Homemade Snow Plane

[Cat-Power]

Hello everyone, I am new here, but I thought this seemed like a good place to seek out information. I am in the process of constructing a snow plane. The engine that I am using is a 1973 (approximately) JLO LB-600/2 that I have nearly finished getting the parts required to complete my rebuild of the engine. The engine is a modified snowmobile motor that my spec book lists at 36hp at 4500 RPM. The questions I have about this are as follows. What prop size and pitch should I order? I found a static thrust calculator that says a 44 inch with 16 inch pitch would be pretty close. Secondly, what weight should I try to keep the frame at? I found a plane that was originally equipped with this motor and it weighs 360 dry and 600 full. Heres a link PDQ Aircraft Products PDQ-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . I intend to make the frame of steel as I do not have the equipment to weld aluminum, so it will be very small, only big enough for myself. Thirdly, hat is the very minimum square tube size and gauge I could get away with using? My research has indicated that 1 or 1.5 11 gauge would be sufficient with cross bracing, while also keeping the weight down. Fourthly, how fast should I expect this thing to go? It will be run exclusively on the hard pack snow of the lake, so a very low friction environment. Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Dana]

 

[Cat-Power]

 

[Cat-Power]

 

[don january]

 

[Cat-Power]

 

[Dana]

 

[akwrencher]

 

[don january]

 

[Cat-Power]

 

[Cat-Power]

 

[timberwolf8199]

 

[Cat-Power]

 

[WK95]

 

[Cat-Power]