Fantom

Name:

Fantom

Location:

Vinton, Iowa

Email Address:

fantom103@aol.com

Home Page:

http://members.aol.com/fantom103/index.htm

Affiliations:

USUA, PRA, EAA

Age:

52

Years in aviation:

10

GA Hours:

110

Ultralight Hours:

70

Ratings:

PPSEL

Home Field:

MacBride private airport 2500ft grass Cedar Rapids, Iowa
My private horse pasture 600ft grass

Current Aircraft:

Phantom ultralight with Rotax 447

Previous Aircraft:

Cessna 150, 152, 172
Benson B8M gyrocopter
Rotec Rally

Other hobbies:

Auto mechanics
Motorcycle riding
Motorcycle mechanics

Occupation:

Computer Engineering

Comments:

I had the dream of flying since age 10 or so.
I got my first ride in a Piper Cub at age 12.
Took a few flight lessons at age 24.

Finally started real flight training at age 40 and took 2 years to
complete. Flew a Cessna 172 with myself, a friend, and both our
sons with camping gear to OshKosh. It was a dream come true.

The time and money to fly GA aircraft just did not work well for
me so I was not flying for several years. I had a dream of
flying a gyrocopter so finally decided to do it in spite of my
lack of funds. I traded my 1974 Harley Davidson Sportster for
a Benson B8M gyrocopter. I took 2-place training in an Air
Command and the Farrington Twinstar gyros and got everything
needed for a sign-off for the gyro rating except I could not
get a medical so flew the Benson under ultralight rules.

During the second engine out forced landing with the gyro I hit
the ground too hard and the axle folded up and the gyro tipped
over with the blades spinning and wrecked the blades and mast.
While rebuilding the gyro I bought the Rotec Rally with a Rotax
377 and flew it. I had an engine failure with it due to a
broken ignition coil (wind storm damage) and landed it in a
soybean field with no injuries and slight damage to control stick.

During the winter I decided to sell the Rotec (40mph) and get
a new ultralight machine. As usual funds were a probelm. I bought
the Fantom which needed new fabric and then traded the gyro for
an Avenger kit (wood). I got the new sails for the Phantom and
got it up and flying by summer and did a nice cross-country (2hrs)
to a u/l flyin campout and had a great time.

I love to tinker with engines and mechanics and tried out an auto
electroic ignition on the Phantom using a motorcycle coil. I think
the coil was oil filled for insulation and was supposed to be
mounted vertical. I had it mounted horizontal so the exposed
windings got hot and failed in the air so the Phantom was landed
in the soybeans. No damage from number 4 engine out landing.
I decided to put it back to stock points ignition which is what
it is running now but I would put on the CDI kit if I had the
money.

I am planning to fly the Phantom this season again and am also
experimenting with a 1/2VW on the bench with a 2:1 reduction
drive made from auto timing belt components. I will sell plans
and kits for the redrive and 1/2VW once I get enough testing
done for confidence in the designs.

Will not make Sun and Fun this year but plan to go to OshKosh and
will plan to make Sun and Fun next year as well. I hope to
develop the redrive and engine kit business to the point that
I can afford a booth at those big events.

Fantom