Badland Part 103 Pilots and Builders Forum

There have been plenty of discussions about the chute limit, so we probably don't want to go too far into the weeds here. The rule says: (i) Up to 24 pounds of weight associated with the parachute system may be excluded by the FAA without requiring a separate weighing of the system components. To m...

Now that's funny Rusty, but most likely I'd miss the turnoff or even forget. You'd have to come to Florida and pick up your bird 😂 Yes on the powder coating. Mine is gloss black. I can pull out the micrometer and get an OD. Maybe there's an open end somewhere and I can get a thickness as well. You'r...

I beg you to put that fuselage on some accurate scales before you do anything else with it. I've read all sorts of numbers about the difference in weight between 4130 and titanium, but this would be a direct comparison if you weigh yours, and I will (eventually) weigh mine. Some close-ups of the we...

LA F2 Flyer wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 10:08 am I can't wait until you both get to building!

Me too!

Mister F5, I hope you know how much this build will have such a positive impact on this kids life. Learn by doing. Maybe a few mistakes sure, but that's part of the process. I know, I make plenty with more on the way. So many young adults today have zero skills and not a hint of self confidence eit...

Does anyone want me to make a "HOW-TO TUTORIAL" on the complete wire rigging process? I can post it as a new separate topic so it won't get buried on page 999 somewhere else in my build write-ups, like the write-up I did earlier for mounting the tires onto the wheels. Hope all you guys ar...

I prefer the nicopress sleeves with washers as shims to do this rigging. A turnbuckle is of course super easy, but has several disadvantages I feel. 1. Weight -- At least 6 to 8 metal turnbuckles placed way aft on the airframe. 2. Drag ( rather negligible really) 3. Cost ---$$$$$ 4. Another part to...

And there it is, the man himself - solving all our problems!

Certainly looks a lot better than what I've done recently!

Thanks Chris!

Nice job on using the soft jaws for the vice. Are the tangs galvanized, stainless steel, or aluminum? I like the way you checked for the proper angle, too. I have one of those protractors. Been using it on trying to straighten up my pole barn. It leans to the east on my farm. I also saw the ferrule,...

Congrats! Are you still planning to bring it back yourself, or did you end up deciding to have it shipped. I might have to make that decision at some point. Thank you both. This has been a long wait. Confirmed, my sister and I will be leaving on June 2nd. The entire drive to Chris's is 21 hours, 17...

Confirmed, my F5 kit is ready for pickup! Tentatively scheduled to be picked up June 2 and to find its way into my poll barn by the 4th. Screenshot 2025-05-06 8.19.09 PM.png I'm looking forward to starting my build. Part of the build will be done by my nephew's son, who is learning how to interpret ...

Here are some small sections of wing I'm building to show the difference between the normal wing profile vs the exact Riblett airfoil. 20241012_193808.jpg The small leading edge protrusion shown above adds support behind the fiberglass skins that will be formed from the molds shown later. 20241012_...

Tandem flight has been allowed in powered paragliding now since September 19th, 2018. Through the driving support of the USPPA, the FAA granted two person powered paragliding, both foot and two seat trikes/quads to carry a passenger. This is strictly for introduction training for those interested in...

Hi Shon. I think you can get the Thumpair, but Chris will only support it if it's purchased through Badland Aircraft. Chris goes through the engine to ensure it meets Badland standards. I was going to go that route, but after talking to Chris, I've switched back to the Hirth F23 (https://hirthengine...

Hey Shon, welcome to the forum. I'm was in about the same place when I discovered the Badland Aircraft. Back in 1999 I was just hours away from visiting the FAA regional examiner. Life issues got in the way of me ever completing and receiving my GA license. In 2004 I had a heart attack, and figured ...

I know this has stalled out a bit. Life sometimes gets in the way. Now that I'm closer to getting my kit, I've decided I need to make more time for this and many other flight related projects. This includes, of course, our forum. I've made some changes that hopefully will make registering faster and...

Todd, I am currently in the same situation - It's a toss-up between my passion for riding, and the dangers it entails these days, when most people aren't paying attention and staring at their phones. I half joke at times, saying I'd rather be riding around a bunch of drunk drivers than around peopl...

Funny how many of us have the same hobbies. Up until about five years ago, I was a motorcycle rider from age 13. My last bike was a Honda Valkyrie, touring edition. It was chromed out. I loved the bike, and riding, but there were too many instances where people in Dallas tried to run me over. I even...

I've always loved flying wings and canard aircraft. Did you also notice when they were talking about the Sky Pup's glide ratio of 12:1. That's nice. I really love Grok, what an AI. Asking Grok what glide ratio our Badland's may have. The exact glide ratio for a Badland Ultralight aircraft is not exp...

Very interesting video on classic (like the first ones built) ultralights. I like the U2 and the Deal XTC (though it doesn't look Part 103).

Reply vua i-phone went off to never-land. Will re-post fromm pc later. Alive and semi-well fighting kidney stone. Ah, there he is, in pain I'm sure, but alive as well. Been there with one and only one kidney stone passing. Never want to re-visit that. Peer advised me to take Chanca Piedra which is ...

LA F2 Flyer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 25, 2025 10:06 am Funny you mention that!

It has been a but quiet here the last few days. When I checked the forum for the umpteenth time yesterday, I thought to myself "Did Bruce take a vacation?" LOL

Lottery Winner?

Yeah, like not just Bruce, but where is Kurt at?

Todd

Man, if Bruce takes a break from building, we can just shut the forum down :-) Anyone else get a kit? Anyone else waiting for a kit? I'll be bugging Chris soon since my 10 month ETA is here, and I haven't had any update in months. Rusty Waiting. Now going over 2 years.... but, before you freak out ...

