Thanks for the video Dennis. Thanks for taking us on your flight testing. Looks like it stalls straight ahead, doesn’t drop a wing, appears to be very docile in the stall.
Great vid. You’ve got s as 1/2 VW just like mine…. Even the chrome plating on the tappet covers! Your stall speed seems high, though I’m not sure what a mph is. I’m sure my Minimax had a stall speed around 25 knots indicated, and it was pretty much at the designed weight. At the time i built there was no 1/2 VW version…I had to modify. So my designed empty weight was as for a Rotax 2 stroke engine. My prop was a 56” (dia)x 22” pitch and rpm (static WOT) was 3200. I built light…the Minimax was my second homebuilt plane. My climb rate was ok with just the fwd fuselage fuel tank full. It was pretty woeful (ie. altitude stays the same as you wait for the curvature of the earth to give you greater distance above ground) when I was fully loaded with 65l of fuel and underwing camping gear. This was my first powered aircraft (previously I was into gliding), so the poor climb performance didn’t worry me…i just found a thermal and climbed up in that. If you want I can hunt around for summer pics…but these are all chemical, not digital, as it was all last century. I currently have & fly a Bert Sisler SF2A I built in the late 1990s, a Corby Starlet (vintage 1980s) that I restored, & a Jabiru J200. I’m planning on building a Mulholksnd ‘Legsl Eagle’ 1/2VW powered for my grandson …it has the same wing as the Minimax. Cheers, Mark
I think the Legal Eagle is also a great airplane. It looks like we’re going to have to make a new prop at 56x22 for mine. The 54x24 is just not doing it. The manual says my stall speed should be 33mph so I’m really close to that. I’m heavier than the stock 1100r so I would expect a higher stall number. Sounds like you have some fun airplanes!
Congratulations on completing your home built. I constructed a Pulsar many years ago and I have it in a hangar right around the corner from you. I have issues with the engine so it hasn't been in the air for a while. I did all of my test flying out of Fox also. Glad to see that you are doing safe testing.
@@DTMinimax Yes it is still there. I'm still trying to find a replacement for the Rotax 582. I have had 3 engine failures while flying it. I have talked to the Rotax specialists and they say that the airplane is too fast for the engine. Anyway, I'm hoping that there will be a 4 stroke that can replace it.
Hi, question......@7:20, I see a bit of fabric flutter in the left aileron, is there any rib stitching in the ailerons? I'll be covering my SE5A replica soon
The ailerons are only glued to the ribs. I would probably rib stitch them in prop slipstream area. My wings weren’t required to be stitched but I did it anyway.
@@DTMinimax Good deal, I look for you everytine I come to Fox. Free breakfast is still on me at Guidos when you get the prop ! Stay safe... how about these winds... ! 11/2/2024
Hey there, Great video. Have an Ultracruiser waiting for an engine and avionics. What a great, flat airspace you are flying in. Which prop are you using? Length and pitch? Couldnt find the specs in the comments. And what prop were you running prior?
I started with a 56x24 and the engine wasn’t getting up to RPM. So it was modified to a 54x24. The RPM’s came up but they didn’t deliver anything. So I’m waiting for my 56x22 which will be the ticket hopefully. Your plane will have way less drag than mine. I love flying out in the Lancaster area!
i just test flew my aircraft, are test cards required if the speeds and ideally everything or the same as say, the poh? its for a small 2 person plane. experimental.
A flight test program is required (doesn’t have to be the EAA test cards, but they’re great) as part of your Phase 1 Experimental Amature Built aircraft certification.
hey Dennis. really like your videos. just bought a quicksilver ultralight. looking for a helmet that can be used with a headset. can you tell me what make helmet you use? thanks.
Great to get the stall test out of the way. So now you know the speed and also from the video she stall straight which is Very Good to. I will have the same problems as you with the prop, I went to a great UK prop maker and I think / hope my prop is near to what is needed as it is the same as the one he uses on his simular sized biplane with the same type of engine. I supose the only other solution is a ground variable pitch prop but I don't think look as nice unless you can put a spinner on them 🙂 I would not chace prop settings too much until you have got about 25 to 30hrs on her, so the engine is fully run in and then it is still a mission type that make the choice, do you want short field performance or go places performance (you can only have both with in flight adjustable) 😞
@@DTMinimax then you will not get the speed. Are you planning landing at short fields say around the 1000ft runway? It would be good to look at your current tack off distances and then consider multiplying those by1.5 as you grass strip take off distance.
Are there ground adjustable props for your situation? It has to be aggravating that after all these aircraft that have been built that these engine/prop/aircraft numbers haven't been answered despite the unique variables from plane to plane. Thanks for sharing!
I know, and totally agree. Even my prop builder hasn’t had this combination before. I’ve seen other Minimax airplanes with my engine but no one has published any data. At least mine will be out there for someone that comes behind me.
@DTMinimax Yeah, the seals were leaking and she was sucking air, causing an overheating issue. At least I'm ready to go now. Always seems to be something, but it keeps things interesting! Keep having fun!!
Nice flight! I like the docile stall characteristics. Do you think you engine is producing consistent, reliable power? I imagine it can be difficult to sort out the relationships between the effects of engine power, rpm, and prop performance.
