Home Depot ultralight aircraft, Jack Harper and his HomeDepot plans built ultralight aircraft kit!

www.ultralightnews.com - Home Depot ultralight aircraft, Jack Harper and his plans built HomeDepot ultralight aircraft kit! Jack Harper talks to us about how he sourced his parts for this all wood ultralight aircraft from HomeDepot! www.ultralightnews.com/sunfun9... Help support The Ultralight Flyer light sport and ultralight video magazine by subscribing or donating to the cause at www.ultralightflyer.com

[@laprepper]

Building planes for 50 years, wow! I’d love to meet this guy!

[@benhudman9204]

This is so down to earth. Such an unassuming guy.

[@hunterdunker1011]

Nice job I wanted to build my own airplane since I was 16 ,today am 35 years old I came from a poor family but now since am all grown up, now I can finally start my project, I can't wait to start 🙂🤗😎🙏👌

[@laprepper]

Makes his own propellers! Amazing

[@doranjaffas7351]

Back in the 70's there was a small bi plane designed before ultra lights had a designation. It was called a Hovey Wing Ding 2. It was made of door skin, lumber yard fir, 4" reinforced aluminum tubing, blue board foam, and a type of insulation board and piano hinge for the empanage. I owned one. I met Mr. Bob Hovey. He had other designs as well. Google it. Oh yes, the wing ribs were of aluminum..not basic hardware tubing, formed around a wood template and plugged into the spars and the held in place by sewing them to the wing fabric.

[@ultralightnews]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKqTqYSonqqDhKs The Ultralight Flyer

[@DesertSessions93]

$1000 to be able to fly yourself around? YES PLEASE!

[@TheJustinJ]

This Fellow is vastly more intelligent than his down home country manner of speaking lets on. There are quite a few indications he really understands aircraft design, and carefully calculated flight and landing loads. Pretty ingenious.

[@JustPlainRob]

This guy is a treasure. "Sittin' home, front of the soap operas, nothin to do."

[@omarimordechai8589]

I know I am kinda randomly asking but does anyone know of a good place to watch new tv shows online ?

[@xzqzq]

Let's see it fly !!

[@jeffpittel6926]

I've always wondered if you could cover a built up structure, like this, with plastic wrap like they use to winterize boats?

[@kennethjackson7574]

I have only used it in places where it shrinks up very tight again whatever it’s surrounding. That said, it would I think it would crush the ribs as it is heated. You might try it on ailerons first.

[@rayleon8861]

nice job love to see it fly

[@cptcliffhanger]

Where is the video of it flying. This guy is my hero!!

[@dichromatic6003]

Home deppot. I love it I can listen to him talk all day. I love the voice👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@mcdana3755]

Awesome design !!

[@willdavis7966]

Thanks for the motivation 👍🏾

[@frankcloskey7789]

Excellent builder. 6/14/2021

[@max_headroom_1987]

That is all kinds of awesome

[@perfectken1760]

nice work

[@appleapple3855]

Love this guy!

[@mikehubbard5493]

Nice work buddy.

[@randyhodder3372]

Grampa used to SAY, put a big enough motor on a barn door it will fly!!!!🎈🎈🎈⛳

[@neenoonoo2564]

Nice and simple 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@guyh.4553]

Nice little project! Love the use of light weight material. Basically making engineered beams for the wing ribs. Epoxy or fiberglass would lock that in solid! Plans available? Or where could someone get them or something like what you used? Fun project

[@douglasanderson1276]

If you want to crash build it this is not a viable ultralight and. try legal eagle, Rodger Mann ragwing,

[@laprepper]

@@douglasanderson1276 I want to build a legal Eagle. Haven’t started yet tho.

[@greysilverback3924]

Very entertaining. Can't wait to see if fly!

