By James Feichtner
As children, there are those of us who built model cars or airplanes and maybe wanted to be racecar drivers or pilots when we grew up. For many of us those dreams don’t last, but for software engineer and Geist resident Steve Cole, those childhood aspirations stuck with him and led him to not only learn to fly, but build his own, real plane.
“I did build model airplanes as a kid and I got my pilots license when I was 16 years old,” Cole said. “My dad was my flight instructor. But I’ve always been able to work with my hands and be a perfectionist and do pretty good work.”
Cole didn’t simply want to buy an airplane as he felt, being an engineer, he could do a better job himself.
“I purchased the plans from Hummel,” Cole said. “But the plane took three years and eight months to build. I just bought the material and built the plane.”
Not only did Cole build his own plane himself, he built it in the basement of his Geist home. After completing the aircraft Cole entered it into the famous Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure Oshkosh convention in Wisconsin. Taking place every July, the convention awards planes of various classes for design, craftsmanship and authenticity. Cole went on to win the prestigious title of 2015 Grand Champion, an award that isn’t given out unless there are entrants deemed worthy of the honor.
“That’s an award they give out at Oshkosh for craftsmanship,” Cole explained. “So I was told that this year was the first year that they’ve given the Grand Champion award in five years. So if the airplane is not worthy; no award. It’s not like a running race where someone is going to win.”
Cole built his plane off the design of a Hummel Ultralight Cruiser, a plane designed with certain parameters in mind. One being just as the name ensues: to be ultra-light. Using a light weight aluminum body and powered by half a Volkswagen engine, the plane weighs in at only 254 pounds without any fluids and can accommodate one person.
“It’s got to fall within the rules of an Ultralight class,” Cole said. “Top speed can’t be more than 65mph. The engine is a half a Volkswagen [engine]. It’s actually the front half of the engine.”
Cole said he had always liked the Ultralight cruiser design so he decided to build his own.
“I just really like the design,” he said. “I’ve seen these planes fly at airshows and I just loved the way they perform; love the way they fly and look and just decided to build one.”
But what really makes the plane stand out is it’s shimmering sheen. Cole completed the arduous task of polishing each and every inch of dull aluminum before assembly to help bring out a gleam that comes close to that of a mirror.
“That’s what attracts a lot of people to this plane; the level of polish that it has on it,” Cole said. “As it comes from the factory it kind of has this [dull]look to it. This has been polished to mirror level. All the sheet aluminum that I had, I polished by hand. Just to give you an idea, three feet by eight feet of aluminum is six hours of polishing.”
Now that Cole has built his plane and earned the accolade of Oshkosh Grand Champion, all that’s left for Cole is to fly it. While two test pilots have flown the craft and confirmed it flies exceptionally smooth, Cole himself has yet to fly it. Currently the plane is in an Ohio airport. Cole wants to get acquainted with his flying machine before he flies it back to its home at Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport in Fishers.
“I’ve never flown it before so my plan is to fly it up there [in Ohio]at that airport, do a bunch of take offs and landings,” Cole said. “Just get comfortable with it. Then I am going to take it cross-country.”
All about the aircraft
Design: Hummel UltraCruiser Ultralight
Engine: Casler ½ Volkswagen, 1200cc, 45 horsepower
Build time: Three years, eight months.
Weight: 254 pounds
Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons
Cruise speed: 55knots, 63MPH
Stall speed: 24 knots, 27MPH
Takeoff distance: 150 feet
Rate of climb: 1000 feet per minute
Range: 2.5 hours, 160 miles
