 Max has built several other light aircraft including a twin engine Lazair from a kit, and a Zenair 701 from plans. While these were well designed aircraft Max decided after nearly twenty years of coming to Airventure that if he was going to build another plane it would have good design but also be "designed for looks." "People are always trying to build ultralights that are inexpensive, or efficient, I don't care about efficiency or inexpensive, I really want is a plane that looks good!" So by using a very light weight Kawasaki engine, and a variety of curved fibreglass surfaces Max was able to give the Grand Spree a classic shape like reminiscent of the 1930's era. Max built his craft in a 15 foot by 15 foot square area, using a four foot brake, simple hand tools, riveters, and other tools acquired from his other projects. The fuselage is a "stressed skin" over bulkheads and doublers which run the full length of the craft. The only welding is a few parts in the landing gear, and some of the control stick base. The rest of the plane is riveted together using Avex pop rivets. While Max had designed the fuselage, landing gear, tail section, and engine area he decided that to purchase a set of plans for the Hummel Ultracruiser and use that wing design because he knew that the Ultracruiser wing was built to carry the same weight and fly a the same speeds as the Grand Spree. The control system is standard three axis, stick and rudder control with three quarter span ailerons. Max is powering the Grand Spree with a Kawasaki 340 of approximately 32 horsepower, using a Manta 2.5 to 1 belt reduction drive. Max expects this will give him a cruise speed in the 60 to 65 mph range, a stall in the 25 mph range and a climb rate of around 500 feet per minute. With the BRS ballistic parachute system that he has built into the plane the Grand Spree comes in right in the area of a legal part 103 ultralight. For more information contact: | 