[@HondoTrailside]

The big deal with doorskins is that on an aircraft of this scale they are way overbuilt. The species is a lot lighter than spruce, but that is in some ways an advantage both due to the beefy dimensions and the light weight of the craft. But the material is about 4 times the thickness of the aircraft ply one would use. That means that in situations where one is able to conform it to the surfaces, it is 16 times stronger than the aircraft ply on form, and 64 times stiffer. That makes up for a lot of "wow, aircraft ply is such great stuff". Just so long as one can get it in under the weight budget. And it weighs about .33 pounds a square foot. The biggest downside to doorskins, because the wood quality is usually awesome is the minuscule amount of glue they use. They use glue extremely sparingly and normally not good glue. It is still incredible what they will put up with, but if the product has resorcinol glue in it, it is amazing.

[@InvincibleExtremes]

I love this thing

[@OzParkPilot]

Looks like a Kolb Firefly in wood ! Great !!!

[@josephdupont]

what does the 11 and 12 HP model weigh? going up in HP might be nice. what about a ducted prop???

[@titaniumballs]

For all you Home Depot wood haters: I work at a local lumber yard. (NOT a Home Depot. Their wood is much worse than ours. I don't know if they even sell DF at their nearest store) I regularly find plain sawn douglas fir 2x8s of the best possible quality because they are graded #2& BTR (better). They have no knots, 10-12 grains per inch, and almost no runout along the 1.5" edge for 12 feet. Ripping them into .25x1.5 strips will give you perfect quartersawn laminations. Some of them are all heartwood and ripping them that thin leaves nowhere for pitch pockets to hide. This man must have a very good relationship with his local HD because it probably takes him hours to pick through all their junk. I get to look at each board as I slide it onto its stack (lucky me :)).

[@d.jensen5153]

I'd love to see a video of this plane flying. There must be some reason good we haven't.

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

Yes there is a good reason. This was recorded 20 years ago at some kind of ultralight meet up.....

[@4strength4stamleatherbeltl78]

GamePlayWithNolan this was made 5 years ago tops. This isn't a 20 year old home video, It was edited with a modern computer.

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

It was posted 5 years ago, it was recorded 20 years ago..... Re watch the video and it says 1999

[@commentatron]

Probably just sloth.

[@jasonblanton7185]

That thing wont fly lmao ,like a rock stright into the ground lol

[@elizondo2000]

Do you have any video where your plane flies ??? I like your design but I do not know how stable it was

[@kalifakalifa4071]

Nice

[@richardbutt7095]

cool

[@abigaillynn15]

Could you give me the info to get the plans from you?

[@mrmartin889900]

Jack would you be willing to do a custom job on a phantom ultralight ? Putting a engine under each wing. Let me know thanks Andre

[@sking0369]

Nice static model there. Does it fly?

[@eshannonfly]

He has to be related to Jim Tom from Moonshiners!!!! LOL Eric

[@aungsoeminn6151]

Good job your

[@carlb5451]

Don't laugh too hard, Jack Harper is a renown aircraft designer. This is not his only design.

[@stephensowell9578]

Hi Jack, Looks like it will fly fine, but what do I know? Maybe a short flight video with some touch and goes? May increase plan sales. Just saying.

[@josephdupont]

How about putting it on floats.. I' like to see it fly.. like take off and land.. strange that we don't see it flying.

[@charleswesley9907]

I knew Jack Harper from Herlong Airport . He was pretty sharp. I knew his son too, Both in Aviation.

[@cameronjones7479]

Where do you get the plans for this plane?

[@9999plato]

I want to see it's maiden.

[@gabcibertech]

is it fly ?

[@dukedurell]

On the build up pictures it looks almost like a wooden RC model might have to build some test parts from lumber yard materials just to test them

[@ttraderjim]

Please don't fly over my house! LOL

[@user-cq3ri8ht9m]

This 10hp how can fly. I need to build my ownn. Any boday can help. How and where can i start

[@tekoppentekoppen761]

What. A. Man!

[@Gcort49]

I'm going to build a 'Lowes Plane'

[@gregson99]

I smell a dog fight between the two.

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

lmao

[@kidd_ot7855]

have u ever started?

[@RedfishInc]

Jimmy fucking Johnson...

[@ryanm.191]

Gino C peter sripol just beat you

[@jorgealbertohernandezcasti8395]

What kind is the wood?

[@hellyerdavid6562]

I want to see him fly it

[@johngudmundson5020]

are plans available for this?

[@Gbennett1425]

are there any plans

[@zestydude87]

if you ever get bored again build me one!

