New Light Weight Aircraft Completes Successful Test Flight On
Independence Day
It was an uplifting holiday for the
designer of a highly reconfigured aircraft modeled after the Kitfox
Lite. Piloted by James Wiebe, who designed it to comply with FAR
Part 103 weight and regulatory requirements, the 'Belite' made a
successful first flight on Saturday, July 4, 2009, after having
been formally unveiled on June 30.
The Belite is a single place airplane that incorporates the use
of proprietary, lightweight carbon fiber material in the
fabrication of struts, ribs and wing spar. It provides the flight
characteristics and handling of an airplane while operating under
FAA guidelines that allow it to be flown without a pilot's license
(but, of course NOT without proiper training).
After an initial circuit of the pattern at Wichita's Colonel
James M. Jabara Airport (AAO), Wiebe conducted additional flight
and handling characteristics tests during a ninety-minute session
that also included several takeoffs and landings.
For the initial flight, the Belite was powered by a
28-horsepower MZ-34 engine. Plans call for the installation of
larger, more powerful engine prior to the upcoming Oshkosh Fly-In.
Though flown with a lower power engine and without the cowling
installed, the Belite cruised at approximately 54 miles per hour.
Wiebe subsequently recorded a stall speed of 27 miles per hour. The
airplane also features an electrical system, MicroAir transceiver,
transponder, fuel gauge and a gizmo dock for a Garmin 496 in its
panel.
"Flying the Belite for the first time was, for me, an extremely
memorable event. While the rest of the country was focused on
celebrating independence, I was experiencing it, making lazy
circles in the sky above Jabara Airport," Wiebe observed. "I have
never flown in an airplane I built or on which I have designed
critical structures before, so this definitely ranks among my most
thrilling flying experiences."
Wiebe had previously conducted high speed taxi tests and had
lifted the gear off the ground, but had not actually maneuvered or
climbed out of ground effect until the evening of July 4. "Once it
was airborne, the airplane handled well. With the rear windows we
have engineered into the fuselage and the transparent 'turtle'
deck, the pilot has 360-degree visibility. As flown, the airplane
weighed approximately 245 pounds and that included the optional
rear window and a full VFR panel. It was especially impressive on
landing because it practically hovers before touchdown and can be
stopped within a very short distance," he noted.