E:mail: hartungj@srt.com Web: www.poorboyaviation.com
About the Designer: 022410 PG-C
I like the low and slow flying of Ultralights, the minimum airplane,
the attraction of low cost and do-it-yourself.
I began building Ultralight aircraft in 1979. I've had composite, wood,
steel tube, and Aluminum tube type planes. I built a composite in 79 that
didn't turn out very well (unstable flying wing), in 1982 I went into a
partnership with a friend on a Sunburst Ultralight (tube and sail cloth),
they had a flying wire problem but once fixed was a good plane.
In 1985 a partner and I built a CGS Hawk. I later purchased more planes
including used wood ultralights with some rebuilding required (two Fisher
303's, and a Minimax). In the next years through 1998 I bought a Kolb
Firestar, a damaged Chinook, used Kolb Ultrastar, and a Mark III Twinstar
with varying degrees of satisfaction.
Aluminum tube is the primary building material in the PoorBoy because of
build times, easily viewed joints and tubes for safety inspections,
maintenance, and damage/repair time advantages. My experience with
“Used wood” planes had mixed results as the workmanship varied greatly,
wood airplanes have good construction techniques is an enjoyable material
to work with however it is my opinion that wood is not the best in build
time and repair, also it may not weather well especially if it is not
sealed correctly. I could have used welded steel framework but again the
build time and repair technique of welding skills and tools is a
requirement.
I am motivated to supply an aircraft design for people like myself who
have
the flying bug but want to limit the cost. I started the Poorboy seriously
in the fall of 2000 which produced the PB-1 prototype. My goals are of an
inexpensive plane designed to be a steady flyer that rely on well established
flight and design principles. There are a few unique building features in
the Poorboy but not ground breaking design concepts.
I am now attempting the PB-U Penny Piper in 2010. The prototype attempt
at a 103 legal (weight limit) compliant model Penny Piper will result in
released plans only if I succeed in making the weight limit and test flight,
the weight limit is difficult to hit and I am not sure I could do a 254 lb.
Aircraft and feel confident in the structure limits imposed by the weight,
however in 2010 I will build and fly a prototype Penny Piper.
Jim Hartung/PBA