[@mikecorleone6797]

I wanna see it fly

[@yashp98288]

Which engine is used in this Aircraft

[@siluc415]

please post video of this thing in the air. :-)

[@Fourandaquarter]

Does it fly? I mean anyone can cobble together materials into something that looks like an aircraft, but if it doesn't fly then it isn't really an airplane is it?

[@therchobbylife7048]

Pls respond i have started a project like this and need help are the props counter ratatiomg

[@ultralightnews]

The props are not counter rotating. The Ultralight Flyer

[@ultralightnews]

Sketches (to call them "plans" would be an overstatement) to build this plane could be found at the Home Depot Plane Yahoo Group. Lots of photos and interesting information as well. Claudio Di Gregoria

[@hadichannel7689]

Engine type plzz and price?

[@bradynlee5490]

How much does the planes cost

[@najeebyunusa]

wow

[@MrStupidimmigrant]

I went ordar them part's at home daypo

[@stealhty1]

Nice plane,two engines of two cycles

[@jonworrell1336]

has anyone ever even seen a video of one of these things fly...iv looked and cant find anything

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

Did this contraption ever fly ??!!

[@oni101]

I don't think the thrust bearings in those engines will handle the constant thrust that is being applies to the crankshaft. They were not designed for anything close to that load. Any engineers able to help... how much linear thrust does 10 HP equivocate to?

[@OverlandOne]

I built an airboat 35 years ago with a 10 hp Tecumseh engine just like that and it had right at 40 pounds of thrust but, I was using a prop designed for that size engine and rpm range and my prop was 42" long...much longer than his looks to be so I do not think he is getting anywhere near that amount of thrust. I still have that prop hanging on my wall. I ran that boat for 2 seasons and never had any bearing issues but if I were flying I think I would not trust those bearings in that application because they were not designed for end loads on the crank just as you said.

[@benjaminchartier6458]

@@OverlandOne actually, if you wanted to alleviate the end load on the engine,you could use a jack shaft with a chain or a v-belt drive

[@darrellcook8253]

Enough thrust for drug out bearings that make loud uncomfortable noises before destroying themselves. That much. Wisconsin engines might handle it, don't know about Honda or Briggs and Stratton, (my favorite from my minibike days) Using a thrust shaft offset from the engine, either belt or chain drive fixes thrust issues replacing them with weight, drag and complexity issues. Engineering is fun!

[@B60IN3]

The photos inside the hanger is Jerry's plane.

[@tack9571]

Is it FAA part 103 compliant?

[@ultralightnews]

Yes.

[@jolllyroger1]

aviation is only 112 years since wright brothers fight. ...... and still anyone can build a wright flyer and fly. .... building an b aircraft is easy is not rocket science and even if it was rocket science is easy too. I have been designing and building aircraft for 40 years and I have never had one of my creations not fly .... I have used all materials even news paper for covering. .. experimentation is the fun part .... flying is easy making something fly is easy. .... this thing will fly.. the only real important thing is before flying testing for stresses. ... stress testing will not tell you if it will fly only what g force stress will break it.

[@kenlane6655]

Who do you use as a test pilot and do you have video?

[@f82man]

"But the bugs hit me in the teeth, ya know". Sounds like a fun ride.....Don

[@theelectronicslob7949]

I have a hard time thinking this makes ultralight weight, I see about 150 Lb of engine. Let me know if I’m wrong, but that’s heavy for 20 horse. I have tried to for years to make cheep 4 stroke engines work, but the math always leaves about 100 lbs for airframe and that’s tight

[@richarddegen6184]

about 40lbs each engine

[@mrmartin889900]

Jack do you do custom jobs on ultralights ? such as putting a engine under each wing on a single seat spyder.Each engine weight about 37 lbs please let me know thanks Andre

[@carlschmiedeke151]

Could you mail out paper plans ,i would so be interested in paying you for your inconvenience, & shipping

[@napalmloveskids]

"Everything's from Home 'Deppo'." "Them wing struts, you'll have to get somewhere's else"

[@HondoTrailside]

