X-Plane WeeBee World's Smallest manned

[JohnLeePedimore]

I really like the "rear entry" flying position.

[ib422000]

GREAT soundtrack!!



[WesternShinigami]

Wee Bee flyin now.

[Idaho278]

@davetileguy It does say, in the "TITTLE" that it's a game; "X-Plane". It's not a "fantasy loser game", it's a training tool used by student pilots and even proficiant pilots to improve our real flying skills.

[DanFrederiksen]

the free body has to be terrible aerodynamically. much better with enclosed monobody

[hotlava777]

great idea to fly to your chiropractor after long hours on that thing

[lolziloveminecraft]

nice microsoft flight sim x vid! xD

[jeffroboy48]

I find this hard to masterbate to, although the music is soothing.

[kyussfan6]

to go up: shift your weight. to turn: shift your weight. to make the plane lighter and save fuel: jump off

[Heiroglyphs]

tape some machine guns to it.

[GutpileCharlie]

I remember reading about the Wee Bee when it was first built, in about 1949 in Popular Science magazine.

Years later, I lived in San Diego , 1976-1977 and saw the original aircraft in the aviation museum in Balboa Park. Just as I was leaving San Diego in 77, somebody torched the museum and burned this aircraft, as well as numerous other historically significant aircraft.

There is a special place in hell for people like this.

[Tarzanaxx]

The simulator is X-Plane - one of the older versions

[prosperomage]

@Tarzanaxx -- OK, so who are you and where did you get ahold of the info about the WeeBee?

I know the guys who built the original. And my dad helped make the gas tank for the rebuilt item after the San Diego Aerospace Museum fire.

[budyzr63]

What Flight Sim are you using?

[Jamesfromnyc]

Nice model for for SIM, for the real deal flying, I'd prefer a Cri Cri :)

[88757384]

VERY BEAUTIFUL THIS AIRPLANE AND YOUR VIDEO

[Tarzanaxx]

@88757384 Thank you. I admired the fellows that challenged themselves and won. It was also an excellent project to lean from and try out things.

[88757384]

VERY BEAUTIFULL THIS AIRPLANE AND YOUR VIDEO

[MrYeayeayeayeayeayea]

nice landing xD

[Pirate88179]

The French Cri-Cri is smaller and a much better aerobatic performer with its twin engines.

Bill

[Tarzanaxx]

@Pirate88179

Bill, you are correct however this little airplane was not in some contest with the Chi Chi or any other. The young engineers that made it 60 years ago were not trying to set any records. They simply challenged themselves to built a man carrying airplane as light and low powered as they could. Magazines, Newspapers and Film makers hailed it as the "Worlds Smallest" and at the time it probably was. 

[Pirate88179]

@Tarzanaxx

I'm sorry, I did not realize that this was done 60 years ago. I am sure you are correct that it was indeed the world's smallest at that time. Thanks for pointing that out.

Bill

[Tarzanaxx]

@Pirate88179

Bill, Search YouTube for , "The Wee Bee". The Bomberguy posted film of it flying in 1949. I read about it in a Flying magazine back then.

[prosperomage]

@Tarzanaxx -- OK. So I wrote my first comment before the end of the video.

I know Ken & Bill. They're my dad's generation. Convair flight test crew. I've seen them almost every year for the past 55 years.

Great job with the video!!

[Tarzanaxx]

@pokos57

Wrong. The fellow simulated flying the WeeBee - one of the builders - is alive and well. While a bit risky no one was hurt during the many flights it made.

[the1humor]

what program to make this

[Tarzanaxx]

@the1humor:

Several programs came together. Objects like the pilot made in AC3D. Video scenes are MOV screen captures from X-Plane which also made the aircraft and is the flight simulator. Scenes edited in Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 Video/DVD module. Sound track assembled in Sound Forge. All coordinated and saved as MPEG from Creator 8. This would be intermediate tech. 

[jjrichey]

reminds me of the VJ Verra, you lay down like that....

I think thats what it was called...

[Perktube1]

So cool. And I like your choice of music. Who is it?

[Nitroboss2007]

very unsafe

[RoboTekno]

the motorcycle of the sky

[busterpiggle]

I love the Superman flying position but I wonder how you get your legs free if you have to use the parachute...

[J444123]

wonder if this would be an alternative to the whole flying cars idea, it is pretty small so it could fit anywhere. Do you know how fast it goes?

[clamcan]

And now days if you built something like that it would take 10 years of licensing and permits just to get it off the ground in the U.S. You know it's just so unsafe lol... So tired of safety regs screwing invention.

[Tarzanaxx]

So right. Fortunately this was an experiment out of curiosity, for the fun of it, not a consumer product. They used reasonable caution and deserve a medal for making it work.

[fatbear92]

No, it wouldn't need any licensing or permits at all, assuming it's under 254lbs (a reasonable assumption.)

Build it & fly it!

[radicaldanzero]

@clamcan If you keep the empty weight under 254 lbs, limit the fuel to a 5 gallon container you could fly under part 103 as a legal ultralight. No license or permits required. It does look like fun though! Peace

[treosier]

What?! The original burned? This is the most inspirational aircraft of my childhood visit to the San Diego Air & Space Museum! Its simplicity makes every young kid wonder if dad's lawnmower engine has enough balls to get you airborne...

[Tarzanaxx]

Not a flying problem. I believe it was being stored at another museum in San Diego that burned to the ground taking several prized airplanes and historic stuff.

[Tarzanaxx]

The original was lost in a fire years ago. A replica was made and is displayed in the San Diego Air Museum.

[ihelk]

damn. engine faliure? its a shame cuz thats a cool plane

[Tarzanaxx]

Please, the builders made no claim as the world's smallest. Newspapers and magazines called it the smallest and way back then it might have been. The Bumble Bee you mention was designed a few years later by the same fellow who laid out the Wee Bee. I wouldn't attach too much importance to accolades without knowing - compared to what and when and a few specifics.

[rseincorp]

To see the Guiness Book Real World's Smallest Piloted Airplane do a search for the bumble bee or view the video on you tube. The wee bee is small but in this case size does matter....the bumble bee takes the record back over 20 years ago.

[eripolis]

that was a sheer delight for the eyes and the ears ....ty

[Tarzanaxx]

Thanks, That was my tribute to Bill Chana,one of the builders and the fellow flying it over San Diego at the opening. The PC simulator model is a favorite to fly.

[scubajim123]

great job! used to fly with my dad in his Cessna and wondered what it would be like flying the Wee Bee. as I remember he said they had to shape most of it by hand which accounted for the "boxy" look.

Wish he were alive to see all this...he would have gotten a real kick out of it.

[wadsit2ya]

hey love the video its awesome whats the song?

[Tarzanaxx]

Rose Room,  very old.

[Tarzanaxx]

Glad you liked it. While working on model accuracy I got to know Bill Chana, one of the builders and the fellow piloting the WeeBee at the start of the video. The model is available, free, through X-Plane. Its fun to "climb on" and fly at tree top height.

[phantom34342]

kool

[BroncoBCC]

Loved it. I particularly like the pilot's head moving around to take in the view while he is flying.  Nice job.

[Bomberguy]

Fantastic job!