doodlebug

NEW RADNE ES 120 Aero ( electric Start ) less than one hour T.T. Not even broken in. New re-drive gears & belt clutch & extra parts such as extra new starter bendex – 2 new never charged batteries. Has original wood propeller NOT folding prop.

Why the new engine upgrades you may ask? I simply wanted the easy in-flight starts and like the new features auto decompression and the idea of a brand new engine .

The engine - new direct from Radne Sweden to me, The other E start conversion parts came from Flylight UK ( I was a US importer / dealer for a while same with the doodlebug - airborne trikes and every glider manufacturer in the world).
Harness with E start is about 54 lbs. Comes with 2 brand new batteries for in-flight restarts ( you get about 200 starts from one charge.

It is very light with the engine and drive even gas tank behind pilot, the mass of the weight is in the rear of C.G. of the harness itself.

This benefits the pilot in several ways. 1. the majority of the bugs weight is in the rear balanced by the pilots weight, making it only a few pounds heavier when picking up the glider by the base tubes.

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With the 90 pounds thrust of forward push it is much like foot launched towing or light trike.
In 8 knot wind I get off in maybe 2 steps depending on forward air speeed! , Though in a 10 knot on my first flight I was like superman just took about a 1/2 step - not even running and climbed like a bat out of hell. In about 45 seconds I was 300 AGL and scared shitless, then settled in got adjusted went to 10 K, Let the engine idle and glided for maybe 1 hour.

Oh yea battery weight maybe 1 pound ballpark, never noticed any difference in weight with the starter and battery - maybe it added 4 pounds total if that. Pilots carry sleeping bags, tents, food and all sorts of crap for Cross country group adventures, Weekend or longer trips and taking all their gear in the storage area of the bug ! Very cool indeed. There was an 4 page story with pics in hang gliding mag where they got about 4 or 5 pilots and did such a trip, very neat pics and story, They were from the northwest and flew down the Oregon coast together –

I recall them flying Moyes and wills - one was a WW Ramair. Pics showed them in different formations over Seaside - Cape lookout - Oceanside - sand lake ( pacific city area) and their campsites. No chase car they were just on their own. That Radne is one reliable engine as you probably already know.

Understand, I was just helping flylight and their dealers train and learn to change from trikes. I was not part of the class, just overheard while Ben Ashman Owner of Flylight Bond Stewart Designer of the Doodlebug inUK. .

Once the first instructor had is first flight - Ben asked me if I wanted to give it a go.
Without even thinking I said sure, That was my first flight and was hooked as was everyone. Could not wait to go again. That was on a Target 160 very mush a mushy wing with not much glide.
Then Ben talked me into one of my HPAT wings a 158 and man what a difference everything got so much better in all respects. Plus as I said with the weight in the rear of the harness landings became so simple and easy.

I was hooked ! one the HPAT 158 – doodlebug combo.

So back to no wind, yes it sometimes can be a longer run about 20 feet at say 3000 ft ASL. Never try to push out to get a shorter run, get your airspeed get off the ground and gain airspeed ( it happens fast then push out or let out to trim) Keep from stalling !!!!

Anyway glider weight is on the harness ( shoulders mainly) then the lifting of the wing - its about 68 pounds or there about.

Its just like towing but a strong push 90 pounds of push thrust, in dead air the wing is loosing weight and begins to fly in a few steps. Then its just you running and being pushed just like hang gliding wing flys first.

Density altitude has its effect as in all avation.

I weigh 165 and in 3 mph wind at 3000 ft MSL I am off in about 10 to 15 feet or less . With more practice it can become shorter, I have seen Ben Ashman get airborne in 1 or 2 steps in very light wind and immediately transition ( feet over the base tube ) feet in stirrup and have the rear legs up all at only 5 ft AGL. Really impressive & amazing plus he weighs maybe 28 pound more than myself and short legs. - showing off.
I adapted wheels to one years back and that worked good as well.

I built one with the two wheels in back & steer able nose wheel in front. And one with the two larger wheels in front / off the base tube and a smaller steer able tail wheel in rear. There are many ways to do this / the aft wheel support can either be bent or inverted V to avoid contact with the aft narrow part of the bug when turning.

I had videos on you tube of the 5 minute set up and taxi runs / in flight wing shots and landings. I can no longer locate them , at one time I was going to go into production and may have removed them from you tube my self.

There were several others on you tube that copied my design. The entire conversion kit weighted only 15 to 18 us pounds and set up in a matter of minutes. Very easy to build with modifications to the wing or doodlebug such as drilling.

The wing 1993 HPAT 158 set up for the doodle bug, with the bug this is a very fun wing and very easy landing, - had V.G. faired down tubes, upgraded leading edge fabric ( the old tri lam delaminated quickly. This has been resolved with the latest sail cloth.

Wing has only 20 hours T.T. 250 pounds hook in to 3 G’s that’s 750 lbs !

I include new training wheels. For landing practice.

Flairs are so easy with the bug and mass of harness weight behind C.G.

Comments: Recreational Double Surface Glider. No keel pocket. Compromise good handling, reasonable landing, glide and penetration characteristics. 7075 tubing made for relatively light weight.

. Very distinct flare cues. Not tail heavy as in previous WW. '89 - '93
Sizes: 145, 158
Rating: 3-4

Comments: VG (lever). Easier handling than earlier HP models good glide and V.G. Handles like a H-2 but flairs are a bit tougher.

Faired down tubes and king post / removable keel for doodlebug, speed bar allows longer take off strides and comfort / easer transition. Annual inspection completed 2 – 2014