Lightning Bug, Brian Austein's Lightning Bug Ultralight aircraft.

The Lightning Bug- Over the years there have been a number of twin engine ultralight aircraft. The Lazair, and Gemini Hummingbird are two that come to mind. But at Paradise City Sun N Fun 2017 one of the most unique designs I have seen in quite some time, the Lightning Bug was both on dispaly and flying.

The Lightning Bug is the brain chaild of Brian Austein, who also designed another unique aircraft the Woodpecker. 

Brian designed the Woodpecker, (which won Best Innovation at Sun N Fun two years ago) "to show that you can build a light sport airplane with good performance for not a lot of money."

Lightning Bug "is a play on words - as it is light - at only 140 lbs." The craft is powered by two twin cylinder, direct drive, model aircraft engines, designed for 50% RC model aircraft. 

Brian has been designing, building and flying model aircraft for over 25 years. Several years ago he designed a "wing platform that was flying pretty nice" and decided to scale it up power it with a set of light reliable model aircraft engines.

Brian had flown the Lightning Bug prior to the show, and also flew it during one of the ultralight sessions of the Paradise City runway during Sun N Fun.

The twin engines, which weigh in at 7 1/2 lbs, turn at 6,000 rpm's and as Brian said "are a little noisey", he plans on designing and installing a tuned exhaust that will move the exhaust noise back over top of the styrofoam core wings. The motor mount for the engines, again comes from model airplane technology and uses a flat piece of plywood, mounted to a rubber mount utilizing the inner tube from "my Cessna 185".

The main fuselage of the Lightning Bug is welded 4130 chromoly tubing. The two eight foot wing sections are covered in standard RC 1.7 ounced model aircraft covering material, painted with latex paint, which helps keep the weight down. The 3 1/2 foot center section of the wing is covered in Monocoat and the control systems in tedlar, similar to what the Lazair uses.

The Lightning Bug started life as a flying wing, "but when you got slow and needed to flair" Brain found he was running out of control authority. To combat this he added a small stablilizer and elevator which is mixed in with the "elevons". This combination prevents the wing from "tip stalling".

The move the center of pressure forward so that he could rotate, he installed a movable "canard" on the front of the Lightning Bug. This also allows him to fly in the 45 to 50 mph range, or with it in "second gear" he can cruise along at 65 mph. Brian has also included an "autopilot" into the plane using of all things "model aircraft servos," and his primary aircraft instrument is an i Phone with GPS app which also gives him his airspeed

Brian indicates that the Lightning Bug can be built as an ultralight aircraft, using basic materials in a single car garage. 
His first aircraft the Woodpecker was built for just over $3,000. The Lightning Bug can also be built for $3,000.00.
$1,000 for the aircraft and $1,000 each for the model aircraft engines and props.

Ultralight Aircraft Magazine - Welcome to the Ultralight Aircraft News our goal is to cover as many aircraft expositions that host aircraft described as ultralight aircraft, light sport aircraft, experimental light sport aircraft, amateur built aircraft, ELSA or homebuilt aircraft that fit into the definition of ultralight aircraft in Canada or light sport aircraft, or experimental amateurbuilt light sport aircraft in the United States. 

These include three axis control aircraft, weight shift control aircraft, more commonly known as trikes, powered parachutes, helicopters, gyrocopters and powered para-gliders that meet the light sport or ultralight aircraft definition.

Airshows and aircraft expositions that we cover include, the Deland Sport Aviation Showcase, U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, Deland Sport Aviation Showcase, E.A.A.'s Sun N Fun, E.A.A.'s Airventure, the Midwest LSA Show, Copperstate, UPAC Convention and Aero Friedrichshafen in Germany. We try to regularly attend regional shows like the Arlington Fly-In, and Rocky Mountain Fly-In. 

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