Backcountry Pilot • Building the Orion Cub

Building the Orion Cub

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Fri Jun 18, 2021 11:59 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

She got to bathe in the sun for the first time and got some fancy carbon fiber seats. Let us know what you think! Note this is the "speed gear", "bush gear" to follow soon.
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Eddie07 offline
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Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:32 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Spring/speed gear..... almost lost me, looking forward to seeing the bush gear.
courierguy offline
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Tue Aug 03, 2021 11:53 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Lots have been happening over the last few weeks, the biggest job has been to cover and paint the fuselage and empennage. Progress is made on the engine installation and exhaust system. You can also see the electric horizontal stabilizer trim that is installed.
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Eddie07 offline
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Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:03 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

What's happening with the wings? I am interested in the all aluminum wings that will keep it at such a low empty weight.
Mark Y. offline
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Thu Aug 12, 2021 11:55 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Hi Mark, good point. We have started with the wings. The jigs had to be done right to get the ribs made perfect. We started making all the different ribs for the flaps, ailerons, leading edge, etc. So more pictures incoming soon.
Eddie07 offline
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Thu Aug 19, 2021 6:30 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Lookey here, we finally got the 3D renders completed. This will be a great tool to create personalized paint schemes.
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Eddie07 offline
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Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:29 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

We have made some good progress on the fuselage now the wings are next. Note the spring gear is only temporary, the bush gear will come in soon.
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Orion cub paint
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Orion cub door
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Orion cub rudder pedals
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Cub paint
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Eddie07 offline
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Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:37 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Beautiful workmanship. It's exciting to watch. I'll add some unsolicited feedback. Those seat looks awesome, but look like they fit one size. The edges roll forward to create the tub that the cushions sit in. Being 6'4" tall, I'd wonder if the seat pan was tall enough to not hit the seat pan edges with the back of my head above the cushion, or shoulders where the seat pan narrows.
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Wed Oct 20, 2021 12:09 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Thanks for the feedback, we did try to test the design with various sizes of poeple and most fit very well. We are still going to adjust those moulds a bit so will look into your point to accommodate more headrest cushion.
Eddie07 offline
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Sun Feb 06, 2022 6:07 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

We are very excited to share our progress. We have built wings!
Check out the process in our latest YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/P3IlMtFMtws
Here are some pictures of the progress as well.
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Eddie07 offline
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Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:26 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Really nice attention to detail.
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Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:51 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Nice looking plane. Do you have ability to adjust the brake engagement in the rudder pedal different leg size may require adjustment especially with big boots. Just something to slow progress as if you don't have enough already. DENNY
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Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:57 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

I'll be in Port Alfred next month, and somewhat regularly for a few years. Looks like Clocolan is 600 or so km away. Maybe I can find the time and way up to visit and see it in person.
Tadpole offline
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Thu Feb 17, 2022 11:45 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Hi Denny

Thanks that is a valid point! Like you said maybe not play around with these pedals that are already made, but we will look at the adjustability in production for sure.
Eddie07 offline
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Thu Feb 17, 2022 11:49 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Tadpole wrote:I'll be in Port Alfred next month, and somewhat regularly for a few years. Looks like Clocolan is 600 or so km away. Maybe I can find the time and way up to visit and see it in person.

You are most welcome, hopefully we can take you in a scenic demo flight very soon! Please let me know when you are here.
Eddie07 offline
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Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:12 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Do you have a target price (range)? Good looking plane!
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Thu Feb 17, 2022 9:27 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

We are aiming to be priced in the same range as most of the current popular kit bush planes. About $30k -$50 depending on the completion level of the kit. As soon as we have the prototype done we'll be able to finalize costing.
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Fri Feb 18, 2022 12:53 pm

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Eddie07 wrote:
Tadpole wrote:I'll be in Port Alfred next month, and somewhat regularly for a few years. Looks like Clocolan is 600 or so km away. Maybe I can find the time and way up to visit and see it in person.

You are most welcome, hopefully we can take you in a scenic demo flight very soon! Please let me know when you are here.


I'll be there the last week of March, but it does not look like I will have any free time this trip. I will try to get extra time in on future trips.
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Sat Feb 19, 2022 7:56 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

I like all the effort made to keep it light, lots of lightening holes. =D>
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Sat Jul 30, 2022 1:46 am

Re: Building the Orion Cub

Hi Folks, it has been a while since the last update, but we have been busy.
We have since painted the wings, finished the sexy wingtips and wing root fairings. Ailerons and massive manual flaps are rigged. The engine installation is done with the prop and spinner mounted. For this prototype we have selected the straight forward Rotax 912, but she will get more power in the future. Our own custom made tailwheel suspension works like a charm.
Next we will replace the "speed gear" with proper "bush gear" that will also boast custom shocks.
wingtips (5).jpg
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wing paint.jpg
wing paint 1.jpg
Tailwheel (1).jpg
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