat, that can be build in our workshop in order to give a chance to our members to increase the budget. I decided to build two different aperance, but on the same undervater shell. I look at one well known designs of such boat and redesign and tailored it to fit our special demands. The both litle beasts goes fast as hell. It was pure joy to almost fly over the wawes. We made some 15 samples. When war started in our country (ex Yugoslavia) the market for those recreational vehicles close the doors. We were aiming customers on Croatia coast...
To avoid to bankrobt, we sell the molds, documentation and know how to the best buyer. End of storry...but it was fun as long it last...
This was my first attempt to use CAD design. It take much longer than if I use old simple drawing board...I was beginner in CAD then...
HOMEMADE PARAGLIDER (builded in 1988)
When paragliders apear in our country very soon after in West Europe, I was amazed with those flying machines that can be carryed around in backpack. Easier than that hang gliders. When first "high performance" paragliders apeared, my attention was on famous F1 design. I had a chance to fly with one. It flew much better than other types of that time, but it was unstable, pitch sensitive, and tips like to lose form in turbulent conditions. Pilot was overloaded with look after nervous canopy..
My friend Marko (SKY) manufacturer of the paragliders preserved me materials and know how, because my wish was to made paraglider of my own. I strongly modified the F1 model.
The modifications were:
- closed outer 3 cells
- tip stabilisator reduced to 1/2 of original and triangular shape
- changed airfoil (P III)
- enlarged tip choord
Result of this modification was:
- verry stable canopy (as it was nailed to the sky)
- less messy wingtips
- less performance (airfoil with higher CL produce higher CDI, and result is bad L/D ratio...
Well, the end result was not a briliant design, but it fly even today. I learn a lot about paragliders in those days building my own design and learning from dear late friend Marko.
HOMEMADE HANG GLIDER (builded in 1980)
When flying with the PVC hang glider became risky due degradation of the sail, I decided to buy Dacron sailcloth and construct the REAL hang glider. I use the same tubes and hardware and rearanged al dimensions. The completed hang glider was similar to LANCER 4 hang glider. I fly high with it, and of course without parachute. The harnes I made by myself.
HOMEMADE ROGALLO KITE (builded in 1979)
When long ago (in 1979) in my country arrive new sport - HANG GLIDING, I decided to make the Rogallo wing by myself. One group of hang gliding enthusiasts give me a set of tubes and wires and some hints how to do it. I bolt all together and connect the wires. Because Dacron was to expencive and out of reach for me, I made the sail from PVC plastic foil, as I read in the book of Dan Poynter describing beginings of this sport. (Bible for hang gliders at that days..long time ago...). It was glued with ordinary brown tape. For the harnes I use a rope attached to the top of A frame. For "more comfort" the rope was surrounded by cloth. Me and my friend (who also help me with this project) flew with this kite for about 1 year. We manage to fly over 200m in length and over 5 m in height. It was fun and without any accident. It was interesting, that performance of the kite was changing with temperature, because the sail strech or shrink in different weather.
I WILL ADD MORE STUFF, AS SOON I FIND THE PICTURES AND PUT THEM ON THE SCANNER
YOU ARE INVITED TO CHECK HERE SOON IF YOU ARE INTERESTED...
You will find out more about:
- my homemade surfboard
- RC models of my design
- and more, if spare time will permit me to put all here...
