"Flying Harley"

[Dragstews]

I'm not so sure I'd park my ass in this critter for a ride into the wild blue yonder .. !!



Maybe if it was powered by a Ironhead Sportster motor .. .. I'd go for it ..

[DustyDave]

How about Triumph Power and belt drive with no glide path suppose it would autorotate?

Dusty

[rockman96]

As long as it has collective control and the right bearing, it should autorotate.

No way in hell would I fly anything with an F-head or Trumpet powering it tho.

[DoomBuggy]

Saw that Harley-Plane article, crazy bastard is all I can say, and yes I would attempt it~!

[Dragstews]

Very dang cool for being a homebuilt in the 20's ...



Photo courtesy of "Wheels Though Time" Transportation Museum, Maggie Valley

[farmall]

Despite the garbage powerplants (to put it kindly) the above look to be forgiving airframes. I've no desire to own either.

I'd prefer a gyrocopter for safety vs a plain helicopter if going rotary wing with an ancient powerplant though. Might as well "autorotate" all the time like the famously successful Bensen if trusting oneself to such a shit engine but Triumphs were of course underpowered so best avoided. This gent worked for Bensen which abandoned their Triumph attempt:

https://www.tervis.fidisk.fi/JTsite/jt1gyroglid.html

At their age I'd want to go through everything before attempting flight since structural failure on ancient homebuilts is a legit concern. Aircraft in that era like everything else were expected to be overhauled often so there was lots of wrenching per flying hour.

If ya have deep pockets the Vincent powerplant was proven in the Picador target drone whose improved crankshaft was used in various race bikes.

[StuJ66]

I own an ironhead. It is challenging to get a trip in on the highway without shit vibrating loose. Imma hard pass on powering and airplane with one.