Agreed, and I had heard of their method. After seeing young kids splatter themselves all over the payment because they purchased a high power bike, and they had no clue how much power they had in their right hand, I decided the UK way might not be so bad after all. The same could easily go for UL's ...

Nice job for AI. Like you said, as with all AI requested info, it needs some refinement. BTW, I don't mind blurring " the line between ultralight and experimental aircraft, potentially alienating purists who prioritize affordability over capability ". LOL! One of the things I mentioned in...

Pricing on the F5 is also a bit lower than it is today. Thank you Putin!

Todd

As most of you know, I enjoy working with AI systems, and I've posted a few things from AI's. I have recently been playing with Grok, from X. I'm very impressed with the information Grok provides. It's not just information, it's not just information from a gazillion articles that may include a lot o...

Really nice work. I love the "L" and "R" on the flapperon parts! Excellent!

Todd

While Kitfox does have a long lead time, their estimates are pretty accurate. This is where Chris could use some help. I would like to see him hire a project manager/customer service manager to help keep the buyers and future buyers aware of the backlog. That would of course come with the emphasis ...

I like the truck transport. Man, I hate pulling a trailer, and I've tried just about everything but that for transporting long items. Eventually I'll have to decide if it's worth the 15 hr drive to pick up the kit. By that time shipping cost will probably make it worthwhile. Sounds like you're in t...

Exactly and I agree, it would be nice to have some sort of registration if for nothing other than to have a more accurate count of how many of us are really out here. I've been told by people, and even by both ChatGPT and GROK to contact the EAA and USUA for assistance. Neither has been helpful, now...

Bruce, you are so precise and methodical on your build, it scares me to a degree. I don't want to screw up on my build and I don't fully understand each step you're taking. However, I know I have a lot of resources here for help. I'm not a patient person (terrible fisherman), but will have to work o...

GROK is the AI system developed by X. It is different in that though it pulls data from printed articles, it also pulls data from statistical numbers. This method helps to remove political and personal bias from the totals. Here's just one question I submitted to GROK to see what number it would com...

They will certainly help me. Thank you Bruce.

Todd

LA F2 Flyer wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 10:22 am Todd, isn't aluminum the same? (Oxidizes and as a result creates it's own protective coating?)

I'm not sure about aluminum, but that does make sense. I've never seen a rusted (red) aluminum can before!

Todd

Good observation and points about rust. It wasn't a few weeks after moving to Florida before I noticed my large power tools in the pole barn were rusting. My poor bench top milling machine is going to take a lot of work to get back into spec. The pole barn is open at the front and back, plus lots of...

ANSWER: Washout changes the height of the back outside corner of the wing (near the tip) while dihedral changes to height of entire wing relative to the location of where the wing bolts to the fuselage (AKA - at the root) Washout = Twist (trailing edge is tiny bit higher than the leading edge, but ...

Hi Todd, As the owner, and basically the builder of a very nice Avid Champion - which I understand to be the prototype for the Foxlite / Belite / Badlands 103 . . . an absolutely perfect little airplane, I was hoping that in the future . . . Perhaps - should the stars align, the war in Ukraine come...

To get the washout correct I would do the following: 1. Get my level and 5/8 spacer block set up at the wingtip ( the wing should be free standing now, with no supports touching it) 2. Look at the bubble and figure out if I have too much or too little washout. You can grab the trailing edge and man...

Bruce_L wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2025 9:55 am Todd, the only possible dumb questions is: " Hey Bruce, why don't you just give me your finished plane? You can build another."

HA! OK, so I won't ask that dumb question ... but it did enter my mind

Thanks Buddy!

Todd

Wow Bruce, I can't thank you enough for the detail you're putting into your posts of your build. In a way, it brings a lot of anxiety. I've never put together anything with such complexity, and at the same time, with your detailed posts I think I'll be able ok - just expect A LOT OF DUMB QUESTIONS! ...

Looks really sharp. I like the poor man's powder coating process!

Todd

Greetings, As I read the progress reports on the titanium F-5 kit, I am wondering if the light weight fuse frame will possibly be offered separately at a future point in time. Thanks I can answer that for you, the answer is Yes. Chris is known for his flexibility to swap parts to meet the customer'...

It's a your call type of thing to either start a YT channel and maintain it, or just get yourself a DropBox (Basic membership - free) which gives you 2GB of storage. I use both methods because I've done many YT videos, but I also have my DropBox because it's easy to post to. I have my DropBox accoun...

As always Bruce, awesome detail. Reading about the RC method you mentioned at the start of your post, well it reminded me of "Flight of the Phoenix".

I wish I could give you some input to your questions, but I'm learning a lot from your posts. I can see I have a long ways to go.

Todd

Nicely said Barry.

Thanks,
Todd

3. A reason to turn off the TV, get off the couch and go build your own awesome airplane. There are plenty of people here to help when you get bogged down and Chris is always just a phone call away. I find that when I call him about a part or question, I feel much more enthusiastic to finish my pla...

Really loving the awesome detail you're putting into the build posts. I think with all the build information we're collecting, the forum will be the go-to for many future Badland builders and pilots, along with some others that may find ways of doing things to their build no matter what the make is....

Congratulations Todd! That certainly is great news! I look forward to seeing your build process... and meeting you in the air! Chris had also asked me a couple nights ago to look over the new website; besides looking more modern with a "fresher" look, the first thing I too noticed was the...

Yep, I agree, and I think a chat with him will resolve the question about the price change and how it affects you. I do like the CF ribs though!

Todd

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