Fly'D Egg (abandoned project)
Hello Egg-steemers,
For all the success of the main Eggmotor project, there were a few off-shoots that never quite made it. Here is one of those doomed machines.
The idea was to have a suspended harness design to give a more 'paraglider' feel rather than the conventional upright paramotor position. The strength of the 'bow' structure was acquired from the tension of the two lower ropes (not shown fitted in first image).
The power-plant was an industrial gx440 4 stroke engine, modified with a ported & milled cylinder head, thinner head gasket, 1.3:1 ratio valve rockers, 35lb nickel coated valve springs, 8 degree advance timing key, re-jetted carburettor, free-flow air filter and exhaust. This engine was mated to a Xoar PJD-P 36x10 propeller. Estimated performance was approx. 18hp @ 5000rpm and +60kg thrust.
Once I started to post my progress of this machine on YouTube, some folks were being highly critical of the design. This was primarily due to the risk of my spine in close proximity to the ground in case of a stall/fall scenario and the fear of the chassis flexing causing body-to-ground contact. I admit there was some risk here but the tension ropes from front to rear created a strong structure. I even did a drop test from 3 feet with about 60kg weight on board and only issue was the rear axle had deformed slightly.
[loaded for drop test]
[drop-test result image]
All the negative feedback I was receiving was taking it's toll on my confidence in the project and so I gave in, stripped the machine down and sold on the parts. I think with more development, this project had potential, perhaps even commercially but by this time, the whole Eggmotor dream was losing it's lustre unfortunately.
[camcorder screenshot, tension ropes not fitted]
Any hoo folks, I hope you found this little nugget of my life interesting? If you did, please upvote, comment and resteem.
More from me soon.
Many thanks,
Rob Shaw
[The Eggmeister]
I would have gave it a run! I love the idea. I think it still has potential.
Who knows, if funds allow and I get the 'urge' again in the future..... it may yet still fly :)
Very nice little contraption you got there. It looks fun.
Yeah, it's a shame the project fell apart but I'd lost confidence. It would've been fun tho :)
It happens man. All we can do is keep trying.
Yup, turn a negative into a positive :)
Yes sir. I try to stay somewhat positive about things. Lol
It's difficult in the current economic and political climate.
I hear ya brother. Times are tough but if we don't stay positive we'll just be joining the riff Raff.
Indeed mate :)
Dude, charge on this thing! Follow yer heart and FUCK the naysayers. For every person who will say, "You can do it!" there'll be 100,000 who'll tell you that you can't and another few million who don't give a shit. They don't matter. Focus on accurate self-assessment of your project, dream big, and just keep taking a step at a time. You got this!
Cheers Paleotreats :) Maybe one day when funds allow........ maybe I could have a steemit funded project? I am thinking of redoing the gx270 (MiniMonster project) and getting the engine properly sorted this time and the right spec prop. I haven't posted about this project on Steemit but I may do. If my Steemit channel builds at it's current rate, perhaps the money will become available sooner rather than later :)
Totes! Build it and they will come. Would be rad to see Steemit supporting flight. Yes!
Seems possible, I've got a decent following in such a short space of time. Mmm, I'm gonna give it some thought :)
Nice article!By the way,I have upvoted your post,can you upvote my new post? Thanks
'Tis done :) thank you btw :)
Hello folks, I've had this last video of the Fly'D Egg project set as 'private' on Youtube since 2014 as I didn't want any more flak from th PPG community regarding perceived safety issues. I've set the video to 'unlisted' now so you can watch the machine in short ground demonstration when the project was 95% complete.