Drone Ultralight

We've all Dreamed of Flying

Making the Dream of flying a reality

Twin Engine VTOL Icarus V 

Here is the napkin plan.  Two electric motors will be installed inside the wings vs. leading edge of wings like in the eLazair. I will be using R/C Technology to control motors at first for proof of concept.  First test flights will be at local AMA sanctioned model airplane field using RC propulsion system from a EFlite XVert VTOL R/C electronics.  I am researching Endless Sphere for Electric propulsion

These are the type of electric motors I would like to mount in my wings with 30" props. I am upgrading my Mac101cc gas engine with two 80cc-100cc Brushless outrunner motors.  These motors will provide clean and efficient power for the Icarus V.  I will combine with 12s Lipo batterys, 30X10 propellors and 250Amp ESC.  The motors will provide vertical take off and landing and tilt the wings forward to create flight at 18MPH.  Cruise is typicallt 20-22MPH

This is my Icarus V Hanglider I scratch built from plans in 1974.   I visited John Moody in Milwakee and copied ideas from his Powered Icarus II and created a motor mount for a MAC 101 GoCart engine with a straight drive 24" propeller making my Icarus V a foot launched hang glider or Foot Launched Ultralight, predacessor the the Vintage Ultralights and Modern Day Microlights.  Note: I started flying R/C models in 1964. 

Photo of First National Powered Hanglider (ULTRALIGHT) meet Marilla Michigan in (1975?) with Taurus Kicenuik inventor of Icarus V  I just completed building the Powered Icarus V but had no real experience with the motor.  I just had two or three flights on a shallow sloped hill at time of this photo.  Notice the flags.  There was no mention to perhaps delay the flight because there was so much excitement in the air seeing this aircraft for the first time.  Needless to say I had a hard landing, made repairs and flew the next day.  More to come...

 In 2017 I purchased the radio controlled E-flite X-VERT VTOL (Vertical TakeOff and Landing) park flyer's simple, tail-sitter design.  It came to me to put propellors inside each wing of the Icarus V and integrating the propulsion system from the XVert VTOL into or inside each wing of the Icarus V.  This will make it a VTOL ICARUS V DRONE ULTRALIGHT.  Icarus V will no longer need rudder tips because the propulsion system will control pitch, roll and yaw.  The aircraft will fly me (200lbs) or fly remote controlled with a 200 lb payload.

The X-Vert from E-flite is a new model that provides a unique solution to the challenges of VTOL flight. The airframe is a simple flying wing with twin brushless motors for propulsion. All of the magic comes from the onboard electronics. A single circuit board on the model combines a radio receiver, two brushless motor controllers, and a flight controller with stabilization features. It is the flight controller with its integrated gyros that allows the X-Vert to take off vertically from the ground and then automatically transition to forward flight.

Converting Alternator to Electric Motor for Drone Ultralight

Electric motors with two large propellors will be fixed on a one inch aluminum tube with wires going back to standard R/C speed controller, Reciever and LIPO bat(s) for propulsion.  It is very easy  to integrate two technologies together and experiment.  There is no need for moving the motors to control Ultralight.  VTOLs on youtube will rotate the motors from take off to flying for high speeds.  This aircraft only flys at 20MPH-25MPH and motors will only be used when I'm in it to gain altitude.  Then I will glide down to land and use Motors to slow to land vertically so I won't have to run 18 MPH to land.  I will land like a Helicopter or Quadcopter/Drone.

Below is 1974 when I was originally building the wing frame in my hangar at Lake Elmo 21D.  

Electric motor can be installed on 1" X .035 6061T6 aluminum tube connected to existing struts.  The electric motor and props could easily be sandwiched between the upper and lower wing ribs.  The one rib that is obviously in area of propeller could stay in place without disrupting airflow which will keep original frame strong.

Original Hang Cage with wooden with rope and wooden swing set seat

Original powerplant was a Mac 101cc 10HP pull start go-cart engine with a kill switch held in my mouth.  It was full power or no power.  The engine was to lift me up not cruise.  Idea was to get up and glide down.  The diagonal struts of the hang cage are highly loaded in flight on the hang tube.  The steel truss on the front holds all cabling together.  Weight shift controls pitch. Rudder control twist grips control wing tips for turning.  The wing starts yawing first and roll lags behind a little akwardly but safely.  New Roll control will be accomplished by shift of power to the electric motors/propellers.

Scratch built from 1974 Icarus V plans #0306 - 1975 est.

Original paint job with Classic 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza N3060V in background.  In Han glider or Ultralight terms this is an antique/classic aircraft.  The wing will lift off at 18MPH and fly between 22MPH-25MPH.  It is a big 32' long wingspan and  I have to run 18MPH or 8MP into a 10MPH headwind to take-off.