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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We are looking at some of the parts made and furnished by Legaleagleparts.com
Regards Re-Drives, i just went thru the entire process with Ave Aviation Re-drive for project i am working on. From time ordered until in my shop a bit over 4 months. Love the product but communications need improved.
Will be posting info on blog and youtube in near future.
Weight of completed rib set is right at 6 pounds. As we continue will provide weight of various components.
We have flown Legal Eagle XL ORV with the 45 hp, 1/2VW from Scott Cassler and I can say it is a great engine. We then had a chance to do some research and testing with the Verner 3V, 3 cylinder Radial. It is a beautiful engine. Leonard Milholland and John Bolding asked me if it was interested in research and development of the Briggs and Stratton Vanguard 23 on the Legal Eagle. It is another great engine, love the ease of staring and just fun flying. After putting about 50 hours on the BSV23, we put it Leonard’s original Legal Eagle XL and I got a chance to fly it. Now I might mention that I am a 275 lb pilot and all the flying has we are talking of here has been and max. gross weight of the Legal Eagle XL. I am now working on a slightly different flying machine very similar to the Legal Eagle XL but the important thing is we are using the Harbor Freight Predator 670. Leonard wanted to keep the Briggs and Stratton Stock, this engine will start out stock so we can get a direct comparison between the two engines. It will be set up like the BSV23 when we finished. We have wood bar dyno readings of the BSV23 and will get readings on the HFP670 to compare. After we do initial readings and break in the engine will be modified and new readings will be taken. We will be posting videos and data updates comparing the engines and will update the engine data comparison spread sheet. We are waiting on Ace Aviation Redrive, ordered it 4 months ago, it is complete but Tariffs have increased costs and created shipping problems. I am hoping to have it by end of year or early in January. More to come.
We have been working on a new wing building project. We are using the full size rib jig pattern furnished in the legaleagleparts.com Wing Building assist drawings. This is based on Leonard Milholland’s full size rib drawing and we are using the gusset kit from legalealeparts.com as well. We will be using the Laser cut nose ribs and aluminum wing fittings as we progress. We have just finished the wing ribs and will be publishing the video tomorrow, the 18th of December 2025. We have finished video of building the rib jig from the Wing Build assist drawings, building videos. Next up is the spruce cap strips for wing and processing the spruce parts required for wing construction. In the past, when I lived in California, would order all the parts at once from Aircraft Spruce and when they were ready would drive down and pick them up. Costs of shipping are very high so I talked to Leonard and went down to Houston and and visited Clark hardwood, Picked up enough spruce for all needs with some extra. Borrowed a planner from fellow Legal Eagle builder and getting ready to process the spruce. Will do a video on all involved with intent of proving how to info to others that may want to save big bucks.
We ate getting close to a wing kit that will include nose ribs, aileron ribs, aileron end ribs and gussetts, all lazer cut and set for Leonards full size rib drawing.
We have completed the tail wheel drawings for a tail post mount. I have been using this type tail wheel installation for 3 years on SR 7-1/2 and about a year on ORV. It works great and saves weight. It also saves time when loading and unloading ORV because it is not connected to rudder horn as before. Will have this on our website, legaleagleparts.com and the catalog early next week
As simple as the Legal Eagle is i have never been a big fan of check lists bit I may need to rethink this concept. Nothing like having a beautiful evening flight and when shutting down and exiting the machine i notice it was not necessary to remove the seat belt. Not the first time taking off without seat belt but entire flight, this is a first.
Legal Eagle Flying Adventures 