Harley-Davidson paraglides

Looks cool but I like to keep the rubber on the road.

Hell yeah, I'd do that!


Not on my bike though!

What's with the training wheels? What a puss. :laugh

Good way to mess up a perfectly good Harley.

I like this version better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIs45EByKNE

They now just need to design a prop that runs off the rear wheel.

JPR said:

Good way to mess up a perfectly good Harley.

I like this version better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIs45EByKNE

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I built a 601XL just like that plane with a Corvair engine.

The problem with the Harley powered 601 was that it required a reduction gear to get the prop down to a usable rpm and the motor was underpowered. The 601 was designed for a engine producing 100-110HP at cruise.

It was that guys intention to produce the engine and everything needed to put it on the 601XL as a commercial venture. It was a huge fail.

Wrgiacona said:

I built a 601XL just like that plane with a Corvair engine.

The problem with the Harley powered 601 was that it required a reduction gear to get the prop down to a usable rpm and the motor was underpowered. The 601 was designed for a engine producing 100-110HP at cruise.

It was that guys intention to produce the engine and everything needed to put it on the 601XL as a commercial venture. It was a huge fail.

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I've had the license since I was 16. I had a corvair spyder with the turbo charged engine when I was 17.

I remember the kit planes with the corvair and VW engines. Air cooled was the active word.

I never had the skills to try a kit plane. Jim Bede came out with the Bede 5, the last version had the jet engine and was featured in a James Bond movie.

The VariEze was a Burt Rutan product. He and Dick built the Voyager which was a glider with an engine(s?) that flew around the world nonstop without refueling a few years ago. His brother Dick and Dick's ex-girlfriend flew the adventure. Apparently being cooped up like that killed the relationship.

JPR, you actually do have the skills. If you work on your bike you are actually over qualified to build pretty much any of the current kit planes especially the one like the Zenith 601XL.

When I decided I wanted to give building a go I went to the factory. They have a 1.5 day class where you build the rudder. I went in with the plan that if I could do it I'd do it. If I couldn't I say, "well hey, I'll pay $350 to watch a monkey hump a football." I had zero metal working skills.

Thank you so much for the encouragement.

Maybe when I was younger and single. Now, I'm running out of time to prep for retirement and I have 2 more years to pay back student loans.

I sold the boat to buy the bike and am saving $3000/year on dock fees and winter storage. AND THE BIKE IS A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO CLEAN. Plus it fits in my garage.

I'm planning to keep the bike until I cant throw a leg over it. I'm planning for my last hurrah to take a check ride in a DC3. Still my all time favorite airplane. (still no crashes due to structural failure 75 + years)

Just a little more encouragement. Most of the guys that were building were retired and some of them were great scroungers that built the plane from plans not kits, built their own engines and had very little <$20K in the plane.

Maybe after the divorce

JPR said:

Maybe after the divorce

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Trust me, if a divorce is what you are looking for getting into building a plane will either lead to it or make it a mute point because you won't be in the house enough to notice you have a spouse.

Actually, my wife was very cool about it just like she was when I decided to get a Harley right after selling the plane.

She was certainly happy of the mechanical and electrical knowledge I picked up along the way. It has left more money for shoes.

Wrgiacona said:

She was certainly happy of the mechanical and electrical knowledge I picked up along the way. It has left more money for shoes.

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Whats this?


I thought you were supposed to keep wimmins barefoot and in the kitchen? :confused