Ideas about building the L2

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,
I might be interested.....how rough is it? Can you email some pictures? If so send them to;
[email protected]

Had a steel turtle deck added to make it look like a DC-65, and been ground looped with some tail damage and Cabane strut attach point knock out. I have the pieces to fix it. No rusted out places that I remember. Wings would need completely rebuilt. No FWF, instruements or good struts, everything else is there I think. I will take some pics and send them to you. This is also has the 12 gal J-4 header tank installed.

Mike

[cpirrmann]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Would the L2 meet the specs of LSA? esp. gross weight?

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Would the L2 meet the specs of LSA? esp. gross weight?

Yes it is LSA approved as the DCO-65 as all L-2's are when civilianized. The loop hole is the L-2M which is 5 pounds over the limit, but the FAA has no exclusions on the "M" model yet.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,

If you go to the FAA's website of light sport approved aircraft, the M is not one of them. I just looked to try and find the link, but it will take me awhile. Anything over 1,320 lbs is not allowed.

[M Towsley]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,

I found it:

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/existing_models.pdf

The L-2M is specifically not allowed, sorry.....

(Kevin, I just noted I wrote now instead of not. Missed it in the proofread).

[crispy critter]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Sorry boys,the L-2M is NOT allowed. In the group of approved certified aircraft it states this exactly DCO-65(L-2A,L-2B)but not L-2M. It then goes on to allow every othere model of L-2.

[Dick Huish]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

I don't want to bust anyones bubble but, the drawings of the fuselage that are required to make a fixture are not on the CD's. To make a fixture you'll need a fuselage. Over the years I have made a lot of repairs and parts from drawings I recieved from Bob Kuhlow as well as the film strips (and CD's) but a lot of them I reverse engineered from original parts. I'll be happy to talk to anyone that is sincere about making an LSA replica of the L-2. I've got over 25 years experience working on them. I'm about to the point that after I finish the orders I have are done I'm going to step back. Dick 330-568-7084

[ClipWing_T]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

I have an old rusty L-2 fuselage that I will give away to someone for a
pattern ...........I was going to build a new one "someday" lol :-0 ! lol
the fuslelage doesn't have the rear deck either but would make good
jig material .
Mike

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,

I found it:

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/existing_models.pdf

The L-2M is specifically not allowed, sorry.....

(Kevin, I just noted I wrote now instead of not. Missed it in the proofread).

Well, it used to not be specifically excluded. Stupid that they don't allow it. More concerned about the weight limit, than the specific aircraft. I guess I will have to call Edsel Ford and see if anything can be done.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,

I know the Feds used 600 kilos, 2.2 lbs per kilo equals 1,320 lbs, to come up with the LSA weight. I'm not sure why they chose this, except maybe for the European aircraft. Doesn't make sense, maybe Eric Minnis could provide details if he knows. The Feds seem stuck on this weight and will not budge from everything I have read from EAA and AOPA. Forrest told me either in a post or by phone he was trying to address this. The only problem is where do you stop? At the M model weight, the Cessna 150 weight, who knows??? Does kinda' suck, there are more M's than A's or B's out there.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,

I know the Feds used 600 kilos, 2.2 lbs per kilo equals 1,320 lbs, to come up with the LSA weight. I'm not sure why they chose this, except maybe for the European aircraft. Doesn't make sense, maybe Eric Minnis could provide details if he knows. The Feds seem stuck on this weight and will not budge from everything I have read from EAA and AOPA. Forrest told me either in a post or by phone he was trying to address this. The only problem is where do you stop? At the M model weight, the Cessna 150 weight, who knows??? Does kinda' suck, there are more M's than A's or B's out there.

Like any sane person, you set the limit to a/c specs. If it is limited to 2 people and spped restricted to 140 or less vne, there is no reason that certain Taylorcrafts, Luscombes, and Ercoupes should not qualify. I personally know a couple of the first people to hold office in the LSA side, but that don't mean I will be able to get them to budge. I can only imagine why the "M" gross weight is higher, is the added crap to the airplane to maintain the same useful load as the others.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Ideas about building the L2

Mike,

I heartily agree, hopefully common sense will prevail. Someday............