Legal Eagle 2XL

[Flyboy]

Well I just figured I would announce the egg is cracked open and the work begun just outside Quinlan Tx.  18 ribs in 5 days, now to make K blocks for the other ribs.  My eagle will be the 2XL model as I'm larger than XL.  2 banger VW might need a turbo, or just add the other 2 cylinders as a safety feature. lol    Panning on full case 82mm x 92 or 94 mm engine.  I need all the H.P. I can get.   That's all for now.  Wish me luck.

[PropMan]

Welcome to Eaglers Flyboy!

[r1scott]

Hey flyboy its scott in canton. Im building a cabin eagle but alot slower than you guys. We need to get together lol. Good luck

[Dave Stroud]

Hey, Scott. When you get a chance, could you please tell me the size of the steel, square cross tube  in the upper part of your cabin, front and rear ? It's the part that the wing spars bolt to. Thanks.

[r1scott]

Sure, ill look it up when i get home today

[r1scott]

Hey. I looked in my d.e. and c.e. plans and all the tubes are round on my plans. The only square tube i found was a tailwheel brace.

[Dave Stroud]

Hmm...I found this pic somewhere and just figured it might be typical of a double cabin eagle cabin top. I'm building an XL but will go with full width cabin, hence my question. Could you please say what dimensions are called out ( diameter and thickness ) on your plans for the front and rear cabin top tubes?

Several others have recently indicated they're building XL's with a full width cabin and if they'd like to chime in with some tubing references that would be a good thing. Thanks...

[rfeenstra]

Hey, that's my plane in the pic!  I don't remember what the dimensions of the square tube is but I can measure it.  The plane is all torn apart right now.  I cut the tail off right behind the cabin and am building a new tail that is about 26" longer. Part of the fun of home builts is making changes. Hopefully, that will get rid of the lead in the tail (i'm using an A65 for an engine, which may be heavier than a VW.)  If anyone is interested in a tail and tail feathers, let me know!  The tail could be spliced right into your cabin!

[Dave Stroud]

I'd very much appreciate the size and thickness of the cross tubes fore and aft.   If you'd email me    dwstroud  at xplornet.com  with some details of construction / materials etc. and pricing of the tail and empennage that would help.  Thanks..

[sideband]

Hmm...I found this pic somewhere and just figured it might be typical of a double cabin eagle cabin top. I'm building an XL but will go with full width cabin, hence my question. Could you please say what dimensions are called out ( diameter and thickness ) on your plans for the front and rear cabin top tubes?

Several others have recently indicated they're building XL's with a full width cabin and if they'd like to chime in with some tubing references that would be a good thing. Thanks...

So are you essentially making a CE/DE but with only one seat? Will it still meet the max 103 weight? I'm planning on making an XL but I'd love to have the full square cab and folding wings of the CE.

[Dave Stroud]

sideband. You likely didn't notice that I live in Canada and therefore don't have the 254 lb empty weight rule. A whole different set of rules actually.
I'm shooting for an empty weight of anything at or under 300 lbs which will still allow me to fly well under the gross weight of 575 lbs for the LEXL. 

What I'm building is basically an XL but with the cabin top opened up so that the wing attach area is as wide as the fuselage bottom.  There was a 
similar shaped plane built by a very talented guy and he called his plane   Bodacious.  Many pics will come up on a Google search on that name and 
there are some in the photos area of this site. I've been asking questions lately about the size of the overhead carry through tubes of various airplanes 
to get an idea of what I'll need. 

[sideband]

Stroud, you're right I didn't notice you're from the great white north! haha I've actually seen Bodacious before and had forgotten about it. I really like how he's squared the top of the cab off and implemented folding wings and wing fuel tank. The main attraction of the CE to me was the folding wings and the option of having doors. I'm hoping that going with aluminum wings over wood may bring me enough weight savings to be able to build a square cab as well. Are you going with a 1/2 or full VW engine?

[Dave Stroud]

I'll likely go with a Verner 3 cyl and tweak the look of the fuselage a bit towards that of a Velie Monocoupe 70.  I got the idea from a Youtube video which shows a Farman replica with a Verner engine. The Farman could likely be closely duplicated from a Minimax and there is a lad in the Czech Republic flying one now with the Verner. The possibilities seem endless sometimes.

[Flyboy]

The 3 cyl. engine sounds cool.  I have decided to make my 2xl an inline opposed twin engine built in 1 VW case turning the same propeller.  LOL   In other words, an 1835cc  full 4 banger.  After much glaring at the bathroom scales I came to realize a 285lb pilot in a 254 lb airplane brought  forth new visions of flight.  However, Ultra Light was not among them.   I plan on going to the next thicker guage sheet metal for the seat strips.  I would hate to break thru the seat and have my rear end hanging below the fuselage tubing.  That's not my idea of a tail dragger.   Ole Larry has run rings around me building wise.  I still have 3 more ribs to put K blocks in, then on to the spars.  Took a few days off for a trip to the coast.  Lots of liquid sunshine so I came home.  Building starts again tomorrow Lord willing and I have to squeeze a few side jobs in too so I have relinquished the builders race to Larry.  LOL  We have built these 2 planes at least 10 times over the phone and sometimes that's more fun than actually doing it.   Especially when  Arthur rears his ugly head.  You know Arthur... Arthur  itus.  At any rate I imagine the 2xl will gain weight and I hope I will loose some.  It will fly when it's finished.  My main goal is to have it tested and ready for Reklaw   2017.  Remember, if it isn't fun don't do it, unless the wife makes you.  LOL   Go Larry Go

[Larry H]

Don't relent yet Flyboy, I'll go to the coast myself, you call me when you catch up and I'll come home so we can go at it again. Don't forget I go to the office every day. That gives you retired guys plenty of time to easily catch me. Dang, get out in that shop with your ax and chop out some parts! 😜