LEXL ORV on Beautiful ETX evening

LEXL ORV flight on a beautiful evening in June. the Verner 3V did a fine job of hauling me and ORV around and the weather forgot to send any bumps our way. Very Smooth and clear. Would have liked to strayed further away but fuel was limiting me to about 1/2 hour with reserve. Still very nice evening. Love the Legal Eagle XL a Part 103 Ultralight.

[@wambsganz8]

So with your configuration, how much throttle are you using to get to 63 MPH?
Thanks

[@LesHomanLegalEagleXL]

Full throttle to get to 63 mph

[@wambsganz8]

​@@LesHomanLegalEagleXLHow much throttle to maintain 63 mph during flight?

[@vg23air]

the vg23air weighs less, has more power and is 65% the cost of the Verner :)

[@JeffCurtisIflyHG]

The Verner Les is using is fully developed and proven, and it is what he already has. Your vg23air is still just a paper design, it has not been build or run or flown. You can't fly a paper design, you need hardware. You might want to hold off making claims until you have fully developed your vg23air to verify the performance, durability and reliability. I truly hope you are completely successful in your efforts, it will add another option for ultralight builders which is a good thing. Even if/when the vg23air is fully developed it is still poor form to knock someone else's choices, Les didn't ask viewers for feedback on his engine choice. At this time no ultralight engine option stands head and shoulders above the rest. All options have their benefits and drawbacks so what engine a builder chooses depends on their goals and preferences.

[@vg23air]

@@JeffCurtisIflyHG the 23 has been used in the EU for over a decade lol, the verner is over priced look at me folley. it has gone in and out of production and if it does again its a nice door stop, its also not 103 legal, no way a plane makes less than 254 with that engine

[@JeffCurtisIflyHG]

@@vg23air you specifically stated the vg23air, the motor you are developing, is lighter, more powerful and cheaper than the Verner, but your motor has yet to be built, run, and flown. Les developed a 23 for the Legal Eagle that didn't require any internal modifications (different goals from yours) but didn't weigh less, had much less power, and is cheaper. Different goals, different results.
I'm not saying the Verner is a better choice, just a different one. I'm aware that it has been in and out of production, one of the drawbacks is that Verner is a very small company so for some that is a concern. Just because the engine is no longer manufactured doesn't mean you can't still use it if you have one, look at all the 2-stroke Rotax motors that are still powering ultralights and LSA long after the motors have been discontinued. Also, do your research, the Verner weighs 81 pounds with the starter. You still have to add exhaust pipes, an engine mount, and an oil tank and plumbing but it is possible to make weight. ORV (the Legal Eagle in the video) originally was built with a 1/2 VW before being converted. Les built his SR 7 1/2 Legal Eagle planning to use the Verner from the start and he came in underweight, so it is possible, if you plan for it.
Over priced is in the buyers opinion. A 1/2 VW is cheaper but requires a significant amount of internal fabrication, especially of rotating parts, and in the end, for the same weight, you have to hand prop and use a constant loss ignition system. Some builders would rather pay more for a more complete solution. In my opinion, that is one of the major benefits of the Aero1000. It is the most complete solution requiring the least amount of fabrication by the builder, all the development is done by the factory. Are there things that I don't like about the Aero1000, certainly. I would rather it be a 90 degree V-twin, I would rather it had a replaceable oil filter instead of a screen, I would rather it have a water pump and thermostat instead of being gravity fed, but the rest of it is everything I want, especially EFI.
I'll say it again, bashing Les's choice of power plant is uncalled for, especially since he wasn't looking for anyone's opinion, and especially since your specific proposed solution is completely unproven. Build it, measure the performance, fly it, prove it is reliable and durable and let the data speak for itself.

[@vg23air]

@@JeffCurtisIflyHG lol