G,day from Sydney Australia. From your filming, your wings are showing some fabric flutter, around the flaparons "control surfaces" how is the fabric attached to the ribs and spars? 🛩️🌏 Correction. It's the internet LCD images on my iPhone.
My wing is rib stitched and glued with Stewart Systems, the ailerons are just glued to the ribs. The plane doesn’t require rib stitching and typically uses glue only, I wanted the security of the stitching
Cleared to land while on downwind? Is that normal over there? Sounds weird ha ha. Watching you fly makes me want to redisgn your windscreen to be more rounded & higher to include a roll over bar & better wind protection, tie it into the landing gear for strengh & all that. Seeing your head above the Canopy kida freaks me out ha ha, hope that Verticle Stab is strong! Loving the video mate, just saying what my head see's. Want to make sure your safe. I find it interesting I didn't realize how far you stick out during the build process. Anyway, cheers mate. Good stuff.
I came in around 330lb empty. I knew it would be considering I used all Douglas Fir and have the 45hp 1/2 VW. I love flying out here. It is some special air space for sure.
Sitting on top of the world! Great camera view.
That’s how I feel every time!
Thanks for the video Dennis.
Thanks for taking us on your flight testing.
Looks like it stalls straight ahead, doesn’t drop a wing, appears to be very docile in the stall.
I was so surprised how gentle the stalls were.
Nice flight, thanks for taking us along.
Absolutely!
Always a joy to see you and your journey. Thanks for bringing us along, Dennis.
Thank you so much, it’s been so much fun
Great paintjob! That's the spirit!
Thank you George!
Great vid. You’ve got s as 1/2 VW just like mine…. Even the chrome plating on the tappet covers! Your stall speed seems high, though I’m not sure what a mph is. I’m sure my Minimax had a stall speed around 25 knots indicated, and it was pretty much at the designed weight. At the time i built there was no 1/2 VW version…I had to modify. So my designed empty weight was as for a Rotax 2 stroke engine. My prop was a 56” (dia)x 22” pitch and rpm (static WOT) was 3200. I built light…the Minimax was my second homebuilt plane. My climb rate was ok with just the fwd fuselage fuel tank full. It was pretty woeful (ie. altitude stays the same as you wait for the curvature of the earth to give you greater distance above ground) when I was fully loaded with 65l of fuel and underwing camping gear. This was my first powered aircraft (previously I was into gliding), so the poor climb performance didn’t worry me…i just found a thermal and climbed up in that. If you want I can hunt around for summer pics…but these are all chemical, not digital, as it was all last century. I currently have & fly a Bert Sisler SF2A I built in the late 1990s, a Corby Starlet (vintage 1980s) that I restored, & a Jabiru J200. I’m planning on building a Mulholksnd ‘Legsl Eagle’ 1/2VW powered for my grandson …it has the same wing as the Minimax. Cheers, Mark
I think the Legal Eagle is also a great airplane. It looks like we’re going to have to make a new prop at 56x22 for mine. The 54x24 is just not doing it.
The manual says my stall speed should be 33mph so I’m really close to that. I’m heavier than the stock 1100r so I would expect a higher stall number.
Sounds like you have some fun airplanes!
35 miles per hour is 31.3034 knots.
Congratulations on completing your home built. I constructed a Pulsar many years ago and I have it in a hangar right around the corner from you. I have issues with the engine so it hasn't been in the air for a while. I did all of my test flying out of Fox also. Glad to see that you are doing safe testing.
That’s a slick airplane! Engine trouble is tough and I hear it can take a while to sort out sometimes. Is it still at Fox?
@@DTMinimax Yes it is still there. I'm still trying to find a replacement for the Rotax 582. I have had 3 engine failures while flying it. I have talked to the Rotax specialists and they say that the airplane is too fast for the engine. Anyway, I'm hoping that there will be a 4 stroke that can replace it.
Great to see you up flying more often.
For sure!
Great video, thank you, I did enjoy it a lot !
Fun video! Congrats on your test flights!
Thanks Gary!
I used to fly out there, and I miss it.
Just curious, were you too heavy to keep it as an ultralight?
Really Cool Man!! Viz out of that bird is amazing!!!
It really is great visibility, in all attitudes. In the glare the engine sits just below the horizon at the other end of the runway.
The changes to the prop and the results make sense. Is there a ground adjustable prop for that engine? If so I'd go that route.
There isn’t one that is recommended. It looks like we’ll probably go to a 56x22 from here
Hi, question......@7:20, I see a bit of fabric flutter in the left aileron, is there any rib stitching in the ailerons? I'll be covering my SE5A replica soon
The ailerons are only glued to the ribs. I would probably rib stitch them in prop slipstream area. My wings weren’t required to be stitched but I did it anyway.
That's a beautiful aircraft .... thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much!
