my original Bensen with a 447

[Fl90]

77027

77028

77029

A Bensen with a 447 and a 2 blade 50" (52"?), with 20'8" rotor 6" chord, flew fairly easy. Still have some tweaking to do, but I'm surprised at the initial performance with 5 gal. fuel and me at 210.

[Earthboundmisft]

Oh yea, like em without all the gingerbread.

[Timchick]

Are you collecting gyros, Phil?

[Fl90]

I did get it exceptionally light, but that rotor spins like a blender, even at this weight. The heaviest I've flown under that rotor is just over 500lbs with an estimated 425-450rrpm. Even light it's between 400 and 425rrpm.

[Fl90]

The Bee has been sold to a person in Texas. One of the people interested in the Bee wanted me to put a motor on the Bensen. So, I'm trying it out. It'll need a rotor for normal flight. The one I'm using is a test rotor. It's amazing how much easier a Bensen flies than a Bee. By easier I mean simply getting it in the air, not necessarily skill required.

[Fl90]

I saw your old machine at New Year's, Tim. These are the best models ever made, light, portable, stylish, compact, and you can throw just about any motor on them that you want. If people were really o.k. with flying a true ultralight, you could build these in a week, after getting set up for it. But, I've learned, most people aren't like me.....even when they say they are. Oh well, I like being simple minded :).

[Redbaron]

hey phil, when you say the bensen is easier to get in the air do you mean easier to hand start?

The Bee has been sold to a person in Texas. One of the people interested in the Bee wanted me to put a motor on the Bensen. So, I'm trying it out. It'll need a rotor for normal flight. The one I'm using is a test rotor. It's amazing how much easier a Bensen flies than a Bee. By easier I mean simply getting it in the air, not necessarily skill required.

[Fl90]

No, I mean performance characteristics. They are shorter and narrower, that seems to give them an advantage. It could be cleaner air, less drag, or less effect on stored energy from a bumpy runway. Whatever it is, a Bensen seems to fly with better performance than a Bee, using the same motor. I found that with the 503 as well, but I flew them so far apart I thought I was just biased.

[phantom]

now take a bensen and crank the keel so you can use a larger prop without a longer mast and you will really be impressed with the power and handling, you will need to extend the nosegear and use a bent axel for the main wheels.

[Fl90]

all more weight and the bigger prop on a low hp motor is a waste. Just spin the prop faster, I put a 2:1 box on it.

[Redbaron]

did you ever calculate the disk loading between the bee and bensen? I'm not biased between either model just wondering!

all more weight and the bigger prop on a low hp motor is a waste. Just spin the prop faster, I put a 2:1 box on it.

[dabkb2]

I have to agree, I am not sure what it is, but there is something about the shorter mast that I like.

[Fl90]

disc load on Bensen 1.373 with 8h12 extruded rotor
disc load on Bee 1.18 with Dragon's wings

[Redbaron]

disc load on Bensen 1.373 with 8h12 extruded rotor
disc load on Bee 1.18 with Dragon's wings

thanks for sharing phil! disc load on my bee is 1.05! performance is good but she bounces a bit in turbulence!