Dennis Brooks' UltraCruiser

Dennis Broooks - Standing by his UltraCruiser (Oshkosh 2015)

Dennis Brookes arrived very early Tuesday morning to show his sweet bird to interested visitors. A crowd quickly collected. Dennis invited everyone to climb in. Gotta love the light-weight paint job using modeler's paint. Note: parasail above and to the right of Dennis.

Dennis with his UltraCruiser which looks like a P-51 - BEST OF SHOW!

See the previous photo ... Dennis' hat is not cocked to the side!

Adkins, "I fit" - Photo by Dennis Brooks

That's me, Steve Adkins, "... I fit!" According to Dennis, I am the largest person to sit in his plane ... at 6-feet, 2-inches and 225 pounds. Looks like there is not enough head room ... see next page ------->

Selfie

Adkins, I fit with hat

Bungee cords were cleared away so that we could test the fit with my hat on and canopy closed. Needless to say, Hummel did a great design on the canopy.

Oshkosh 2008, my cousin Norris

Oshkosk 2008

My cousin, Norris, trying on a Hummel UltraCruiser for size. I passed on sitting in the plane weighing 245 pounds at that time! A terrible rain storm the previous night drove a canopy post through the wing.

Oshkosh 2008

It took me a couple of years to decide to build one of these aircraft. This cockpit seems to be a tighter fit than the cockpit on Dennis Brooks' UltraCruiser.

Nose

Very early in the morning ... note the long shadow.

Nose - Top View

Spinner and engine. Flat black paint covers upper cowl and gas tank cover.

Front View

Spinner, prop and motorbox. Note tennis balls on exhaust pipes.

Tail Feathers and dorsal fin

Top of rudder and vertical stabilizer

Is that an LED "strobe" light? How to run the wiring after the fuselage is closed? EASY according to Dennis. There is a tube running from the cockpit to the tail ... the rudder control rod!

Tail Wheel Tie Down

Dennis has designed a tail wheel which will reduce the wear-and-tear on the fuselage tail. I'd be concerned that the wind would blow the tail off the supporting block which would dent the rudder or stab as they crash down.

Tail Feathers Junction

Close view. Note doubler on Horizontal Stab. Very nice tail cone.

Dorsal Fin - Top View

Selfie - Canopy Closed

Turtle Deck and wing root rear fairing

Oshkosh 2008 ... other photos are Oshkosh 2015

Leg Room

Very comfortable fit. Seat was installed further back. Instrument panel. Note rudder pushrod on the left

Foot Room

The rudder pedals are full-size per the plans ... didn't need to be cut down for space. Gas line and shut-off visible along with the bottom of the gas tank.

Foot Space - Size 14 Shoes!

Gas tank more visible along with the gas lines and shut-off valve.

Hip Space and Carry-Thru ... Left Side

The thighs are directly over the cut-out portion of the Center Spar Carry-Thru. Note: trim knob with slots for holding the trim position. Rudder pushrod above the trim.

Hip Space and Cushion - Right Side

Excellent view of Center Spare Carry-Thru with supporting angles and Center Spar Attach Strip. End of Upper Spar Cap visible. Angle under cushion and it's counter-part sandwich the spar plate. Cushion was light weight and comfortable ... excellent ... Dennis should tell us the construction

Instrument panel and view thru windshield

Cockpit Interior and Instrument Panel

Note: air vent. Just below the panel and way back, one can see the right rudder pedal next to the gas line. Also, the rudder pivot is visible on the other side of the gas line.

Interior of Rear Cockpit

View behind the seat back. Seat Back gusset wit lightening holes visible just below canopy hinge. Turtle deck hoop is nicely bent. Deep behind Bulkhead "C: is the rear spar and C1 bulkhead.

Interior - Control Stick Assembly

Good view of the two Spar Support angles also called stiffeners. The bottom amgle is fashioned from .063 aluminum.

Spar Carry-Thru and Fuselage Floor

Elevator pushrod to the left.

Center Spar Carry-Thru

Trim above and to the left.

Center Spar Carry-Thru

Dennis removed the cushion for this photo. Bottom angle is the lower spar cap. Next to that on each end are the Center Spar Connection Strips which are also visible at each side of the spar. Rivets for the bottom rails are visible.

Elevator Pushrod and Spar Carry-Thru

Control Stick Assembly - Top View of Spar Carry-Thru

Floor of fuselage needs no covering. Elevator pushrod visible at lower right. A lot of tubing has been destroyed attempting the complex bends.

Interior - left side

Belly - Bottom Rails

Belly - Bottom Rails

P-51 Air Scoop? Note: juncture of wing and fuselage.

Underview of Wing at Landing Gear Juncture