Large Model Association Forum

Greetings to one and all,

I apologise in advance for posting in this unannounced fashion, but I've been trolling my way around the LMA website and there doesn't appear to be any way of making a general inquiry via the site ... and before you all scream at me about this not being the right place to post, then please read all of the content.

I'm interested in contacting any local LMA members who might be open to a bit of 'hands on' with regard to a 'project' which I'm currently working on to modify the design and build of the 'COLOMBAN MC-15 CRI-CRI (currently requires a full UK PPL to fly) ... the objective being to bring the design into line with the current 'UK Deregulated Sub 115Kg Microlight regs' which in essence are ...

"The UK regulations describe a microlight aeroplane as limited to two people, with a Maximum Total Weight Authorised (MTWA) not exceeding:

300 kg for a single seat landplane.
390 kg for a single seat landplane for which a UK Permit to Fly or Certificate of Airworthiness was in force prior to 1 January 2003
450 kg for a two seat landplane
330 kg for a single seat amphibian or floatplane
495 kg for a two seat amphibian or floatplane

A microlight must also have either :

a wing loading at the maximum weight authorised not exceeding 25 kg per square metre
or
a stalling speed at the maximum weight authorised not exceeding 35 knots calibrated speed.

All UK registered aeroplanes (3-axis or flex-wing) falling within these parameters are Microlight aircraft."

Now, as I'm not the richest guy in the world and don't have bottomless pockets, I was sort of wondering if any of the local LMA members in the Wigan/Bolton/Atherton/Tyldesley area of Greater Manchester would be interested in assisting by test flying scale mock up's from the alteration program (after suitable wind tunnel testing of course) so that I could get some idea as to whether or not we are moving in the right directions ???

Paper calculations and wind tunnel testing are all well and good, but in the end there's no substitute for air time (even in a scaled down version) before committing to a full size build.

Anyway ... 'twas just a thought ... so if any of you out there are even vaguely interested, then I'd be more than pleased to hear from you.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

JD
(Oh, BTW ... I've been asked from a number of different sources about the wind tunnel we are currently using and if it would be possible to make smaller versions available for use by model makers [not just aero modellers] ... well, in short, yes it would be possible so if anyone's interested in owning their own WT, then please drop me a line.)

I seem to remember from ages ago that there was some confusion whether the CriCri should be registered as a twin engine aircraft which puts different permits into play. If you can get sight of last months Loop magazine it had an in depth article on permit to fly aircraft with weight and engineering info. I flew a half scale CriCri many some 20 years ago powered by two 10cc piped Webra engines....great fun, daren't take your eyes off it in flight! Its demise came from structural fatigue in the middle of some aerobatics. Also in Loop is an item with a photo of an electric powered CriCri with push-pull props on each engine pod, not a model but full size single seater.