Hi Dennis, Just wondering if you ever got out to Rosamond... too bad for the lack of current videos...All the Best, Ron
Hey Ron! I’ve flown over just not landed. I’m waiting for a new prop. I wasn’t comfortable with the narrow speed range of the one I have on there now
@@DTMinimax Good deal, I look for you everytine I come to Fox. Free breakfast is still on me at Guidos when you get the prop ! Stay safe... how about these winds... ! 11/2/2024
Hey there, Great video. Have an Ultracruiser waiting for an engine and avionics. What a great, flat airspace you are flying in. Which prop are you using? Length and pitch? Couldnt find the specs in the comments. And what prop were you running prior?
I started with a 56x24 and the engine wasn’t getting up to RPM. So it was modified to a 54x24. The RPM’s came up but they didn’t deliver anything. So I’m waiting for my 56x22 which will be the ticket hopefully. Your plane will have way less drag than mine.
I love flying out in the Lancaster area!
Wonderful airplanes IMO
Thank you!
i just test flew my aircraft, are test cards required if the speeds and ideally everything or the same as say, the poh? its for a small 2 person plane. experimental.
A flight test program is required (doesn’t have to be the EAA test cards, but they’re great) as part of your Phase 1 Experimental Amature Built aircraft certification.
hey Dennis. really like your videos. just bought a quicksilver ultralight. looking for a helmet that can be used with a headset. can you tell me what make helmet you use? thanks.
I got mine off of Amazon. Just search tactical helmets. I talk a little about it here:
ua-cam.com/video/HUUazRRFFyQ/v-deo.htmlsi=_gG5LrzYVsbOC6cM
Your Tango is peeling off :)
:) yea, I know…I have some new numbers coming. I used the wrong vinyl
Great to get the stall test out of the way. So now you know the speed and also from the video she stall straight which is Very Good to. I will have the same problems as you with the prop, I went to a great UK prop maker and I think / hope my prop is near to what is needed as it is the same as the one he uses on his simular sized biplane with the same type of engine. I supose the only other solution is a ground variable pitch prop but I don't think look as nice unless you can put a spinner on them 🙂 I would not chace prop settings too much until you have got about 25 to 30hrs on her, so the engine is fully run in and then it is still a mission type that make the choice, do you want short field performance or go places performance (you can only have both with in flight adjustable) 😞
Based on my altitude and summer temps I believe going for the climb is the way to go.
@@DTMinimax then you will not get the speed. Are you planning landing at short fields say around the 1000ft runway? It would be good to look at your current tack off distances and then consider multiplying those by1.5 as you grass strip take off distance.
Are there ground adjustable props for your situation? It has to be aggravating that after all these aircraft that have been built that these engine/prop/aircraft numbers haven't been answered despite the unique variables from plane to plane. Thanks for sharing!
I know, and totally agree.
Even my prop builder hasn’t had this combination before. I’ve seen other Minimax airplanes with my engine but no one has published any data. At least mine will be out there for someone that comes behind me.
Nice Dennis!
Hey Timothy! How is your airplane doing?
@@DTMinimax Finally have my engine rebuilt. Just waiting on some good days to test her now!! Thanks for asking Dennis!
@@timothytong1246Sorry you had to rebuild, I did t know you were having issues
@DTMinimax Yeah, the seals were leaking and she was sucking air, causing an overheating issue. At least I'm ready to go now. Always seems to be something, but it keeps things interesting! Keep having fun!!
Nice flight! I like the docile stall characteristics. Do you think you engine is producing consistent, reliable power? I imagine it can be difficult to sort out the relationships between the effects of engine power, rpm, and prop performance.
I was so surprised on that first stall. I was wondering if I could measure the altitude loss, well there really wasn’t any:)
What cylinder head Temps are you getting?
My CHT runs 270-300
Beautiful Minimax, you did a great job building it. Where was this video taken? It looks a lot like southern New Mexico.
Lancaster, CA, Wm J Fox airfield.
G,day from Sydney Australia. From your filming, your wings are showing some fabric flutter, around the flaparons "control surfaces" how is the fabric attached to the ribs and spars?
🛩️🌏 Correction. It's the internet LCD images on my iPhone.
My wing is rib stitched and glued with Stewart Systems, the ailerons are just glued to the ribs. The plane doesn’t require rib stitching and typically uses glue only, I wanted the security of the stitching
what lovely day""
Late to the party, but is that a BMW motorcycle engine?
It’s a 1/2 VW 45hp
Nice 👍
Thanks Phil
Cleared to land while on downwind? Is that normal over there? Sounds weird ha ha. Watching you fly makes me want to redisgn your windscreen to be more rounded & higher to include a roll over bar & better wind protection, tie it into the landing gear for strengh & all that. Seeing your head above the Canopy kida freaks me out ha ha, hope that Verticle Stab is strong! Loving the video mate, just saying what my head see's. Want to make sure your safe. I find it interesting I didn't realize how far you stick out during the build process. Anyway, cheers mate. Good stuff.
I know, it can be busy but not very often.
Everything is going real well.
I used to fly out there, and I miss it.
Just curious, were you too heavy to keep it as an ultralight?
I came in around 330lb empty. I knew it would be considering I used all Douglas Fir and have the 45hp 1/2 VW.
I love flying out here. It is some special air space for sure.
@@DTMinimax as a matter of fact, my photo is in a right hand turn out of Palmdale, probably right over Fox