Concept Aircraft
Page Two

These aircraft were conceived because of different ideas that came up. For example, the Hoppy was designed because a friend of mine was wanting to build a two-place airplane. He needed an airplane that was safe, inexpensive and easy to build. Out of my conversations with him, the Hoppy was conceived. Will these airplanes ever be built? I have no idea but the drawings are here for you to see.

Moon Shadow

I like the idea of keeping the lines of an airplane very aerodynamic and clean. The pusher prop on this airplane allows the fuselage to have a natural laminar flow, increasing speed and giving very high performance. The only problem with the pusher configuration is keeping the propeller from hitting the ground on takeoff and landing. This is a four-place, roomy, fast airplane. It should be built of carbon fiber with wet wings. The wings have a high aspect ratio.The aircraft utilizes retractable landing gear and gull wing doors.

UnNamed Jet

I have been amazed at the radio controlled airplanes that are using real turbine (jet) engines. I believe, working with the designers of some of these small turbine powerplants, we can design an efficient, inexpensive and safe turbine for a homebuilt aircraft. The idea of fixed gear appeals to me on this design and top, cantilever wing gives great views to the pilot and passengers. I really think jet propulsion is the wave of the future for the homebuilt arena. Here, again, is a wide-body aircraft (fuselage width is 5.68 ft) with an aisle between the seats for the four passengers. There is also room on the panel for a laptop computer to hook up to your GPS for exact navigation. The airplane is built from carbon fiber with a wet wing. The wing has no dihedral but the horizontal stabilizer does to keep it out of the jet's exhaust.

The Football

Any aircraft designer should do his/her best to design aircraft that are safe, lightweight and very aerodynamically shaped. By doing these things, less power will be required saving fuel, etc. A few years ago, I learned that the most aerodynamic shape is one with a "fineness ratio" of 3:1. Most people think the thinner you can make a fuselage, the less drag it will have. Well, that just isn't the case. Below is what a fineness ratio of 3:1 looks like. They remind me of a droptank for a fighter in WWII.

As with anything in aircraft design, there are compromises that need to be made to save weight and many other things. In this case, if a Boeing 737 was built with a 3:1 fineness ratio, it would be heavy and very bulky. To test this theory, I am designing The Football. By putting the engine and prop in the back of the airplane, laminar flow can reach back further on the fuselage. The airplane will also use retractable landing gear and a high aspect ratio wing. It will be a four place, all composite aircraft. I have not run performance calculations yet but it is hoped, by watching the weight in all areas of the aircraft and by getting the smoothest finish that a 120hp engine will bring cruise speeds close to 200mph. Click Here to see more.

I have always been intrigued by flying wings. The flying wing doesn't need an elaborate wing spar because the wing carries its own weight. This saves weight. They are also very aerodynamic. I came up with the Equo. It is a two place, side by side, aircraft with a pusher configuration and a shrouded propeller.

The Hoppy is a two place tandem aircraft with a pusher configuration and constant chord wing.

I never gave this airplane a name but I was motivated by the Bede BD-5 but thought it would be great to have it in a four place airplane. It has retractable landing gear, tapered wing and a T-tail flying stabulator.