It would be a significant display of ignorance if one assumed that aircraft grade wood was top of the line, it is nothing like it. The highest grade of wood in general use is arrow stock. It runs out over about 100 inches, or better. aircraft stock is in the 20,-36 inch range. Every single piece of arrow stock is individually modulus tested, often several times. If an arrow breaks in the bow, it often drives right through your hand, a blunt of splintered shaft. So you are motivated to ensure it is sound. Aircraft stock is nowhere near this specification. One reason is nobody knows what any individual piece of wood is going to be used for, so it is impossible to test it close to the end use. in some cases the material would be far too stiff to test in any kind of normal fixture. But with arrow shafting, it is sold in near final dimensions, so it is easy to test. The ultralite maker is in the same situation as the arrowmaker, when he gets down to the point of spar caps He know what the wood is to be used for, and what section it is, and he can test a piece for stiffness and max load to failure. The parts are not terribly beefy and can easily be tested in home built fixtures. He can cream some wood to whatever grade he wants to. When wood is graded for a supplier to sell, they test some sample from the lot, they never get any closer than that to the stuff you end up buying. There is no comparison to the process that can be done at home, vs on an industrial scale.

[@robertemmons2260]

Hondo Trailside Thank you for bringing this up. I use to be in construction, and I've seen many people try using various wood grades in structural applications, just to end in failure. Usually these are the same people who cuss out a building inspector because he/she is making them change, modify, or reinforce a key loading point. In aviation construction, I would not want to be anywhere near someone who is using #2 knotty pine in any part of there aircraft project.

[@orion_13]

I used a typical recurve arrow in my compoundbow once as a kid. I still have the scar between my thumb and index finger where the arrow snapped on release pinning my hand to the hand grip. Never did that again.

[@commentatron]

@@robertemmons2260 I always fashion a crude 2x4 crucifix rudder and attach it to the sissy bar of my ultralight builds - but nothing too structural for sure. Just reach back and steer it like a boat. The latest is Mark VI and I have a good feeling about this one, she's gonna fly.

[@johnandersen3185]

Have my doubts folks..cant find a video of this aircraft flying and I suspect that if this plane actually flew it was with two ROTAX 227 (26 hp) "2- stroke" engines that Jack Harper lists as optional engines in his plans brochure. Outside of lift motors for hovercraft, I have never heard of ...or seen anyone get airborne with two VERY HEAVY 56 pound "low power to weight ratio" 10 hp 4-stroke lawn mower engines. With all do respect to Jack however, I like the design and am always impressed by these super builders and would suggest readers give him some builders leeway here as while it is fun for Jack to say "I built a plane from HOME DEPOT parts," it detracts from the moment too have a lot of qualifiers such as motors are not from Home Depot, struts are not, etc. I suspect Jack hung the Tecumseh engines on there for the video show as HOME DEPOT sells 10 hp Tecumseh engines, but not the much more expensive ROTAX 227 engines commonly used in ultra light aviation applications. What is pictured in the video with Tecumseh engines is probably just enough thrust to taxi with. Chief Pilot (retired)

[@johnandersen3185]

@@TugIronChief Can’t argue with your statement about being a great orator or his vision of do it yourself flight!!!

[@LastExile1989]

Howm Depow.

[@bodewhitmo5189]

how much did it cost to build

[@commentatron]

What TL;DW? It's in the video.

[@luiserodriguez7442]

I would like to see the drawing of this plane.

[@BrightBlueJim]

Put your money where your mouth is. $50. Address is in the video.

[@javed2547]

Inspiring, I’m gunna build one from Walmart now!

[@pilot3016]

Inspiring..to cut up my pilots license. Don't wish to share the airspace now.

[@BrightBlueJim]

@@pilot3016 Kind of how most air transport pilots feel about general aviation.

[@pilot3016]

@@BrightBlueJim Actually.. I know some ATP's that also engage in Competitive Cross Country Soaring and own a sport home built. (Glassaire).

[@BrightBlueJim]

@@pilot3016 Okay then, one bit of anecdotal evidence for another: I know a GA pilot who once asked an airline pilot what GA pilots could do to make their job easier. The airline pilot's response: "just go away".

