Kids Pedal Planes, these are very cool.......

[Matt Sharkey]

anyone know of a decent place to get "kids under 5" flight suits?

[Tiger Tim]

Neat stuff, does anybody know how they're getting the axle to drive the wheels?

-Tim

Bi-ped steampower...pedals between the wheels with a pulley in some of the centers connected to a belt which turns the prop.

That part I have figured out, it's connecting the axle to a set of wheels that were probably designed to turn around a fixed axle that has me scratching my head.

-Tim

[airnutz]

Neat stuff, does anybody know how they're getting the axle to drive the wheels?

-Tim

Bi-ped steampower...pedals between the wheels with a pulley in some of the centers connected to a belt which turns the prop.

That part I have figured out, it's connecting the axle to a set of wheels that were probably designed to turn around a fixed axle that has me scratching my head.

-Tim

Ahhh...sorry, specifics are helpful Sir, I reckon a wheel without an inner bearing mounted on an axle passing thru a bearing on the strut with a nut and backer pinching it in place to the axle end.

[Tiger Tim]

Seems simple enough. Thanks!

-Tim

[WingNut]

I've read this thread with interest. I collect pedal cars and pedal planes and have amassed quite a collection over the years. Pedal Planes really became commercially available in the 1920's and had their heyday up until World War 2 which saw many of them go to the scrap collections hence the scarcity of good original units today. When Lindberg made his successful flight across the Atlantic the commercial industries took full advantage and there were many units sold under the Lindberg Moniker. I've got a Curtis Tri-Motor as well as a few different Lindy units. Also I have a couple of mail planes and a custom Fokker Triplane based on the Model released by Hallmark in their Kiddy Car Classics line several years ago. I also have a few of the Pursuit Planes. These are the ones being reproduced today. After the war saw the jet age upon us and Murray created the Atomic Missle line. Garton had a space cruiser and a couple of the smaller manufacturers had toys that looked like a practice bomb. The main commercial makers were Steelcraft, Murray, Garton, and Gendron.

I have a couple of units that we've been discussing. I have a wonderful Corsair that is about 80% complete as well as a home made American Airlines pedal jet. There are plans around that are relatively easy to find. These could be the basis of any plane that you wish as the basic construction and dimensions could be shared. I'd like to tackle a P26 Peashooter or a Thunderbolt.

If there is enough interest, I'll be glad to grab some photos and post them.

Here's a link for info on a home built pedal plane

http://books.google.com/books?id=0d8DAA ... &q&f=false
=

Regards,

Ray

[airnutz]

I wonder how many kids went hauling butt down the local "Dead Man's Hill" and achieved a short, but disasterous "flight" in that thing?

[Tiger Tim]

Here's a link for info on a home built pedal plane

http://books.google.com/books?id=0d8DAA ... &q&f=false

The kids who learned on them sure will be surprised when they try to work the rudder pedals for the first time in a REAL airplane!

-Tim

[67N20]

Spotted this one at Lone Star Flight Museum yesterday. It was made by the same guy who made "Big Beautiful Doll" posted June 20th on page 3. He told me he makes about 4 per year.

[spartakle]

I screwed up while trying to include pictures on an early post before realizing Flickr photos need to be linked. Picture one is of a kid's plane I built for my son about 25 years ago. It had wheels and I towed it behind my bike:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23057174@N ... 4789690023
Picture 2 is of a second, slightly more ellaborate kid's plane, wings & tail were made of plywood the rest was aluminum:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23057174@N ... 4789690023
View inside cockpit of deddle plane:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23057174@N ... 4789690023
How I rigged the plane up for flights with son:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23057174@N ... 4789690023

[tailhook]

anyone know of a decent place to get "kids under 5" flight suits?

Matt, you can try:

Flyboys http://www.flyboys.com/kids-flight-suits-home.html, or
Herogear http://www.herogearstore.com/childrens_military_flight_suits.htm

Both places should have toddler right up to 8-9 year old sizes.
By the way, The Space Shop http://www.thespaceshop.com/chflge.html has some great kids astronaut flightsuits in orange, white and blue.

Craig

[JohnB]

Looks like Tom Cruise just got another Mustang.

[Randy Haskin]

Looks like Tom Cruise just got another Mustang.

Way too tall to be Tom Cruise.

[PbyCat-Guy]

I read a thread on hear a while back about a guy who made and was selling on Epay a scale F4F. That would be cool. The normal pedal planes are great, but it would be even better to have a scale pedal plane that a 5 year old could sit in and be able to close the canopy.

[pudljumper]

I am the guy that built "Big Beautiful Doll" and "Galveston Gal" mentioned in a couple of the previous entries. I now produce complete kits for both the P-51 Mustang and the PT-17 Stearman. All kits contain everything except glue, primer and paint to do several different versions. Mustang kits are $325 and Stearman kits are $350 + shipping.

Email me at pudljumper@yahoo.com if you are interested or have any questions.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fb ... =3&theater
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fb ... =3&theater
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fb ... =3&theater

[RandolphB]

Your kits are great...welcome to WIX!