One time uncle Billy saw an ad for a small ultra-light flying machine. It looked like fun and Billy thought he might like to get a bird's eye view of the neighboring farms and get to see some cool wildlife. This was before he knew about Google satellite images.
Billy cleared a nice long runway on the high, flat land of the farm and filled in any depressions on the runway. He then had his kit delivered and started putting it together. He quickly found out the nuts and bolts were all metric, so it was off to the hardware store for wrenches. Then the sail was damaged in shipment so it was back to the manufacturer for a new sail. By the time everything was put together, the runway had grown tall with fescue grass so he had to get out there with his mower. After mowing, Billy tried to start the engine on the ultra light, but it failed. The carburetor had gotten all gunked up with some kind of protective grease. Uncle Billy had farm chores to work, and that delayed him getting into his ultra light for its first flight. Another two weeks passed by as he caught up on the chores and was ready to fly, but by then the grassy runway needed cutting again.
Finally the day came when it was time for his first flight. Billy was up bright and early on a warm sunny day in late summer. He did his pre-flight check and was ready to fire up the engine and roll down the runway on his way up into the skies above. Billy revved up the engine and taxied the ultra down to the end of the runway. It was finally time to see what that plane could do. Full power and off he went over the still bumpy runway and lifted off just enough to clear the back barbed wire fence. He was finally airborne! The warm air rushed past his face and he was in heaven for the moment. Handling the controls was not as easy as he thought it would be. Billy was thinking he should have taken that course of instruction at the local airfield with an instructor in the two seat ultra light craft. After 20 minutes or more of flying, Billy had things worked out and was enjoying the ride. The countryside was gorgeous and flying high over the wooded areas he could see deer pacing through the area.
It was so much fun Billy lost track of time as he circled above his farm and surrounding farms. Out of the blue, the engine began sputter. A quick turn and he headed for the farm. About 15 yards from the runway the engine ran out of gas and it was time to glide in for a landing. Unfortunately the sail above the ultra light did not have enough wind under the it for the necessary lift to keep him airborne. He hit the ground hard and instead of being on the runway, he was short and the ultra light rolled up and hit a post on the barbed wire fence, the craft flipped up vertically and while Billy was in his lap and shoulder harness when the ultra hit the fence, it ripped the sail to shreds and took some hide off uncle Billy. He was stuck in the harness, cut by the barbed wire and no one around to help him except the curious cows from the neighbor's pasture. Every movement caused the barbs to dig in and rip more skin off and start the bleeding. Billy had to gut out the pain and finally got the harness loose, but because he was nearly upside down, he hit the ground with his head, cut it open on a rock and ended up with even more torn clothing and open flesh. Billy crawled under the fence and walked back to the house and when his wife saw him she was horror stricken! He got cleaned up and headed for the doctor's office for a tetanus shot. The doctor just looked at him, shook his head and said, "I don't even want to know what happened this time."
Uncle Billy went back to the farm after the doctor's visit, loaded up the remains of the ultra light in his pickup and headed for the dumpster. He dismantled the plane, tossed the frame into the dumpster and was about to toss the small engine when he had a brilliant idea. Save the engine and build a go cart. That would work out well.
Copyright Bill Weber 2018 and beyond.
Finally the day came when it was time for his first flight. Billy was up bright and early on a warm sunny day in late summer. He did his pre-flight check and was ready to fire up the engine and roll down the runway on his way up into the skies above. Billy revved up the engine and taxied the ultra down to the end of the runway. It was finally time to see what that plane could do. Full power and off he went over the still bumpy runway and lifted off just enough to clear the back barbed wire fence. He was finally airborne! The warm air rushed past his face and he was in heaven for the moment. Handling the controls was not as easy as he thought it would be. Billy was thinking he should have taken that course of instruction at the local airfield with an instructor in the two seat ultra light craft. After 20 minutes or more of flying, Billy had things worked out and was enjoying the ride. The countryside was gorgeous and flying high over the wooded areas he could see deer pacing through the area.
It was so much fun Billy lost track of time as he circled above his farm and surrounding farms. Out of the blue, the engine began sputter. A quick turn and he headed for the farm. About 15 yards from the runway the engine ran out of gas and it was time to glide in for a landing. Unfortunately the sail above the ultra light did not have enough wind under the it for the necessary lift to keep him airborne. He hit the ground hard and instead of being on the runway, he was short and the ultra light rolled up and hit a post on the barbed wire fence, the craft flipped up vertically and while Billy was in his lap and shoulder harness when the ultra hit the fence, it ripped the sail to shreds and took some hide off uncle Billy. He was stuck in the harness, cut by the barbed wire and no one around to help him except the curious cows from the neighbor's pasture. Every movement caused the barbs to dig in and rip more skin off and start the bleeding. Billy had to gut out the pain and finally got the harness loose, but because he was nearly upside down, he hit the ground with his head, cut it open on a rock and ended up with even more torn clothing and open flesh. Billy crawled under the fence and walked back to the house and when his wife saw him she was horror stricken! He got cleaned up and headed for the doctor's office for a tetanus shot. The doctor just looked at him, shook his head and said, "I don't even want to know what happened this time."
Uncle Billy went back to the farm after the doctor's visit, loaded up the remains of the ultra light in his pickup and headed for the dumpster. He dismantled the plane, tossed the frame into the dumpster and was about to toss the small engine when he had a brilliant idea. Save the engine and build a go cart. That would work out well.
Copyright Bill Weber 2018 and beyond.
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