Just ordered a ThunderGull 2K

[derbaier]

Friday, I set in my postal money orders to Mark to order a Gull2K kit
with HKS engine and DUC propeller! Reading the archives of this
group, especially JimC's purchase and flight home story, were the
main things that got my initial interest up. Visiting Mark's factory
and getting a demo flight convinced me that I wanted a ThunderGull.
Now the waiting begins, before I can build and fly my own ThunderGull!

--Dave

[danpete5]

Congradulations! I have been watching this site for some time and
admire the enthusiasm everyone has for the Thundergull series of
planes. I too would like an ultralight with the HKS engine. I have
been looking at the Flightstar and Thundergull single seat models. I
really like what I'm hearing about the Thundergulls, but they are
much more expensive. How long did Mark indicate that you would have
to wait for your kit? Did you order it with the standard wing or a
longer one?


--- In

[derbaier]

Well, since Tom at FlightStar is the importer of the HKS, and Mark is
pictured in some of the magazine ads, I guess these are two good
airframes for the HKS engine. I suppose that you can guess which
airframe that I like best? :-) As for the wait time for the kit,
Mark said that the wait time for a Gull2K is about six weeks, and the
wait time for the Odyssey is about eight weeks. I ordered the Gull2K
with the standard twenty foot wing because I like the heavier wing
loading for a more comfortable ride in mountain turbulence, and the
smaller size makes for easier ground handling. Mark said he likes the
24 foot wing with the Gull2K and HKS combination, but he said that
the 20 foot wing would work well too.

Regards,
--Dave

[derbaier]

Well, since Tom at FlightStar is the importer of the HKS, and Mark is
pictured in some of the magazine ads, I guess these are two good
airframes for the HKS engine. I suppose that you can guess which
airframe that I like best? :-) As for the wait time for the kit,
Mark said that the wait time for a Gull2K is about six weeks, and the
wait time for the Odyssey is about eight weeks. I ordered the Gull2K
with the standard twenty foot wing because I like the heavier wing
loading for a more comfortable ride in mountain turbulence, and the
smaller size makes for easier ground handling. Mark said he likes the
24 foot wing with the Gull2K and HKS combination, but he said that
the 20 foot wing would work well too.

Regards,
--Dave

[Jim C]

Again - Congrats Dave - i know you will enjoy the G2K as much as I
have.

> I really like what I'm hearing about the Thundergulls, but they are
> much more expensive.

If you build it yourself the difference is not all that bad, but it
is a little more pricey, but the performance is well worth it if you
can afford it.

> Did you order it with the standard wing or a longer one?

Dave mentioned he stayed with the standard 20' wing - I went with the
24 ft wing and it flies the turbulence just fine down here in the
heat, turbulence and humidity in the land of the daily Thunderstorm
here in N Florida, whether you need one or not (well, at least mid-
Jun through Mid-Sept). It also allows me to have a slightly less
stall speed and I am able to fly with most of the other normal fat
UL's out there quite comfortably without flaps (55-75 speed range) or
with my C-152 buddies (95-105).

> Well, since Tom at FlightStar is the importer of the HKS,

I didn't know this - I got mine through H-power at Ellington, CT - I
know Tom uses a lot of HKS on his Flightstars, but didn't realize he
was importing them - I thought he was getting his from H-power in
Ellington as well - of course they are at the same airport. Of
course, with that in mind and now that I think of it, I never checked
to see if Tom owned or had interest in H-power - how bout that. H-
power is very helpful when you talk to them and/or get tech advice on
the HKS as well.

Jim C

[derbaier]

Jim, please don't take my word as gospel on this because I read it on
the Web, and you know how reliable that is. I seem to recall that it
was a Web Video interview on Ultralight News, but I can't find the
link anymore, so I am just relying on memory. Since HPower is
supposed to be the sole US didtributor for HKS, I guess Tom would
have to have an interest in that for my memory to be proved correct.
There really is a photo and quote from Mark in the July 2003 HPower
advertisement in UltralightFlying magazine though. I looking at that
right now, and not relying on my memory. :-)

--Dave

[Willy]

Congratulations Dave,

What lead you to the Gull2k rather than the Odsyssey?
Is the Duc prop the French in-flight adjustable unit?
That should really optimize the HKS engine. Mind saying
how much of an upgrade it is?

Let us know how the building progresses. Should be a lot of fun.

Any opinions out there regarding the three to four hundred hour Gull build time--is it realistic?

Willy

[derbaier]

Thanks for the congratulations.
Deciding between the Gull2K and the Odyssey was an agonizing
decision. Economically, I think the Odyssey would make more sense
because it would have a higher resale value. I went with my wife to
Mark's factory in Santa Margarita, and went on a demo flight with him
in the Odyssey. On the drive back home I just about decided I wanted
the Odyssey. But after talking with my wife, she was thinking I
should get the Gull2K because it would cost less to build, and she
was not too interested in flying with me. So, I decided to get the
Gull2K with the same engine and prop that Mark is flying on his
Odyssey. The Odyssey's perfomance was great with that combination, so
the lighter and slimmer Gull2K should be even better. I was also
influenced a bit by the experiences JimC has shared with this group
about his Gull2K! :-)

>Is the Duc prop the French in-flight adjustable unit? That should
>really optimize the HKS engine. Mind saying how much of an upgrade
>it is?

Yes it's French, but it is not in-flight adjustable. It has a sort of
droop tip configuration that looks a bit strange, but it sure seemed
to work great on Mark's Odyssey, and it's really quiet. I talked to
Mark about getting an adjustable prop, and he did not think it was
necessary with the broad torque band of the HKS engine. According to
him, he has found it more useful with the Rotax engines with their
somewhat narrower torque band. Mark mentioned that he was getting
about 37 miles to the gallon with the HKS and DUC prop, and that sold
me since I'm something of a fuel efficiency nut. :-)
As to the prop cost, at the current rate of exchange it is $970, so
it better get me better fuel economy. :-)

>
> Let us know how the building progresses. Should be a lot of fun.

I'm really looking forward to it, Willy! I am not scheduled to get
the kit until early September. Mark said that the usual delivery
time is about six weeks, but I put in my order just before he heads
off to Oskosh with his Odyssey, so I've got a couple of weeks added
on to my wait time. That's no big deal, since I've got to get my
garage in shape for the building project.


> Any opinions out there regarding the three to four hundred hour
> Gull build time--is it realistic?
>
> Willy

Obviously, I can't answer that yet, but I hope others on this list
chime in with their knowledge.

Happy Fourth!!!!
--Dave