As stated previously, VJ could make anything. He was an artisan with few peers and expert in the use of virtually every tool in the machinists inventory.
Volmer is on the right as we look at the photo of one version of his famous Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise
I happened to have the good fortune to be at many of the early seventies HG sites on days when Volmer was also flying there. It was always a pleasure to watch him fly.
I think it was out in Thousand Oaks somewhere there was a low hill we flew a few times until our activity was discovered (not Pederson Rd). A light breeze was blowing into the face of the hill which made for slightly extended flights for the hang gliders that afternoon. All except for Volmer and the VJ23 - he was soaring the hill that the rest were gliding down.
His launch was his usual: He would stand holding the VJ23 at the edge of the hill and in the breeze, keeping the wings level using his ailerons. Then he would just take a step off the edge and he was airborne. He soared until he had enough and then landed.
VJ23CoverApril1973MechanixIllustrated.jpg [ 79.89 KiB | Viewed 10038 times ]
======================= In 1979 David Cook "enginized" a VJ-23. David Cook flying VJ23E
====================== In 2013 we see an electric-"enginized" VJ-23 VJ-23E Test flight No10 Pilot A.Rudelis (2013)
======================
Volmer Jensen did some motoring of a modified structure: VJ-24 Sun Fun V.J.-24w. "SUNFUN". World's First Ultralight Motorglider... 22 Hp. Australian Modification.
Interesting notes in the voice. He missed knowing John Worth, James Hobson, and others, and certainly missed W. Simon. A note of Volmer's "1930" trying weight-shift in a hang glider.
In the comment sections are some interesting notes re: Volmer, etc. Here is one:
Quote:
Stephen Lowther I knew Volmer Jensen and bought plans from him in 1975. Glad you mentioned his Starship Enterprise which is now in the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
I take credit for his adapting the hang glider to and ultralight. I mentioned it to him in a phone conversation, and his reply was "Not recommended!" My reply was "I suppose it would put too much g-force on the frame." He got just a bit huffy, and by next month he called me up and told me he put an engine on it!
I believe it is the only DSK Aircraft licensed produced kit version of the VJ-24W still in existence, as I have yet to find any other VJ-24W that looks like mine with the round front bumper or heavy undercarriage.
I have named her Dorothy, after Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.
I still have a long way to go, but until then, an inspirational video...
I bought a Cuyuna ULII-02 engine for her, which is probably overkill; however I also bought two new old stock Chotia 460 engines which are probably much more appropriate, that came with a Chotia Woodhopper I bought off of Barnstomers for $99 total.
If anybody has build plans for a VJ-24 or VJ-24W, I'd love to get a copy, or if you have any stories to tell, I'd love to hear them, or if you own a Volmer Jensen yourself (or Chotia Woodhopper/Gypsy), I'd love to hear from you.
As much as I have become addicted to riding electric motorcycles and flying e-RC model planes, I'd like to see a design like this converted to e-power, even if it could only carry enough lithium battery weight to fly 10 or 15 minutes.
Frank
BTW - I posted this before but it didn't stick for some reason. Hmm....must be a black hole lurking in the forum.
As much as I have become addicted to riding electric motorcycles and flying e-RC model planes, I'd like to see a design like this converted to e-power, even if it could only carry enough lithium battery weight to fly 10 or 15 minutes.
Frank
BTW - I posted this before but it didn't stick for some reason. Hmm....must be a black hole lurking in the forum.
Frank I think the glitch happens for me when someone else posts before me because they type faster. When I hit "SUBMIT," it sometimes won't. After you submit closely watch for the notice that your post was successfully submitted. If it jumps back to the original page then you have to back arrow and sometimes first "Preview." then submit for it to work.
