Legal Eagle ORV in Monument Valley Utah
This blog is about flying adventures in a Milholland Legal Eagle XL named ORV, or off road vehicle forbthe long version. It is a Part 103 Ultralight Vehicle by FAA standards. That means less than 254 pounds, max of 5 gallons of fuel, max speed 63 mph with stall under 27 mph. Powers is a 1/2 VW of 45 hp.
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It is different from the Legal Eagle in that Prop and wing are behind pilot. It handles very nicely, firm and solid on controls. Does not have same roll rate as my Legal Eagle XL ORV, but I do not have full plans Diehedral either. I need to get better at speed control for this machine. Beautiful day.
BSV23 and now BSV35 getting ready to go.
This is going to be interesting, the BSV23 is a beautiful engine with adequate power for max gross weight of LEXL and does a great job, less weight than the 1/2VW. The BSV35 is a lot heavier, approx 40 lbs firewall forward, should have plenary of power and will be finding out right after Oshkosh. The BSV23 will be at Brookshire, Sport Flyer Field on June 10th for Leonard Milhollands 25 anniversary of the Legal Eagle and will be in Oshkosh at Ultralight Area.
Finished mounting and installing new Tailwheel on Legal Eagle XL ORV. A bit lighter than old one and no work required when loading in trailer. Will paint after testing and de-bugging
This is a fun engine to fly, it is met to be an alternative for the lower HP 1/2VW engine. Weight firewall forward is equal to or less than the 1/2VW engine and we have electric starter. With the mufflers it is very quiet for those on ground and pilot. We will be at Sport Flyer Field, Brookshire, Texas on Saturday June 10th and will be flying. Come on down to Leonard’s 25th anniversary celebration of the Legal Eagle. For more detailed information on the installation, engine, drive and how to duplicate what we have here contact Leonard Milholland at legaleagleairplane.com
The battery is mounted in the metal box with thin plywood top between the rudder pedals. Seemed like a good idea to keep battery close to engine and away from fuel tank and seemed to be lots of room for feet but right foot slipped off rudder pedal and a ground loop resulted. Moving battery, battery box and shorting and making pedal a bid longer.
Long story but my right foot slipped off rudder pedal and it was not easily, (quickly) going back in place and because of cross wind and left rudder pedal still working a turn to left had started and my hand was not on brakes yet, Time and distance was running out from aircraft and house and path to best outcome was ground loop to left. It worked. I have a second video about changes to machine to prevent this from ever happening again. I was intent on saving weight and mounted battery on floor board behind firewall, between rudder pedals. Seemed to be enough room for my fat feet. This proved me wrong. I am moving battery behind seat, installing longer battery cables, redoing rudder pedals, lower, longer and installing anti-slip material on metal floor boards to keep feet from sliding.
This section of video was taken while doing a couple turns, not really this steep of a bank but camera allows some interesting views, making bank steeper and shallower depending on settings. I am working on learning how to make best us of this technology.
Working on how to mount and use camera and how to edit the video. Working with the insta360x3 opens up a new world of taking video and the 360 provides great oppertunity to express on-self. I have been wondering how my landings look up close and this provides the shot, not bad landing even if I say so myself. In case you are wondering most of my landing are wheel landings, not full stall, I cannot consistently get the correct height above runway to let it stall.
Legal Eagle Flying Adventures 