The Vortex started it all for me. I spent thousands of hours studying everything I could about airplanes. I wanted to design an airplane that would comfortably seat a pilot and three passengers plus their baggage. The plan was to use a Chevrolet LS-1 V8 engine with a prop speed reduction unit. This engine easily turns out 350hp. I also wanted an airplane that would be fast in cruise and could hold enough fuel to take some long trips. The Vortex Magnum has a welded steel tube fuselage with fiberglass panels. The wing is all composite.
Construction
Materials and Information
‚
Steel tube fuselage with fiberglass shell gives excellent aerodynamics,
light weight and safety
‚ Full composite wing
‚ Spring aluminum main gear drilled for brake lines
‚ The Vortex Magnum can be built as a taildragger or with
tricycle gear
‚ Designed to be used with Chevrolet's 350hp LS-1 engine and PSRU
‚ Designed for the NASA/Langley Natural Laminar Flow airfoil NLF-0215
‚ Long range fuel tanks in the wings for extended range cruising
‚ Castoring nose wheel
 Click Here to see drawing of the fuselage structure
| Wingspan |
33 ft |
Fuselage
Length |
25 ft |
| Wing Area |
164 ft2 |
Fuselage
Height |
7.5 ft |
| Aspect Ratio |
6.73 |
Fuselage
Width |
53 in |
| Wing Loading |
19.2 lbs/ft2 |
Empty Weight |
1500 lbs |
| Fuel Capacity |
80 Gallons
US |
Gross Weight |
3000 lbs |
Calculated
Performance Specifications
‚ Calculations are based
on the 350 hp Chevy 350 cubic inch engine with prop speed reduction
unit. Calculations are computer based and may vary with each individual
aircraft.
| Max
Speed @ 5500 ft msl |
242
mph |
Cruise
Speed @ 5500 ft msl |
225
mph |
| Stall w/Flaps |
61 mph |
Rate of Climb
Sea Level |
1,156 fpm |
|
To
the left is a drawing of a typical horizontal tail rib. Each
one is cut from 1/8" birch plywood. |
To
the right is a drawing of the horizontal tail in construction,
with some of the fiberglass spar caps in place, before sheeting. |
|
|
To
the left is a closeup showing the aluminum spars and elevator
hinge. |
|