[@pilot3016]

@@BrightBlueJim wow..that's conclusive. Look..G.A. guys screw up and so do airline pilots. The guys busting more of the rules are the renegade's.

[@gullibletravels5250]

yeah but does it fly -- not shown here

[@ultralightnews]

I would have shown it TAKING OFF had I seen it TAKING OFF!

[@wkdemers]

Light Sport and Ultralight Flyer do you know of any clips of this flying yet? thank you! :)

[@jbl7092]

Of course a video of flying with these lawn mower engines remains elusive, lol, and he had to build his own props. However, with his credentials, I'm pretty sure it does. With the exception of the expensive Aerolite 103, it seems that all of the kit planes and plans out there leave it up to the builder to scrounge for an expensive or used, no-longer-in-production engine (i.e. Rotax, which has abandoned the ultralight market). The A-plane seems to be the best bet for an easy build, but you are still left scrounging for a decent engine that will (with the possible exception of the Polini) probably cost more than the complete airframe. I really hope some smart person will come along soon and start mass producing good, inexpensive American made ultralight engines here in the United States for our growing sport. Until then, we will be relying on engines from foreign companies, and that doesn't always translate to inexpensive (i.e. Hirth). If they can do it, so can we.

[@BrightBlueJim]

@@TugIronChief More likely, pulled it, like on a trailer. Seriously, that's how a lot of ultralights get to airshows.

[@scootereastman3866]

Rc airplanes flown with spectra radio!

[@thegaminghdchannel7270]

how much would u charge me to build me one of these

[@josmith4531]

Austin Eason $100,000 when you build an airplane to sell it is not just about cost, but liability of getting sued by whom ever you may crash into. Or any family members upset you are dead and it can't be your fault!

[@AV8R_1]

any video of this thing flying?

[@kenbarnett8189]

***** pilot error is the most common failure, thinking that they are flying a fighter jet or an acrobatic aircraft and try to do more g's than the airframe can withstand! Some fool on this topic thought that an ultralight should be able to do 6 g's! that's like 3,000 lbs on an aircraft designed to do only 4 g's max!

[@kenbarnett8189]

***** LOL, your scared of your own shadow! Experimental aircraft are meant to be experimental not meant for the mentally short changed, perhaps you should troll a knitting channel and leave the flying to the pilots!

[@kenbarnett8189]

***** Your delusional, 1.2 g's would mean it never even left the hangar, meaning that your story is more BS, followed by even more BS "wing loaded with sand bags" more BS lifted from JollyRoger, You probably shouldn't talk about g's because you don't even know what a g is, all you come up with is more BS! I think you have been sniffing too much model airplane glue kid!

[@Shaft-Industries]

I have a hard time believing it has flown. With the PR here it seems it's more of a ploy for advertising than anything. I'll believe it when I see it.

[@emiliomurillo20]

Would have been nice to see it fly

[@ultralightnews]

If it had of flown at the show I would have shown it flying it didn't so I couldn't. The Ultralight Flyer

[@280zjammer]

How about a Harbor Freight airplane?

[@eugeneoreilly9356]

I go more with a boat out off Harbor Freight.Its all in the name.

[@stephenwebb3069]

Cutting the prop to size ?

[@BrightBlueJim]

I believe the word he used was "whittling". Which, yes, is how they used to be made.

[@kirbylee57]

Did you ask him if there was one flying?

[@rareassassin5667]

saving money to build 1 also So i could fly to see my mom :D

[@donaldbarrett2267]

This plane should be Home Depot Orange.

[@douglasrodrigues9329]

Somebody is going to try logging multi-engine time with this thing.😂

[@mikecorleone6797]

Douglas Rodrigues twin 10hp briggs n stratton powerhouse 🤣

[@robertwilson8457]

Selecting wood must have taken some time. My experience is the greater selection of wood at Home Depot is what i'd call economic grade, > not the best. when I what best or good quality I go else where,

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

ahaha every lumber store has a select grade of lumber somewhere in its store or nearby store or warehouse

[@commentatron]

When I want wood I go to Pronhub.

[@mcjon77]

It is always interesting to hear Southern folks play up their Southern accent for non-Southerners.

[@tristanriggi3862]

uhu yea