Affordaplane weights.

The plans state that an affordaplane weighs 254lbs. That's the "rule" weight. Something seems rather fishy about that. Turns out.. it's as fishy as it sounds. Here's a list of completed Affordaplane weights:

Original Prototype: 265lbs
With Rotax 277

Gents A-Plane: 425lbs
His is 084 powered. That alone is a 125lb powerplant.

Mike R's A-Plane: 310lbs
With Rotax 447

Todds A-Plane: 426lbs
With Rotax 503

Todd B A-plane: 324lbs

aplanebuilder A-plane: 320lbs
With efforts to lighten it.

danl239: over 456lbs
Not built to plans.
356lbs without engine.

Please, if you have built one, tell me what yours weighs. Lets get you in as part of the database!

The word is, that with some work, and lots of work, the plane can be built under part 103 weight. That will be discussed in some of the modification posts.

Mailing list refrence: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cheapaircraft/messages/390
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cheapaircraft/message/4206?threaded=1&l=1

Questions the plans left open to interpretation.

I'll happily add anyone else's questions to this. The answers will be covered in later posts.

The plans never mention the weight of the prototype: What do these things really weigh?

The plans indicate the prototype used a Rotax 277 and that it was underpowered: What defines underpowered?

The plans indicate the Rotax 447 is the recommended motor, it weighs 82lbs. The plans state the motor weight budget is 80lbs: What is the real engine weight budget?

The plans don't have any indication of what the target weights are for components: What should each part weigh?