Hi Tim !
The Ultralight Rebel is quite different from the standard
1,650 Rebel, and I wouldn't recommend one to anyone today,
as the weight limits have changed here in Canada, so it's
reason for being has disappeared !
The U/L Rebel is substantially weaker than a standard Rebel,
with thinner metal in the wing spars, and some skins & other
areas. The wing struts are thin wall aluminum tubing flattened
to be more aerodynamic, instead of the sturdy extrusions on
the standard Rebels. It has a fabric covered tail, and lighter
gear legs, with lighter wheels & smaller brakes - all of which lower
the max. gross weight to 1,058 lb. ... hardly desireable these
days !
For all the lightening, there's really only about 50 - 70 lb.
difference between a finished, painted U/L Rebel and a regular
1,650 Rebel airframe. Personally, the small extra weight is
more than worth it for the greatly increased load capacity,
and long-term durability !!
We flew our 80 hp. Rotax 912 powered Rebel on Murphy 1500
straight floats - it performed quite well. It got off in
6 seconds solo, and about 34 seconds with 2 people and 3/4
tanks, and climb was about 400 fpm. Not a skyrocket, but
better than our 85 Hp. Aeronca Super Chief could do !!
Certainly comparable to most light aircraft in that hp. range.
I also flew our 3rd Rebel, with a Lycoming O-235C2-C on
Murphy 1500 amphibs for over 3 years. It did not perform
nearly as well as the 912 Rebel - the extra weight of the
Lyc. was not offset by the small extra power ... you really
DO need a 320 for the extra weight of a Lyc. !! The O-235
was strictly a single-seater on amphibs - other than my
float instructor, I never carried a passenger - not even Anna !
While I definitely would discourage anyone from trying
an O-235 on amphibs (even with the higher output O-235-L2C),
I DO believe that a Rebel with the 912-S WOULD make an
acceptable airplane on 1500 amphibs - in fact, if I ever get
to it, THAT is my 'retirement Rebel' ! :-)
The engine weight makes THAT much of a difference !
--
......bobp
http://www.prosumers.ca
http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Tuesday 12 December 2006 22:04, Tim Hickey wrote:
Hello, Bob
A couple of questions:
That U/L Rebel that weighed 596 pounds: Does that machine differ from a
standard Rebel in the Airframe department? If so, what are the major
differences?
What are "flattened tube struts"?
And one more thing: Do some people operate a Rebel on floats using the
Rotax engine? I always expected that it would take something more like an
O-320 to drag a Rebel off of the water.
Thanks.
Tim Hickey
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Patterson" <
beep@sympatico.ca>
To: <
rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Rebel engines choices
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